THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2, 3 and infinity)

[IronLung1986]

Peeps think that an 18v pre is hotter than a 9v. Just more headroom in my experience. The Bongo preamp is not “hot,” and I’m not aware that it has changed at any point.

Yea the way EBMM tries to present headroom as this great new feature is a little annoying. All it does is prevent the pickups from clipping the preamp. They caused that issue themselves by wanting to use neodymium pickups which their existing preamps evidently couldn't handle. So it's not super honest or accurate to position that as a net feature gain to the end user. It's not like Stingrays were clipping themselves from 1976 to 2018.

 

[rtav]

Hey All!

I got a John Myung Bongo 6 in platinum from EBMM last January, and I'm having an issue with it.

I don't know if this is endemic to Bongo 6 basses in general or if it is unique to mine.

The problem is that the string tension is horribly floppy on every string, especially B-E-A and D. I can bend notes at the 17th fret like it's a strat lol. There's more than a full inch of clearance between the string and the neck pickup f I pull the E string hard (or any other strings, although the clearance at the 17th fret is <7/64s.

My other six string basses - a Yamaha RBXJM2 and an Ibanez BTB776PB - do not allow the string to be stretched that far, not even close.

So there's something about my Bongo 6 that is different from my other 6 string basses in regards to string tension.

I am using the stock strings that shipped with it, and I did the setup myself (had to add a lot of tension to get the neck to straighten out

The problem is that because the tension is so low, there is almost no bounce back from the strings on the fingerboard. This is a problem when playing very fast sections that require feedback from the strings as in tapping, because the string does not bounce back as quickly tapping sorta sucks (the string just lays there and doesn't snap back quickly), compared to my other basses with higher string tension and more feedback/response from the tapped strings.

Anyone have this with their Bongo? Is string tension normally extremely low on these basses?

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Hey All!

I got a John Myung Bongo 6 in platinum from EBMM last January, and I'm having an issue with it.

I don't know if this is endemic to Bongo 6 basses in general or if it is unique to mine.

The problem is that the string tension is horribly floppy on every string, especially B-E-A and D. I can bend notes at the 17th fret like it's a strat lol. There's more than a full inch of clearance between the string and the neck pickup f I pull the E string hard (or any other strings, although the clearance at the 17th fret is <7/64s.

My other six string basses - a Yamaha RBXJM2 and an Ibanez BTB776PB - do not allow the string to be stretched that far, not even close.

So there's something about my Bongo 6 that is different from my other 6 string basses in regards to string tension.

I am using the stock strings that shipped with it, and I did the setup myself (had to add a lot of tension to get the neck to straighten out

The problem is that because the tension is so low, there is almost no bounce back from the strings on the fingerboard. This is a problem when playing very fast sections that require feedback from the strings as in tapping, because the string does not bounce back as quickly tapping sorta sucks (the string just lays there and doesn't snap back quickly), compared to my other basses with higher string tension and more feedback/response from the tapped strings.

Anyone have this with their Bongo? Is string tension normally extremely low on these basses?

String tension feels the same in my Bongo, my Stingray, and my Yamaha BB (all 5 strings too). They all have the same strings though so they should feel the same.

Neck relief can affect tension but it's mostly due to type of string. Take off the stock strings and use what you're used to on your other basses and see how it feels

 

[vates]

String tension feels the same in my Bongo, my Stingray, and my Yamaha BB (all 5 strings too). They all have the same strings though so they should feel the same.

Neck relief can affect tension but it's mostly due to type of string. Take off the stock strings and use what you're used to on your other basses and see how it feels

Agree to that: the strings are probably the culprit.
Maybe try Lo-Riders with this Bongo first.

 

[Loring]

Odd what you say about tapping… I use super low tension strings ( TI Jazz rounds- even floppier than their flats) and have no problem with tapping and bending is super easy also…

also guitar players that use light gauges both tap and bend with no issues…

sounds more like you haven’t quite dialed the neck relief in. Fretting first and last fret - should barely see air under the seventh fret. I used to measure with gauges but now I just put in enough relief to stop buzz in the first 4 frets…

then I go for low action - on my 6 2mm on the B 1.5mm on the C

 

[JeroB666]

Hey All!

I got a John Myung Bongo 6 in platinum from EBMM last January, and I'm having an issue with it.

I don't know if this is endemic to Bongo 6 basses in general or if it is unique to mine.

The problem is that the string tension is horribly floppy on every string, especially B-E-A and D. I can bend notes at the 17th fret like it's a strat lol. There's more than a full inch of clearance between the string and the neck pickup f I pull the E string hard (or any other strings, although the clearance at the 17th fret is <7/64s.

My other six string basses - a Yamaha RBXJM2 and an Ibanez BTB776PB - do not allow the string to be stretched that far, not even close.

So there's something about my Bongo 6 that is different from my other 6 string basses in regards to string tension.

I am using the stock strings that shipped with it, and I did the setup myself (had to add a lot of tension to get the neck to straighten out

The problem is that because the tension is so low, there is almost no bounce back from the strings on the fingerboard. This is a problem when playing very fast sections that require feedback from the strings as in tapping, because the string does not bounce back as quickly tapping sorta sucks (the string just lays there and doesn't snap back quickly), compared to my other basses with higher string tension and more feedback/response from the tapped strings.

Anyone have this with their Bongo? Is string tension normally extremely low on these basses?

Sounds like you need a trip to a proper luthier to check it. I’ve never had any issues with any of my 3 bongos in the 10+ years I’ve been a Bongo player.

 

[Deaj]

I haven't owned a Bongo for quite some time. IIRC I had to sell some gear to pay for medical expenses resulting from an injury, and I let go of an outstanding each of a Bongo 4-HH in Egyptian Smoke, and a 2017 Fender American Std. Jazz bass. Not a happy occasion.

Over the past year I've been shopping for a used 4-HH at a reasonable price and recently found one in my budget (within $1,500) and found a 2005 4-HH in Sapphire Black in fantastic condition, with the factory hard shell case, for $1,300 shipped. The body and neck may as well be brand new, the frets have minimal wear, and everything works as intended. I gave it a new set of EB Super Bass Slinky's and a fresh setup. The neck is set near dead flat and the action is set low (3mm for the E and A strings, and 2.5mm for the D and G strings at the 24th fret with no drama anywhere on the fretboard. It practically plays itself. It does have a couple of small paint chips at the point of the headstock but I don't really care about this - I can't see them while I'm playing. They might as well not even be there.

This one weighs 9 lbs, 5 oz - within my comfort zone. It sounds.... .... ...well, you guys know.

I just happened to find a virtually unplayed 2017 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass in as new condition, with factory HSC, for $1,100 days after I purchased the Bongo. Found this one on Craigslist and picked it up the same day UPS delivered the Bongo (this was a very good day )!

Though I had the money for both I hadn't really planned on springing for both in the same week, and given that it's tax season (and I expected to owe this year), I was prepared to sell one of the two. The Jazz Bass was the better buy, and I've really been jonesing for a Jazz bass for some time now, so I was prepared to let the Bongo go. I even listed it on the TB classifieds a few days ago, but the more I played it the less willing I became to sell it. I pulled it from the classifieds within 48 hours of listing it. I can't part with it. There's I reason I played Bongo's exclusively for ~10 years. I am being reminded of why as I play it.

Both basses are keepers. Both are easily as good as those I had to sell a while back. But I'm not here about the Jazz Bass.

Here are a few pics of the new (to me) Bongo

 

[vates]

I can relate. I don't play my Bongo for 10 years already. But I can't let it go. Every time I pick it up to check the setup before listing it, I sit and play for an hour or so. And then always decide to keep it for that possible future matching project. One day, one day

 

[VeryTallBassist]

I can relate. I don't play my Bongo for 10 years already. But I can't let it go. Every time I pick it up to check the setup before listing it, I sit and play for an hour or so. And then always decide to keep it for that possible future matching project. One day, one day

I'm on my third Bongo. Every time I got rid of one I missed the hell out of it and had to buy another.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I'm on my third Bongo. Every time I got rid of one I missed the hell out of it and had to buy another.

This is my second and I think will be my last! Really enjoying it.

 

[ColdEye]

Picked up a HS 5er a couple of days ago from GC. No glaring issues, not the prettiest looking tho, lots of marks on the head stock. Anyway, why did I just play a Bongo now? The looks always made it seem like its unwieldly but man, this is so nice to play. The tones are pretty nice too, even if it currently has old rounds right now.

 

[ColdEye]

Enjoying it a lot, a bit hot but its nice just dialing the volume back a bit and same for the eq, dialing them back a bit. Considering flats as usual but I might stick with rounds for a bit. The S has the usual 60 cycle hum but not too bad with the treble rolled back!

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Since I got my Bongo a few weeks ago I've been GASing for a fretless Bongo so hard

 

[Loring]

Same

 

[VeryTallBassist]

Having had a few weeks to play it now, I think I prefer the HH tone to the HS. It's a bit meatier and a bit less hi-fi, which better suits the music I'm currently playing.

I'm actually having a hard time putting it down. I try to rotate through each of my basses at least once a week and the Bongo is slowly pushing both my modded Ray25CA and Spector Coda out of the lineup.

 

[JeroB666]

Since I got my Bongo a few weeks ago I've been GASing for a fretless Bongo so hard

Do it. I have the orange 6HH fretless on my profile pic (<--) Its amazing. Buttery smooth

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Do it. I have the orange 6HH fretless on my profile pic (<--) Its amazing. Buttery smooth

Still debating if I want a fretless Bongo or fretless Stingray for my next bass... Good thing is I don't have the funds currently for either so can think on it for a while!

 

[Loring]

Do it. I have the orange 6HH fretless on my profile pic (<--) Its amazing. Buttery smooth

Try to find one!

 

[shwashwa]

considering a bongo 6, but the 24th fret access concerns me a bit... i'm sure you can get there, but it would require some reaching

 

[JeroB666]

considering a bongo 6, but the 24th fret access concerns me a bit... i'm sure you can get there, but it would require some reaching

I have never had an issue, and my hands are small. I play the upper registry all the time, the cutout is pretty dang nice.