John Myung Signature Bongo? (And some thoughts on string spacing)

[MAJORA64]

So on March 12th I saw this interview with John Myung on Ultimate Guitar and I want to highlight a section of said article:



What's different about your Music Man Bongos than stock versions?
"It's a six-string on a five-string neck. It seems like it's the perfect comfort for my left hand in terms of feeling like I'm not struggling.

"That was a breakthrough: being a 6-string player and being able to have something I could grasp and that actually felt comfortable.

"And that also translates into the musicality of it. If I'm more comfortable behind it, everything just flows better."

You've been working on that instrument for a long time. Are we ever going to see a Music Man John Myung signature model?
"You know, I've frequently been asked that over the years, and I can actually say we're all working on something. So the answer to that question is, yes."



So being the John Myung obsessed fan-boy that I am this is what I've observed from reading interviews and various forum posts: Having 6 strings on a 5-string neck means a string spacing of 14-15mm and instead of an EQ or Balance on the bass there's just a master volume and a selector knob which I'm assuming is for different volume settings for the pickups (Full pickups, bridge solo, full neck half bridge, etc)

These are just my observations, I'll gladly be corrected by anyone from EBMM who can deny or confirm anything I've said.

Lately I've been more and more intrigued with thinner spacing 6-strings in terms of comfort. Here's a personal anecdote: I've been playing Invalid Link Removed for about 2 years, love the tone, love the look, love 'em to death. But I've always felt I had short fingers, and one of my Bongos, Invalid Link Removed that I bought second-hand, has a neck that feels huge compared my 2016 black HS model (I'm assuming the neck has been slimmed down over the years, plus it has a gloss finish on the back of the neck instead of satin). Sometimes playing that bass has been hard especially on my left hand, feeling strained at times.

Then more recently I whipped out my Invalid Link Removed that was my workhorse bass since 2011 before I got my Bongos. I've barely played that bass since getting my Bongos and the string spacing is thinner, about 16.5mm I think. I was actually blown away by how easily my left hand seem to glide effortlessly across the neck playing basslines I've been struggling with with greater ease than before. It reminds me of when I was in high school and still playing a 4-string and wanted to play a 6'er and never felt comfortable with one until I started playing upright and my hands seem to get around the neck easier. Same idea, the Bongos have wider spacing and going on a bass with thinner spacing seemed to produce better results.

So with all this in mind I'm excited about exploring the possibility of thinner spaced basses. However "mainstream" bass companies with spacing thinner than 16.5mm are few and far between, the only one that comes to mind are the Ibanez Gerald Veasley basses and I'm not sure they make those anymore. You'd probably be better off getting a custom bass built for you. But since I love the tone of Musicman Bongos (The reason I bought them, I like their tone better than my Schecter although it sounds great too) if there's even a chance that a thinner spaced Bongo 6'er is in the forecast that makes me excited! If not, it's not anything I'd lose sleep over either (After all, tight string spacing is a bit of a niche market), but it would be nice to get the tone I love and the hand comfort I desire. Or maybe I just need to clean up my left-hand's technique?

Some thoughts.

 

[Chuck M]

I have a recent Bongo 6 HH and love the bass but the string spacing could be tighter and it would be more comfortable to play. I own several 6's and my favorite is a G. Gould ggi6 that has about 18.5mm spacing at the bridge. It is a fantastic bass but I am even more comfortable playing one of my Peavey Cirrus 6's which IIRC are 17.5mm spacing at the bridge. The Cirrus neck is so fast feeling with the tighter spacing.

The idea of a John Myung model Bongo 6 is interesting, however, it would have to have standard Bongo electronics to interest me.

 

[MAJORA64]

The idea of a John Myung model Bongo 6 is interesting, however, it would have to have standard Bongo electronics to interest me.

Personally the notion of moding a Bongo is sacrilege but in this case maybe a preamp mod? Can you even do that with Bongos?

 

[India_Sierra]

The electronics and tone are the best thing about a Bongo. It seems madness to modify them.

 

[MAJORA64]

The electronics and tone are the best thing about a Bongo. It seems madness to modify them.

Indeed, I bring it up in case people are turned off by the lack of EQ on JM's basses. It did bother me at first, but it doesn't anymore.

 

[Chuck M]

The electronics and tone are the best thing about a Bongo. It seems madness to modify them.

I've always love the tone of the Bongo basses. The electronics are fantastic. It did take me a long time to accept the look. I am glad I did.

If I had a gig today that would put me in a situation where my control of tone would be questionable I would take my Bongo. No other bass I own offers so much control.

 

[Spidey2112]

Never played a Bongo before, but agree with the following:

However "mainstream" bass companies with spacing thinner than 16.5mm are few and far between, the only one that comes to mind are the Ibanez Gerald Veasley basses and I'm not sure they make those anymore.

I have an SR805, and I swear I play faster on it, than any of my others (1 other 5, with the rest being 4's)... I'll have to check what the string spacing is, but at first I felt it was tight...

... then, adapted. Actually, now one of my favorites.

SR805 spec, from CME...

"Bridge: Accu-cast B305 bridge (16.5mm string spacing)"

 

[And I]

Anything below 18mm and i am fumble-fingers / can't play the thing. but a custom signature model is about the preferences of the person who's signature is on it... i've never played a 6 string so I can't really relate to Myung's preference here. he sure as heck looks comfortable with it!

 

[Epitaph04]

It’s all about technique.

 

[Chuck M]

It’s all about technique.

Good technique is always an asset, however, there are physical limitations that can come into play. I have fairly short fingers and that makes playing in the 1st-3rd positions a challenge on basses with wide spacing and 35" scale basses are even more difficult in the first positions.

All that said, I played my Bongo 6 today and enjoyed it immensely. It takes a few minutes for me to get comfortable with the string spacing but the bass sounds so good it is worth the effort.

 

[rtav]

YES!!!!!

I have been wanting a Bongo 6 but cannot do the string spacing - I play Yamaha John Myung Signature II (RBXJM2) basses with 16.5mm spacing at the bridge and the Bongo (much less an 18mm Dingwall I'm looking at) is just unplayable without taking time to get used to it - something I do not want to do.

The instrument must fit me, not the other way around. I love the sound of the Bongo 6 but just couldn't play one.

This is AWESOME news!

YESSSSSS!!!!

 

[HeavyJazz]

I've listened to Myung since 1994 and though I know he's a good player I can rarely hear much of his playing on the DT albums. It's always super woofy with little articulation. He's secured a great gig though in Petrucci's band - no doubt.

 

[DenisLM]

I have 3 Bongo 6 and a good old Yamaha RBX6JM.
The difference is huge and when I got my first Bongo 6 was a pain to go in between basses.
I ended retiring the RBX6JM to the wall and a few weeks later I played it and was pain to even hold such a small neck.
Bottom line is if you are used to play 4/5 string necks it's a pain to change anyways. When I play my 4 string I feel like I'm holding a broomstick...

 

[bassgrackle]

So on March 12th I saw this interview with John Myung on Ultimate Guitar and I want to highlight a section of said article:



What's different about your Music Man Bongos than stock versions?
"It's a six-string on a five-string neck. It seems like it's the perfect comfort for my left hand in terms of feeling like I'm not struggling.

"That was a breakthrough: being a 6-string player and being able to have something I could grasp and that actually felt comfortable.

"And that also translates into the musicality of it. If I'm more comfortable behind it, everything just flows better."

You've been working on that instrument for a long time. Are we ever going to see a Music Man John Myung signature model?
"You know, I've frequently been asked that over the years, and I can actually say we're all working on something. So the answer to that question is, yes."



So being the John Myung obsessed fan-boy that I am this is what I've observed from reading interviews and various forum posts: Having 6 strings on a 5-string neck means a string spacing of 14-15mm and instead of an EQ or Balance on the bass there's just a master volume and a selector knob which I'm assuming is for different volume settings for the pickups (Full pickups, bridge solo, full neck half bridge, etc)

These are just my observations, I'll gladly be corrected by anyone from EBMM who can deny or confirm anything I've said.

Lately I've been more and more intrigued with thinner spacing 6-strings in terms of comfort. Here's a personal anecdote: I've been playing Invalid Link Removed for about 2 years, love the tone, love the look, love 'em to death. But I've always felt I had short fingers, and one of my Bongos, Invalid Link Removed that I bought second-hand, has a neck that feels huge compared my 2016 black HS model (I'm assuming the neck has been slimmed down over the years, plus it has a gloss finish on the back of the neck instead of satin). Sometimes playing that bass has been hard especially on my left hand, feeling strained at times.

Then more recently I whipped out my Invalid Link Removed that was my workhorse bass since 2011 before I got my Bongos. I've barely played that bass since getting my Bongos and the string spacing is thinner, about 16.5mm I think. I was actually blown away by how easily my left hand seem to glide effortlessly across the neck playing basslines I've been struggling with with greater ease than before. It reminds me of when I was in high school and still playing a 4-string and wanted to play a 6'er and never felt comfortable with one until I started playing upright and my hands seem to get around the neck easier. Same idea, the Bongos have wider spacing and going on a bass with thinner spacing seemed to produce better results.

So with all this in mind I'm excited about exploring the possibility of thinner spaced basses. However "mainstream" bass companies with spacing thinner than 16.5mm are few and far between, the only one that comes to mind are the Ibanez Gerald Veasley basses and I'm not sure they make those anymore. You'd probably be better off getting a custom bass built for you. But since I love the tone of Musicman Bongos (The reason I bought them, I like their tone better than my Schecter although it sounds great too) if there's even a chance that a thinner spaced Bongo 6'er is in the forecast that makes me excited! If not, it's not anything I'd lose sleep over either (After all, tight string spacing is a bit of a niche market), but it would be nice to get the tone I love and the hand comfort I desire. Or maybe I just need to clean up my left-hand's technique?

Some thoughts.

I just picked up a Modulus Q6 with 17mm spacing. And I have to say it is really taking some getting used to. 16mm would be very tight.

 

[srayb]

I've listened to Myung since 1994 and though I know he's a good player I can rarely hear much of his playing on the DT albums. It's always super woofy with little articulation. He's secured a great gig though in Petrucci's band - no doubt.

Yes I agree they always bury him in the mix (not unlike Cliff Burton on the early Metallica albums). I wish someone would totally remix/remaster the early Metallica and Dream Theater songs so we can hear these guys properly.

 

[flam]

I was interested in it for the string spacing specifically. My only bass is an Aria sb right now, and its spacing measures somewhere in the 15.5mm range. I don't notice much with my fretting hand being four string and all, but anything much bigger on my plucking hand feels like crossing a canyon to me now.

 

[Thaibassman]

Anything that brings the G string on my Bongo from rolling off the fretboard with only the slightest string bend would be a good thang' IMHO

 

[nnnnnn]

I've listened to Myung since 1994 and though I know he's a good player I can rarely hear much of his playing on the DT albums. It's always super woofy with little articulation.

The bass comes through fine on my favourite DT song (Breaking All Illusions), but there are others where it seems very much behind the low-tuned guitars and drums.

On his work with Platypus and the Jelly Jam Myung's bass is actually mixed loud enough to be heard.

 

[Epitaph04]

Yes I agree they always bury him in the mix (not unlike Cliff Burton on the early Metallica albums). I wish someone would totally remix/remaster the early Metallica and Dream Theater songs so we can hear these guys properly.

They dont. DT’s first two albums have some of the most prominent bass guitar in them, same with the Awake, Change of Seasons EP, Falling into Infinity, Six degrees, Dramatic Turn of Events, self titled, and even Distance over Time have plenty prominent bass playing in them. Same goes for Score and Budokan. Have to remember that DT isnt Rush and not every band sounds great like that. John Myung also comes across as someone who doesnt like to stand out all that much. It’s why its called a mix and not John Myung feat. DT.

The majority of DTs albums sound very good, and will always sound best with a proper sound system. You’ll notice it most when you listen to bass guitar-less DT tracks.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

If his model just has a 5 string neck but everything else is the same (body and bridge),then I would think that the string spacing would be the same as the 6 string bongo. It might be a tiny bit tighter because the strings are getting closer together at the nut, but I don’t think it would be that noticeable to your right hand.