Test drove a Bongo ..impressions

**ronnyG** · 10-28-2008, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by midopa

bassists think it looks ugly

Well I am definatly a bassist..my mom must of had 4 heavy strings in her uterus. But "ugly" is kind of a subjective term. Personally I classify it as "odd" but completely beautiful in every sense of the word. And that is probably how I would describe myself..and I wave my freak flag proudly.

**Big Poppa** · 10-28-2008, 11:22 PM

some bassists

**Psychicpet** · 10-28-2008, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by midopa

bassists think it looks ugly

and unfortunately most chicks dig drummers.....

anywho, this discourse has definitely made me glad for all of the shows and what nots that I've done and do with my Bongo... be it a somewhat ba$tardized one it still carries the mark of a champion

I do have a pair of basses built by my mentor/teacher that are great basses and do an incredible job at what they do BUT at a recent session guess what, after 2 tunes the producer/studio owner says "where's that orange bass?? that Music man!!??" so of course, even tho it was a typically "rootsy" passive vibed CD/session the Bongo won hands down. now, my 3" thick chambered 6 with a passive Aero is a unique duck BUT!!! I do have an open contract on my left nut and soul for cash for a pair of Bong o 6s

**Psychicpet** · 10-28-2008, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by ronnyG

Well I am definatly a bassist..my mom must of had 4 heavy strings in her uterus. But "ugly" is kind of a subjective term. Personally I classify it as "odd" but completely beautiful in every sense of the word. And that is probably how I would describe myself..and I wave my freak flag proudly.

yep, as for the shapes out there.... it's the best one.

well.... it'd be hilarious to see a single cut version of the Bongo with a nice AAAAAAAAAA quilt maple top on it and a AAAAAAAAAAAAA birdseye or flame fingerboard but hey, she's already too hot to handle as is

**the unrepentant** · 10-29-2008, 05:03 AM

personally i thought the bongo looked gorgeous in desert gold!

**Eek** · 10-29-2008, 06:04 AM

I think it's very ugly ^^

But it's a good thing that there are different shapes and colors, even spacebassthingies

**bovinehost** · 10-29-2008, 07:08 AM

bassists think it looks ugly

Ditto to what BP said.

There are plenty of 'modern' basses that look horrific to me, but I don't feel the need to insult (all over the internet) an instrument that someone finds pleasing.

If your wife or girlfriend was ugly, I wouldn't mention that, either.

**Big Poppa** · 10-29-2008, 07:15 AM

Im very happy with the Bongo. Takes a secure man or woman to play it. "Ohhhhh NOoooo its shaped different! I cant play it! I dont care how it sounds people may look at me and see my bass face or notice that I am ugly" " I will never get the chick who is settling on me since the lead guitar ist is better looking....."

OK Guitar center noticed this thread. They have 140 in stock chain wide and would love to sell them to you at a great price. SOme are actually in the distribution center new in boxes....OK they asked me to tell you that. You still can order from the loyal guys like beaver and pete and drumcity and all the rest.

**beej** · 10-29-2008, 07:53 AM

Non-bassist here ... I love the shape of the Bongo (us 6 stringers are usually pretty lame). Only bass I own

I've started to show up at the odd jam with it (working on my bass chops) - surprises the hell out of people when they hear how great it sounds. Likewise, the bassists I let play it are usually caught off-guard at how much they like the sound!

**Eek** · 10-29-2008, 08:06 AM

I'm just giving my personal opinion, not trying to bash the bongo.

Thank god not everybody likes the same stuff, man.. that would suck!
So i'm happy that the bongo exists, and happy that there are people who like/love it.

^^

**markbass99** · 10-29-2008, 08:27 AM

After seeing this thread yesterday, I feel compelled to make my first post on this forum, even though I'm usually just a "read only" type person. I recently bought timmyfivestrings Stealth Bongo 5HH and I'm enjoying it immensely. First some background on me. I'm a life long Rickenbacker player who's tried other basses but was not impressed enough with the others to accumulate quantities of them for whatever reason. When the Bongo first came out I thought it was funny looking but didn't dismiss it outright due to looks, rick's are kind of funny looking to some players also even though I have always liked the uniquely curved bodies. A number of things have happened since the Bongo first appeared that changed the way I looked at it.

1. I used to come to this forum back in 06 to see what everybody was saying about the new Markbass amps. Occassionally I would see Jack's posts on his Bongo experiences and some of that would stick in the back of mind for some reason.

2. I like progressive rock and bands like Rush, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, etc. When I saw that John Myung was going to play a Bongo 6 that loosened me up a little bit and I started to warm up to the way the Bongo looked. I also saw BP's video on the Bongo about that time and was impressed with how the bass was created.

3. The event that put me over the edge was seeing Colin Edwin (Porc Tree) playing a Stealth Bongo on the Arriving Somewhere DVD. I was using the video to try out my new Epik Conquest subwoofer that I just added to my home theater and was totally blown away by the way that bass looked and sounded. He had that Steath strung BEAD and that B string was kicking some serious ass through my sub. Even if you don't listen to this kind of music you need to get this DVD to see what a Bongo can do, the drummer is really good too.

Like I said, I'm really enjoying the Bongo and really like the ergonomics and versatility it has as far as playability and tone are concerned. Somebody like me is not supposed to like this bass (I'm old and set in my ways) but I find myself thinking about getting another one. And my 26 y.o. daughter saw it last night and she said it was pretty (she's not a bass player)

**Big Poppa** · 10-29-2008, 09:05 AM

welcome markbass99 It is funny that us old guys have been more receptive...I guess looks arent that important as we get the pleasure of lookng in the mirror...

Having said that the =Bongo was very well regarded in the international design circles...it won awards...BMW featured it as an example of great organic design...General motors used it and I think that Oddjobs bass was a prop for a international auro show.....

So realize that I took great pride in the achievements that its looks accomplished.....

**maddog** · 10-29-2008, 09:15 AM

Big Poppa = Mold Breaker!

**DTG** · 10-29-2008, 09:22 AM

I love how the bongo sounds,
i love how it plays,
i love the fact that i came off stag last sunday night and my wife said "that Bongo thing sounds great"
i love how versatile it is,this thing can play rock,jazz,funk,country..........
it is the best bass i have ever played in my 20 odd years playing

and i am now starting to fall in love with how it looks......well i am a bit slow on the take up most of the time ....i still wear black jeans and cowboy boots !!