Bongo 6 Update!

[Kadavr]

So, what about lefties?

[MingusBASS]

Left out. Left Behind.

[mynan]

Should have learned to play the "right" way...

[Bassman_1980]

Has there been any information on when or if they will make a Bongo6 with piezo's? I've been searching for weeks and can't find any definitive answer, only that it can't be done on the sealth model for some reason or another.
I myself am furiously GAS'ing at the idea of a Fretless Bongo6 HHP.

count that for 2 person's, because i'm also having thoughts on a HHP fretless Bongo-6

but if the piezo option will see the light of day....

perhaps when there's enough interest for a piezo there might be a chance that it will be available one day (i hope)

yet another thing on fretless musicman's: why on earth aren't they available with an ebony fretboard??

okay, ebony is more expensive, but so what? just have EB add the extra charge or something, rather an more expensive bass with a good fretless tone than no extra charge and a fretless tone that is quite nice but not stunning (??)

[MingusBASS]

You've obviously never played a fretless Bongo.

[strummer]

yet another thing on fretless musicman's: why on earth aren't they available with an ebony fretboard??

okay, ebony is more expensive, but so what? just have EB add the extra charge or something, rather an more expensive bass with a good fretless tone than no extra charge and a fretless tone that is quite nice but not stunning (??)

I don't know that ebony is necessarily more expensive than pau ferro, and why on earth would you want ebony anyway? Play a Bongo fretless and see how pau ferro feels

[syciprider]

I was all set to order but concerns about the string spacing and getting 50% more bass stopped me. I don't want to make a $$$ mistake. For now, I'm furiously working on my 6er chops on an Ibanez I picked up for cheep. The plan is to work up to the Big Bongo.

[adouglas]

I was all set to order but concerns about the string spacing and getting 50% more bass stopped me. I don't want to make a $$$ mistake. For now, I'm furiously working on my 6er chops on an Ibanez I picked up for cheep. The plan is to work up to the Big Bongo.

That looks like English, but I can't make sense of it. "Mistake" referring to "Bongo" is gibberish.

Work up to it? What kind of nonsense is this? Dude, you own the baddest fretless Bongo on the planet... the legendary SmallEQ. I know the magic of that bass first-hand, as you know. If you can do that fine piece of instrumentage justice, SURELY you can handle a Bongo 6.

Buy it. It'll make you a better player, and no way will it be a mistake.

Search your feelings...you know this to be true.

[Bassman_1980]

I don't know that ebony is necessarily more expensive than pau ferro, and why on earth would you want ebony anyway? Play a Bongo fretless and see how pau ferro feels

maybe because ebony "sings" more....

pau ferro sounds flat, boring, etc...
i mean, pau ferro would be nice for just playing grooves etc., but when you want to play melodies or solo's only ebony gives me the sound i'm looking for, or actually i'm not really looking for it but i'm just waiting untill M.M. basses come with an ebony fretboard, otherwise it would be very long time of saving up money for an F-bass AC-6, because then i have 3 important things:

6-string
ebony fretboard
piezo saddles

the minor thing is the price you'll need to pay for it


what i also find a little strange is this:

there are no EB .032 stainless steel bass strings available

only .028 and then it goes up to .040

all in all things like wood choices will be a matter of taste i guess

[bassmonkeee]

If you suggest one more time that my fretless Bongo with a pao ferro fretboad sounds flat and boring, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to step outside.

No offense--but, I trust Dudley, Sterling, Dargin, etc, etc more about what constitutes a good tone than your demanding that it's "ebony or crap" when it comes to good tone. Maybe you should consider that before you discount what they've obviously thought made a good fretboard for a fretless instrument.

You obviously have a lot of deeply ingrained misconceptions about what constitutes a "necessity." Good luck with that.

[midopa]

I believe in Ernie Ball.

[tkarter]

That bongo belongs in Kansas!

tk

[Bassman_1980]

If you suggest one more time that my fretless Bongo with a pao ferro fretboad sounds flat and boring, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to step outside.

No offense--but, I trust Dudley, Sterling, Dargin, etc, etc more about what constitutes a good tone than your demanding that it's "ebony or crap" when it comes to good tone. Maybe you should consider that before you discount what they've obviously thought made a good fretboard for a fretless instrument.

You obviously have a lot of deeply ingrained misconceptions about what constitutes a "necessity." Good luck with that.

let's put things another way: i may persume that most Musicman bass players are formiliar with the fretless sound from Pino Palladino (?)
this amazing sound comes from a fretless Stingray, but this particular Stingray doesn't has a pao ferro fretboard but a ebony fretboard, so my personal opinion is based on the knowledge that Palladino's fretless Stingray sounds much better (and even more like a real fretless to me) than all the "modern" fretless Musicman basses

keeping this in mind: i am looking for that same Palladino sound, but than in a 6-string version, so in that case the Bongo-6 should come closest to what i'm looking for, but only when it has the same fretboard as Palladino's


an offcourse i can understand that there are plenty people out there that love the sound of pao ferro, but there might also be a slight chance that those same people don't have any experience with the playability and sound of an ebony board???
...and ofcourse not to forget: there always will be this thing called difference in personal taste

for me it's just frustrating to know what i'm looking but not being able to find or create it

[mynan]

let's put things another way: i may persume that most Musicman bass players are formiliar with the fretless sound from Pino Palladino (?)
this amazing sound comes from a fretless Stingray, but this particular Stingray doesn't has a pao ferro fretboard but a ebony fretboard, so my personal opinion is based on the knowledge that Palladino's fretless Stingray sounds much better (and even more like a real fretless to me) than all the "modern" fretless Musicman basses

keeping this in mind: i am looking for that same Palladino sound, but than in a 6-string version, so in that case the Bongo-6 should come closest to what i'm looking for, but only when it has the same fretboard as Palladino's


an offcourse i can understand that there are plenty people out there that love the sound of pao ferro, but there might also be a slight chance that those same people don't have any experience with the playability and sound of an ebony board???
...and ofcourse not to forget: there always will be this thing called difference in personal taste

for me it's just frustrating to know what i'm looking but not being able to find or create it

So many variables that you aren't taking into consideration...besides the fretboard. Give Pino an EBMM with a Pau Ferro fretboard and you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

[muggsy]

let's put things another way: i may persume that most Musicman bass players are formiliar with the fretless sound from Pino Palladino (?)
this amazing sound comes from a fretless Stingray, but this particular Stingray doesn't has a pao ferro fretboard but a ebony fretboard, so my personal opinion is based on the knowledge that Palladino's fretless Stingray sounds much better (and even more like a real fretless to me) than all the "modern" fretless Musicman basses

keeping this in mind: i am looking for that same Palladino sound, but than in a 6-string version, so in that case the Bongo-6 should come closest to what i'm looking for, but only when it has the same fretboard as Palladino's


an offcourse i can understand that there are plenty people out there that love the sound of pao ferro, but there might also be a slight chance that those same people don't have any experience with the playability and sound of an ebony board???
...and ofcourse not to forget: there always will be this thing called difference in personal taste

for me it's just frustrating to know what i'm looking but not being able to find or create it

Yeah, no offense, but I think Pino's hands probably have a lot more to do with his sound than the fretboard wood. There's also the small matter of strings, amps, and whatever else was in the signal chain on the recordings you love. Focusing on ebony vs. pao ferro is like missing the forest by focusing on one particular tree. That said, if you want a fretless with an ebony board, there are plenty of manufacturers who will gladly make you one. If you love the Stingray body and electronics, you can buy a fretless neck with an ebony board from another manufacturer and switch it out.

EB has decided that they prefer pao ferro for their fretless boards, and most fretless players here seem fine with that. If you want something else, vote with your wallet.