THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2, 3 and infinity)

[maxpayneatlarge]

I submit for your consideration what I believe to be the most beautiful Bongo in existence. This is my first Bongo, and the last 9 days with it have been eye-opening. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the flexibility of the 4 band pre-amp in combination with the pickup blend, and this bass surely does not disappoint.
On with the bass pron

Can I have a number?

She's a beauty for sure. Congrats!

Chris

 

[Mrfstop]

They did a great job on the 2012 PDN basses...sweet bongo.

I submit for your consideration what I believe to be the most beautiful Bongo in existence. This is my first Bongo, and the last 9 days with it have been eye-opening. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the flexibility of the 4 band pre-amp in combination with the pickup blend, and this bass surely does not disappoint.
On with the bass pron

Can I have a number?

 

[kcole4001]

I submit for your consideration what I believe to be the most beautiful Bongo in existence. This is my first Bongo, and the last 9 days with it have been eye-opening. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the flexibility of the 4 band pre-amp in combination with the pickup blend, and this bass surely does not disappoint.
On with the bass pron

Can I have a number?

VERY nice!
Like a ripe apple, much like my 4000.
Yum.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

I was kinda wondering if the Bongo 5 is a decent slapping bass or just a finger style bass?

Its slap tone is simply awesome. And it's very comfortable too! Some players feel that the double humbucker model isn't that comfortable because of the short gap between the neck pup and the end of the fingerboard, but it hasn't been an issue for me.

 

[Pedulla-Player]

Its slap tone is simply awesome. And it's very comfortable too! Some players feel that the double humbucker model isn't that comfortable because of the short gap between the neck pup and the end of the fingerboard, but it hasn't been an issue for me.

Thanks for answering my question. From what I've been reading in the thread the tonal capabilities of the Bongo are very vast. Unfortunately I won't have time to play around with it before my gig this weekend because it is due to arrive at the end of the week so I'll probably keep everything pretty flat. I'll be playing it through my GK Fusion 550 and two GK Neo 212-II cabs. Any pointers for a Bongo 5 HH newbie on a starting point for settings and volume control??

I will post photos and ask for a number when it arrives. She is definitely a Plain Jane compared to most of your beauties!!

 

[Epitaph04]

When set flat the Bongo tends to have a massive bottom end. What I always like to do is turn down the bass knob on the Bongo to kind of tame the beast a bit. It's a very powerful preamp, so a little goes a long way!

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Any pointers for a Bongo 5 HH newbie on a starting point for settings and volume control??

Basically EQ flat and maximum volume. Because of the Bongo's incredible power and versatility, it's easy to fall in the trap of setting bass and treble EQ at maximum, but trust me: Your amp will hardly be able to handle it. Again, too much power. I can't avoid quoting (yet again) Bovinehost (a.k.a. Lord Bongo), who has said the right/best words to describe the Bongo's tonal qualities:

The dual humbucker model Bongo will:

- shave your cat while you're asleep.

- if left to its own devices, destroy large Japanese cities and fight giant, flying, fire-breathing turtles.

- insult retired people.

The single coil/humbucker model will:

- style your girlfriend's hair.

- talk large Japanese cities into destroying themselves.

- convince annoying retired people to move to Idaho.

Also (from a review at TalkBass)...

Then you dial in that neck pickup and suddenly the first five rows are losing dental work and all cartilage turns gelatinous. Do not play this around sharks or rays. It\'s big, it\'s fat, it\'s a Bongo and you want one.

 

[Epitaph04]

The single coil/humbucker description (what I have) is making me crack up!

 

[vates]

Thanks for answering my question. From what I've been reading in the thread the tonal capabilities of the Bongo are very vast. Unfortunately I won't have time to play around with it before my gig this weekend because it is due to arrive at the end of the week so I'll probably keep everything pretty flat. I'll be playing it through my GK Fusion 550 and two GK Neo 212-II cabs. Any pointers for a Bongo 5 HH newbie on a starting point for settings and volume control??

I will post photos and ask for a number when it arrives. She is definitely a Plain Jane compared to most of your beauties!!

I usually start with the preamp set flat and the balance control turned +25% favoring bridge pickup. In most cases that already sounds perfect.

 

[Néal Zheimer]

[...] I'll probably keep everything pretty flat.

That's the only way I play mine: EQ and balance all flat, volume to the max. Works for a rock band and a reggae band.

Have fun

 

[Pedulla-Player]

Thanks for the advice everyone. It's much appreciated.

 

[emblymouse]

You are going to be grinning from ear to ear when you plug it in.
I was a skeptic and did a blind trade for mine and could not be more satisfied. For a mass produced bass it just excels in every way. I wondered if maybe I just got a good one because it is so evenly resonant. Well last week I got a fretless 5HH (see above unlined Goldie) and they are very consistant. The sound is undeniably huge. I'm pretty sure you'll be keeping it.

 

[lostrings]

Here is a video that will answer your question what a Bongo's EQ can do....

 

[Pedulla-Player]

You are going to be grinning from ear to ear when you plug it in.
I was a skeptic and did a blind trade for mine and could not be more satisfied. For a mass produced bass it just excels in every way. I wondered if maybe I just got a good one because it is so evenly resonant. Well last week I got a fretless 5HH (see above unlined Goldie) and they are very consistant. The sound is undeniably huge. I'm pretty sure you'll be keeping it.

Here is a video that will answer your question what a Bongo's EQ can do....

Hi emblymouse - long time no see. Thanks for your input on the Bongo. The Goldie looks sweet!!

Hi lostrings - Thanks for the link. One word - Wow!!!

 

[Néal Zheimer]

Here is a video that will answer your question what a Bongo's EQ can do....

Hey, he strung it upside down!
Is it just me but when he shows his favourite setting, there is no sound anymore?

 

[Musicman20]

Views on the single H 5 string?

 

[HeavyDuty]

Views on the single H 5 string?

Other than it's the best all-around rock bass ever made?

 

[Musicman20]

Other than it's the best all-around rock bass ever made?

They are VERY rare....the HH model is everywhere....I just wanted to know how they compare. I have plenty of Musicman basses with the sweetspot H..and yep...it seems another excuse to get another haha.

 

[Pedulla-Player]

I just got my Bongo 5 HH. The thing plays and sounds incredible!
Anyways , the Pedulla and the Bongo sound incredible through the GK Fusion 550 / (2) Neo 212-II rig. They both play and sound so good through that GK rig that I am going to do everything in my power to try and keep both. I actually think the Bongo sounds better for my finger playing , but the Pedulla sounds better for slapping. The Bongo is a little to twangy (for lack of a better word) when I slap on it , but I only got it to play it for about an hour tonight and I didn't have much time to experiment with the bass's EQ like I wanted to. I'm sure the slap tone that I'm looking for is in there - I just need to find it. The Bongo has exceeded my expectations.
I am going to play the Bongo at my gig this Saturday (Today) and I'll let you know what kind of comments that I get on it. I put some Dr Neon green string on it for St. Patty's day. The twangy slap sound was with the strings that came on it - the Neons actually seem a little less harsh , but I didn't get to play them much after I put them on. I am going to break them in tomorrow afternoon before the gig as well as familiarize myself with the Bongo a bit more.
I'll post photos when I have more time even though she's a plane Jane compared to most of the Bongos that I have seen in this thread.

 

[emblymouse]

Congrats, now gig that sucker and report!
I really don't slap, but between the high mid and treble controls you can tailor this slice of highs. Aside from the blend, I use the high mid for most of my tone tweaks.