We are happy to announce that California Series Congas and Bongos are once again available from the finest drums shops in the world. The only hand-crafted congas and bongos from a major North-American manufacturer, Gon Bops California series drums have consistently set the bar by which all other percussion instruments are measured. Available in 5 sizes (from Super Quinto to Super Tumba) and two spectacular finishes, these legendary drums are the real deal, on-stage and in-studio. Play one today!

Named after acclaimed percussionist and educator Efrain Toro, widely recognized as one of the finest and most complete percussionists in the world, the El Toro is the latest model from the Gon Bops Cajon Shop in Peru. Crafted from solid Peruvian Mohena hardwood, the El Toro Cajon features inner guitar strings for authentic Flamenco Cajon sound. And yes, it looks and sounds simply stunning!

One of its most striking characteristics is the angled front contour design, which contributes to great bass and excellent snap. It really is a Cajon that’s easy to sound great on. Like all Gon Bops Peruvian Cajons, it comes with a free gig bag; in this case the bag is form fitted to fit snugly around the El Toro slanted front end.

Available in a jet-black matte finish, the El Toro delivers an astonishing range of tone, from snappy highs to deep, resonant lows. Large rubber feet ensure ample bass tones don’t get lost in the floor. Hand-made and meticulously tested in Peru by skilled craftsmen, this is a beautiful sounding instrument that’s built to last, it’s sure to be appreciated by novice and professional level musicians alike.

Gon Bops is pleased to announce the release of a strikingly unique and innovative Timbale set designed with legendary Timbalero Orestes Vilato. Available as a 14”/15” set with stand, these beautiful instruments are the culmination of years of work by Vilato and Gon Bops.

“There were a number of objectives I wanted to achieve with this Timbale, primarily weight, sound and look.” comments Vilato, “First, I wanted to design a lighter instrument, which I believe is important to working musicians who must transport their own instruments.”

The lightness is achieved primarily by manufacturing shells from aluminum, and by utilizing a shallow pan design; both features are exclusive to Gon Bops among major percussion manufacturers. But the aluminum shells provide more than lightness, they also deliver warm cascara and plenty of volume.

“The original timbales played by slaves in Cuba were often made from cooking pails, thus the name, ‘Paila’ which literally means ‘pail,’” says Vilato. “The Timbale derives from the Timpani, and came about as an attempt to make the Timpani smaller and more portable. In a sense, these new Timbales are a modern extension of that goal as we strive for lighter, shallower Timbales that sound very traditional.”

“The shallow pan design is important to Orestes’ style of playing. He likes to play under the Timbale to widen his palette of sound and for the spectacle as well,” says Gon Bops head of manufacturing John Teague. “The shorter pan makes this easier to accomplish and also lends the instrument a quicker response.”

Perhaps the most important objective in designing the new signature Timbale was building an instrument with classical Timbale sound.

“Timbale technique did not develop from drum rudiments, it came from Timpani technique,” says Vilato. “Today you most often see drumset guys playing Timbale, using much heavier drumsticks, and playing with a speed and volume that is simply not part of the tradition. To me, it doesn’t even sound like Timbale. Classical Timbale technique is simple and clean, it involves single sticking, not rolls, and the sticks used were very light, probably made from the wood from a Guava tree. This gives you that sharp, whip-like Timbale sound, something we very much wanted to achieve with this instrument.”