Vintage Gon Bops - a new project!

[congaDR]

Tony

[bongosnotbombs]

Chalk dust! ... nice one Bombs, Ill have to try it.

Bombs, I just love the color of that oil! Sure you dont want to put a coat of wax on it at the end? Isnt that how one usually finishes oil?

Tony

I think Hippy Sam told me about the dust.

I might put some wax on there, James thinks I should too.

[bongosnotbombs]

Alright, this drum is finally done.

I ended up using the original lugs. The ones I ordered from the Rhythm Traders,
just didn't have the right look.

The skin is originally from Fat Congas, the perfect skin I think for this drum.

This lil' requinto sounds great, slaps can be made so easily, and the open notes have
this great sound. The skin is not too thick so there are still bass notes to be brought out
of it.

I put a handle on it, this drum is so light, it's easy to carry around.

Thanks to everyone for the advice and the compliments.

[Chupacabra]

That's a sweet little drum you have there! It's hard to tell from the photo, but I think the hardware matches the character of the drum just fine. Did you mention previously that the metalwork was in too rough a shape? Once the shell "matures" and the hardware aquires it's patina I think it'll catch attention wherever you bring it. We would love to hear how it sounds, based on your description it sounds like something the world needs to hear!

[bongosnotbombs]

It's hard to tell from the photo, but I think the hardware matches the character of the drum just fine. Did you mention previously that the metalwork was in too rough a shape?

I spent a little time on the original lugs and they came out okay, the ones I ordered from the internet, well they were missing something,
so I cleaned and bent the original ones into shape. Same with the crown and sideplates, spent some time with the metal polish
and they came out good.

The handle is brushed stainless steel, it's new, but the brushed finish matches the drum pretty good.

[windhorse]

Beautiful!!!!!!
Hey, I'll be in town tonight Geordie!
Hope to see you tonight or tomorrow, and play that lovely drum!
Dave

[bongosnotbombs]

This drum had it's first session last night, Windhorse was in town and
my regular group was there, so we had 6 players in all. Guaguanco, Columbia and Iyesa.

For one song my friend played this requinto and I played my oak quinto trading 8's, which
was really fun. My friend is excellent on quinto and brought a lot out of this little drum.

This drum sounded so good, everyone loved it. I was so proud! It
is amazing how easy the slaps came out, effortless.

I used to subscribe to the thick skin quinto theory, but now I am not so sure.

This drum had a great bright sound, but very woody and airy. Really better than I thought.

[taikonoatama]

Yeah, Geordie, that drum sounded really great. Congrats. Effortless and crisp slaps. Great projection - the sound just carried past everything else without needing the whip. Good clear open tones, a little brighter than you'd get with a thicker skin, but not ringy or anything. Nice.

Still think you should try the wax. I'll bring some over next time and you can try it on a small patch to see what it'll look like.

The medium-thin Fat Congas bull skin (actually, they get theirs from Bill Confer of Hereford Bi-Products in Texas) seems to really suit this Philippine mahogany, at least for the 9.75" quinto. Not that other skins wouldn't, necessarily, but skins tend to do better with some wood types rather than others, as do thicknesses, and you've got a good match here.

James

[bongosnotbombs]

Yeah, let's wax her up!

As soon as I saw that Fat Congas skin you sold
me I knew it was a match.

[windhorse]

Here's the one photo from the Gon Bops renunion San Francisco Rumba... };-D
I must say I had a good time with you'all! Thanks!
Geordie,, I think mine is every bit as sweet as yours,, but that night,, yours would not be denied its rightful place as the king of the Bops!
Next year we'll have to have a re-match..
Dave

[umannyt]

windhorse,

It would help if we know who's who in your photo, so at least we can associate names with faces.

I think I still recognize James (curly hair), from whom I bought my JCR Timbales. I remember seeing James' Valjes in his house when I came over to pick up the timbales.

I'm guessing that Geordie is the guy to James' right.

And as far you're concerned, for me it's a toss-up between the 2 remaining guys. Nevertheless, I'll take a 50-50 chance and guess that you're the one holding the shekere.

Btw, who are the 2 ladies and the remaining guy? Just curious.

Thanks in advance,

[windhorse]

Hi Manny et al. sorry about that! You were right on all the guesses.. I'm far right with Shekere, Geordie is to James's right. The picture is taken in Geordie's apt. in San Francisco. We had all met last year at the Humboldt camp and from last year's road trip to the coast.
Behind Geordie and standing is Mark. He's a good friend of mine who lived in Boulder before moving to San Fran with his wife.
I was staying at Mark's house in San Fran. He has such amazing timing and coordination.. He played drums all his life, and had taken drumming as a subject throughout all of his high school years, and most of college. So, the kid has chops.. He just needs work on technique so that he can get more volume out of his strokes, and I think for that reason, Mark's playing is underestimated by most casual obvservers.
The gal who is squatting the lowest I met last year at Humboldt - Zoe.. She progressed much more rapidly than everyone else in Michael Spiro's quinto class last year.. To her right and viewer's far left is Lisa. She's the Abokenke of the rumba, and is quite fun to have around.. I love this group of folks! Loads of fun was had..

[bongosnotbombs]

Hey Dave!
Yep, that's the group, The Haight Street Rumba Society!
Excellent photo man! Thanks a lot. I hope we get another session together soon.
I'll let your quinto do the all singing then. I'm sure you right about it's voice. I just
needed to debut mine. Have a good one up in Humboldt. hope we catch you again on the way
back down. I must say you really bring a lot, that Iyesa we played at the end was the grooviest!

[bongosnotbombs]

This drum of mine got a friend yesterday courtesy
of thebreeze, who gave me a great deal on an oak Gon Bops
conga. Thanks Will. We played it yesterday at another session at my house
and it sounds really good. I'm looking for a Valje tumba now to round out this vintage
set of California made congas.

[Thebreeze]

I'm glad it went to you. I know you would have appreciated it. It's good when everbody is happy.
See you soon one of these days.
Will.