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Stressing...Big Time

Spent

Spent

May 15, 2011
2,164
2,982
Upstate NY
waywardminds.band
#1
I've been playing a MusicMan Bongo for the past two years. It's a great bass, but I've never been totally happy with it. I now have the opportunity to trade it, and a couple hundred (yeah, I'm taking a beating), for a new Spector LX4. I have two other Spectors, both Korean, and I love them. I can't justify a USA model, even though I live about five miles from where they're made. I've only ever parted with one guitar (I'm up to 17 of them); I get attached even if I don't play them. I'm trying to justify this by telling myself that I'd rather someone who appreciates it play it rather than it just sit in my basement, but it's not working.
 
#3
Agreed, there are plenty of Bongos in the sea. If tou truly miss it you could always pick your least favorite one or two from the other seventeen and trade for another.

You will always find something you like about most basses you try (once you get past the really cheap ones at least) but it sounds like that Spector ticks many more boxes for you than the MM.
 
#4
Thanks, good advice. I'm getting the Spector for $1476 (it's $1999 everywhere else), which helps justify the lower trade in price for the Bongo. I've decided I'm going to go to the music store and spend some more time with the Spector. Maybe my lack of enthusiasm will result in a better trade, or an extra set of strings.
 
#7
I really can't put my finger on it, but I just never liked the tone. It may be that it's too hot, I usually prefer passive pickups and an active eq. I've used it for a number of gigs over the years, but it stays at practice and I use my Spector Legend Classic at home. Every time I pick up the Spector I love the tone. I would prefer not trading it, but the boss (wife), who just bought me a bass for Christmas, thinks I need to thin the herd. Of all my guitars, the Bongo is the one I think I can live without.
 
#8
Spent said:
I now have the opportunity to trade it, and a couple hundred (yeah, I'm taking a beating), for a new Spector LX4.
Click to expand...

You're not really taking a beating. You're trading a 2 year old bass for a brand new bass. The street price of both basses, when new, are about the same. Coming out of this only $200 out of pocket is a pretty fair deal.
 
#15
I will post some pics soon. I'm with you on the Spector addiction, this is my third. I have a Korean Legend that I gigged with more than any other bass and an NS2000/5 that I must have played at least 50 gigs with (I'm not a 5 string fan, but it does play nice). I live in the same town as the USA models are made, so someday I may end up with one.
 
#16
I will say the nice thing about music man is even if they discontinue the bongo, Which I don't see as long as John from dream theatre walks on stage with one, ordering a custom bass from Ernie ball isn't much more expensive then the production models. It's not like conklin or Ritter where you could spend 5-10 grand on a custom. You can order a bongo with whatever you want for 2000 or less
 

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