THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2, 3 and infinity)

[zeman23]

Here's two 5 string Bongos

Anybody have any live clips or studio recordings they’ve done with a Bongo 5 ? Would love to listen to some examples… I’m trying to sell myself into buying a Bongo.. I don’t need much to pull the trigger on the right one. Especially for next year as we hit the festival circuit again… (I’m very close to purchasing one. it just needs to be an ebony board & HH configuration..)
Also, can someone briefly fill me in on the history of the bongo as far as preamp/ electronic differences, pickup differences.. (if any changes have been made on the bongo over the years)
Thanks !

 

[KPJ]

Don't know if this is what you're looking for? I have quite a few examples of me playing my Bongo live on my YT channel. All recordings done with camera microphones.

 

[JeroB666]

I have this old one: But mines a 6.

 

[Nakoatron]

Here’s my old bongo

 

[alexhagerman]

Just found this club thread. Picked this up a few months ago and now I don't want to play anything else . Love the sound, neck and feel.

 

[Afc70]

Congratulations! A bongo 5 was my intended next purchase but I came across a killer Roscoe century 5 with a beautiful ebony board and bought it. And it truly is spectacular …

however, next yr, I’m gonna get a bongo 5.
I love those ebony boards, Double hum buckers, and that black stealth color, monster tones, that is my ideal Bongo you have there, nice score!

 

[alexhagerman]

I'll have to look up the Roscoe

Hope you love the bongo when you get one. It's definitely set a new standard for me.

 

[Loring]

Just found this club thread. Picked this up a few months ago and now I don't want to play anything else . Love the sound, neck and feel.

View attachment 4912431 View attachment 4912432

really nice with that roasted neck! Must be a BFR or vault instrument... Normal ones just have a painted neck.

 

[Afc70]

I'll have to look up the Roscoe

Hope you love the bongo when you get one. It's definitely set a new standard for me.

Thanks, If you get some studio or live recordings of your Bongo, I’d love to hear them. Congrats again !
Here’s the link to my Roscoe
SOLD - Roscoe Century V quilt/ash/ebony

 

[alexhagerman]

really nice with that roasted neck! Must be a BFR or vault instrument... Normal ones just have a painted neck.

It's one of the family reserve models with a purple metallic borolo finish (looks black in the photos, in a better lit environment it's a dark purple with flecks). I got really lucky stumbling across it as I'm not big on painted necks, but love everything else about the bongo setup.

 

[_B_E_A_D_G_]

NBD, and joining the club!

Yes, it's cream, with tort, and I love it!

 

[vates]

Nice catch! Always elusive 2005LTD

 

[_B_E_A_D_G_]

Nice catch! Always elusive 2005LTD

Yes, and it is in pristine condition (except the tip of the headstock, because Bongos )

 

[muggsy]

I decided a long time ago that my Neptune Blue Bongo looks better without a pickguard. It came with a black guard, which looked fine, but I wanted to see the grain of the mahogany body so I got a custom clear guard. Didn't love it, eventually took it off. Question: without a pickguard, leave the holes or put the screws back in? If it matters, screw heads are not quite flush with the body. I have my opinion but curious what y'all think.

SCREWS:

NO SCREWS:

 

[Wolfhound32]

I decided a long time ago that my Neptune Blue Bongo looks better without a pickguard. It came with a black guard, which looked fine, but I wanted to see the grain of the mahogany body so I got a custom clear guard. Didn't love it, eventually took it off. Question: without a pickguard, leave the holes or put the screws back in? If it matters, screw heads are not quite flush with the body. I have my opinion but curious what y'all think.

SCREWS:

View attachment 4939682

NO SCREWS:

View attachment 4939681

Beauty!
My choice would be no screws. Just be sure to keep them somewhere safe should you change your mind down the road~

 

[_B_E_A_D_G_]

I decided a long time ago that my Neptune Blue Bongo looks better without a pickguard. It came with a black guard, which looked fine, but I wanted to see the grain of the mahogany body so I got a custom clear guard. Didn't love it, eventually took it off. Question: without a pickguard, leave the holes or put the screws back in? If it matters, screw heads are not quite flush with the body. I have my opinion but curious what y'all think.

SCREWS:

View attachment 4939682

NO SCREWS:

View attachment 4939681

With or without, it is a gorgeous bass!

I think I like it better with the screws. If the heads were bothering me, I would probably get some headless screws to have a flush surface.

 

[vates]

I decided a long time ago that my Neptune Blue Bongo looks better without a pickguard. It came with a black guard, which looked fine, but I wanted to see the grain of the mahogany body so I got a custom clear guard. Didn't love it, eventually took it off. Question: without a pickguard, leave the holes or put the screws back in? If it matters, screw heads are not quite flush with the body. I have my opinion but curious what y'all think.

SCREWS:

View attachment 4939682

NO SCREWS:

View attachment 4939681

A beautiful instrument!

Flush screws and paint the heads blue

 

[Stephent28]

Definitely with the screws. Get flush screws if the bump bothers you.

 

[Stevorebob]

I prefer a pickguard.

 

[muggsy]

I prefer a pickguard.

On any other Bongo I'd agree with you, but this one looks better to me without. YMMV, of course. And I don't play with a pick, so there's no risk of damage to the instrument.

I may look for flush screws, that seems like the best of both worlds.