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Bongo 5 action

E

Ed Credle

Dec 31, 2019
6
21
#1
I have been wanting to check out a MM Bongo 5 and finally got my hands on one. I was disappointed because the action was abnormally high in my opinion. This was a brand new bass and I would like to know if the high action is typical for the Bongo, or did this particular bass just come from the factory with a bad setup. I am really disappointed with the way it played.

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated!
 
#7
By far most basses won't come properly set up from factory, certainly not any mass produced basses, and certainly not to fit the individual customers personal preferences.

Learn how to do a basic setup yourself, it is not exactly rocket science, and plenty of great free guides online.

Don't judge the quality of a bass on the setup.

It would be like judging a car on how the seats are adjusted.

They are adjustable for a reason.
 
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#9
Ritter667 said:
By far most basses won't come properly set up from factory, certainly not any mass produced basses, and certainly not to fit the individual customers personal preferences.

Learn how to do a basic setup yourself, it is not exactly rocket science, and plenty of great free guides online.

Don't judge the quality of a bass on the setup.

It would be like judging a car on how the seats are adjusted.

They are adjustable for a reason.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure every Music Man leaves the factory set up
 
#11
I've owned 4 Bongo basses over the last 10 years or so. Only 1 of them was difficult to get a nice low action but it was a Bongo 6 that I bought used from someone and when I received it, it had what looked like terrible water/moisture damage. All of the metal components were rusted including the strings so I think it was sitting in a damp basement or something for a long time. That particular bass had either a locked truss rod or it was just extremely hard to adjust so I got rid of it pretty quickly but all of the others I had have been great. Sold the 4 string one I got first for a 5 string HS model but ended up selling that for a 5HH model which I've stuck with. Just do a set up on the bass as others have said. Worst case scenario, you could shim the neck if the saddles are bottoming out but if its a brand new bass as you say, just exchange it for a different bass.
 
#15
MM standard factory set up is 6/64th for E and 5/64 for G I believe it is 7/64 for B

Could be relief issue based on being shipped in Dry Winter .010 is basically factory spec

I use 5/64 E and 4/64 G with .008 relief on my Stingray Special 4

When in different environment you may have to make adjustments to relief more than a few times until neck settles 30 to 45 days
 
#16
The broken record here is "setup". Trying to play something "out of the box" and making a judgment on quality is not a good way to start. Your disappointment is understandable only because someone qualified to setup all area's of your new bass may not have been addressed? If they have and it still plays like a brick, send it back!

Shipping from place to place (climate changes) can surely change a basses initial settings, especially the neck. Did the bass acclimate to your home climate for a day or so in the case? (Some think this isn't necessary) If you don't feel confident to do a good setup, take it to someone and have it done. I think you will like it much better.
 
#17
I had a bongo with the rosewood neck and the action could not go very low without lots of buzzing. Had a few other EBMM models with the same experience too, but had a couple that would go nice and low.

EBMM actually replaced the neck on a new Sterling model free of charge. I had to ship it on my dime for inspection. Their inspection determined it needed a new neck so they made one and shipped it back for no charge. But if they determine the neck is good you'll probably be covering return shipping
 
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#20
ac100X said:
My Bongo 4 string has the fastest lowest action of any of my basses (even the Voxes).
Click to expand...
I had a 4HH that was a real ripper as well. Think about how dumb I was. Bought for $900 shipped. Sold 2 years later to Music Go Round for what I paid so I could segue into my Modulus Q5 sweet spot. Part of me regrets it for not just buying the Modulus instead of loving the Bongo. Great instrument.
 

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