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i want a bongo...

#22
I had a bongo 4. I Hated it. It just didnt have that punchiness I want. The EQ seems more scooped. Sounded ok by itself, but got swallowed up when the band started. The bevel on the top of the pickups is kinda' irritating to me too... I like to feel a solid anchor point for my thumb... not to mention the fact that it looked like a toilet seat cover with a handle.:p

Had a cool metallic orange/copper finish though---and construction was top notch of course.
 
#23
huckingfuskie said:
My birthday is comming up and my GF wants to finance me my first "quality bass" at the 1000-1600$ price range. At first, i was thinking possibly a fender precision, but after contemplating for a while i have my sights set on this: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've never plaid or even seen a Bongo, but from what i hear it has a huge assortment of possible tones, and is extremely comfortable to play. i know alot of people think it is ugly, but i think it is sexy. I'm very hard for this instrument right now.

For arguments sake lets pretend you can get either bass for the same price. Would anyone take a Fender Precesion over a Ernie Ball Bongo? If so, why?
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I wish I would have known. I just sold a practically new one on Ebay.:(
B
 
#25
Bongo's are cool, but there's no substitute for going out and playing it. You won't know if you really like it until you actually play it. Nobody here can truly tell you what's best for you.

Just a thought though, you can get a Lakland Skyline (awesome!) in that price range. I'd take a peek at the Joe Osborn and Darryl Jones models if I were you.
 
#26
  • The Bongo neck is easier to play for me
  • The trusswheel makes adjustment to a nice low action a piece of cake.
  • Fit and finish on Bongos is excellent.
  • Bongo HHs can do P or J and much more. Bongo H's skip all that in exchange for uber-Stingray: P thunder with Stingray growl.

I have a P-J and a Bongo and I really like both. However, I would start with a Bongo H rather than a P.
 
#27
I just ordered a black Bongo 5 from Musican's Friend. I should have it in 2-5 days, I don't have any extra money for 2 day delivery. Pic when it comes, oh yeah I have a wonderful girlfriend, she help me get it. Dude all I can say is go with what you like, I play smooth jazz and R&B/funk and no one around here uses them, but I will, and when I funk up the stage they will all say "oh yeah". I have a gig with a new band on the 8th of next month, and the band doesn't know I'm getting it. I'm going to spring it on them that night, untill then I'll continue to use my Schecter elite5
 
#30
you just made the best decision of your life. the only down side is with all the eq capabilities theres not a lot other basses after that you can choose from for a different sound... its that good. prepare to be blown away may you bongo in peace for many years to come. btw desert gold is the future of bass colours haha
 
#31
henson337 said:
you just made the best decision of your life. the only down side is with all the eq capabilities theres not a lot other basses after that you can choose from for a different sound... its that good. prepare to be blown away may you bongo in peace for many years to come. btw desert gold is the future of bass colours haha
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Thanx, I am so hype I have not been this stoked scence I got my first bass 197? something. heahehahaaha The only bad thing is I have to be at work all weekend so when it comes I wont even get to see it untill Monday :hmm:
 
#34
I used to have a Bongo HH, but I didn't keep it for too long. They are very nice, but I think they are just not for me. I guess I am more of a Jazz bass guy who also likes the SR5. I thought the Bongo HH would be like a SR5+, but it was not. If I could do it all over again, I would probably get a Bongo H instead of an HH. The bridge pickup soloed on the HH doesn't have the depth of a 'Ray or an SR5 because the bridge pickup is too close to the bridge. I tried to compensate by adding lows or low-mids with the EQ, but it just isn't the same. Then, I wound up trying different levels of blend between the two pickups & messing with the EQ. I wound up focused more on tweaking the EQ than on playing and once I realized that, the Bongo had to go. I moved on to an American Deluxe Jazz, which was far less frustrating for me. Now, the single H Bongo has the pickup in the typical EBMM sweet spot and I suspect I would have been much happier with it.

I would try a SR5, even a Sterling 5 if you can find one, as well as a Bongo 5 to see which you like. They are all very nice, but they are not interchangeable. Try a Fender MIA Deluxe Jazz 5 and some Lakland 5ers, while you're at it. These are nice for Fender guys who want a more modern tone. The more basses you try out, the more educated your purchasing decision will be. In the end, the Bongo is a great bass but, just like any bass, it isn't for everybody.
 
#35
If I had $1600 to throw at a bass, the last two on my list would be a Fender or a Bongo.
I owned a Bongo 5 HH/p for about a year. Gigged it a few times, practiced with it a lot. Never did anything for me.
Jazz and P basses are awesome, just not my bag. I like how they sound, kind of like how they feel and play, but just not overall "my" bass.
 
#36
Ray Salamon said:
If I had $1600 to throw at a bass, the last two on my list would be a Fender or a Bongo.
I owned a Bongo 5 HH/p for about a year. Gigged it a few times, practiced with it a lot. Never did anything for me.
Jazz and P basses are awesome, just not my bag. I like how they sound, kind of like how they feel and play, but just not overall "my" bass.
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I see you are a Specter man, I thought about getting a Rebop, but it sound, and felt almost like my Schecter Elite5, the same PU, sim woods. I wanted something that would give me that Bass in yor face sound. I like my Schecter and will still use it, but sometimes it just wont do what I want. I play Jazz/Smooth Jazz, R&B/Funk, and Classic Rock. I like to have more presence when I'm playing R&B/Funk and Classic Rock. When I say presence I don't mean volume I don't need to be louder, but after hearing a band where the bass player was using a Bongo H, and hearing the way his sound sat in the mix I knew what I wanted. I've even looked at Warwick $$, but was not impressed when I heard it used live. I'm not saying the Bongo is all that, but from what I have heard it has what I want, the only thing I am worried about is the fact that I have not had a chance to try one before buying, but I did do a lot of research before dropping my coin.
 
#37
woody357 said:
I see you are a Specter man, I thought about getting a Rebop, but it sound, and felt almost like my Schecter Elite5, the same PU, sim woods. I wanted something that would give me that Bass in yor face sound. I like my Schecter and will still use it, but sometimes it just wont do what I want. I play Jazz/Smooth Jazz, R&B/Funk, and Classic Rock. I like to have more presence when I'm playing R&B/Funk and Classic Rock. When I say presence I don't mean volume I don't need to be louder, but after hearing a band where the bass player was using a Bongo H, and hearing the way his sound sat in the mix I knew what I wanted. I've even looked at Warwick $$, but was not impressed when I heard it used live. I'm not saying the Bongo is all that, but from what I have heard it has what I want, the only thing I am worried about is the fact that I have not had a chance to try one before buying, but I did do a lot of research before dropping my coin.
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IMHO, the Bongo isn't 1/3 of what my USA Spector is.
Both are pretty versatile instruments, but the Bongo just didn't have the playability and flexability to sit with some of the gigs I get. Out it went.
The USA Spector does a tremendous job. One night I can play it in a Prog. Metal cover band, and two nights later let it swing at a jazz gig. It's very responsive to my playing changes, and if I need to change tone beyond what I can do with my hands, a couple twists of the knobs and I should be very close to where I am.
The Spector doesn't have the EQ options that the Bongo had, but the ones it does have, for me, are much more useful.
I gave the Bongo an entire year of trying, but no matter what, the Spector was always a step above and beyond it.
Not saying that the Bongos are bad. In fact, I liked it a good amount. I didn't like the finished (glossy) neck, and it never did "fit" me correctly. The body of the Spector just melds to my body, and the neck feels like it was made for my hand.
Just my $0.02. If the OP likes a Bongo and has given them a good try, awesome! If not, I was just throwing out the fact that they would be low on an already short list for me.
 
#38
Hey Salamon I wasn't trying to get into a pissing war with you. I like Spectors, but the ones that are a up grade from what I have are far more than I can afford, A US Spector is more than I can spend. My comments were not a hit on them just the fact that IMOP the Rebop or a Euro don't sound much different than my Schecter. I didn't want to spend more money for something I already had. I know many here may not think much of Schecters, but IMOP they are very good, I like to say I have a poor mans Spector.
 
#39
woody357 said:
Hey Salamon I wasn't trying to get into a pissing war with you.
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I know :). Just keeping conversation going.
I like Spectors, but the ones that are a up grade from what I have are far more than I can afford, A US Spector is more than I can spend. My comments were not a hit on them just the fact that IMOP the Rebop or a Euro don't sound much different than my Schecter. I didn't want to spend more money for something I already had. I know many here may not think much of Schecters, but IMOP they are very good, I like to say I have a poor mans Spector.
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US Spectors were far from what I could afford for a long time as well. Finally, I had some cash laying around and struck a deal with someone on mine.
Schecter's are definitely nice basses, and again, if the OP hasn't tried them, I would also suggest giving them a go. ESPECIALLY is the case if he can find the one he settles on used, as Schecters don't carry their value much, sadly. I've given more than a couple a try due to the inherent similarities to Spectors, but even with the same woods, pups and preamp, they sound drastically different, IMO. Can be good or bad, depending on what you're looking for :). For me, it wasn't what I wanted.
The Euro's are good basses, and the older ones very closely matched the USA models. The modern ones are two steps away though.
 

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