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THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2, 3 and infinity)

#2,301
Chuck M said:
I saw and admired that special Bongo on GC's website. It is really pretty. I have three Bongo basses, a gloss black HH6, a Blood Orange HH6 and a Barolo HH5. The 6's have Rosewood fingerboards and the 5 has Ebony. The 5 sounds very much like a jazz bass but the 6's sound....a little different...more modern? They each sound great but that 5 is just out of this would wonderful sounding. The Black 6 and the Barolo 5 both came from GC used.

Congratulations on your new to you Bongo. That is a special one for sure.
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So different Bongo’s do actually sound different then and it’s not just me? I own 2. Both HH models. One with an ebony fretboard and the other with a maple. One is 4 string and the other is a 5 string
 
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#2,302
Cory rich40 said:
So different Bongo’s do actually sound different then and it’s not just me? I own 2. Both HH models. One with an ebony fretboard and the other with a maple. One is 4 string and the other is a 5 string
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The differences are subtle but are there.
 

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#2,303
By the way, the Black Bongo 6 gets the most play time of any of my electric basses. It came to me well used and has quite a few dents and dings on it but it sets up with really low action and feels so good when I play it. I play jazz mostly but am also in a group that does blues and jazzy rock. We do Allman brothers, Robben Ford, Steely Dan, etc. The black Bongo just kills it in that band.
 
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#2,305
Chuck M said:
I saw and admired that special Bongo on GC's website. It is really pretty. I have three Bongo basses, a gloss black HH6, a Blood Orange HH6 and a Barolo HH5. The 6's have Rosewood fingerboards and the 5 has Ebony. The 5 sounds very much like a jazz bass but the 6's sound....a little different...more modern? They each sound great but that 5 is just out of this would wonderful sounding. The Black 6 and the Barolo 5 both came from GC used.

Congratulations on your new to you Bongo. That is a special one for sure.
Click to expand...
I had a Barolo 5 and it sounded amazing. It had a really subtle dead spot on the low Eb though and it drove me crazy. One of my fav finishes for sure though
 
#2,308
PrimitiveMan said:
I would love to try a maple board one
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Nakoatron said:
One of those is on my short list of next basses. I would love it if EBMM did more variations without pick guards.
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I've got a Bongo 5 with a maple fretboard and no pick guard. It's beautiful and sounds great. I'll try and share a pic later on when I'm home. It's my 4th bongo I think. First was a stealth 4 string (HH), then I got a lava pearl 5 (HS), and then an Egyptian smoke 6 (HH). Eventually sold all of those to get my current one but they were all great basses except the 6 string was in pretty rough shape and I think the neck had some issues from the previous owners negligence.
 
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#2,309
N4860 said:
I've got a Bongo 5 with a maple fretboard and no pick guard. It's beautiful and sounds great. I'll try and share a pic later on when I'm home. It's my 4th bongo I think. First was a stealth 4 string (HH), then I got a lava pearl 5 (HS), and then an Egyptian smoke 6 (HH). Eventually sold all of those to get my current one but they were all great basses except the 6 string was in pretty rough shape and I think the neck had some issues from the previous owners negligence.
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I remember your Crescendo right? One of my favorite looking Bongos too
 
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#2,311
What strings are folks using on their Bongos? I have been a big SIT Foundations fan but only had a stainless set on hand, which I tried but didn't love on the Bongo. I have a nickel set coming in the mail so will try that next (I use the nickel on my Stingray Special as well).

I had an old set of Dunlop Super bright stainless in the closet and just threw them on the Bongo and it sounds pretty darn good! Surprised me, as I used to use these strings on a 5 string jazz bass a couple years ago but didn't like them on my other basses. They are a little rough on my fingers though

In the past I used DR Pure Blues on my Bongo and really liked them too

Just curious what y'all use and why
 
#2,312
PrimitiveMan said:
Well when I went to return a defective Stingray Special from GC, and they just happened to have this mint condition Bongo in the store.... And I fell in love with it and brought it home

I've had a love hate relationship with Bongos (this is my 4th!), but this mahogany one sounds so different. My mind is actually blown by how different it sounds and how different I have to EQ it compared to other Bongos I've had. The highs aren't as glassy so I'm boosting highs more than I normally would. I'm cutting high mids more too

It's so even sounding it's insane, sounds clear high up on the B string too

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I know I drooled over it in "another" thread, but I had to make my way over here and drool over it some more. That bass is BEAUTIFUL! :drool:

Great find!
 
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#2,314
PrimitiveMan said:
What strings are folks using on their Bongos? I have been a big SIT Foundations fan but only had a stainless set on hand, which I tried but didn't love on the Bongo. I have a nickel set coming in the mail so will try that next (I use the nickel on my Stingray Special as well).

I had an old set of Dunlop Super bright stainless in the closet and just threw them on the Bongo and it sounds pretty darn good! Surprised me, as I used to use these strings on a 5 string jazz bass a couple years ago but didn't like them on my other basses. They are a little rough on my fingers though

In the past I used DR Pure Blues on my Bongo and really liked them too

Just curious what y'all use and why
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I have Dr blues on my bongo! They sound awesome
 
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#2,317
Chuck M said:
That is interesting. I have had no dead spots on any Bongo I have played. I suppose anything can happen though. The B string on my 5 is thunderous sounding
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Yeah it really stumped me, I tired different strings and setup and the Eb just always sounded a little quieter and sustained shorter. It was subtle but really bothered me.

The B string on this BFR Bongo is the best I have had
 

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