MM Bongo 6 string?

[Bernie Connors]

Very cool!

I even like the look of the proto. Very classy to my eyes...

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I sure hope they let natural finish Bongos hit the stores. Those suckers look really, really good!

 

[boyet]

I sure hope they let natural finish Bongos hit the stores. Those suckers look really, really good!

I agree but I don't think EBMM will make any natural finished Bongos ever. A stealth Bongo 6HH will be nice though...

 

[doctorjazz]

Thought basswood was browner than that though.

Nah, it's pretty pale, sometimes with greenish streaks.

 

[shannons]

I've never really dug the look of the Bongo 4 and 5 strings, but that 6 string looks awesome. I may have to check on eof those out....if they come out. Very tasty indeed.

I'd love to see a Stingray 6! Drool....

 

[mark beem]

A stealth Bongo 6HH will be nice though...

HARUMPH!!!!!

 

[fretcrusher]

I'd love to see a Stingray 6! Drool....

+1 I would buy a half dozen if it was a Stingray with oval pick guard. Different colors and neck woods and pick ups a HH Maple neck SR6 natural with black pick guard.

 

[ROGI]

looks great,
when i first saw the pic my first tought was "yamaha RBXJM2" and someone beat me to it. seems as myung is playing bongo, and his last yamaha was kind of 6 strings stingray with one H pickup, i never tought of bongo beeing so similar to JM2 util i played it few weeks ago in a shop, first thing that came to my mind was "JM2 design" but sound was somewhat diferent ... big time
if it comes out it will be my next bass

 

[Ian Perge]

Some one mentioned JM using a bongo,than a bongo 6 string coming out.Wonder if Myung has a big part in it.Come to think of it,even it is so,what the heck is it to me?[/
QUOTE]

About two years ago during an online chat w/ John Petrucci, Sterling Ball said the following about a six-string Bongo:

Here is the resaon why no six string basses. RETAIL. There are only so many hooks on the wall. The only way we would make a six string is if an important endorsee required one. Much like the silhouette bass was made for Keith Richards. Thats it I have nothing against the 6 string bass, but the market is very, very limited.

A little over a year later in the Fall of 2006 Dream Theater is in the studio, John Myung is using a 5-string Bongo as well as several SR4 and 5s, and you've got an big-name player who's used to the six-string as his primary instrument. Said big-name player also has a history with the company, using Ernie Ball basses in both the recent and distant past, as well as having a bandmate who is one of the company's largest endorsees. Soon after, word of the Bongo Six prototypes starts to hit the virtual airwaves...

These dots are quite large, and not hard to connect.

As for JM's sound, I think that EB/MM will give him a better edge, but I've always believed that in a band (especially after Portnoy and Petrucci "took control" as Producers and defacto "Band Leaders" before the making of "Scenes From A Memory" to keep Portnoy from leaving the band) that is sonically dominated by heavy guitar and a huge, Peart-esque drummer (and has become moreso over the most recent albums) as well as a keyboardist who spends weeks programming patches and thus would like them heard, John's Front-Of-House sound is pretty far out of his hands despite whatever bass he's holding in them. :scowl:

 

[lefty007]

Going a little off topic, but to echo Ian, it is a shame that JM can't be heard in the mix. You see his fingers going 1000 mph, but all your hear is kick drum and guitar. And is not because the bass he's using. I bet he will still be way back there in the mix even when he starts using the Bongo.

Boo.

 

[1973ric4001]

Yeah. The pickups are still being worked on, they haven't gotten it "just right" yet. The one in that pictured bass is a blank.

im suprised that they havent sprung for the Seymore duncan 6er pickup that john myung has been using

 

[fake-bass]

Daaaaammn!
I dont like the looks of the Bongo 4's and 5's but will be eventually buying one of these 6ers IF they get released!

so nice looking...hopefully they do release the bass, and a natural version like the prototype.

 

[ndrly]

The people at Ernie Ball/MusicMan should make a 6 string StingRay or something...

 

[The Eristic]

I've always liked the Bongo, but held off because I prefer 6+ strings. Man, here's hoping! Something like that mock up would be outstanding.

 

[73jbass]

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Oh no,and I said I'd never own a Bongo. Open mouth,insert foot. Looks like EB has done it again. And the Sterling 5 yet to come! I'm going to be so broke.

 

[machine gewehr]

Thanks for the info Ian!

I am not a 6 strig player and never considered a Bongo but man,6 string one looks so good.I need to learn new theory to handle the extra 2 strings ASAP!

 

[Ian Perge]

Thanks for the info Ian!

My pleasure!

Btw, it's happened: tour started last night and Myung was using a white Bongo 5-string onstage:

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So it's "Officially official" (in James LaBrie mangled English ) - it's almost certain that JM has switched over to EB/MM, and not even [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] knew he'd be doing so. That's called "under the radar".

 

[eude]

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Very Very Tasty!

Eude

 

[bovinehost]

im suprised that they havent sprung for the Seymore duncan 6er pickup that john myung has been using

Could be because Music Man makes their own pickups.

 

[sargebaker]

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! THEY LOOK INCREDIBLE!!!!!! AND THEY'RE ASH!!!!! And I Just bought a Cirrus and will probably never own one .... But WOW NONETHELESS! I CAN'T STOP TYPING IN CAPS THIS HAS GOT ME SO EXCITED!!!!!!