Bongo fretlesses ROCK!!!

[adouglas]

My band plays acoustic pop-rock, which means we have a fair number of songs that are on the slowish/groovy/melodic side.

I had my second practice with the most excellent (and lightweight) Smallequestrian Bongo 4Hp fretless tonight, and we spent some time trying it out on various songs.

Many grins all around!!!

Definites so far:

- Phish - "Back on the train" (I play the guitar solo in the middle of the song, and it's FANTASTIC on fretless.)
- Elton John - "Daniel" (The guitarist kept on screwing up because the bass sounded so good he was getting distracted.)
- James Taylor - "Mexico" (Groove city!!!)
- Jack Johnson - "Upside Down" (Better known as that song from the Curious George soundtrack...again, I get to play the little guitar licks, which are fun-fun-fun.)

And...a blast from the past that we're just going to HAVE to resurrect...

- Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb.

Bongo fretlesses are just flat-out cool. Go get yourself one.

Tony, how's your workout with the Buttercream going?

PS: Intonation tip, for high up the neck....pay more attention to the leading edge of your finger than the middle of it. When you press your finger down, you make a "contact patch" on the fretboard, much like the contact patch of a tire on your car. the important part is the leading edge of that contact patch (i.e., the edge towards the bridge), not the center of it.

If you've got a lined fretless, you'll notice that the center of your finger is not ON the line when you're in tune. It's behind it (towards the headstock). This isn't so noticeable down low, where the distance between "frets" is large...but up high it's really important.

 

[Tom F]

One of the basses I miss the most is my old Egyptian Smoke Bongo 4HH. What a fantastic bass!

Glad you're digging the SmallEQ Bongo. One day I'll have several basses, and one of them will be a fretless Bongo.

 

[midopa]

The guitarist kept on screwing up because the bass sounded so good he was getting distracted.

Haha!! I do believe I LOL'd.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Oh, yeah--Fretless Bongos are the bomb.

Glad you're still digging that bass. Did you leave the Acme strings on there?

 

[adouglas]

Did you leave the Acme strings on there?

Actually, yeah. They've got green silk on 'em...no idea what they are, but they work fine.

I picked up a set of Super Slinkys before the bass arrived. Haven't decided if I'm going to put them on yet, since I'll only own this bass for a few months. If not, the purchaser will get an unused pack of strings to play with along with the bass.

It's taken a while for the bass to get used to the change in climate from Tejas to New England. Did another trussrod tweak this evening. Thank GOD for that capstan wheel!!!!

 

[saxnbass]

Fretless Bongo HH. That's my next planned bass purchase.

 

[bovinehost]

They've got green silk on 'em...no idea what they are, but they work fine.

Don't tell BP, but I believe those are the TI Jazz Rounds. When Paul brought that bass over, he'd changed the strings and I was INCENSED. So he put the JRs back on, and all was right with the world.

I do think the EB group II flats would kill on that bass.

Jack

 

[mammoth]

"I'll only own this bass for a few months. If not, the purchaser will get an unused pack of strings to play with along with the bass. "

Argh!! does this mean there is one for sale soon!!!??

PM me if you ever sell the beast my good man!!!

Boomshanka!

 

[oddjob]

My band plays acoustic pop-rock, which means we have a fair number of songs that are on the slowish/groovy/melodic side.

I had my second practice with the most excellent (and lightweight) Smallequestrian Bongo 4Hp fretless tonight, and we spent some time trying it out on various songs.

Many grins all around!!!

Definites so far:

- Phish - "Back on the train" (I play the guitar solo in the middle of the song, and it's FANTASTIC on fretless.)
- Elton John - "Daniel" (The guitarist kept on screwing up because the bass sounded so good he was getting distracted.)
- James Taylor - "Mexico" (Groove city!!!)
- Jack Johnson - "Upside Down" (Better known as that song from the Curious George soundtrack...again, I get to play the little guitar licks, which are fun-fun-fun.)

And...a blast from the past that we're just going to HAVE to resurrect...

- Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb.

Bongo fretlesses are just flat-out cool. Go get yourself one.

Tony, how's your workout with the Buttercream going?

PS: Intonation tip, for high up the neck....pay more attention to the leading edge of your finger than the middle of it. When you press your finger down, you make a "contact patch" on the fretboard, much like the contact patch of a tire on your car. the important part is the leading edge of that contact patch (i.e., the edge towards the bridge), not the center of it.

If you've got a lined fretless, you'll notice that the center of your finger is not ON the line when you're in tune. It's behind it (towards the headstock). This isn't so noticeable down low, where the distance between "frets" is large...but up high it's really important.

Glad to hear your digging it -
I have to pull a Stanky (now there is a phrase I never thought I'd say) and say "Dibs" if you ever get rid of it

 

[AnthonyD]

Bongo fretlesses are just flat-out cool. Go get yourself one.

Tony, how's your workout with the Buttercream going?...

It's been getting my undivided attention - things are improving enough that I am actually considering playing it in public once again!

Oh, yeah--Fretless Bongos are the bomb...

Don't we know it!

Glad to hear your digging it -
I have to pull a Stanky (now there is a phrase I never thought I'd say) and say "Dibs" if you ever get rid of it

You're "Stanky" just might pan out - I recall this bass being a "stand-in" and likely to move on...