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Finally bought a Ball Bass

This is a discussion on Finally bought a Ball Bass within the Music Man Basses forums, part of the Gear Talk category; I have been lurking around here for a while, I broke down last night and bought a 4H Bongo Bass ...

  1. #1
    RGFLyer is offline Registered User Newbie
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    Finally bought a Ball Bass

    I have been lurking around here for a while, I broke down last night and bought a 4H Bongo Bass finished in Desert Gold. I am really looking forward to getting it (should be here Monday).

    I am curious as to y'alls opinion on the Bongo Bass? I have read the Harmony Central reviews, but I have found them to be pretty useless. Hope to hear from the experienced players out there...

  2. #2
    Franky's Avatar
    Franky is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    hey man, we can be bass buddies, my honeyburst sr4 arrives on monday :P
    2003 SUB, 2008 JAZZ, 2008 STINGRAY, NC410 COMBO

  3. #3
    dkassenbrock's Avatar
    dkassenbrock is offline Registered User Junior Member
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    As fellow forumite Koogs would say, "welcome to the addiction". Balls are like potato chips...nobody can have just one! Good luck and welcome to the family -Capt. Don

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    Old_Guy's Avatar
    Old_Guy is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by RGFLyer View Post
    I am curious as to y'alls opinion on the Bongo Bass? I have read the Harmony Central reviews, but I have found them to be pretty useless. Hope to hear from the experienced players out there...
    Completely totally underrated. Apparently the styling puts some people off? I can't believe how well balanced, how slick the action is, the overall build quality. I have two balls and a few 'other brand' instruments, but nothing compares to the Bongo. The guys I play with love the tone. My daughter's *&*^% slacker boyfriend loves it (he plays bass with other slackers at local slacker venues). The only complaint ANYONE can come up with is the pointy headstock gets dinged - eg, a non-complaint. I have mine strung with EB flatwounds - apparently a popular aftermarket move.
    Last edited by Old_Guy; 09-05-2008 at 09:09 AM.
    Bongo 4 HS Radiance Red LTD
    Bongo 5 HHP Cabernet Pearl
    Sterling 4 HS Cherryburst
    Mesa V-12 PH 4x10
    MarkBass MoMark
    Accugroove Tri115
    Accugroove Bill Dickens Signature 2x12

  5. #5
    Psycho Ward's Avatar
    Psycho Ward is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Here's a review you can count on.... MINE!

    "They're Great!"
    Psycho Ward

    King of Lefthanzia

    "I now pronounce you KING of LEFTHANZIA...its official and no one can take it away..." -BP

    4 Bongos
    4 Sterlings
    2 SR5's
    1 SR4

  6. #6
    RGFLyer is offline Registered User Newbie
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    Quote Originally Posted by Psycho Ward View Post
    Here's a review you can count on.... MINE!

    "They're Great!"

    Thanks, but why are they so great? Details PLEASE!!!

    I do appreciate the kind words from all!

  7. #7
    INMT's Avatar
    INMT is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    They play very well,
    comfortable neck and profile (fretboard radius),
    comfortable body
    wide range of tones (due to the eq)
    good balance (instrument).
    The look (which is what grabbed me).

  8. #8
    phatduckk's Avatar
    phatduckk is offline Moderator
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    The Bongo is a pretty awesome bass. Ya, you can get whatever tone you want... that's for sure, but even more exciting is how comfortable the bass feels. it feels great, plays great and sounds great.

    youll b happy

  9. #9
    RobertB's Avatar
    RobertB is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Congrats, you'll love it. As for details:

    • Sounds like you'll get the best perspective possible very soon - hands on
    • This forum abounds with very detailed personal Bongo accounts, testimonies, opinions, etc... try the search function, or just scroll through a few of the most recent pages - it's a frequent topic, and you'll soon find out why.

    Enjoy!
    Last edited by RobertB; 09-07-2008 at 12:18 AM.
    "I wonder what'll happen if I connect this to this ..." -- the last words of too many people

  10. #10
    RGFLyer is offline Registered User Newbie
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    I hate UPS, now my bass has been rescheduled for delivery tomorrow...this POS Fender I am playing is killing me....it sounds so nasaly...as if someone where holding JD Sumners's nose while he was trying to sing!

  11. #11
    tkarter's Avatar
    tkarter is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    The bongo will for sure fix that. They own any stage when you don't dime the volume knob and keep on start with the other controls flat. Then you may boost one or the other a bit to get your sound.

    Enjoy your bongo.

    tk
    It is all fun.
    Cliff Hugo fan #1

  12. #12
    Old_Guy's Avatar
    Old_Guy is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by tkarter View Post
    ...when you don't dime the volume knob and keep on start with the other controls flat.
    Another good safety tip. Put all the controls flat (there's detents in the pup and tone knobs), flatten your amp's eq as well, and THEN start looking for the sound you want. I do generally keep the volume at about 75% or more though, and use the amp's volume control. Some folks (not saying you're one of them!) who are used to passive instruments, which have 'bleed' controls, don't get it that you can't dime everything out on an active. Check out the Mr. Sterling Ball (alias BP) videos - either in here or on GC's website for a quick demo of what the onboard EQ can do.
    Bongo 4 HS Radiance Red LTD
    Bongo 5 HHP Cabernet Pearl
    Sterling 4 HS Cherryburst
    Mesa V-12 PH 4x10
    MarkBass MoMark
    Accugroove Tri115
    Accugroove Bill Dickens Signature 2x12

  13. #13
    RGFLyer is offline Registered User Newbie
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    Thanks guys, this is not my first active bass. I have had a few Pedullas, active P-Basses, a couple of Warwicks and a host of others over the years. I have always wanted a EBMM but just never found the "one" for me.

    I will take all of the excellent advice and put it to good use if UPS ever shows up! The anticipation is killing me!

  14. #14
    RGFLyer is offline Registered User Newbie
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    It is out for delivery, counting down the minutes till it shows up...

  15. #15
    bovinehost's Avatar
    bovinehost is offline Moderator Lord Bongo
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    I like Bongos.

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