California Series Tumba Drum

Making the shells for each California Series Tumba Drum is no easy task. The lumber has to be hand-selected from the finest air-dried quarter-sawn Red Appalachian oak. Each stave is meticulously cut and bent by hand, then steel rings are hand-hammered into place, before it is set aside to cure for months. The drum shells are then hand-glued, again hammered to shape and turned by an artisan who has made these shells the old-fashioned way for more than 20 years. By the time the tumba drums are sanded to a baby-soft finish, nearly one full year has passed. That's the way it goes when you refuse to compromise on quality.

Contour crown hoop
These drum hoops feature a unique design with traditional looks and easy-play functionality.

Steel side plate
These are made from heavy-gauge steel and fixed using steel carriage bolts and steel backing plates.

Solid Stave red oak
The highest grade quarter-sawn North American red oak is used for each and every hand-cut stave.

Custom made
The bottom rings are individually fitted to each Gon Bops conga drum by artisans who hammer each ring into place. This provides additional strength.