my bongo bass

[greyparrot]

i have been through a few basses but i have to say i have never had such a great all round bass. If you are looking for a high end bass, i would give these a good look. I think they look stunning, and they are made superb, with great balance and super neck. My one still needs a set up for me, but as it is it plays great.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3mlHAEevY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3mlHAEevY[/url]

[Musicman20]

Thanks, I've been looking into one of these.

Which model do you have?

[Bigwan]

+1 to all that GP. Love mine!

[greyparrot]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1001898' date='Oct 26 2010, 11:41 PM']Thanks, I've been looking into one of these.

Which model do you have?[/quote]



Hi i have the hh 4 string, you can see it on the vid. Its funny but i never liked the stingray sound, but this is like a P bass a jazz and stingray in 1. I dont quite know what the single pickup would be like, but the hh is very adaptable to any sound. The only thing i will say is that they are very responsive, so u have to have you technique in good order to keep it clean sounding. The lightest touch give you sound. I have always been pretty hot on damping the strings while playing, but i would say this is not a very forgiving bass. The neck is not skinny like a jazz, i like that, i cant do skinny necks (both female human n bass) and it is very fast. The tone unplugged is a little like a graphite neck (i dont like the tone unplugged) but plug it in and wow. I also an a 5/6 string player, and was not sure about a 4, but it seems strange in that it can give you the same depth of note in the low register so i dont really miss 5. The fit and finish are of the best i have seen and the spray job looks very BMW. I have a BM so can relate to the bass desighn. If you look at the new 3 series you can see glimses of it in this bass. (BMW desighned the bass) Comes with a nice hard case.

we have vol/mix/mid/mid sweep/bass/treble. I just keep it all on flat. It also has an 18v preamp. Its quite a beast of a bass i must say. Anything you wish to know please ask,

Rich.

[Musicman20]

Thanks Rich, sounds great! I am eyeing up ordering a Bongo 5 HH..and the more I hear the more I edge towards the order.

I know what you mean about the responsiveness. A light touch gives huge sound with my new Ray 5 HS, so I can imagine what the Bongo is like!

Im glad it is not a skinny Jazz type neck. Part of my reasons for not bonding with Jazz basses is that my hands cramp a little at the nut...I feel I dont have the room I want to play with. I imagine I could get around this and get used to it, but Precision necks always fit straight away, as do Stingray necks.

I like the comments about the fit and finish. I think they make an excellent bass at EBMM, especially for the price point.

[greyparrot]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1002059' date='Oct 27 2010, 09:20 AM']Thanks Rich, sounds great! I am eyeing up ordering a Bongo 5 HH..and the more I hear the more I edge towards the order.

I know what you mean about the responsiveness. A light touch gives huge sound with my new Ray 5 HS, so I can imagine what the Bongo is like!

Im glad it is not a skinny Jazz type neck. Part of my reasons for not bonding with Jazz basses is that my hands cramp a little at the nut...I feel I dont have the room I want to play with. I imagine I could get around this and get used to it, but Precision necks always fit straight away, as do Stingray necks.

I like the comments about the fit and finish. I think they make an excellent bass at EBMM, especially for the price point.[/quote]



yes thats true i have the same problem with skinny necks, thats why i like 5 and 6 strings,but imquite happy with this neck. In time i may upgrade to a 5 or 6 string version, but at the moment im reallyenjoying this bass.Still deciding on string gauge. I have lights on but i prefer a little heavyer strings maybe 40-45-100. s

[schafhalter]

[quote name='greyparrot' post='1002018' date='Oct 27 2010, 09:41 AM']we have vol/mix/mid/mid sweep/bass/treble. I just keep it all on flat. It also has an 18v preamp. Its quite a beast of a bass i must say. Anything you wish to know please ask,[/quote]

... errm ... doesn't the Bongo have lo-mid/hi-mid, and not mid/mid sweep controls? At least mine does ...

br, Matthias

[greyparrot]

[quote name='schafhalter' post='1002335' date='Oct 27 2010, 12:44 PM']... errm ... doesn't the Bongo have lo-mid/hi-mid, and not mid/mid sweep controls? At least mine does ...

br, Matthias[/quote]


is it i thought it was a mid sweep. the outer ring. Thanks for telling me.

[Musicman20]

Its Bass, Treble, Lo-Mid, Hi-Mid, Balance, Volume...not in that order thought I dont think!

[warwickhunt]

[quote name='greyparrot' post='1001693' date='Oct 26 2010, 08:40 PM'][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3mlHAEevY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3mlHAEevY[/url][/quote]

Just out of interest how did you record the video n audio?

[greyparrot]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1002813' date='Oct 27 2010, 06:20 PM']Just out of interest how did you record the video n audio?[/quote]



good question

The kodak zi8 hd camcorder is the only one that has a mic input. I searched for ages for a camcorder with a mic input as its the only possible way to get decent audio on a video without having to sync up vid/audio. So i have a small soundcraft mixer into which i di the bass and the cd/mp3 player hit the record button on the kodak and thats it. Iv done 4 with it now, and really pleased. I did a gig the other day but fooked up as i had only the vocals come through, but even in low light it gives great results. All for £90. But i think its discontined but amazon are still doing them. No other camera has a mic input. The flip is not a patch on the kodak zi8. I also did the suspitious minds vid on it too on you tube. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZNHUqNw56g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZNHUqNw56g[/url] If you watch it just plugged into a tv with the supplied HDMI lead the quality is amazing far better than when loaded onto you tube.

Rich.

ps for monitoring i just use the headphones from the desk so no external sound.

Edited October 27, 2010 by greyparrot

[Musicman20]

That Bongo looks even better in that second video

[greyparrot]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1002895' date='Oct 27 2010, 07:29 PM']That Bongo looks even better in that second video [/quote]


thanks, its a great color and a great spray job a-la BMW :-)

[munkonthehill]

the only thing im really suprised at these basses is the resale value.

At the same retail as a Ric 4001, I dont understand why these basses dont hold any value, even though they have an amazing finish and very advanced electrics. The Ric will still demand over a grand s/h!!!!!!!!!!!!

I for one am still exploring all my tones that these basses have on offer and look forward to each rehearsal because its like using a new bass each time.

The 18v circuit is a monster and the HS pup config has everything I need.

I love these basses to bits and im sure it wont be long before everyone jumps at them

[greyparrot]

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1003091' date='Oct 27 2010, 10:14 PM']the only thing im really suprised at these basses is the resale value.

At the same retail as a Ric 4001, I dont understand why these basses dont hold any value, even though they have an amazing finish and very advanced electrics. The Ric will still demand over a grand s/h!!!!!!!!!!!!

I for one am still exploring all my tones that these basses have on offer and look forward to each rehearsal because its like using a new bass each time.

The 18v circuit is a monster and the HS pup config has everything I need.

I love these basses to bits and im sure it wont be long before everyone jumps at them[/quote]



personally i think these basses have had a bad start in life, but i think they are becoming more and more accepted in the bass comunity now for the tone beast that they are. I think also more players are using them now and that will creat more interest. Look at the wal bass 15 years ago bass centre could not shift them at £700 now look.

[Bigwan]

[quote name='greyparrot' post='1003323' date='Oct 28 2010, 08:28 AM']personally i think these basses have had a bad start in life, but i think they are becoming more and more accepted in the bass comunity now for the tone beast that they are. I think also more players are using them now and that will creat more interest. Look at the wal bass 15 years ago bass centre could not shift them at £700 now look.[/quote]


Yeah Wal's got hit with the whole 80's stigma backlash... Bongo's just got hit with the ugly stick! j/k

I actually really like the look of them, but then my wife tells me I have weird taste (don't think she gets the irony in that!)...

[greyparrot]

[quote name='Bigwan' post='1003625' date='Oct 28 2010, 12:37 PM']Yeah Wal's got hit with the whole 80's stigma backlash... Bongo's just got hit with the ugly stick! j/k

I actually really like the look of them, but then my wife tells me I have weird taste (don't think she gets the irony in that!)...[/quote]


ha ha Bongos are beutiful! she sings! Ella Fitzgerraled was not the nicest looker of the bunch, but has a voice to die for........like my bongo. ;-)

[Grand Wazoo]

I just sold mine to a very happy german bloke who is now as happy as... [i][b]Otto[/b][/i] (They don't have Larry in Deutscheland I don't think)

[url="http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/47151-premature-x-mas-bongo-5-hhp.html"]http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-...ongo-5-hhp.html[/url]

Edited October 28, 2010 by Grand Wazoo

[greyparrot]

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1003667' date='Oct 28 2010, 01:07 PM']I just sold mine to a very happy german bloke who is now as happy as... [i][b]Otto[/b][/i] (They don't have Larry in Deutscheland I don't think)

[url="http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/47151-premature-x-mas-bongo-5-hhp.html"]http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-...ongo-5-hhp.html[/url][/quote]



I think hes a happy chap!