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do people really hate ebmm bongo bass?
- Thread starter patshep
- Start date
- Status
I hate anything affiliated with Chris Bangle. Bongo bass is among his feats of aesthetic sadism.
They definitely sound good, but would look less awful with a Bo Diddly body.
They definitely sound good, but would look less awful with a Bo Diddly body.
Strange that people focus on the looks. It's the sound I really don't like.
I wouldn't say "hate" though.
I can even imagine how it would sound cool in some music genres I'm not really into.
I wouldn't say "hate" though.
I can even imagine how it would sound cool in some music genres I'm not really into.
I think "Hate" is a bit too-string a word...
IMO:
Do they resemble a toilet seat with a bass neck = YES!
Do they sound great = YES!
Would I get one = NO!
That's the extent of my strong feelings towards the Bongo. Come to think of it, I could say the same things about the "Big Al", except for the toilet seat thing...
IMO:
Do they resemble a toilet seat with a bass neck = YES!
Do they sound great = YES!
Would I get one = NO!
That's the extent of my strong feelings towards the Bongo. Come to think of it, I could say the same things about the "Big Al", except for the toilet seat thing...
- Sep 4, 2010
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- 2,730
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- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
Played one in a store a while ago. I think the design is great and consistent, both visually, technically and ergonomically.
To me, it was a bass that was quite active sounding (tone is all in the active electronics), but a really really good sound that can be taken in every direction imaginable if active is your kind of thing.
To me, it was a bass that was quite active sounding (tone is all in the active electronics), but a really really good sound that can be taken in every direction imaginable if active is your kind of thing.
Do not like the looks at all, however as a Stingray player of nearly 20 years I’m pretty sure if I sat down and played a Bongo I’d find something to love about it. I’ve always disliked the looks of the Telecaster but if I had the money I’d buy one because nothing sounds quite the same.
2ndBassGuitar
Commercial User
- Jan 17, 2008
- 1,250
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- Dealer for Phil Jones Bass, Lakland, Brubaker Basses, Maruszczyk Instruments
People like what they like and dislike what they don't. Nothing more to add.
I played on a 6 for a while before switching to Warwick. They are great basses, and most of the hate as has been said earlier, comes from online snobs that hate everything that isn't a fender P bass with tort pickguard and flats.
Appearance wise they are unique and they 100% look better in person. The finishes are great.
Tone wise they are very versatile and the 4 band eq can get you some great useable tones.
Playability wise they fit well in my hands, and i could slap the 6 string like a pimp slaps his....... Ill stop there.
Downsides: the woods. Basswood body dents if you look at it wrong. Maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, while classics, don't fit the "modern musician's bass" vibe that EBMM pushes for the bongo.
Don't get me wrong, those tonewoods aren't bad, but if they made a bongo with roasted swamp ash body, wenge neck and fingerboard, that would be killer. (Worth noting, if you can get your hands on the Premier dealer network editions, they have special woods like mahogany, roasted maple necks etc.)
If you are going to drop 2-3k on a bongo, try and grab a ball family reserve or PDN version, as it will hold its value more. But every person i have actually played the bongo in front of in a live setting has loved the tone and the funky, #&@$ the fender establishment design. (Again the finishes are AMAZING)
TLDR: great and useable tones, very comfy to play, weird but cool design, vanilla tonewoods , buy the Special editions as they have better wood.
Appearance wise they are unique and they 100% look better in person. The finishes are great.
Tone wise they are very versatile and the 4 band eq can get you some great useable tones.
Playability wise they fit well in my hands, and i could slap the 6 string like a pimp slaps his....... Ill stop there.
Downsides: the woods. Basswood body dents if you look at it wrong. Maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, while classics, don't fit the "modern musician's bass" vibe that EBMM pushes for the bongo.
Don't get me wrong, those tonewoods aren't bad, but if they made a bongo with roasted swamp ash body, wenge neck and fingerboard, that would be killer. (Worth noting, if you can get your hands on the Premier dealer network editions, they have special woods like mahogany, roasted maple necks etc.)
If you are going to drop 2-3k on a bongo, try and grab a ball family reserve or PDN version, as it will hold its value more. But every person i have actually played the bongo in front of in a live setting has loved the tone and the funky, #&@$ the fender establishment design. (Again the finishes are AMAZING)
TLDR: great and useable tones, very comfy to play, weird but cool design, vanilla tonewoods , buy the Special editions as they have better wood.
I’ve had a ton a really good to great basses: Status, j and p basses, active, passive, Spector, Hotwire, etc., and the ONLY bass I’ve ever been complimented on for tone from every bass player that heard it was a hh Bongo. On the other hand, I only kept it a month because life is too short for ugly basses...
Vanity, vanity....
Vanity, vanity....
I like old, passive Fenders and not a fan of the Bongo - I'd never buy one. But, I wouldn't hate on them either - if folks love the way they look and sound, more power to em, I say!
I have owned a couple Bongos. Love the playability and versatility. DO NOT like the looks at all. But I give EBMM all the credit in the world for going out of the Fender pattern box and MARKETING fresh ideas. When the Reflex came out, I considered it the Bongo with conservative heritage. Similar neck and electronics in a Reflex based package. I ditched the Bongos and now own several Reflexes.
People have strong opinions about the Bongo. People have strong opinions about many things.
I think the design is awesome. I owned one and I only sold it b/c it was just too much bass for my level of capability.
I think the design is awesome. I owned one and I only sold it b/c it was just too much bass for my level of capability.
It's non traditional design, so some "vintage purists" hate them...others love them, and a few like myself have no string opinion on them.
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