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THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2, 3 and infinity)

#2,381
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
Anyone’s else see the video posted on EBMM website feed of the Bongo 6 in action ? Wow!!😮. Scroll down to FEED section .

www.music-man.com

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Visit Ernie Ball Music Man. A family-owned, American instrument manufacturer in San Luis Obispo, CA since 1974. Shop Ernie Ball Music Man guitars and basses.
www.music-man.com
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Bongo slap tone is one of my fav!
 
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#2,384
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
It sounds so bouncy and musical !! Almost like a cartoon sound effect!! I love it. It’s like StingRay on Steroids !!
I might be in trouble !!
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Bass Central always has some, go play a few! They are a nice compliment to Stingrays

The HH is pretty compressed so great for slap, the HS is more open sounding but slap still sounds killer, more jazz bass like
 
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#2,385
PrimitiveMan said:
Bass Central always has some, go play a few! They are a nice compliment to Stingrays

The HH is pretty compressed so great for slap, the HS is more open sounding but slap still sounds killer, more jazz bass like
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I get into trouble everytime I go into Bass Central!! Maybe I’ll drop by on July after my summer vacation.
 
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#2,387
NBD:
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#2,389
After some time I actually prefer the HS to the HH. It's just easier to dial in a sound I like on the fly. The HH can sound amazing (even a little better than the HS) but takes more tweaking. Both stellar basses though

I would really like to snag a single H Bongo next. Anyone here have one that they have compared to the Stingray Special?
 
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#2,390
Would you have a Bongo as your only bass? In the context of a rock band.

My current Stingray is especially clanky for some reason, and I want to replace it. I would get another Stingray, but I found a Bongo (HH) at a good price, but it's an online purchase and I can't try it out first.

I can't find good Bongo demos, or stage pics for that matter (I wear basses quite low and I was trying to imagine using a Bongo on stage). The Dart video is ok, but the bass sounds a bit muffled.
 
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#2,393
triviani said:
aaaand ordered! A '03 in a dark color, probably sapphire black.

Can't wait!

I have a couple of half round strings sets I could use (.105 or .110). Uhmm..
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Here are a couple of live recordings in rock contexts of Bongos by pros. Sounds great in a mix, so supportive but also with clarity so that you can hear the notes of the bass without being just muddy.




 
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#2,395
triviani said:
Thanks!
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Np! Enjoy it when yours arrives. I've had 3 over the years and theyre such amazing instruments. I love mine and won't be selling it this time. Just spend a bit of time messing with the eq. The eq has a pretty wide range and small changes really do make a pretty significant difference in the mix, especially the 2 mid controls.
 
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#2,396
triviani said:
Would you have a Bongo as your only bass? In the context of a rock band.

My current Stingray is especially clanky for some reason, and I want to replace it. I would get another Stingray, but I found a Bongo (HH) at a good price, but it's an online purchase and I can't try it out first.

I can't find good Bongo demos, or stage pics for that matter (I wear basses quite low and I was trying to imagine using a Bongo on stage). The Dart video is ok, but the bass sounds a bit muffled.
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Clank is pretty general term, but I think a lot of it depends on strings and setup.

Bongo can get clanky too, but dual mids let's you tame it easier via EQ, turn down highs and high mids and boost the lows and low mids and it gets pretty smooth.

Bongos are great but you need to get comfortable with the EQ

What type of strings you use? I generally use stainless but going to nickels also tames the clank pretty well. Also raise the action a touch can help

Enjoy your Bongo!
 
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#2,397
Well. Received the Bongo yesterday.

It sounds great, but... the neck feels very grippy and sticky. Maybe I'm used to the oil finish neck of the SR but it feels like the grippiest neck I've ever played. I would describe it as if the neck had accumulated 2mm of dirt on the back and I was just rubbing my hand over it, or that's how it feels.
But the neck looks clean and a gentle clean didn't solve anything. I'm contacting the shop to see if they admit returns. (This is Japan, returns are frowned upon unless there's something really wrong with the bass)
 
#2,398
triviani said:
Well. Received the Bongo yesterday.

It sounds great, but... the neck feels very grippy and sticky. Maybe I'm used to the oil finish neck of the SR but it feels like the grippiest neck I've ever played. I would describe it as if the neck had accumulated 2mm of dirt on the back and I was just rubbing my hand over it, or that's how it feels.
But the neck looks clean and a gentle clean didn't solve anything. I'm contacting the shop to see if they admit returns. (This is Japan, returns are frowned upon unless there's something really wrong with the bass)
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That's a bummer. My Bongos have all had unpainted necks (BFR and limited run) outside of my first one. I never found the painted neck that grippy but definitely prefer the unpainted neck. The new production ones thankfully have unpainted necks now
 
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#2,399
triviani said:
Well. Received the Bongo yesterday.

It sounds great, but... the neck feels very grippy and sticky. Maybe I'm used to the oil finish neck of the SR but it feels like the grippiest neck I've ever played. I would describe it as if the neck had accumulated 2mm of dirt on the back and I was just rubbing my hand over it, or that's how it feels.
But the neck looks clean and a gentle clean didn't solve anything. I'm contacting the shop to see if they admit returns. (This is Japan, returns are frowned upon unless there's something really wrong with the bass)
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That is a bummer. Mine has a painted neck (fretless 5HH) and don't find it a big deal. However, if you like everything else but the back of the neck, why not put some paste wax on the back of the neck to see if it solves the problem?
 
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#2,400
triviani said:
Well. Received the Bongo yesterday.

It sounds great, but... the neck feels very grippy and sticky. Maybe I'm used to the oil finish neck of the SR but it feels like the grippiest neck I've ever played. I would describe it as if the neck had accumulated 2mm of dirt on the back and I was just rubbing my hand over it, or that's how it feels.
But the neck looks clean and a gentle clean didn't solve anything. I'm contacting the shop to see if they admit returns. (This is Japan, returns are frowned upon unless there's something really wrong with the bass)
Click to expand...
My Bongo has the matte-painted neck, and while it’s less smooth than the oil-and-wax finished StingRay necks, it is not at all what I would consider grippy. It’s really smooth and easy playing. Nothing like the glossy Fender or Classic StingRay necks. Maybe it is dirt and grime build-up, and all it needs is a good cleaning.
 
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