Test drove a Bongo ..impressions

[the unrepentant]

I think the 'problem' with the bongo, is it's contraversial looks. Many a time i've gone into a guitar shop and looked through their basses and thought hmm, that looks nice, that looks nice, WOW that's ugly! (not directed to the bongo, i rather like the bongo), but not once have i ever been compelled to try that ugly bass. I mean why would you? Live shows are as much image as they are sound right?

There are probably other contributing factors too, people like to play it safe, buy a stingray, everyone knows the stingray. Or even a precision, that's totally playing it safe. Also when i tried a bongo, admittedly i did find the controls a little overwhelming, but that's nothing some well informed sales staff couldn't have handled, but how often do you find that these days? not often enough, as jack made a good point of saying.

I've only ever seen two bongos in the flesh in the UK, EVER. One of which, the bassist for bullet for my valentine was playing at download festival this year (it was a stealth, along with a stingray 4, get that man an endorsement if he doesn't already have one!), and the other was in a reverb store in leicester which i had to travel about 25 miles by train to get to. As i said, people like to play it safe a lot. In shops here, the majority of stuff sold/on display tends to be fenders, fender copies etc. I've only ever been in two music shops that have had more than one EBMM bass in stock at once, and i've been in a fair few shops! It's not often that you'll even see a stingray here. I don't think i've ever seen a sterling in a shop, i've only ever seen one, and i was lucky enough to give her a good play Same with the bongo, and after a bit of noodling and playing with controls i loved it! Shame i can't afford one, but if everyone had a go on one, i'm pretty sure they'd change their minds. People just seem to be stuck in the mindset that if it's different, it's bad at the moment. Hopefully things will change, but us knuckleheads will always support you BP, no matter how crazy looking your bass designs are!

[ronnyG]

Well what got me to even want to try out a Bongo was this forum. A couple of Bongo owners were so passionate about the basses performance that I was encouraged to try one. The looks of it is definatly intimidating..or strange...but that is not nessecarily a bad thing..In other words certain cars have that "sexy" look..but if all cars looked the same..and every bass looked like a Fender Precision, I think it would be a pretty boring world. But I figure if Bootsy Collins can play a bass shaped like a star, then I can play a Bongo.

If my sound is incredible..people will remember that..not so much that I was playing an odd looking bass. But I would recommend a Bongo as well if anyone asked my advice for finding a killer bass...and I have owned and played many. So just spread the word. Maybe if enough people came into GC asking for Bongos they would carry them again. I really look forward to a purchase of one in the future but for now my old beater SR4 will have to suffice..and it's no sloutch, but is getting a bit worn from so much live work, it needs a pinch hitter.

[Aussie Mark]

Well what got me to even want to try out a Bongo was this forum. A couple of Bongo owners were so passionate about the basses performance that I was encouraged to try one.

Me too. I bought the hype from Jack and others, and ordered my first Bongo in 2004 without having seen or touched one in person. Where there's smoke, there's fire, you know.

[strummer]

I was looking to get an SR5, but saw the Bongo at Beaver Feltons place, and I just knew it was the bass for me! Didn't try it, hey it's a MusicMan, I just paid and that's it.

Oh yeah, the sound is better than any other bass too

[LoEnd]

I think the 'problem' with the bongo, is it's contraversial looks. Many a time i've gone into a guitar shop and looked through their basses and thought hmm, that looks nice, that looks nice, WOW that's ugly! (not directed to the bongo, i rather like the bongo), but not once have i ever been compelled to try that ugly bass. I mean why would you? Live shows are as much image as they are sound right?

There are probably other contributing factors too, people like to play it safe, buy a stingray, everyone knows the stingray. Or even a precision, that's totally playing it safe. Also when i tried a bongo, admittedly i did find the controls a little overwhelming, but that's nothing some well informed sales staff couldn't have handled, but how often do you find that these days? not often enough, as jack made a good point of saying.

I've only ever seen two bongos in the flesh in the UK, EVER. One of which, the bassist for bullet for my valentine was playing at download festival this year (it was a stealth, along with a stingray 4, get that man an endorsement if he doesn't already have one!), and the other was in a reverb store in leicester which i had to travel about 25 miles by train to get to. As i said, people like to play it safe a lot. In shops here, the majority of stuff sold/on display tends to be fenders, fender copies etc. I've only ever been in two music shops that have had more than one EBMM bass in stock at once, and i've been in a fair few shops! It's not often that you'll even see a stingray here. I don't think i've ever seen a sterling in a shop, i've only ever seen one, and i was lucky enough to give her a good play Same with the bongo, and after a bit of noodling and playing with controls i loved it! Shame i can't afford one, but if everyone had a go on one, i'm pretty sure they'd change their minds. People just seem to be stuck in the mindset that if it's different, it's bad at the moment. Hopefully things will change, but us knuckleheads will always support you BP, no matter how crazy looking your bass designs are!

Well. I will tell you that every single show I get at least one compliment on my Lava pearl Bongo, and they say "Man that is a awesome looking bass" word for word, so I guess it depends on the person, but I feel ugly is definatly the right word for this bass.

[bassmonkeee]

And sometimes it's not just the players themselves you have to convince, but bandmates/leaders (sometimes even the audience) as well.

That's the funny thing--I've gotten more compliments on my Bongo from audience members than ANY of the other basses I've ever used in 20+ years of playing live. And, I've used everything from simple PBasses to 8 string (octave dual course) fretless basses.

Other musicians, too. Granted, one of them owned a Keytar, but the majority of them don't have taste that is suspect and liked the Bongo.

It's really just bass players I've heard make stupid comments.

[mynan]

I guess it depends on the person

Exactly...and a musician is the person who is potentially going to buy a Bongo. BP said it:

Im just trying to inch forward an industry that has separation anxiety with 1953

IMO, it's musicians (in general) that are holding things back, not the general public...same way that musicians love bands like Rush and Dream Theater and the GP...not so much.

[LoEnd]

Im just trying to inch forward an industry that has separation anxiety with 1953

haha, nice

[the unrepentant]

haha, nice

It's true, the market for vintage fenders is HUGE. And personally i don't see why. I'm sure leo fender and the team spent years make little changes to their basses (same as BP and the stingray, and lots of people still think the pre-EB is better) for a reason.

[Big Poppa]

First off I have to thank Guitar Center for initially takng a chance and buying Lava Pearl and and Desert Gold and Rolls....in the first place. The buyer at the time loved them and bought one himself. The culture is different and overall they are slow with our basses right now.

To be honest with you I would prefer they didnt stock the bongo because too many times I went in without them knowing who I was and the saleman would diss it and I woudl introduce myself and then demonstrate it and they would usually like it but complain that the shape.....

[philthygeezer]

+1 to the Bootsy comment.

Slutted my way through about 10 basses until the HH came along. My first thought was, "Holy smoke - I don't need any of these other ones now...".

[kylierider]

I laugh out loud all the time at Jack's posts, especially those with pictures.

Yeah me too..Musicman basses, Martini's and converse gym shoes. It's hard to go wrong there. Personally 3 of my favorite things.

About the Bongo...I think it is still a design thing. Many people "listen with their eyes", kind of like the story of Les Paul and "The Log". And sometimes it's not just the players themselves you have to convince, but bandmates/leaders (sometimes even the audience) as well.

I agree here. Like me, I play in a Johnny Cash traditute band. My 2 main basses when I play electric and not upright are my 92 SR and a 78 P. Hands down the SR sounds better and that is what I usually use at shows with the P as backup. Both are traditional looking basses and I can visually get away with playing either. But the Bongo might be pushing it visually in that setting. Same goes for the drummer who would rather be playing his electronic kit that he is more comfortable on, than his vintage Ludwig set.

If I was single and had all kinds of disposible funds I would have already ordered one unseen, unplayed and unheard just from all the great comments of other fellow MM lovers.

[ronnyG]

It's true, the market for vintage fenders is HUGE. And personally i don't see why. I'm sure leo fender and the team spent years make little changes to their basses (same as BP and the stingray, and lots of people still think the pre-EB is better) for a reason.

Personally, I can't take anything away from a vintage Fender. BUT....after futzing around with that Bongo..which it took me about 15 seconds to figure out the tone settings, it was the versatility that sold me. Granted I love the growl of a 70's P-bass...but the Bongo had that as well....and 60 billion other tonal variations on top of it.

I am a firm believer that different songs require different tones..so instead of having to switch basses..having one that can capture the tone I wish to attain for different songs is essential...which to me should be the selling point. But then again I am a lousy salesman. The bass sold itself to me..I had to ask to try it out. Glad I did.

EDIT: I felt it may be appropriate to add this seeing where the direction of this post is headed. My friend was there just to test drive guitars as he is in the market for a new one. Now this is LA and you never know who is who..and my friends and I yell out rock star in this town so I imagine the sales people seeing dollar signs when we walk in.

The sales people were pushing these 3000 dollar relics on him from fender custom shop. We had a pyle of them laid at out for us and they are nice. But next to our heads at eye level are 169 dollar squires..so me being the obnoxious jackass that I am...handed him a 169 dollar squire tele right after he put down a 2800 dollar "relic".

Well not only did that China tele sound almost identical to the relic..the neck was actually smoother and easier to play.

I am not going to get too deep into this as it may be heading off topic....but I think it is proving a point to about what the GC sales people in general are pushing. Do they really care about your tone? or what neck you are most comfortable with?...or how much commision they can make off a sale?.....you tell me.

[maddog]

t-bone took Nefertiti to a rehearsal. His bandmates were speechless when he pulled it out of the case. After finding their tongues, one commented that it looked like an automobile company designed it. Hats off to BP and the BMW design team for making a statement. All of them loved the look.

Not sure where the negativity on the design comes from. Everyone I've showed her to has loved the look.

[midopa]

bassists think it looks ugly