News
Sabian buys Gon Bops
Andy Barrett Feb 2 2010, 10:13am
Canadian cymbal manufacturer scoops percussion line from Drum Workshop
Sabian has announced the purchase of the inventory, intellectual property, patents and manufacturing equipment of Gon Bops from Drum Workshop. The cymbal maker simultaneously announced the establishment of Gon Bops Incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary. As president and CEO of the entire Sabian organisation, Andy Zildjian will become CEO of Gon Bops and will be responsible for overseeing every aspect of the brand. Lane Davy, vice president at Sabian will assume the role of executive director of Gon Bops and will execute the strategies and oversee day-to-day operations. Mike Connell, executive vice president and CFO at Sabian, will assume the role of CFO of Sabian and Gon Bops and as such will oversee and manage the financial functions of both companies.
Gon Bops will be run as a separate concern from the cymbal business, with its own distribution network and artist program. Through an ongoing working relationship with Drum Workshop, manufacturing in California will continue uninterrupted. Relationships with current suppliers will continue, allowing a continuous flow of products.
“We’re excited to begin a new chapter in Sabian history,” noted 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 changed Latin instruments. We are excited about not only expanding distribution, but continuing to focus on ground-breaking designs that represent clear improvements in meeting the needs of musicians.
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.”
Top instrument designer Akbar Moghaddam continues with Gon Bops as director of production and R&D. Prior to handling Gon Bops production and R&D for Drum Workshop, Moghaddam had a long history as a hands-on instrument artisan. He began his career repairing and refurbishing percussion instruments and eventually studied manufacturing with Tom Flores, founder of Valje Percussion. In 1992, Moghaddam founded his own percussion company, Sol Percussion, where he deepened his expertise by manufacturing all aspects of the instruments.
Gon Bops was founded in 1954 and is one of the original US conga brands. The company’s mission was to take the original Cuban conga design and provide innovations and enhancements to the hardware. Today, Gon Bops manufactures an extensive line of percussion products and accessories, including congas, bongos, timbales, cajons and bells.
“We feel that Sabian is a perfect fit for Gon Bops,” noted Chris Lombardi, president and CEO, Drum Workshop. “We’re both family owned companies and share the same sense of tradition and heritage that has also made the Gon Bops brand so enduring. In addition, Sabian's international distribution channels lend themselves to a much more immediate global expansion. We’re proud to continue partnering with Sabian on the Gon Bops line by having California series congas and bongos manufactured at our California Custom Shop and look forward to continued success.”
