3 year follow up...Gon Bops

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3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby cdldrum » Sat Nov 24, 2012 8:18 pm

Sirs,

3 year evaluation of my "new" purchase of Q/C/T/bongo of the short - lived
DW era Tumbao "Custom" Pro series (just prior to the Sabian purchase of the
Gon Bops rights). Congas 10.75"/11.5"/12.25 " , rubberwood with the marketing
name of "siam" Oak). These conga came with the upper grade California series
hardware and "custom" Metallic Tobacco Burst paint. I switched out synthetics
for GB logo hides....fully intending to go with "burro" at some point but these
skins have aged so nicely and are very very easy on the skin-on-skin response
that I think I will stick with these....

Very melodic, easily tuned (G-C-E interval to the pitch pipe), quality slap, and record very
musically. Not "great" quality projection or "loudness" but I mic always (save my hands) .
A very "musical" presence but not lacking in "percussive" voice (if that makes sense).
A pleasure to play. Have held up nicely with minimal maintenance. I do add a few
drops of olive oil about once a quarter, and try to remember to de-tune after the
session with my jazz quartet. I did lightly sand down the original bearing edges and
applied wax prior to mounting the GB skins... I think it made an ease-of-tuning difference.

would I do it again..yes, but would add the "super" tumbao at purchase .... probably
no longer available. I do wish the Gibralter stands had a better "leg lock" (tendancy to tilt),
and am very pleased with my Gator rolling bags.

So, not high -end but good quality , and more important , an instrument , not a gimic.
easy on the eyes, ears, and hands.

The audio recording on the Gon Bops (Sabian) webpage of the Tumbao Custom series
sonically matches my conga, I am pleased, enjoyable to sit -in on....

http://www.gonbops.com/congas/tumbao-pro-series


Charles

Gon Bops 1.JPG

Gon Bops 2.....JPG
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby windhorse » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:16 pm

beautiful :mrgreen:
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby cdldrum » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:58 pm

Thank you WindHorse,

I know, not top-of-the-line, but sound good , are a
pleasure to play, record nicely, and most here would not
be embarassed to gig these....

I have forgotten to mention.... they are still "in-round",
and all glue joints are intact. The initial " ring" has mellowed
with ageing of the heads , and is almost non-existant.

I do need to purchase some hardware "bumps" , but current marketed
models are budget busters... I need to come up with a solution soon as
I really like to snug the conga up close....

thanks again.

Charles

Gon Bops 3.....JPG
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby windhorse » Sun Nov 25, 2012 5:57 pm

You gotta be kidding about the "not top of the line" comment. Dude, you'll never need another set the rest of your life!
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby cdldrum » Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:04 pm

You are absolutely correct WindHorse ! The mind gets kind
of foggy on this forum seeing all the Volcanoes, M. Smiths,
Valje's , Gon Bops,...etc. . These are good congas and I am
proud to own them. Looking forward to many years of good tone .


Charles


108.JPG
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby cdldrum » Tue Nov 27, 2012 3:35 am

Sirs,

Was perhaps suffering from premature admiration. While practicing today
I noticed at the base of the conga a small (2 inch) linear exterior split. Apparently
extends thru to the interior (see photos), with the interior split of approx. 4
inches total.

I ask the wood workers here , should I ignore, re-glue , repair ? I realize many posts
on the forum have discussed this topic/choice....my twist, the "custom" metal flake
finish on the exterior of the shell. Sure would hate to screw that up. I am not a wood
worker.

Any options ? I'm guessing I inflicted the split with a "hard" set down when removing from
the case.... this is the first I've noticed the split. (clicking on the interior shot gives
a good close-up view of the split).

Charles

conga exterior base split.....JPG

conga interior split.....JPG
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby Mike » Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:50 am

Not a big deal, happens all the time with those Thai oak shells.
Just glue it and it should be fine.
Peace & drum
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby cdldrum » Tue Nov 27, 2012 1:21 pm

Thanks Mike.

So it's a common fault with rubberwood.... good to know,
I thought I did it ! Guess I should re-glue over the interior
split and leave the exterior alone ??? I agree, no big deal ,
just hope the split doesn't extend farther/deeper up the
shell.

Thanks.

Charles
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby Marcus » Tue Nov 27, 2012 3:29 pm

I also toyed with buy the industrial strength hardware bumpers, but for my 3 congas and 2 for my wife--well that is a lot of $$$. What you could do is go to the local fabric store and find a bolt of material, buy a few yards and have someone sew some straps say 6 feet long x 2-3 inches. Then you could wrap around the hardward and avoid any scratches. Might not be a look you care for but a soft choice in fabric pattern and color might be acceptable.
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby bongosnotbombs » Tue Nov 27, 2012 4:08 pm

Definitely repair it. Not a difficult job, and there is plenty of information here on how to do it. Just do some searching on the subject Congas are made from wood, and sometimes they crack, even Matt Smiths and Skin on Skins, so don't let that little crack bum you out.
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby torpedo tom » Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:39 pm

As far as "bumpers" go, Here is what I did on my regular drum set to keep the snare drum from riding up against the tom. I took a piece of cheap leather about 6"x8" and tied it to two lugs top and bottom of the tom so it covered the area that the snare might rub on. You could do that on your drums where they may get against each other. With a little care, you can make them look like you bought them ready made.
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby cdldrum » Wed Nov 28, 2012 1:05 am

Thanks men...

Marcus... that sounds like a viable alternative.... may have to
give it some consideration. I was also thinking about something like
the old school molded rubber door stop wedges that could be modified
enclose the protruding hardware.... might have to experiment.

BnB's...Yep, I was thinking, I have access to needle and syringe, from the
interior approach inject some wood glue at the top and base of the split...
rig up a circumferential belt/band and let it sit for a few days. Just don't
want to muck it up.... (or screw up the exterior paint). Will give it a shot.

Tom... I did the same thing you describe on my Yamaha Recording Customs...
the wife sewed some snaps on a maroon Royal Crown bag swatch.... I leave it
on the upper tom...almost invisible.... has saved my tom from numerous gouges.
(see below).

thanks again guys... good ideas....

Charles

BACK SHOT.....JPG
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby cdldrum » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:44 pm

Just a follow-up....

Marcus, I wanted to share this with you, but don't know how to get the info
to you ... moderators , if this breaks a rule , apologies, please remove
if not appropriate.

Marcus.... after a search, I found that Lone Star Percussion (Texas) sells
the Gon Bop conga tension hook bumper cover (SP0060) in a six pack for
$19.00 (set of 3 for $57.00) s&h to Az. was $7.19. So, for $64.19 ($3.56 per)
I have ordered some reasonably nice looking , small footprint protection for my
conga paint job. This was about the best pricing I could locate, and, cheaper
then I remember from my last search.... I called for availability (2-4 weeks)
but forgot to ask for a coupon code (ie you might be able to get them cheaper).
So, if you decide it is still too much , maybe just buy a set for your brides congas !

Hahahaha ! practice safe conga... buy your conga condoms today !


Charles
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby congamyk » Fri Nov 30, 2012 7:48 am

Nice drums. the tumbao series are fine instruments and you upgraded the skins and hardware - excellent choices!

I ordered one of the Alex Acuna Series Super Tumba and it had the same small crack at the bottom.
These drums have a tendency to crack there.
Image

I called Guitar Center and emailed them a photo of the crack and the guy dropped my already low sales price in half and refunded my cc.
I ended up paying $75 for a new Alex Acuna Super Tumba (14").
Image
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Re: 3 year follow up...Gon Bops

Postby cdldrum » Fri Nov 30, 2012 2:15 pm

Congamyk,

Wow , a $75 Alex Acuna Super Tumba, amazing. (and a beautiful
drum to beat). Scanings thru the postings here (as Mike stated) , a
common malady. I'll do my best to halt the spread and get back to
enjoying playing my congas. On a side note , I was surfing You-tube
last night and enjoyed an old video of Tata G. (long nails and all)
playing some very beat up congas to perfection. The condition of
shells did not have any impact on the greatness. Amazing skillset.

Thanks to the moderators for moving this topic to a more appropriate
sub-forum... (I wasnt sure where it belonged... as such, guessed wrong).

Congamyk.... unbelievable , 75 .... still can't get over that..you must have
been all grins. My only regret when purchasing my drum ... not getting
the Super Tumba when I had a chance....


Charles
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