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I love the Bongo Preamp

This is a discussion on I love the Bongo Preamp within the Music Man Basses forums, part of the Gear Talk category; Band practice last night with Bongo 5HHp My tried and true tone wasn't working out for some reason. Here's what ...

  1. #1
    shakinbacon is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    I love the Bongo Preamp

    Band practice last night with Bongo 5HHp

    My tried and true tone wasn't working out for some reason. Here's what happened.

    I left the amp eq flat, and started with my tried and true: all knobs at center detent but bass and treble boosted 30%. This wasn't cutting through. (I immediately thought of adouglas and his "amazing dissapearing act" comment about "smiley faced eqs")

    I swapped the bass boost for low mid boost... this wasn't working out. So I swapped the high mid for the treble. Close but a little too clanky with the piezo... reduced the piezo signal but now the mag pickups had too much low end. Reduced the bass and voila!

    I ended up leaving the pickup pan, low mid and treble knobs at the center detents. The bass was boosted 20% from the detent, the high mid 30% and the piezo/mag pan was 70/30 in favor of the magnetic pickups.

    Anyone with a similar setup gimme your feedback. (Sorry I don't have a recording to share)

    It is so nice to have such a clean and powerful preamp at your fingertips. The only reason to touch my amp nowadays is to adjust the volume I really appreciate having the mids separated into low and high bands.
    2004 Saphire Black/White Pearloid Bongo 5HHp
    Bongo + Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + Epifani UL2-112 = Tone
    Review of Coated Slinkies here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...-slinkies.html
    and flatwound Slinkies here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...unds-nice.html
    Bongo EQ suggestions here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...readsheet.html

  2. #2
    five7's Avatar
    five7 is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    I agree! The bongo controls are the BEST!
    ^hb 1/23/12 imo^

  3. #3
    adouglas's Avatar
    adouglas is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    That's very close to my usual HHp settings.... in fact identical except that you boost your bass some.

    FWIW on my gigging bass (5H) I tend to boost the bass a bit (maybe 30 percent up from flat), the mids a bit less than the bass (maybe 20 percent), and leave the treble flat or even rolled off a bit. Suits the music, the band and my rig for that bass.
    bongoBbongoObongoNbongoGbongoObongo

    AL AL AL AL ALALALALALALA LA LA LA LA

    Desert Gold F13843 05 Bongo 5 HHp
    Blue Dawn F11199 07 LE Bongo 5 Hp fretless
    Candy Red F23343 08 Bongo 5 H
    Tangerine Pearl F28251 2011 Big Al 5 SSS

    http://www.coolshoesband.com

    BP: "I am very proud of many of the creations at ebmm but none more than the Bongo. Every day the cult grows and it makes it all worthwhile."

  4. #4
    shakinbacon is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by adouglas View Post
    That's very close to my usual HHp settings.... in fact identical except that you boost your bass some.

    FWIW on my gigging bass (5H) I tend to boost the bass a bit (maybe 30 percent up from flat), the mids a bit less than the bass (maybe 20 percent), and leave the treble flat or even rolled off a bit. Suits the music, the band and my rig for that bass.
    Thanks for the post. I really was hoping you would comment adouglas. I appreciate your insight.

    I may try reducing the bass some, but as you stated, it depends on the rig.
    2004 Saphire Black/White Pearloid Bongo 5HHp
    Bongo + Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + Epifani UL2-112 = Tone
    Review of Coated Slinkies here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...-slinkies.html
    and flatwound Slinkies here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...unds-nice.html
    Bongo EQ suggestions here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...readsheet.html

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