i think these are the coolest looking bass, and they sound good in the demos online, i want one, people seem to hate them, is it because of looks or functionality and sound?
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do people really hate ebmm bongo bass?
- Thread starter patshep
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i wasn't aware that "people seem to hate them" --- i think they're pretty cool, too. but i've never played one so i don't know what the beef against them is. OTOH: if they don't make fretless versions = they suck! 
As the proud owner of a bongo for 10+ years the "hate" is really only online and it's people saying they're ugly (it's people's opinion and there's nothing wrong with that). However in person, I get nothing but compliments on the looks and the tone, note that it does get a lot of attention. If you like it, go for it!
I'm sure they're great-playing/great-sounding (and those, of course, are the most important criteria for most people when it comes to choosing a bass) for some people...however, the looks of that particular bass are of the 'acquired taste' variety...not my cup of tea looks-wise...
I lean toward traditional aesthetics so I'm not crazy about the look, but they sound great so for the right price I'd buy one. And by right price I mean under 1k, so that ain't happening.
They look great IMO. Definitely on my “if i won the lottery” list!
i love 'em.
while i agree that the looks are an acquired taste, they sound amazing and the neck is a great shape for my hand.
while i agree that the looks are an acquired taste, they sound amazing and the neck is a great shape for my hand.
Not the cup of tea for people that like a traditional Fender bass, but who cares what people think.
Had an HH Bongo for a couple years. Aggressive tone but well balanced. Nice neck. My guitar player loved how it filled in a power trio mix
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Like any extreme non-traditional look there will be lovers and haters of the shape. I seem to recall the body being basswood which is sometimes villified and the controls are different too if I remember right. EBMM doesn't create anything but mighty fine basses but a Bongo is one that I would trade for something else if it were given to me.
I owned one for awhile. Pretty good bass from what I can recall but it didn’t work in my band’s mix on gigs. I feel like it sounded empty somewhere in the mids despite it have two mid controls.
Myself and the rest of us who love them don’t always color within the lines.
I believe it was so bad when they came out that there is a specific mention of them in the TalkBass rules.
They sound great.
They sound great.
Can you provide and example of someone on TB saying they HATE bongo basses?
I have no issue with the look. I don't see myself being able to afford one, so it remains on my wishlist. I wonder how one would look in hot pink/maple with a Hello Kitty makeover?
The people I know who have them really love them. Innovation in guitars/basses has been pretty stagnant since Fenders became highly collectible. In the 70's and 80's there were several companies doing different things and gaining traction, it was possible for Paul Reed Smith, for example, to innovate and go on to success. Music Man started up in that era and did well, of course, with Leo's new designs, but the desire for new designs really took a hit when people started obsessing over resale values instead of quality and function.
So, yes, there's a lot of derision in the market toward anything that isn't traditionally styled these days. But if YOU like it and if it suits YOUR needs, that's all that really matters.
Someone mentioned not having the mids they needed; I had similar issues with my humbucking MM basses which is why I ultimately sold them. But not everyone has this problem.
So, yes, there's a lot of derision in the market toward anything that isn't traditionally styled these days. But if YOU like it and if it suits YOUR needs, that's all that really matters.
Someone mentioned not having the mids they needed; I had similar issues with my humbucking MM basses which is why I ultimately sold them. But not everyone has this problem.
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