congaplace.com

Posted: **Tue Sep 18, 2012 12:56 pm**

So I've just won the bidding on this baby. Sitting in storage since purchased approx 1970. A retired guitarist/bassist had them locked away with a whole bunch of other stuff. Immaculate condition, never been played out. Has some signs of use though, I can see the macho is down more on one side than the other, so at one point or another its been used. Still, given its 40 + years of age if not more, its in amazing condition.
Wood looks like Mahogany, though I thought this model was traditionally made in Walnut...
Pics below.

PS - Big thank you to Dario aka Omelenko for the feedback & confirmation regarding this bongo.

Posted: **Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:13 pm**

Nice one! Looks like walnut to me. Also looks like big hembra. 9' ??

Posted: **Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:38 pm**

Great & Sweet acquisition Marcelo,
Looks as if they made it just yesterday. 5 lug design is unique and not seen very much nowadays. By the clean design of the shells it seems as if it may have been slated to have an alma installed in that notched section like some El Piernas models have but its good that they left it in its natural beautifully finished design. Enjoy them and give us a feedback on the way they sound. Peace.

Jorge

Posted: **Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:56 pm**

Thanks Psych1 & Jorge,
Yeah, I always thought this model was Walnut, but in the light in the pics it looks like Mahogany to me. Wont know till I get it in person unless someone can confirm what I thought, that this model was made solely in walnut?
Correct, 9" hembra, description is 7" & 9" heads.
Its the first of its kind I have come across in this country in my 20 years on the scene, vintage Gon Bops are extremely rare here. Both for bongo and congas. I only know of a hand full of people who own a set of old school GB congas.
I think these are an awesome find given their age and condition. Will be interesting to see what condition the skins are in once I receive them.

Re the notch in the wood, this is common with the design, Ive seen a few (in pics) with the notch. Valje also put a notch like this into their early bongo.

Posted: **Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:14 pm**

Marcelo,

Very nice score. Those are very desirable bongos and very uncommon. In my opinion, Gon Bops best bongos. I have had a couple of sets through the years. They are becoming impossible to find these days. They are from the 70's late 80's. Attached find one of my sets. Big size bongos 7 x 9".

Suena tu bongo!

Dario

Posted: **Wed Sep 19, 2012 12:02 am**

I have never been a Gon Bops kind of person but I love this bongo set.
Looks like the "macho" has (5) tuning keys, fantastic. Wonderful score
Abakua, congratulations.

Posted: **Wed Sep 19, 2012 2:53 am**

Thats a beaut!

Posted: **Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:53 pm**

Thanks guys, Im very happy to have won the auction on these babies.
They arrived today and I must say its hard to believe the immaculate condition considering how old they are. They are beautiful.
I might use them for one gig then put them away to maintain their pristine condition and value. Original skins on them look good also, maybe a touch of manteca de corojo for the skins, buts that about it. It will be a while before I get to use them though, my 3 current projects Im gigging with Im the tumbador, so for now my solid shell Cuban tumbas are getting a workout and a half!

Pics from this afternoon:

Posted: **Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:31 pm**

What a beauty .
I would play the f@ck out of these and never bother with the prestine condition or valeu .
To me an instrument should be played .

But each his own afcourse!

Wanna sell ? :mrgreen: