We’re excited to showcase our latest films, featuring some of the great new products we’ve recently introduced! New clips include our beautiful new Roberto Quintero Fiberglass congas and bongos, authentic Brazilian-made Caxixi, Timbale Snare and our incredibly light Pandeiro line. Stay tuned as we continue to post more and more vid features!
https://www.youtube.com/user/GonBopsTube/featured
Gon Bops Welcomes the incomparable Itamar Doari!
Israeli percussionist Itamar Doari is one of the most versatile and talented players in the world today, blending various Middle Eastern instruments with the Western drumset in a unique and exciting way. He maintains complex darbuka patterns while holding down incredible drumset grooves and has caught the attention of musicians and composers worldwide. We’re extremely proud to welcome this amazing artist to our growing, elite artist family!
2018 Winter NAMM proved to be Gon Bops’ Best NAMM showing ever! With premiering our new Roberto Quintero Fiberglass Congas and Bongos, this year’s booth was accented by ‘red-sparkle’ and Roberto himself was on hand to demo his great new drums. The finest percussionists in the world were there including masters Alex Acuna & Walfredo de los Reyes Sr and Gon Bops ‘New’ generation of incredible talent – conguero phenom Eliel Lazo, Timbaleros Luisito Quintero and Daniel Rodriguez, and our newest member to our family, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, the extremely talented Carolina Cohen! Stay tuned to Gon Bops for news on the upcoming video of the amazing spontaneous performances that went down at the show!
Also, huge hits were Gon Bops newest products, our muli-colored Fiesta Cajons, 8″ Timbale Snare, Crasher Deluxe, Brazilian-made Caxixi, Hickory Claves, Fiesta Wood Shakers and lastly, our versatile Timbale Hardware Set!
Thanks to all who attended the show and lent their great vibes to Gon Bops!!
We’re very exicited to announce the addition of the following instruments, to be premiered at Winter NAMM, 2018!
Roberto Quintero Signature Drums
Designed with Master Conguero Roberto Quintero, these beautiful drums produce deep, resonant bass tones and loud, cutting highs … as only fiberglass drums can deliver. All drums feature premium Fiberglass shells, CA Contour Hardware, REMO Skyndeep Heads. Crafted in Thailand.
Fiesta Cajons
Available in 4 fresh, new colors, with sound and quality well above their price point. All 4 new models feature internal, adjustable snares, large rubber feet for superior isolation and a size and form factor that is beginner friendly. Crafted in Thailand.
8” Timbale Snare
Blending a traditional Latin timbale with a sensitive, long-range snare throw-off, our 8″ Timbale snare provides the ability to play cutting timbale fills with a snare back-beat at your fingertips. Crafted in Taiwan from premium lightweight aluminum w/custom synthetic head.
Crasher Deluxe
Ships with two sets of blades (stainless steel & aluminum), for a choice between loud and cutting, or soft, white-noise effects. Includes Gon Bops V-Grip mount for the strongest, most- secure hold possible. Crafted in Taiwan.
Caxixi
100% hand woven in Brazil from natural, sustainable materials. The combination of wild banana tree seeds striking the hard gourd skin base produces lively, organic sounds to provide excellent rhythmic accompaniment and color. Sold as individual shakers.
Hickory Claves
Crafted from select choice Hickory wood, these bright, high-pitched claves deliver the same cut and timbre as traditional Rosewood claves. Crafted in Canada.
Fiesta Wood Shakers
A 3-pack of Shakers designed to offer a variety of sounds for percussionists at all levels. Smartly-priced, these are easy to add to your percussive arsenal, no matter what your budget. Made in China.
Bongo Duffel Bag
Constructed from fully-padded, water-resistant fabric with silky-smooth lined interior, it offers excellent protection for your valuable instruments. Made in China.
Timbale Hardware Set
A complete premium solution for mounting bells, blocks, cymbals, and more to a Timbale set. Offers maximum versatility and a rock-solid platform for professional musicians. Crafted in Taiwan.
Thank you to everyone for supporting Gon Bops this year! 2018 promises more great things, including some amazing new products so keep your eyes and ears here for more updates. Thanks to all our amazingly talented artists for all your inspiration! Here’s to the New Year!!
GB artist Michael Carabello is currently featured with the Original Santana linup in a feature PBS special presentation concert. See this fantastic show featuring Michael with original members Gregg Rolie, Neil Schon, Michael Shrieve and Carlos! The featured photo here of Michael was from Woodstock, playing Gon Bops!!
For the past 30 years/plus, Brad Dutz has performed with many of music’s most recognizable names, has performed on some the biggest film soundtracks, has written and recorded releases as a leader and has published many educational works. His name has been associated with everyone from David Benoit to Alanis Morrisette, LeAnn Rimes to Rickie Lee Jones and Jeff Bridges to Willie Nelson. Just a few of the hit film titles featuring Brad’s percussion artistry include The Bourne Legacy, Cowboys and Aliens, Syriana, Star Trek 5, Ocean’s Eleven and Anchorman. Dutz has conducted clinics and master classes for countless educational institutions, has performed numerous times at the Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention and continues to push the musical envelope with exciting, inventive and unusual ensemble configurations. Gon Bops is proud to welcome this talented artist to our artist family!
Congratulations to percussion legend and long-time Gon Bops Signature artist Walfredo de Los Reyes Sr.! We recently presented Walfredo with the Gon Bops Lifetime Achievement award for his invaluable contribution to the craft. We’re honored to work with Walfredo and thankful for his knowledge and expertise. Our thanks extend to all of our amazing GB artists!
2014 marks a milestone in the world of percussion instrument manufacturing. It was 60 years ago this year, that a Cuban-American named Mariano Bobadilla first started his company Gon Bops, humbly in his father’s old garage in downtown Los Angeles, California. Along with featuring a classic Cuban conga shape, Bobadilla’s innovations broke new barriers, including revolutionary hardware design, exciting new instruments and other creations now considered standard today. Some of the world’s most iconic and influential percussionists made Gon Bops their instrument-of-choice including Mongo Santamaria, Francisco Aquabella, Armando Peraz, Poncho Sanchez and still to this day, Gon Bops Signature artist – Alex Acuna.
Says Alex, “50 years ago was my first experience with Gon Bops when I played in the LA latin scene with Perez Prado. I continued to play with them into the early 70s with Elvis Presley at the Las Vegas Hilton and then on my first tour with Weather Report. There’s live footage on YouTube with Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, Chester Thompson and Alphonso Johnson, where I’m playing my black Gon Bops Congas, a Tambora and a set of Bongos. They were and still are the best looking and best sounding percussion instruments, by far. I’m still using them on movie soundtracks and last week, I used my Gon Bops congas, djembe, original Bata set and my cajons on the new “Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes” soundtrack. Looking forward to 50 more years!”
Throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s, Gon Bops rose to become the leader in Latin Percussion, including the predominant percussion instrument at the infamous Woodstock festival. But as the 70s concluded, American manufacturers began moving production offshore in efforts to reduce labor costs and Bobadilla’s effort to remain a true American-made instrument became more and more difficult, eventually causing him to close his doors.
Fortunately for us all, in 2001 the Drum Workshop drum company bought the company with all it’s patents, bringing it back to world prominence. Daniel De Los Reyes: “I am the middle child in a family of 5 kids, with my brother Walfredo Jr. being the oldest. He was able to work before me and afford to purchase his own drums and one day, he came home with two beautiful congas. They were the best looking, most comfortable to play and best sounding drums in the house. They had very dark skin on them and sang every time you played them. For the longest time these drums stayed in my mind as the drums I wanted to have have one day. Guess what? Those drums were Gon Bops and now, I use Gon Bops on tour with the GRAMMY Award Winning Zac Brown Band! Congrats to the GB family on their 60th anniversary.”
In 2010, the Gon Bops’ helm was passed on to a new owner – Sabian, a company highly regarded for its dedication to innovation and true craftsmanship. Looking to the future, Gon Bops is expanding distribution and is focused on continuing groundbreaking designs that fulfill the needs of today’s discerning, eclectic group of musicians. Terry Bozzio says: “The first time I played a Gon Bops conga back in 1971, I got a great sound…and I’m not a conga player! I bought them on the spot! Now I use the whole line! So easy on my hands for a stick player like me!”
Eagles’ Drummer/Percussionist Scott Crago says: “My introduction to Gon Bops was playing on Don Henley’s original 1970s congas, during our Hell Freezes Over rehearsals. Ever since that time, they’ve helped me develop my own personal sound and have even helped me grow as a performer. I can’t imagine playing any other brand.” Legendary percussionist Walfredo Reyes Sr. states: “Congratulations to Gon Bops on 60 years of incredible workmanship. I have played many different percussion instruments throughout my musical career in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the United States on recordings, live shows and clinics. I play Gon Bops because they afford me the ability to get the sound that I am looking for with today’s ingenuity.”
Gon Bops thanks everyone around the world who’ve supported us for the past 60 years and like Alex says, here’s to the next 50…and many more!
Gon Bops and master percussionist Luisito Quintero recently teamed up to produce a series of product videos, highlighting the legendary, authentic sound across the entire line of Gon Bops instruments.
“It was fantastic to work with an incredible talent like Luisito and to hear these instruments played the way they’re meant to be played,” commented Gon Bops Marketing Manager Luis Cardoso. “Being able to deliver these fantastic videos to our partners around the globe is a huge win for everyone.”
The new videos are available widely at Vimeo.com/Channels/GonBops or YouTube.com/GonBopsTube.
