I am ready to request my number as well! Here is a pic of me out my Bongo 6 HH in the showroom at Sweetwater. Caught a Gary Grainger clinic where I got to meet him and Paul Reed Smith as well, and came home with this orange beauty. Was a good day!!!
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I am ready to request my number as well! Here is a pic of me out my Bongo 6 HH in the showroom at Sweetwater. Caught a Gary Grainger clinic where I got to meet him and Paul Reed Smith as well, and came home with this orange beauty. Was a good day!!!
Arent they so underated? Its just what bass tone should be. Warm with a little bit of aggressive punch to cut through. Thats a Bongo. Sweet!
They have a sound all their own. Definitely more warm than a typical Stingray, but still plenty of sizzle and cut. The low end in the HH model is insane. I used it with an R&B group and shook the whole place.
Was actually at GC Hollywood today, and they had a sky blue bongo on the wall, along with 20 or so other EBMM basses. The bongo still is iconic in its originality versus anything else on the wall (there were no Big Als, my other fetish).
The Big Al is pretty sweet. It can do a ton of stuff but NEO pickups & Hog body still lend it to be on the warmer side which is why I avoid a lot of the parallel settings. Tonally its not too far from the Bongo at times. Just something about the Bongo thats good tone when you pick it up.
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
Greetings!
I hope you accept newbies in your club, as I own a 5 String Stealth Black HH Bongo, and it's a killer!
It is my first more or less real bass as before I have been playing on some used Korean 5-string bass by an unknown brand Career and before that on some Chinese Ibanez GRS180, so there's nothing much to compare with
I hope you accept newbies in your club, as I own a 5 String Stealth Black HH Bongo, and it's a killer!
It is my first more or less real bass as before I have been playing on some used Korean 5-string bass by an unknown brand Career and before that on some Chinese Ibanez GRS180, so there's nothing much to compare with
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Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
Greetings!
I hope you accept newbies in your club, as I own a 5 String Stealth Black HH Bongo, and it's a killer!
It is my first more or less real bass as before I have been playing on some used Korean 5-string bass by an unknown brand Career and before that on some Chinese Ibanez GRS180, so there's nothing much to compare with
Sure! Now you are club member # 204. Welcome!
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Confession time.
A couple of years ago I started playing in a Zep tribute. Felt I had to do it right and picked up a Jazz bass. Since I was playing it so much, I got very comfortable and kinda started loving it. That inspired me to then pick up a Gibson EB, and the bass I never though I'd own, a P. I saw, after committing enough time to them, what the love of passive instruments is all about. Bongo has been sitting in the closet, and the idea of $1000 cash in my pocket, as opposed to the Bongo in the closet started to intrigue me.
Had a gig with another Zep heavy cover band last night that also does a bunch of other classic covers. Decided I needed to break out the Bongo to help me get off the should I sell it fence. I have to admit, it was tough. This newer band does some challenging material that's brand new to me and the Bongo is VERY different than what I'm now completely comfortable with. Anyhow, after almost backing out a few times, I packed the Bongo in my gigbag, and was out the door.
Holy effing crap!
Don't know if it's my new rig...? maybe getting used to passive basses and then getting all that control back...? THE BONGO KILLS! Played in front of a musician heavy audience last night, and got a few "damns" on the bass tone. I'm not quite sure how to describe what was different. Active sound is definitely more compressed than a passive sound, but at the same time it seems to have just a whole lot more going on. I was able to be a lot more expressive, especially in songs like What is and What Should Never Be, and Ramble On.
2nd part of my confession I think I've already mentioned here several times. In the past (most of my Bongo playing days) I now know I made the mistake of always adding EQ as opposed to dialing back, AND not using active switch on my amps. That worked for original material, but when I brought the Bongo to cover gigs doing that, well... it didn't really work too well. My new Bongo rule is to start with all the EQs about 1/3 of the way up, and work my sound in from there. It makes a world of difference.
I must give thanks to the people in this thread. It's revival this week is what got me to start thinking it's time do something with that bass again. So happy I did.
Not selling my Bongo.
A couple of years ago I started playing in a Zep tribute. Felt I had to do it right and picked up a Jazz bass. Since I was playing it so much, I got very comfortable and kinda started loving it. That inspired me to then pick up a Gibson EB, and the bass I never though I'd own, a P. I saw, after committing enough time to them, what the love of passive instruments is all about. Bongo has been sitting in the closet, and the idea of $1000 cash in my pocket, as opposed to the Bongo in the closet started to intrigue me.
Had a gig with another Zep heavy cover band last night that also does a bunch of other classic covers. Decided I needed to break out the Bongo to help me get off the should I sell it fence. I have to admit, it was tough. This newer band does some challenging material that's brand new to me and the Bongo is VERY different than what I'm now completely comfortable with. Anyhow, after almost backing out a few times, I packed the Bongo in my gigbag, and was out the door.
Holy effing crap!
Don't know if it's my new rig...? maybe getting used to passive basses and then getting all that control back...? THE BONGO KILLS! Played in front of a musician heavy audience last night, and got a few "damns" on the bass tone. I'm not quite sure how to describe what was different. Active sound is definitely more compressed than a passive sound, but at the same time it seems to have just a whole lot more going on. I was able to be a lot more expressive, especially in songs like What is and What Should Never Be, and Ramble On.
2nd part of my confession I think I've already mentioned here several times. In the past (most of my Bongo playing days) I now know I made the mistake of always adding EQ as opposed to dialing back, AND not using active switch on my amps. That worked for original material, but when I brought the Bongo to cover gigs doing that, well... it didn't really work too well. My new Bongo rule is to start with all the EQs about 1/3 of the way up, and work my sound in from there. It makes a world of difference.
I must give thanks to the people in this thread. It's revival this week is what got me to start thinking it's time do something with that bass again. So happy I did.
Not selling my Bongo.
Bongo owners,
I just want to clarify something: turning the truss rod adjustment wheel clockwise (looking up the neck toward the headstock) will straighten the neck, whereas counterclockwise will provide relief in the neck, correct?
I just want to clarify something: turning the truss rod adjustment wheel clockwise (looking up the neck toward the headstock) will straighten the neck, whereas counterclockwise will provide relief in the neck, correct?
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
I thought this was the case, just wanted to make sure. The info on the music man site was not very clear to me. "Toward the G" is a smart way of wording it.
I pulled the trigger today. New Bongo 5HH should be here the first of next week. Can't wait.
She showed up yesterday at the door. Havent had much time to play it but already the range of tones and the power...wow!
She's a beauty! Love that pickguard. My 6 string came with the mother of pearl, but that one looks pretty cool!She showed up yesterday at the door. Havent had much time to play it but already the range of tones and the power...wow!
