2/12/2011

Gon Bops

    Here on the West Coast, no other drum recalls the years past like Gon Bops! Made in Los Angeles California,  these excellent drums can be seen everywhere. I have seen photos of every famous conguero playing Gon Bops; from Mongo to Peraza, Barreto to Aguabella. Gon Bops grace the cover of many a vintage album, from R&B to salsa, latin jazz to acid rock. Before LP, Gon Bops were the drum to have. And Gon Bops can still be seen everywhere; at rumbas, drum circles, classes, etc.

      These particular Gon Bops were just dropped off at my house this very morning to receive skins form my favorite supplier, my man Micheal over at L&H percussion. This set of Gon Bops has such a wonderful patina of use. Just look at this tumba;
   This drum has been used but not abused! Played but not waylayed! Look at the scrapes caused by dozens of feet tapping the beat! Look at the golden hue of the aged wood that still sounds so good! The metal might have a little rust, but it won't bust! The bands are still tight and no cracks anywhere, though the tumba is a little egged shaped on the top, it still sounds great! What makes this old set of congas even more special is that they are a matching set bought together and never separated, just like a romantic elderly couple growing old together but still with a twinkle in their eye and a spring in their step.

  This particular set is made from what is referred to as mahogany, which is actually Phillipine luan wood. This wood is very light in weight, and drums made from this wood are never heavy. What is so great about this wood is it creates a nice mellow tone that is never too loud or bright, just what you need for a nice sounding rumba. You never have to ask people to keep it down for the singer when playing these old mahogany Gon Bops. Gon Bops also made the quinto just the right size for rumba too, a nice tight little 9.5" that gets the tone you need for a good rumba quinto.

    Gon Bops made several styles and models of drums back in the day. I myself have an oak Gon Bops tres dos that I pair with a Valje tumba. This set up appeals to me as Valje is just as significant to the history of California percussion as Gon Bops. Also of course, Akbar Moghaddam is making the modern version of Gon Bops, which is ironic as Akbar used to be involved in making Valjes, who were Gon Bops main competitor at the time.
   Anyways, if rumba is what you are into, you could do a lot worse than  a set of vintage mahogany Gon Bops. They are such a nice sounding fun drum, that for me always recalls images of the early days of Afro-Cuban percussion in my home state of California.
  Seriously, is there anything more fun than talking about old drums? Well, except for playing them?

6 comments:

  1. First of all, I really love your blog. Been reading for about 5 months now. I have a question. One of the GP's pictured has no steel band. Do the bands serve an actual purpose, or are they just decorative? I know of a set being sold without the bands, and I wanted to do my homework.

    Thanks,

    RC

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  2. RC,
    Thanks for the comment. Regarding Gon Bops and bands. The original Gon Bops were mostly made with bands. However on some sets the bands have been removed by previous owners for whatever reasons. I restored such a drum a while back. The drum without a band in the picture above is a new Gon Bops, made by a different person and company. These newer Gon Bops are all made without bands, except the one on the bottom.

    So, regarding the set you mentioned. The drums are probably functional and serviceable as musical instruments, but most likely they are not complete and original.

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  3. Hey Jordi! Nice blog - nice to see Ross' drums so lovingly featured in it! Thanks for the great heads - they sound fantastic.
    Re: bands, my oak Gon Bops of the same vintage as Ross' drums never had bands. I think they put them on the mahogany drums back then but not the oak as a style thing.. ?
    It was great meeting you - see you soon !
    ~ Laura

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  4. PS: THIS IS POETRY!!!
    "This drum has been used but not abused! Played but not waylayed! Look at the scrapes caused by dozens of feet tapping the beat! Look at the golden hue of the aged wood that still sounds so good! The metal might have a little rust, but it won't bust! The bands are still tight and no cracks anywhere, though the tumba is a little egged shaped on the top, it still sounds great! What makes this old set of congas even more special is that they are a matching set bought together and never separated, just like a romantic elderly couple growing old together but still with a twinkle in their eye and a spring in their step."

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    Replies
    1. Yes, that is what I thought too: Very poetic, in fact those words are really able to evoke the warm tones of these vintage Gon Bops themselves!

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  5. Laura, this was a fun little project, and worth it to meet you and Ross. As for bands, the oak Gon Bop drums did not always come with bands. I have an oak Gon Bops, it has a single band with inlaid wood over it, my favorite style.

    ReplyDelete