i need your advise, please - gon bobs conga

[oscar]

i`ve been watching these beautys on the internet
i would like your opinion about whether
it is a good buy, i want to changue mi lp aspire for somenthing better.
muchas graciasCongas: Gon Bops. : W954626283556
Primary Photo

Congas: Gon Bops. The Original and The Best. Pro Series. No longer available in OZ! 10in Quinta and 11in Conga on their own Heavy Duty stand . Excellent Tone. Originally cost $2000. V.G.C., $950.00 Drum Palace Don

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -14501.gif

[oscar]

this is the picture

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 283556.jpg

[Chuman]

Gon Bops are certainly good drums, but I'm not so sure I would want to get a 10" and 11" set.
I'd much rather go with a standard size quinto and conga.
I think you could get a couple of pretty decent drums for nearly $1000
Just my opinion.....

[Raymond]

Agree with the comments. The drums look nice. (Used though).

They are probably a "collectors item." But if you want to upgrade you could get pro sizes, even with a new set of new Gon Bops, for the amount they are asking for them.

But if you want to keep the same size as your Aspires and you like this set a lot, then, go for it. (Expensive though in my opinion).

Tell us what you decide! Saludos!

[onile]

Alafia Abures!
I hope that you are all well and in an abundance of blessings!

Collectors Congas is what they are, no longer produced by Gon Bops.
Actually, if you break it down, they are running you $475 per drum + stand!
The drums ARE used however, and therefore you may need some $ to polish them up a bit.
I could see you possibly doing as I did with a set of my drums and stripping them down, refinishing them and replacing the heads. A bit of an investment, but if you decide to do so, you'll have a beautiful set of vintage Gon Bops!

The question is, will you begin playing out right away and will they be your main axe for gigging? Based on the pic above, they do seem in good condition, any cracks? you should find this out before you proceed with a purchase of used equipment!

Many blessings!

Onile!

[burke]

For what its worth I paid $500 (USD) for my Mariano GB's. They had been very nicely refinished and new heads put on.

I really don't know where Mariano's fit in the quality spectrum (I'm guessing mid to low end for Bops) - but they sure look like the set in your photo - the hardware on mine is likely a bit cheaper.

One of mine is now showing a small opening in one of the staves but no effect on the sound. I think they are a little unhappy to have been moved from the sunny south to the frozen north. However I have a tube of PL premium and I'm not afraid to use it (I've built a couple of junk boats - if it works for them it'll work on a drum - don't plan to use my congas as boats anytime soon).

They replaced a nasty "aspire' and pretty nice LP Classic.

I think they sound great and for hobby player like me they'll do for a long time.

[taikonoatama]

Just a heads up to everyone that our friend oscar is in Melbourne, Australia, so the prices are likely in Aussie $:

950 Australia Dollars = 740 United States Dollars



Edited By taikonoatama on 1172200537

[jorge]

I paid $88 USD in 1972 for a brand new 11" Gon Bops conga that looks exactly like the one in the picture. That was not on sale, it was the normal selling price at Sam Ash in NYC. $2000 Australian new? No way. Original color of mine was darker, but refinished with clear polyurethane, it is the same color mahogany as the ones pictured. The congas in the picture were not their top of the line drums, they are the lower-mid line. It sounded pretty nice and warm but did not project like a Skin on Skin or Valje. I would not use the 11" as a tumbadora, it sounds much better as a mid-tuned conga. The hardware is not strong enough to use as a real quinto, it will bend if the skin is not real thin. The aluminum rings are thin and cheap and don't provide any structural support to the shell. In winter when the wood shrinks, the rings sometimes buzz when you hit the drum. If you move the rings toward the belly of the drum to make them tight in the winter, the rivets may pop in the summer when the wood expands again. I know the price has gone up severalfold since then, but $740 USD sounds like a high price for those well worn, pretty old drums. You can do better. If cost is the main issue, get 1 good drum now and save up for the second drum.



Edited By jorge on 1172078376

[bongo]

I've played gon bops for 30 years and agree on most points made here, not all.

Old gon bops can be great or just so so in sound, some sounded better than others. I think you got to have a good skin. Most gon bops had pretty good skins, but they can wear out with time.

I've found the hardware to be strong enough for quinto tuning, no problem. True, the hooks aren't as strong as Skin on Skins, but I've cranked 'em down pretty hard and never had one break. They do have problems with the chrome pitting and chipping off. It is expensive to get them rechromed, I spent $250 on my two old drums.

True, some old Gon Bops the banding will get loose and rattle. I've seen the same on Valje.

It is true these are the cheaper chrome hardware model, still pretty good, but not as expensive as the hardware with the flat bar. The Mariano series was their cheepest line, still good shells, but the hardware was not chromed, it was painted black.

Old gon bops tend to go out of round, but can still sound pretty good. Valje will too, and so did Skin on Skin until Jay started putting steel rings in them.

I'd guess these drums are mahogany, favored by some for its mellow sound. I prefer the red oak, it's louder.

As far as the sizes goes, I take exception to bigger quintos being more 'professional'. Lots of us like smaller quintos. I know the big ones have advantages, and are certainly more in fashion now, but does that make them more professional? No.

Why don't you buy a new set of DW California Series Gon Bops? Akbar, formally of Valje and Sol Percussion is overseeing their manufacture. They sound and look really good and have old workshop style craftmanship.

[kongo]

I agree with bongo. IMHO, a new set of DW California Gon Bops will out class these ventage tubs. However, if you are a collector, then it might be a good long term investment. Good luck.

kongo