congaplace.com

Posted: **Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:16 pm**

hello

i bought a pair of second hand Gon Bops a few years ago here in france (my first set of congas). the condition wasn't brilliant so i have cleaned them up and replaced the skins, i love them! but i would love to know how old they are, and here in france no one knows much about Gon Bops. i have tried writing to the Gon Bops site but no reply.

They are MARIANO model, ICL 3300 and ITL 3300, dark wood with matt black circlage and loops.

thanks in advance!

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:26 am**

Hi Debbie,
welcome to Congaplace. I believe that the Mariano model was one of the last
products Gon Bops introduced. Or it could have been the Gongas, but at any rate they should be fairly new or around 1990's. I remember seeing them back in the 90's. As far as I know Gon Bops folded around the late 90's or 2000. If you look inside the shell, it may have a date of manufacture.
They seemed to be an nice set , but very light in weight. Not to say weight makes or brakes a good set.
Here is the Gon Bops history page, which may give you soome idea about them.
http://www.gonbops.com/about.htm

Glad you like your congas. New skins is a great idea. You know , I was in Paris about 1982 or 1983 I was in the Army, so I tend to try and forget about those years. I swear I saw some Gon Bops back then. They are hard to miss.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy your congas. You have a great source of information here, so hope to see you around.

T

Edited By Tonio on 1182227300

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:22 am**

thanks for your info and welcome tonio!
yes it's true that the congas are light in weight (compared to a quinto made by Gon Bops belonging to a friend) but as i'm female, that's quite an advantage!
thanks once again, i hope to be poppping in and out of this board now that i have discovered it! as a relative beginner no doubt i'll have plenty of questions to ask....

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:58 am**

It's possible to see a photo of your Gon Bops, debbie?
Thanks

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:07 pm**

i'm trying to attach 2 pics to this, i hope it works!

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 5-pair.gif

Posted: **Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:09 pm**

andhere is the second pic

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -conga.gif

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:08 am**

Hi debbie, I have quite a few Mariano's their mahogany and GREAT drums. Yours are in excellant shape.My guess is no older than mid 80's...Mahogany became some-what endangered and no more was cut. You'd be hard pressed to find any nicer drums. No crome but you don't play the crome .

Peace
Bongo

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:12 am**

Those Mariano series are made of mahogany, which is why they are lighter weight than Gon Bops oak drums.

I have heard some that sound very nice indeed!

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:06 am**

Classic and Collectible Gon bops....don't sell them...they no longer exist, like that..."JC" Johnny Conga...

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:10 am**

Very nice drums! Never sell!

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:27 am**

thanks for the info everyone! it's great to know more about my congas, and don't worry, i had no plans to sell them!

Posted: **Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:00 pm**

WELCOME DEBBIE!....One of the few drum sisters we have here..Tell us a bit about your self and where you are?...."JC" Johnny Conga....

Posted: **Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:52 pm**

I bought almost exactly the same set about a year ago (except a quinto and conga) and asked the same basic question in a post tiltled "Gon Bops & numbers".

I got one reply but a very, very useful one if you want to look it up.

I love my beautiful GB's and wouldn't part with them for anything!

Darrell

Posted: **Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:31 pm**

Beautiful drums!
I like that part with 'never sell' even though I would like to have a pair of those...

I'll call my friend again who has a Conga ( a sister of my Tumba) from Sonoridad Cubana to buy the Lady Tumbadora...

Debbie, You are very lucky!

PimpS

Posted: **Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:14 am**

I have owned Gon Bops for over 20 years ( got 'em when I was 18, not knowing what they were), and I will NEVER sell them. I own 3 oak and 3mahogany, they are awesome. You will grow to love them more each day.

As for congaboard, I have learned more here in a few short years then I did before I joined.

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