Question: Bongo fretless tips? advice, anyone?

[AnthonyD]

Tom, Baby... Agreed - it's all a matter of opinion.



But I was referring to a very particular opinion relative to the Bongo fretless config... An opinion of one which weighs heavier than most in this arena.

[dmarotta]

I don't think you can go wrong with any pickup configuration. The Bongo EQ is very powerful so you should be able to find the sound you are looking for. As for strings, I use the Group IV flats. I like the warmer tone.I have not tried the piezo but many of the players on the forum think it is a wise choice for the fretless.
The most important suggestion I can make is to get a lined fretboard. I 've talked about this before and can only say it will give you a huge advantage in your quest for proper intonation.

[funkychicken]

you all have excellent points. I think i will go HSP, but how much extra does that cost (USD)? I can't find a price online because most online retailers removed the fretless bongo from their catalogues. And i guess i will just have to experiment with the strings. I'm just stuck between lined and un-lined. unlined looks so much better, but the lines help a lot with intonation. I guess lined is the way to go, being my first fretless...
an also, anthony, dude, i really dig the hobbs profile thingy. great comic strip.

[AnthonyD]

...also, anthony, dude, i really dig the hobbs profile thingy. great comic strip.

Thanks... Hobbes and me go w-a-a-a-y back...

[oli@bass]

don't take it the wrong way.

just gets down to fretting a note versus thinking the note.

I didn't. I just never get myself totally secure not looking at the fretboard. I can generally manage if I stay in a certain position or in a well known (to my muscle-memory) scale (like E minor ), but I always have to check visually when doing shifts or jumps on the fretboard.
And on the fretless, if I'm just noodling around and not watching the fretboard, I tend to "rise", i.e. over time I end up higher than I started. Does not happen when I play to music.

[...] but the lines help a lot with intonation [...]

Does it? I mean, does it for you? I totally respect dmarotta's opinion (he really knows what he's talking about!), but there's also a personal aspect to it. The lined fretless made me watch instead of listen to what I play. And I found that depending on the angle I looked at the fretboard, although it looked that I was fretting properly my intonation was actually off. If you can, try both and check what feels more natural to you.

[funkychicken]

good point oli. I guess it's really more about feeling the notes on fretless. I think if i put in the extra effort, I won't really need the lines. I just can't seem to get an estimate on cost though. most (I'm pretty sure all) online retailers have removed the fretless bongo from their catalogues. Oh well, of to my local EBMM dealer.

[Manfloozy]

I am with Oli on this too... I prefer unlined boards vs lined ones, others are opposite... Some prefer HH some HS others H pup configs.... Some swear by Maple fretboards... I can't stand 'em.

Remember unlined boards still have side dot markers (thank god)... So you do have a reference.

As for the rest of the discussion, I am hoping to be able to weigh in on the HSp config soon.

[funkychicken]

also, does anyone know why the major online retailers have pulled the fretless bongo from their catalogues? I contacted guitarcenter, and they said that the model was likely discontinued. I don't see anything on here that verifies that, though.

[adouglas]

At a wild guess...

I'd say they pulled it because it doesn't sell well.

[MrMusashi]

even if retailers doesnt stock it, it doesnt mean they dont exist

check basscentral, dubaldo or theperfect bass.. they have a decent collection of basses and a very good reputation around here

MrM

[funkychicken]

I'll check those sites out. how reliable are they? good service? I've never bought from any of them, so i wouldn't know.

[adouglas]

Very, and yes.

[dmarotta]

My first fretless bass was an unlined Ampeg AUB 1 which I bought in 1970. After a few months of slipping and sliding my bandmates threatened to either burn the bass or kick me out of the band. Back then there were no lined basses available so I switched back to a fretted bass. After all these years playing fretless you guys would laugh me off the stage if you heard me play an unlined bass.
With my lined basses , I actually don't look at the fingerboard much, but if I need a reference point, I have the lines as a safety net.
Oli has a good point regarding the angle at which you view the fingerboard causing you to miss the note high or low.It is a small adjustment you have to get used to.

[funkychicken]

cool, thanks a lot for all the advice and everything. given how difficult it seems to be finding one of these babies, I'll just have to take what i can get (if its lined or not). I checked bass central and they had a couple similar to what I'm looking for, but they're both HHp. is there a huge difference between that and HSp?
also, when I do get my hands on one, I promise to upload some pics, since the people on here seem to crave that sort of thing