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I just watched a beautiful 9.5 inch GonBop quinto (pretty certain it was a Mariano series about the right vintage)sail out of my willingness to pay range a moment ago. - would have been a perfect match for my 10.5 and 11 ...sigh!!!!

It went for 223 US - which in the good old days would have been 223 Canadian (or less) but today amounted to 277 Canadian - plus the shipping and brokerage fees would have come in at $400ish (plus needed a new skin).

Patience! Hoping it went to a good home - by any chance one of you guys?

If so let us know what it's like when you get it (so I can be even sadder!)

Cheers

Darrell

Darrell,

Now you're making me feel bad! I promise it will get the best of homes and care and good vibes. I was desperate to to get a GB--I have Giovanni's but they're not really my style.

I'll update when I've had a chance to play it a bit. Feel free to look me up if you're in NYC and want to check out how it sounds (if that doesn't make you feel even worse...).

Tom

Hey Tom,

Don't feel bad just enjoy that gorgeous drum! Just nice to see it went to a congaplace person. Besides's I've still got the 10.5 and 11 inch to keep me warm at night.

Cheers

Darrell

Burke , you really want a Gon Bop re-quinto ? I have one that would match your set.
Let me know
Paz

Olsongo

hey burke i got the same series as you only mine are 11 inch and 12.25! i too would love to get a quinto of the same series one day......

Hey Debbie,

I cut and pasted a very useful reply from taikonoatama when I made an inquiry about gonbops numbers after I'd received mine a while back.As I mentioned I actually have the small and large conga and I'm more interested in the Tumba - but the quinto would be sweet too. I assume you saw the message about that from Paz - I've contacted him expressing some interest - nothing back yet - but its a free country (both our countries - so by all means get in there!

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Keep in mind that congas sizes as a whole used to be smaller than they are these days. What you've got, really, are two congas. Here's the (original) Gon Bops size breakdown to the best of my knowledge:

"IQ" series: Quinto: 9.75"
"IC" series: Conga: 10.75"
"ICL" series: Conga (Large): 11"
"IT" series Tumba: 11.5"
"ITL" series: Tumba (Large): 12.25"
"ITXL" series: Tumba (Extra Large): 13.25"
"IT2XL" series: Tumba (Extra Extra Large): 14.25"

As far as the vintage, I don't believe your numbers alone will narrow it down as much as you'd like, as they made the Mariano (with the same model numbers) for a number of years, from, I believe, the mid 80's to mid 90's. Someone else here will no doubt have better knowledge of this last point - they could have started a bit earlier.

Also, a note on the how the size is measured, as there is some variation from maker to maker. Technically, these sizes are for the outside diameter of the shell across the top, before the bearing edge is done and the skin put on.

hi burke
thanks for the info, i think i had seen that post but it was good to be reminded.
i'm in france so won't be buying anything from the states, also don't feel anywhere near technically good enough to merit a quinto yet!! all the best!