California Series Bongos

The shells of these Gon Bops California Series bongos are made of the finest grade solid North American Oak staves. The bongo drums are meticulously cut and bent by hand, then hand-glued and hammered into place before a lengthy curing process. Months later the bongo drums are ready to be turned by a drum artisan who has been making these shells the traditional way for decades. The shells are then sanded to a silky smooth surface. The bongo drums are then equipped with Remo NuSkyn heads, and fitted with Contour Crown hoops that provide both traditional looks and comfortable playability.

These percussion instruments exemplify the no-compromise Cuban-style bongo drums that have made Gon Bops the go-to instruments for pro percussionists since 1954. The sound is that of traditional folkloric Afro-Cuban drums: warm, woody, with a short to medium sustain that's a good fit with the demands of ensemble playing.