INTERVIEW with Bongocero Joe Gonzalez

[Isaac]

I did a lengthy Interview with Joe Gonzalez.
He reflected on his career and time spent
in the Mario Bauza Orchestra. He gives some
good advice to players starting out.

If anyone would like it, ( It's a Word Doc)
please send me an email and I'll
send it to you as an attachment.

Isaac Gutwilik / Percussionist / Sales Rep. JCR Percussion Co.
funkytradition@yahoo.com

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... ro_BW3.jpg

[Mike]

Thanks for sharing, Isaac.
I am very interested in the interview (sent you an email).

Greetings
Mike

[Tumbatimba]

What's Joe's favorite bongo these days ?

[Isaac]

Joe owns only one set - the same ones he bought about 35 years ago.
Joe's Bongos are a real hybrid now.
He's owned these( same as in the picture) since the mid 70s!
I have a shot of the bongos somewhere.
They're original LP Gen I Mahogany Bongos.

Many years ago, he thought the hardware, especially he felt the bottoms were
too heavy. He replaced the bottom hardware for custom JCR - cuban style
bottoms. Caly at JCR also thinned out the wood a bit inside,
so their not as thick as before. He uses one Mule skin on the Macho and a Remo Fiberskyn
for the Hembra. I asked him why the Fiberskyn and this was his answer:
- " The Fiberskyn isn't really a better sound, but I gig too much to have to wait
for the better mule skin to get fully broken in a few months down the line.
It's also less tune up time on stage. It's just convenient
for working. "

[No.2-1820]

Hey Isaac, I'd love to read the full interview, you have my e-mail. He must know those bongos so intimately now, every sweet spot, where to extract every sound he needs.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Tonio]

Amazing Joe would use Fibersyn !! Thanks for sharing Isaac.

The gig eronimics does rule over anything else.

T

[Tumbatimba]

Joe owns only one set - the same ones he bought about 35 years ago.
Joe's Bongos are a real hybrid now.
He's owned these( same as in the picture) since the mid 70s!
I have a shot of the bongos somewhere.
They're original LP Gen I Mahogany Bongos.

Many years ago, he thought the hardware, especially he felt the bottoms were
too heavy. He replaced the bottom hardware for custom JCR - cuban style
bottoms. Caly at JCR also thinned out the wood a bit inside,
so their not as thick as before. He uses one Mule skin on the Macho and a Remo Fiberskyn
for the Hembra. I asked him why the Fiberskyn and this was his answer:
- " The Fiberskyn isn't really a better sound, but I gig too much to have to wait
for the better mule skin to get fully broken in a few months down the line.
It's also less tune up time on stage. It's just convenient
for working. "

Thanks Isaac ! What would an LP gen 1 bongo from the 70's cost ?

[Omelenko]

Joe Gonzalez is one of the tastiest bongoceros in Latin music, him and Dandy Rodriguez. I saw Joe a few years ago with the Chico O'Farril big band in Mahattan. I love his sound and technique. One of the finest !
Dario