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[H2] NEW WILLY CALDERON SIGNATURE FIESTA TIMBALES!

Our new Willy Calderon Signature Fiesta Timbales are color-coated steel timbales, the first ever presented in two-color timbales, featuring the Read More

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Alex Acuna

Willy Calderon

Lenny Castro

Caro Cohen

Jamey Haddad

Eliel Lazo

Luisito Quintero

Roberto Quintero

Walfredo De Los Reyes Sr.

Orestes Vilato

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Our new Willy Calderon Signature Fiesta Timbales are color-coated steel timbales, the first ever presented in two-color timbales, featuring the 14”-Macho in Neon Yellow and the 15”-Hembra in Magenta. Designed to have a bold, eye-catching stage presence, these timbales feature wide lug placement and a dry, warm cascara sound the blends with any style of music. They come with a lightweight but heavy-duty, tilting chrome stand and are smartly priced for any player’s budget. A bold evolution in timbale design, combining modern color aesthetics with classic Latin tones!
Per Willy:
“I’ve never played a timbal that looks like the future and sounds classic at the same time. The sound of paint over steel gives it a very distinctive warm and crisp sound I didn’t think it could have and under the stage lights, it glows! I believe this timbal will forever change the way timbales are made going forward.”
AVAILABLE NOW!!

Gon Bops has been busy early in the year, discovering highly influential drummers and percussionists and today, we’re excited to announce the addition of these new talented artists to our growing artist family!
From Puerto Rico, we’re excited to welcome these great players!
GADWIN VARGAS
RAUL ROSARIO
GABBY CINTRON
From Upstate New York:
JEFF TRIPOLI
FREDDY COLON

Check them out on their artist profiles and help us welcome them to Gon Bops!

This is a very difficult goodbye for us at Sabian & Gon Bops.  On August 28th, 2025, our Sabian & Gon Bops family lost a giant in the world of percussion. The great Walfredo De Los Reyes Sr. was so many things to us that it’s hard to put into words our grief saying goodbye to this great man. Along with his legendary accomplishments as a musician, he was, most importantly our dear friend. He was a mentor…both in music and in life. Walfredo truly loved music and loved to share his knowledge. He welcomed everyone with his big smile, quick wit and open arms. When you met him, you immediately felt like you’d met before…that’s the way he was. Considering all of his amazing credits, he never boasted. Rather, he shared his talent to anyone who showed interest. Walfredo was the originator of combining drums and percussion into a setup, playing together what we know commonly today as the ‘hybrid’ percussion set. He influenced the greatest players among us, including many of Gon Bops and Sabian’s top artists. Walfredo LOVED to play and always possessed an almost ‘child-like’ joy when approaching his instrument. He enjoyed nothing more than sit with another player and share ideas and grooves. His knowledge was so extensive that he was called upon to play with many of the greats in music. Walfredo would often, even before his morning coffee, head downstairs to his studio to play.
It’s difficult to imagine life without Walfredo.  We will miss him forever and he will always remain, our ‘Maestro’. RIP, dear friend.
Walfredo De Los Reyes Sr. was an internationally renowned percussionist and drummer. Besides recording his own albums, he recorded with artists in both Cuba and the United States such as Cuarteto Las D’Aída, Doris de la Torre, Tito Puente, Rolando La Serie, Rudy Calzado, Louie Bellson, Cachao, Alex Acuna, Tito Rodriquez, Chico O’Farrill, Jose Fajardo, Linda Ronstadt, and Steve Winwood.
Performing in Las Vegas for many years, Walfredo Sr. backed up performers Milton Berle, Wayne Newton, Tony Bennett, George Burns, Sammy Davis Jr., Robert Goulet, Rich Little, Bernadette Peters, Rita Moreno, Juliet Prowse, Ben Vereen, and Dionne Warwick, to name a few.
Walfredo, Sr. was one of Cuba’s most influential drummers and one of the pioneers to play both percussion and drumset simultaneously. His diverse background and experience made him one of the most in-demand clinicians and educators in the country today. Walfredo received recognition/awards including: The Modern Drummer Festival 2005, Sabian Artist Lifetime Achievement Award 2006 (presented by Robert Zildjian), SFjazz, and Drum Magazine Clinician of the Year 2014. In 2017, Walfredo was the 1st recipient of Gon Bops’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Andy Zildjian presenting Walfredo his award

Our 20th episode on our award-winning podcast, the Percussion Loft features the great percussionist from Argentina – Carolina Cohen! Caro, as she’s known professionally, came to us years ago and we were instantly moved by her talent, ultimately featuring her at NAMM one year as a featured performer at our popular Sabian/Gon Bops live event. Caro has performed with many great artists in her career, traveling the world, giving master classes and concerts. She leads her own group, “Caro Cohen Cuarteto” and remains one of the most in-demand percussionists in Argentina. Last year, in celebration of our 70th anniversary, we premiered the video ‘El Madero’, featuring Caro along with our other exceptional players, where she lead off the solo sections, performing a blazing conga solo! Check that out on our YouTube channel as well as our website’s Home page. We’re excited to welcome her to the Percussion Loft. Also joining us in this episode, assisting with translation is her father, musician/vocalist Rickie – Thank you Rickie!!

Gon Bops is proud to announce the release of two innovative new accessories designed to elevate the playing experience for today’s percussionist: the Cajon Pedal and Universal Metal Conga Risers – Set of 3.
Developed with both performance and practicality in mind, the Gon Bops Cajon Pedal transforms a cajon into a dynamic bass drum alternative. It includes a full foot pedal, chain-driven drive shaft, soft beater, and velcro cajon mount for secure attachment. This pedal offers responsive, quiet operation—perfect for acoustic or hybrid percussion setups.
“This is an exceptionally responsive and smooth cajon pedal which feels great to play,” says Rich Mangicaro, Gon Bops Artist Relations Manager / Product Specialist. “It’s sturdily built for a lifetime of playing enjoyment!”Also now available is the Universal Metal Conga Risers – Set of 3, designed to raise any standard conga ½ inch (15mm) off the ground to enhance bass resonance when playing seated. Made from durable metal and featuring rubber pads for secure grip, these discreet, compact risers offer an easy tonal upgrade without altering the player’s setup.
Both new products are available for immediate shipment.
Here’s links to our new YouTube Playlist, featuring both Alex Acuna and Abe Rounds, playing our new Cajon Pedal and also, our Cajon Pedal Assembly video!   Check em out!

GON BOPS’ PODCAST ‘PERCUSSION LOFT’ NOW RATED IN THE TOP 10 PERCUSSION PODCASTS BY FEEDSPOT!!
Our 19th episode is now LIVE, featuring Gon Bops Artist/LA percussionist MB Gordy. MB is one of the top percussionists in the Los Angeles recording scene, having performed on hundreds of TV and film scores including American Sniper, Fantastic Four and The Terminator. Live, MB has worked with The Doobie Brothers, Josh Groban and Game of Thrones Live, to name a few. In 2019, his band Opium Moon won a Grammy as that year’s best New Age Album, was nominated again in 2022 and in 2025, he won his 2nd Grammy for his performance on the Best Global Music Album – “Alkebulan II”, by Matt B. Order of musical play in this episode: “Open Sky”-Wouter Kellerman; “Folsom Prison Blues” – String Revolution; “How Can I Pray When The Beloved Is All I See” – Opium Moon; “Birimintingo” – Jim “Kimo” West.

Chatchai Chandontrikij   1950 – 2024
December 9, 2024
It is with great sadness, on behalf of Sabian and Gon Bops that we express our sincere condolences on the passing of Chatchai Chandontrikit – the President and CEO of CMC Music, in Thailand.
Chatchai was one of the true innovators and master craftsmen of the art of drum making.  We had the honor of working closely with him for many years and today, our hearts are heavy with this loss.   Our entire selection of instruments are what they are today because of his talent and we remain eternally thankful to his amazing contribution to music.
Our thoughts go out to his family during this difficult time.
With great respect,
Everyone from Sabian and Gon Bops

In celebration of Gon Bops 70th Anniversary, we’re proud to feature “El Madero” – a celebration of some of Gon Bops finest players from around the world!  An idea conceptualized over 10 years ago, we’ve now created a film with some of our best players, featuring the original music of our esteemed Signature artist, Alex Acuna, co-written with legendary bassist, Abraham Laboriel!  “El Madero” brings together Gon Bops artists from all over the world, in this very special video celebration of Gon Bops’ 70th milestone  birthday.
The Gon Bops legend began in 1954 in California when Mexican-American Mariano Bobadilla would go on to become one of the most highly-regarded conga builders in the percussion industry.  In 2010, cymbal-maker SABIAN Inc. purchased the iconic brand from DW.  In the words of Sabian’s President, Andy Zildjian:  “Gon Bops instruments are a perfect blend of vintage craftsmanship and innovative thinking. Since its founding in 1954, the company has pioneered several features and improvements that have forever changed Latin instruments…the pursuit of the best sound is what our craftsmen work for every day. We know the fit is perfect, above all, because sound matters.”
“El Madero” features Regina Acuna on vocals, Alex Acuna on cajon and djembe, Brandon Wilkins on flute and saxophone, Luisito Quintero on timbales, Roberto Quintero on congas, Walter Rodriguez on bongos, Lenny Castro on tambourine and congas, Nathanael Molina on piano, Bernie Dresel on drums, Will Phillips on bucket shekere, Ignacio Berroa on drums, Jamey Haddad on tambourine, Abo Gumroyan on bass, Caro Cohen on congas, Eliel Lazo on congas, Willy Calderon on timbales and Yasmane Santos and Gigio Parodi on bongos.
Here’s a link to our YouTube channel to view the new video:
Gon Bops 70th Anniversary video – “El Madero”
A RAM57 Productions Film
Directed by Rich Mangicaro
Music composed by Alex Acuna and Abraham Laboriel
Edited by Rich Mangicaro and Chris Kim
Music production and arrangements by Alex Acuna, Abraham Laboriel and Euro Zambrano
Recording engineers: Kevin Clayton, Zach Acuna, Euro Zambrano
Mixed by Arturo Cabrera
Executive Producer: Gon Bops, Inc.
© 2024 Gon Bops, Inc.

Gon Bops is excited to announce the release of our new Cuban Cajon! Its unique trapezoidal shape ensures ease of use as well as being visually stunning. Made from premium quality wood, delivering a rich and resonant sound. Produces deep, punchy bass tones and clear, articulate highs. No internal snare wires, ergonomically designed for maximum comfort during long playing sessions. Smooth, rounded corners and a polished finish enhancing both playability and aesthetics. Built to withstand rigorous use, ideal for both live performances and studio recordings. Its portable, versatile, lightweight and compact design makes it easy to transport. Includes a custom bag offering further protection. Suitable for a variety of music genres, from Afro-Cuban to Jazz, Pop and more. Provides a woody alternative for your conga patterns!   Visit the cajon page on our website for more details and also, to view our new video featuring Gon Bops artist Willy Calderon, expertly playing this new cajon!
Gon Bops Cuban Cajon – model # CJCU12
Available Now!

Our 17th episode features the gifted Scott Crago! Scott is celebrating 30 years this year as the drummer/percussionist for America’s most iconic band, the Eagles – as well as celebrating 30 years as a Gon Bops artist! We discuss his highly visible gig and sharing the drums and percussion duties with the great Don Henley for so many years. Scott shares valuable insight of what goes into playing with one of the world’s biggest bands, not only musically but professionally, and how he approaches his role in the band. We also review other great artists he’s worked with and preview some of the songs he’s not only played on, but co-wrote with both Don Henley and also Stevie Nicks. Order of songs sampled in this episode: “All My Life” – Venice; “I Want To Walk With You” – Toni Childs; “Everything Is Different Now” – Don Henley; “That Made Me Stronger” – Stevie Nicks. Scott joins us from his hotel in the UK, on the Eagles’ Long Goodby Final Tour.