GIANT BONGOS/PETITE CONGAS

[juancho]

Did not know where to put these so I put posted these on this site........I think they are awesome
Any comments?

[Mike]

Those are legendary Gon Bops.
As far as I can remember Guem from Algeria played those in the 1980s,
but I am notto sure about that.
Are the ones in the picture yours?

[pavloconga]

They look like compact congas once made by Gon Bop.
A teacher I studied with around 15 years ago had a a pair of these, they were great to play and had really nice skins. He sold them and later he really regretted selling them. They're pretty hard to find.
As a side note I was in Indonesia recently and met a guy playing in a Latin band that made a pair of compact congas (see photo) in the same style. An innovative solution! and great for easy transport and set up. I sat in with them on a few numbers and they sounded fine.
cheers
pavlo

[taikonoatama]

They're called gongas:

"Mariano is also known for inventing several features and improvements that have forever changed traditional Latin instruments. ... Some of his other inventions were the Gonga drum, a compact set of congas with a stand, which was one third the size of a regular congas and utilized a collapsible resonator to enable a full sound. Gongas were easier to transport and more compact, so they quickly became a favorite of many local working musicians. In addition, they could be combined with a drumset or used for field marching bands."

http://www.gonbops.com/about.asps

[Psych1]

Gon Bops is making them again - you can buy new ones. Probably not the same sound as the old ones but -------

[el-pulpo59]

right!

i've got one set of the old models.
the new ones has diameter 10 and 11 inches.it doesn't sound so good.

these drums(old or new models) are not sounding exactly like a real conga.they are good to go to rehearsals or if you've got a gig playing the set (timbales and congas together).

what i did to get a better sound:i'have changed the rims for two lp confort curve.
i've put 2 skins remo fiberskin 3.
i'm tuning the conga in C and the tumba in F.
now it's almost a real sound.

if you tune highter,they sounds badly.










the two drums(old models) got the same diameter of 11 inches.

buy,fred el pulpo

[el-pulpo59]

on the picture,it seems that the guy has make copies by cutting 2 lp aspire congas.

why not?that's easier than finding original models for a very expensive price....

saludos,fred el pulpo

[Congadelica]

el pulpo has observant eyes ..they do look to de aspires . Pavlo can you confirm. Im sure the GB`s sound good . but WTF . why not just use the real deal ?