yeah, thought so - very hot bass - never played one again, I should check it out I guess. Is that still your main bass?
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Can a brothah get a MM Stingray 6 string?
- Thread starter aasti3000
- Start date
yeah, thought so - very hot bass - never played one again, I should check it out I guess. Is that still your main bass?
Wow, the amount of misinformation in this thread is quite startling. Come on guys, this is Talkbass, not the Musicman forums...
Anyway. The Bongo is made out of Basswood, not Alder. Regarding how the 6-string version came to exist, it has absolutely nothing to do with the public. For years, Musicman's stance on 6-string basses was "we would never consider making one unless a high-profile artist expressed interest in us making one for them." That high-profile artist ended up being John Myung from Dream Theater, who had been playing Musicman basses for years (I'm not getting in an internet fist-fight over that statement; he recorded many of their tracks with a customised 5-string Stingray and that's just a fact). They wouldn't make a signature bass for him, but instead opted to incorporate it into their standard production line, which to be honest was a smart move because there are people who don't seriously consider buying guitars with other people's names written on them.
The reason why they made it as a Bongo instead of a Stingray or Sterling is because John recorded all of Systematic Chaos with a 5-string Bongo (first time he used one on a recording), and did the first few months of the subsequent tour with the same instruments. He picked the Bongo, so they picked it. It's not a "signature" bass but seriously it might as well be; I wonder if they'd continue making it if he stopped playing Musicman basses altogether.
As far as why we haven't seen more 6-string basses from Musicman, my understanding is that they're not big on the idea of them. There isn't a big market for them, and now that they do have that sufficiently covered with the Bongo I doubt they'd go through all the crap of having to refine the Stingray's design to stop a 6-string version from being too heavy. You've gotta realise, those are some fairly heavy basses as they are. Now, a 6-string Sterling would be viable, and I'd be interested to see maybe a custom build of one.
Anyway. The Bongo is made out of Basswood, not Alder. Regarding how the 6-string version came to exist, it has absolutely nothing to do with the public. For years, Musicman's stance on 6-string basses was "we would never consider making one unless a high-profile artist expressed interest in us making one for them." That high-profile artist ended up being John Myung from Dream Theater, who had been playing Musicman basses for years (I'm not getting in an internet fist-fight over that statement; he recorded many of their tracks with a customised 5-string Stingray and that's just a fact). They wouldn't make a signature bass for him, but instead opted to incorporate it into their standard production line, which to be honest was a smart move because there are people who don't seriously consider buying guitars with other people's names written on them.
The reason why they made it as a Bongo instead of a Stingray or Sterling is because John recorded all of Systematic Chaos with a 5-string Bongo (first time he used one on a recording), and did the first few months of the subsequent tour with the same instruments. He picked the Bongo, so they picked it. It's not a "signature" bass but seriously it might as well be; I wonder if they'd continue making it if he stopped playing Musicman basses altogether.
As far as why we haven't seen more 6-string basses from Musicman, my understanding is that they're not big on the idea of them. There isn't a big market for them, and now that they do have that sufficiently covered with the Bongo I doubt they'd go through all the crap of having to refine the Stingray's design to stop a 6-string version from being too heavy. You've gotta realise, those are some fairly heavy basses as they are. Now, a 6-string Sterling would be viable, and I'd be interested to see maybe a custom build of one.
Genz Benz Streamliner 900. It was the night I bought it and I couldn't wait to test it out, but I was sick as a dog and didn't want to go down into the practice space, so I set it up in the kitchen with headphones and a glass of whatever.
Speaking of dogs:
Here's my other EBMM, a fretless Sterling:
Cute dog and great looking basses!
By the way, I'm going to open this bottle right now!
(sorry for the crappy cell phone pic
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Awesome!
Great post Mr whistle. Myung definitely had been using MM stuff to record for a while now. I know he recorded disc 2 of Six Degrees on a Ray 5...he also used a 4 string Sterling during the recording of Systematic Chaos alongside the aforementioned Bongo 5. Apparently he toured with a Bongo 5 while EBMM was developing the Bongo 6.
Hell I think he also recorded the very first DT album on a modded Ray 4!
Hell I think he also recorded the very first DT album on a modded Ray 4!
chuck3 said:
Actually that one was sold pretty quickly. Not that I didn't like the Bongo, but I just couldn't live without my frets.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Myung used a Ray on the first record, but by the second he was into 6 strings, I cannot remember the name of his first company off hand, they were fairly boutique. Of course this was the late 80s and 6 strings were nowhere near as common as they are now. I have never heard he recorded any other records prior to Systematic Chaos with an EB but I would believe, John was always a MM man, as stated he started it all on EBMM so he found tit fitting to come home to them.
On a funny side note, since we are talking about Sterling and his forums, you should mention this on the EB forums and see what happens, the people on that board are hardcore fanboys who will suggest you be hanged for treason if you so much as ask about pickup or pre amp replacements.
On a funny side note, since we are talking about Sterling and his forums, you should mention this on the EB forums and see what happens, the people on that board are hardcore fanboys who will suggest you be hanged for treason if you so much as ask about pickup or pre amp replacements.
I know you guys are going to curse me out, but I never heard of this John Myung. He's a high profile bassist? Guess I better youtube him. I thought I heard of all the high profile bassists.
And about that "weak G", the luthier I deal with said he's worked on so many MM Stingrays from popular artists to no name artists and he's NEVER heard that on a stingray. My G string sounds strong as an ox...nice, big and loud. Maybe they fixed the problem or something.
@chuck3 & jlepre - I asked my father n' law about the genz benz amp and he said "That's the one I use with a Markbass cabinet". Now I want to test one out because his sound is amazing.
And about that "weak G", the luthier I deal with said he's worked on so many MM Stingrays from popular artists to no name artists and he's NEVER heard that on a stingray. My G string sounds strong as an ox...nice, big and loud. Maybe they fixed the problem or something.
@chuck3 & jlepre - I asked my father n' law about the genz benz amp and he said "That's the one I use with a Markbass cabinet". Now I want to test one out because his sound is amazing.
Myung recorded the second album, Images and Words with a 4 string warwick, then he signed with Tung basses for the tour. When Tung went down after producing 100 basses he switched to Yamaha. He actually owns at least 3 of the 100 basses made by Tung.
aasti3000 said:
Hard to find in your local store, but if you like deep wooly bass, with a touch of sizzle, this might be your ticket.
It may have been, I think I saw that he owned a 4 string Warwick and assumed that he used it to record I&W, but it could be a different bass.
It may have been, I think I saw that he owned a 4 string Warwick and assumed that he used it to record I&W, but it could be a different bass.
The wiki page is perfect :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Myung
You can also find video on youtube of him playing the spector in studio
Franco, you're probably confused because the Spector he used to record I&W looks just like the Warwick Streamer (or the other way around, really...google the names Warwick and Spector)
Also, right now, the Bongo 6 technically *is* his signature instrument, with what the custom neck and spacing and whatnot.
Also, right now, the Bongo 6 technically *is* his signature instrument, with what the custom neck and spacing and whatnot.
Crikey, more misinformation. Ok, back to work for me I guess.
Myung recorded WDADU with a Stingray 4, then used a Spector NS 4 to record I&W, then toured that album and recorded Awake with a Tobias 6. He switched to Tung basses for the awake tour, and used them right up until FIF, which he recorded using his new Yamaha signature. He used that up until Six Degrees, with Disc 1 recorded with the Yamaha and Disc 2 recorded with Stingray 5 that had a humbucker added to the neck position. Het got his new Yamaha around the time he record TOT, which he used for recording and touring all the way up to SC, which was recorded with a Bongo 5 and a Sterling 4. Half the tour was done with the Bongo 5, with everything since being done on a Bongo 6.
His new Bongo has a 5-string neck on it and all the controls (except the volume I think) have been removed, so it is a "custom" bass but it is not a "signature" because it is not available to the general public. The Musicman Bongo 6-string is not, and never has been a signaure instrument; the current basses he plays are just custom models.
As far as I know, when they played live after their first album, he actually played his Fender Jazz, which was "his" bass at the time, in the same kind of way that the Spector he used to record I&W never left the studio with him. He may have played the Stinray 4 live though cause I think he did actually own it.
Now, do NOT make me go through his amps, because that situation is just a mess...
Myung recorded WDADU with a Stingray 4, then used a Spector NS 4 to record I&W, then toured that album and recorded Awake with a Tobias 6. He switched to Tung basses for the awake tour, and used them right up until FIF, which he recorded using his new Yamaha signature. He used that up until Six Degrees, with Disc 1 recorded with the Yamaha and Disc 2 recorded with Stingray 5 that had a humbucker added to the neck position. Het got his new Yamaha around the time he record TOT, which he used for recording and touring all the way up to SC, which was recorded with a Bongo 5 and a Sterling 4. Half the tour was done with the Bongo 5, with everything since being done on a Bongo 6.
His new Bongo has a 5-string neck on it and all the controls (except the volume I think) have been removed, so it is a "custom" bass but it is not a "signature" because it is not available to the general public. The Musicman Bongo 6-string is not, and never has been a signaure instrument; the current basses he plays are just custom models.
As far as I know, when they played live after their first album, he actually played his Fender Jazz, which was "his" bass at the time, in the same kind of way that the Spector he used to record I&W never left the studio with him. He may have played the Stinray 4 live though cause I think he did actually own it.
Now, do NOT make me go through his amps, because that situation is just a mess...
Google is your friend.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilia
Basswood is a soft wood with no grain that is common for cheap basses (along with Agathis (pine)). In my experience it tends to make a bass sound rather dull and rolled off and not in a nice way like alder does compared to ash. Plus because it is soft it tends to dent and ding much more than harder woods.
But the exception makes the rule. And Bongos are DESIGNED for basswood and while the ding problem is there the sound is exceptionally matched and truly amazing. Nothing cheap about a bongo bass. For a nice modern kind of bass a bongo 6 string HH is the shnizit. However it is most definitely NOT a 'Ray 6er.
One only needs to look at the TB "what basses do you play poll" to figure out why companies (especially established Leo-founded companies) have little interest in 6 strings. 4 string 82%, 5 strings 35%, 6 string 8.7%. [doesn't come to 100% because people own more than one bass but you get the idea] Ownership is is way too low on the investment in tooling.
But let me also point out that SX just changed the neck, pickups and bridge on their 5 string basses to make a 6er and the entire shipment sold out in days! Might be some writing on the wall there...
I don't have any problem with basswood, but the Bongo electronics were first designed by Dudley Gimble and later a body/wood combination was chosen. In fact EBMM tried to find a synthetic material that could work, but so far have been unsuccessful.. In the end, basswood was chosen (settled on) because it sounds ok and is lightweight.
Yea, the writing is that there's a market for low-end basses of "unconventional" nature, which to be honest has been true for awhile. I mean, if you're going to venture outside of "standard instrument" territory, you're not going to start by dropping two grand. My comment is based on my experiences at least. Making a high-end instrument line, charging $2500+ for each item, requires more cautious planning.
