Bongo Owners- How to get growl?

Same as any bass: super low action, strong right hand attack, favoure the bridge pickup, pluck slightly past the neck pickup, a little treble boost, a lot of mid boost, and new stainless steel strings. Technique goes a long way to make any instrument 'growl'.

 

Exactly what the guy above me said. You can't get exactly what a stingray does, but the bongo does its own thing thats quite powerful.

 

Grrrr........

 

Slap a fish and listen for the growl.....

 

single H-
big difference

 

Might also want to try altering the pickup height.

 

Plug it into an Ampeg

 

Cobalts, cut lows & raise low mids upper mids & treble. Bias towards the rear pickup...

 

What they said.

Cutting the bass is important for this, the bongo seems way boosted in the bass and your growl can be hidden. I use whichever version of slinky's that are 45 65 80 100 (130). The name is different between 4&5 string sets...as far as regular, super, extra, hybrid or whatever they call them so watch out for that. And digging in is important, cut your amp's gain if necessary. Maybe it's in my head but I feel like when I dig in it seems like the bass's electronics get nicely overdriven. Guru's: can pickups/onboard pre amps actually be overdriven?

And before you ditch the bongo for a stingray (just in case you end up there), remember that the sray is less ergonomic and isn't quite as versatile as the bongo.... so you best get one of each. HH Ray is nice and versatile if you can handle the weight

 

Fretless Bongo, use the bridge pickup and right hand near the neck and growl automatically happens.

 

I read "Banjo Owners," which I am. Can't help with Bongos, but let me tell you, it is difficult to get a decent growl out of a banjo!

 

I keep the blend knob mostly on the bridge pickup with the low and high mids and treble boosted quite a bit. I keep the bass knob just below the half way point. Really like a fresh set of rotosound piano design strings on mine also. Super bright and killer sustain. I also play with low action and super aggressive three finger right hand technique

 

Plug it into an Ampeg...lol,,,seems to be answer to everything this year since i crossed over

 

Yep. That's RIGHT!!!lmao

 

It isn't that hard to get a good growl out of one.
Start with a arch top tone ring,The smaller vibrating surface, vibrates at a higher frequency and therefore, produces a voice that is brighter or higher producing the brightest, sharpest, most cutting banjo sound.
Set your tailpiece up with a lot of front tension, that will give it a more bright attack.
Use a steel beveled tension hoop.
Get a Kavanjo banjo humbucking pickup system and run it through a good overdrive pedal.
Run this through a powerful head like a Marshall plexi and a 812 stack and it will growl so hard you will make peoples ears bleed and make cats and dogs for miles hide and take cover.

 

Way late to the party.... I recently did my Bongo's first string change after more than 6 months and my joy about the bass was restored. Even with all those electronics for tweaking, this bass is a completely different (and much better for my taste) animal with newer strings. My other basses don't vary nearly as much with string age. Not science, just observation.

 

Yeah the Bongo likes strings with a bit more strings. Its a mellow being rosewood & basswood

 

my Bongo really came to life when I turned the bass knob down just a bit. it's probably a 5-10% cut. it opened up the sound a lot, kinda like it can breathe now if that makes any sense. it's more responsive to dynamics in my right hand, and has a more aggressive sound overall. with boosts in the mids it gets even growlier, as you'd probably expect.

 

Yup, I RARELY boost lows & more likely cut to get the growl. Theres a ton of play with that 4 band, you'll get what you like. I love mine