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Hello forum,
Although I have read some posts regarding Gon Bops , I am still confused as to what vintage this beauty is. I scored her last night at a sick-reasonable price!! It's head dia. is, as close as I can tell, 11 1/4". The model # is ICL 4141, the Unit # is 9117813.
She's in fine shape except for a few dings and a patch of "leg rash". The head is in awesome condition, as soon as I tweaked it up she sang!
Thanks in advance!
Paul

Nice family! looks like an oak gon bop, to me better sounding drums than the mahogany, good score! I've got one 10.5 with teh regular crown and a mule skin on it. It's all beat up but sounds really fantastic.
PC

thank you PC! any idea on age of this mama?

70's - it's hard to pin them down exactly. Nice conga! I've got 2 of them, still round, no cracks in all these years.

I've been told that the year is usually hidden in the serial or unit number, going by the number you posted I would guess either '78 or '81.

bongosnotbombs wrote:I've been told that the year is usually hidden in the serial or unit number, going by the number you posted I would guess either '78 or '81.

That is interesting, BnB! Can you give the source of information or enlighten us about the exact way of determining the production year?
I have always wondered about the serial number, and like in vintage cymbals stamps (Paiste, Zildjian, e.g.) you seem
to be able to find out abuot the age.

I think I've read it hear before, and I know I've been told a couple of times that the year is in the number. Where that information came from I can't say. Anyways, assuming it's true, there are only to sets of digits in the serial number that make any sense for being a manufacturing year, 78 and 81. If this drum has a fiberglass coat, I seem to remember hearing that innovation was done in the 80's.

Thank you everyone! I had not heard of the fiberglass coat. I'm not sure if this one is or not, to me it looks like a clear-coat. And that rash is pretty much down to the wood. At any rate, I'm thrilled! The inside looks like new. I don't believe she was subjected to many environmental changes.
Again, thank you for the interesting info!
Paul

That drum definitely does not have a fiberglass coat. Gon Bops made wood drums covered with fiberglass in the 70s, not sure when they stopped. Those drums were generally painted solid colors, not natural wood.

Ah-thank you. This is all very helpful!!! any and all input is welcomed.
P

This is my friends Gon Bop drum with the same hardware drum with a fiberglass coat. I put a skin on it for her a while back. You can see the fiberglass in the second picture, for some reason the metal tinted the fiberglass green. She has since added 2 more drums with the same treatment and hardware for a complete set of 3. As you can see hers is wood colored, I have seen one that was white, as Jorge mentions. Very nice drums.

Fiberglass on the outer shell, perhaps to keep the stave from coming apart.

AWESOME!!! Always more to learn...love it!!!!

...and I must get the correct claws. Almost out of threads on those things!!!

PaulKargez wrote:...and I must get the correct claws. Almost out of threads on those things!!!

Indeed!
Either you get yourself some bongo hooks or you might consider reskinning as an option.