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THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2, 3 and infinity)

#461
Awesome color!!!
Joe Nerve said:
Don't think I posted in this thread yet. Newest Bongo came to me at the end of march.

bluebongo1-1.jpg


I've a confession, and realization I'd like to put out there.

The confession: After getting a Big Al, and going back to 4s instead of 5s, my Bongo 5 got packed away. Once in a blue moon I'd take it out, and I started to realize I didn't really like the "Bongo" sound so much any more. I think part was that I connected it with some not so good memories, but the other part was that it also seemed to pack a little too much punch for my changing tastes in tone. It often also distorted with a lot of backlines I was sometimes forced to plug into.

The realization: My Bongo becomes a completely different animal if I consider 1/4 - 1/3 of the way up on all controls the center mark. I used to start at the halfway point, push the bass and treble a bit, then use the blend and mids to find a seat in the mix. For me, 90% of the time now, that's overkill. Starting at a point where there's some cut in the EQ and volume I've opened new doors for the tones this bass is capable of. I feel I have a lot more room for tweaking, and I can get some really sweet and gooey sounds if I want. Why this stuff hadn't occurred to me long ago I can't say. It's probably because old habits die hard, but the new approach has me swept away in love all over again. I am awesomely happy with my new Bongo.

I rejoin this club as a once again active member. :)
Click to expand...
 
#464
I find the Bongo to be incredibly boomy and huge sounding when everything is set flat. First thing I do when I plug in the Bongo is turn down the bass knob quite a bit. The frequency its at is 40 hz if I remember correctly, which is some pretty low bass. As soon as I do that, I get a great, articulate sound JUST from turning the bass down on the preamp. It's a very powerful preamp...I think each knob can boost/cut up to 18 decibels.
 
#465
Epitaph04 said:
I find the Bongo to be incredibly boomy and huge sounding when everything is set flat. First thing I do when I plug in the Bongo is turn down the bass knob quite a bit. The frequency its at is 40 hz if I remember correctly, which is some pretty low bass. As soon as I do that, I get a great, articulate sound JUST from turning the bass down on the preamp. It's a very powerful preamp...I think each knob can boost/cut up to 18 decibels.
Click to expand...

As far as I remember the bass knob is set on 100 Hz on the bongo. Correct me if I am wrong.
 
#472
I LOVE bongo basses! The next bass I buy will be one. Heres my problem I'm saving 10 bucks a pay check and it will be like four years till I have enough to buy one. I like the bongo six! Its soooo expensive! Are there any ways to get these beasts for less money? Will they be cheaper in four years? Also the orange or the green or that egyptian smoke are my favorite colors but orange is my first pick. WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE ORANGE WITH WHITE PEARLOID? Lastly I didn't mean to hijack the thread but I want to talk to owners about their bongos. Like is there a way to get that sound of a bongo until I get one?
 
#474
xavplusplus said:
I LOVE bongo basses! The next bass I buy will be one. Heres my problem I'm saving 10 bucks a pay check and it will be like four years till I have enough to buy one. I like the bongo six! Its soooo expensive! Are there any ways to get these beasts for less money? Will they be cheaper in four years? Also the orange or the green or that egyptian smoke are my favorite colors but orange is my first pick. WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE ORANGE WITH WHITE PEARLOID? Lastly I didn't mean to hijack the thread but I want to talk to owners about their bongos. Like is there a way to get that sound of a bongo until I get one?
Click to expand...

Bongo has a pretty unique tone. As does a Stingray. While I think a Sterling and a few other basses can get close to a Stingray sound, I've really never met a bass that sounds like a Bongo.

As for the price, first - I'd subscribe to the Amazon deals thread here. Some MMs popped up about a year ago between $900 - $1100. Pretty sure there were some Bongos in there. Also, Musiciansfriend constantly has 15% or more off sales for anything over $500. If you're determined enough you can get them to knock even more than that off. On higher priced items you can usually get them to knock off 20%. Depends a lot on who you get on the phone, and how much you're willing to commit to a price. Other online stores do the same, but MF seems the quickest to drop the price. Americanmusical comes in a close 2nd.

As for saving, throwing $10-$20 a week in an envelope with the word "BONGO" written in magic marker on works wonderfully. I get most of my basses that way. I just commit to not touching it no matter what, and before ya know it there's a new bass at my door. The UPS guy is my stork.
 
#476
Joe Nerve said:
Bongo has a pretty unique tone. As does a Stingray. While I think a Sterling and a few other basses can get close to a Stingray sound, I've really never met a bass that sounds like a Bongo.

As for the price, first - I'd subscribe to the Amazon deals thread here. Some MMs popped up about a year ago between $900 - $1100. Pretty sure there were some Bongos in there. Also, Musiciansfriend constantly has 15% or more off sales for anything over $500. If you're determined enough you can get them to knock even more than that off. On higher priced items you can usually get them to knock off 20%. Depends a lot on who you get on the phone, and how much you're willing to commit to a price. Other online stores do the same, but MF seems the quickest to drop the price. Americanmusical comes in a close 2nd.

As for saving, throwing $10-$20 a week in an envelope with the word "BONGO" written in magic marker on works wonderfully. I get most of my basses that way. I just commit to not touching it no matter what, and before ya know it there's a new bass at my door. The UPS guy is my stork.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the encouragement!
 
#477
xavplusplus said:
I LOVE bongo basses! The next bass I buy will be one. Heres my problem I'm saving 10 bucks a pay check and it will be like four years till I have enough to buy one. I like the bongo six! Its soooo expensive! Are there any ways to get these beasts for less money? Will they be cheaper in four years? Also the orange or the green or that egyptian smoke are my favorite colors but orange is my first pick. WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE ORANGE WITH WHITE PEARLOID? Lastly I didn't mean to hijack the thread but I want to talk to owners about their bongos. Like is there a way to get that sound of a bongo until I get one?
Click to expand...


I would save enough to buy a lightly used mint/mint- Bongo, rather than save the additional time to get a new one.
Basses depreciate so much! What you buy for $1,500 today is only worth $1,100 MAYBE tomorrow?
I know That is what I do 90% of the time, and have no regrets.

I buy only mint barely used basses...keep them mint during my ownership.
When I sell one of my basses the buyer is getting a bass that is VERY close to new condition for a good deal less than new.

The 2004 Lava Pearl Bongo I just let go of sold for $850.00!!!
( and it had a white ice pick guard , not pearloid LOL )

Finding a deal like that will allow ya to save for about half the time! :D :bassist::hyper:
 

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