Duarte Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Hello everyone I just bought a Bongo 5HH with piezo bridge, it's awesome. However I can't use the piezo option because the saddle for the E string is so overpoweringly loud it is unusable. I have adjusted the trim pots and it has no effect on the E string. When touched, the saddle makes a sound almost identical to the sound made when you touch the tip of a lead when it is plugged into an amp. It even overpowers the magnetic pickups - and when not playing te E string all the other vibrations from the other strings are picked up on it making it sound quite frankly awful. It's a shame because otherwise this bas sounds friggin' epic. I was hoping for a simple solution from anyone with experience...hopefully not bad (therefore expensive) news. Thanks Zak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 DON'T PANIC. phone distributor. probably a simple solution to this involving nearest trusted MM dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Bummer, but the obvious answer is to take it back and have the shop sort it (assuming it's new of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duarte Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 (edited) Oh yes, and I bought it used...from the states. The bass is out of warranty and EB customer service are being very nice and polite, but not particulaly helpful. Edit: actually, they are being very helpful, sending me different diagrams and suggesting different possible solutions, but to no avail. Edited February 2, 2010 by Duarte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 [quote name='Duarte' post='733633' date='Feb 2 2010, 11:42 PM']Oh yes, and I bought it used...from the states. The bass is out of warranty and EB customer service are being very nice and polite, but not particulaly helpful. Edit: actually, they are being very helpful, sending me different diagrams and suggesting different possible solutions, but to no avail.[/quote] Hi Zak, Fran here... man what can I say? You're in a bit of a pickle, you can't turn to EBMM customer service because its out of warranty and you can't shake Erin in the US, what I sugges is to phone these people and see what they say, they are authorized EBMM dealer and have fixed untold StingRays in their time: The Bass Gallery - Workshop in Camdem Town, London: 0207 267 5458 / 267 5258 their charges for sorting out electronic are not too steep as you can see from their website price listings: ELECTRONICS Electronic Maintanance from £10 [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/workshop.cfm"]http://www.thebassgallery.com/workshop.cfm[/url], if you want we can meet somewhere in London and I'll take you to them. But I ain't driving you back oop norf I tell ya! I'll drop you back at the train station. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duarte Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 I went to my local EBMM dealer today, but as a result of a previous argument I have had with them, they very rudely told me to get lost. Wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 [quote name='Duarte' post='734205' date='Feb 3 2010, 04:45 PM']I went to my local EBMM dealer today, but as a result of a previous argument I have had with them, they very rudely told me to get lost. Wonderful.[/quote] sorry to hear that. try firing off an e-mither to [url="http://www.stringsandthings.co.uk/"]http://www.stringsandthings.co.uk/[/url] you probably know this already, but they are the distributors over here and will be able to recommend someone who can help. speak to them nicely though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 [quote name='Duarte' post='734205' date='Feb 3 2010, 04:45 PM']I went to my local EBMM dealer today, but as a result of a previous argument I have had with them, they very rudely told me to get lost. Wonderful.[/quote] I suggest you send an email to EBMM describing what kind of service the "local EBMM dealer" offers to EBMM customers. If a company is an official dealer (of any brand) should behave accordingly to its status. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 [quote name='phil.i.stein' post='734234' date='Feb 3 2010, 05:04 PM']sorry to hear that. try firing off an e-mither to [url="http://www.stringsandthings.co.uk/"]http://www.stringsandthings.co.uk/[/url] you probably know this already, but they are the distributors over here and will be able to recommend someone who can help. speak to them nicely though. [/quote] I am very friendly with one of the managers of Strings and Things, I could have a word with him for Duarte, but there is the issue that S&T are only obliged to provide assistance for UK purchased items and Zak (Duarte) bought this bass from a chap in US through the EBMM forum, hence I would expect a load of humming and errring from them about it. Take it to The Gallery in Camdem, is what I'd do, at least I know they can sort it there for a minimal charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duarte Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 [quote name='phil.i.stein' post='734234' date='Feb 3 2010, 05:04 PM']sorry to hear that. try firing off an e-mither to [url="http://www.stringsandthings.co.uk/"]http://www.stringsandthings.co.uk/[/url][/quote] I'll definitely email them, customer service said if all else fails then that is where to go. [quote name='Silent Fly' post='734246' date='Feb 3 2010, 05:16 PM']I suggest you send an email to EBMM describing what kind of service the "local EBMM dealer" offers to EBMM customers.[/quote] I would, but I really don't want to take the matter any further really - I've sent a long email telling them what I think of them, and it ain't too nice Besides, they claim to be a MusicMan dealer, and you can order anything from them, but I've never seen a MusicMan in there (except one of mine they had hung up on the wall when it was supposed to be having repairs...grrr) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 I had real issues with a piezo bridge (not MM) and it turned out that the saddle had actually snagged the lead coming off the actual pick up. It took a very long time to find that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 (edited) I've fixed issues like that with piezo bridges. The piezo 'crystals' sit between 2 electrodes that pickup the electricity the crystals produce. What happens sometimes is that dirt collects between the crystal and the metal electrode, partially insulating the contact and reducing the volume. the end result is some strings are loud and some soft or even inaudible. Some pickups can be disassembled, the crystals and contacts cleaned and then reassembled. Not all pickup assemblies can be dismantled, so if it looks like it doesn't come apart then replacement may be the only answer. Unless it's something entirely to do with the internal electronics. Edited February 3, 2010 by Ancient Mariner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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