I think the bongo looks fine. I don’t think nobody would really give you a weird look if one was played in a church setting. My guitarist claims my stingray sounds better. He says it’s close but ultimately the ray is superior and I don’t necessarily agree. Folks on here have speculated that he is prejudiced because of how the bongo looks. My bongo is the crescendo white one. I see nothing screaming heavy metal about it in a church setting. To me a BC Rich Warlock might scream metal and be a bit much for church but not a bongo. Maybe possibly the headstock on the bongo could give slightly metal vibes but most owners would say it’s an incredibly versatile bass. I’ve never been asked not to play it. I’ve even been told by the guitarist that it sounds better than any fender bass he has ever heard. Once he even admitted it sounded better than the stingray when I used an ampeg SVT vr. Other times he will go back to saying the stingray sounds better. What’s the issue? Am I an embarrassment to him because of how he thinks the bongo looks?
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The Bongo’s looks
- Thread starter Cory rich40
- Start date
Always remember that the Bongo sounds great and the looks are .......shall we say $#@!&^%*.
If I'm playing with someone who is embarrassed by me or my gear, I fire them. Or me. One or 't'other, but I won't be playing with them no more. Life's to short to worry about the looks of other people's gear...
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
The opinion of the guitarist is meaningless unless he is in a position to override your choices. Otherwise, you're free to ignore him.
Anyone who thinks the look of your bass in a church setting matters has their priorities screwed up.
i wanted to say that but was afraid of how i'd come off. but i'd say you nailed it! besides, anyone who thinks a bongo looks metal is very unaware of instruments since the 1970s or is super closed minded.
this - so very this!
Someone at a previous church played a Bongo 5. It looked totally fine on stage. But his other basses sounded better. Sorry, but that was the case in this case. I do not know of it was his choice of settings, string choice, etc.
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Or any setting.
I played a Tele guitar in a thrash metal band I was briefly in way back in my "youth". I mean, it was black with a black pickguard, so I guess that helped
. I've seen jazz guys play Les Pauls, and Albert King (blues) plays a freakin' flying V.
I'll agree, looks like a toilet seat!
The Bongo (and any other bass with an oval pickguard like that) looks kinda like a toilet seat. 
I’ve said it before and gotten a warning for it but you guys must have real expensive toilet seats. I have a Bongo. I like everything about it. Looks, quality, playability, tone… I guess just two more guys going for the low hanging fruit.
The Bongo (and any other bass with an oval pickguard like that) looks kinda like a toilet seat.
The Bongo (and any other bass with an oval pickguard like that) looks kinda like a toilet seat.
To all:Watch yourselves!!
I got a warning a while back for saying the same thing!!
Is there an echo in here?
I think Bongos look and sound awesome.
When pretty much anyone says anything negative about the looks of my instruments, I just shrug. It's not their bass, and they're not the player, and there's nothing in the contract about how the instruments should look, so I just ignore the comment and move on.
Me? I’d ignore the comments regardless of which way the winds blows. Unless it is making a mess in the FOH, which I totally doubt, what he says doesn’t matter much.
It doesn't look like bongos at all.
Other than that, there's nothing wrong with it.
Other than that, there's nothing wrong with it.
I used a Bongo in church for a while. FOH said it was the nicest sounding instrument that has ever been in that facility. One of the other bassists at the church bought one shortly after playing mine.
I will die on this hill, that the Bongo doesn't photograph well and it is one of the most versatile instruments on the market.
I will die on this hill, that the Bongo doesn't photograph well and it is one of the most versatile instruments on the market.
I have a hard time wrapping my mind around a church having a contemporary pop/rock/soul combo with electric instruments, but then being uptight about the particular instruments being played. If a fellow ensemble member has opinions about my instrument choice, I take it with a grain of salt. If the director takes issue with my instrument or playing, I'll make the adjustments needed to satisfy her/him.
I love the looks and the sound of my Bongo. I took off the pickguard and think it looks better without. But the only negativity I’ve heard has been from other bass players, many of whom admit they’ve never played one. And I don’t give a rat’s behind.
