Volume control setting....Bongo

[Ole Man Blues]

When gigging is it better to dime the volume control and adjust it off the amp or leave a little free play at the bass to adjust up if needed?

ALSO......

Does the Bongo volume control act more like a volume control or a gain control given that the Bongo is an active 18volt bass?

Thanks..... OMB

 

[Oldtoe]

The volume control is simply a line out level control on the Bongo and doesn't change your tone at all. If you need some upper headroom when you play, set your amp a little louder and turn the Bongo volume down. Hell of a preamp.

 

[RocketRalf]

I've found out that other basses distort and compress a little with the volume all the way up, specially if you're also boosting bass. It may be different with the Bongo, though.

Why don't you compare it? Try first with the volume at full, then lower it and try to match what you had with the amp's pre volume, and see if you get any difference. If not, then I'd suggest you put your volume at about 3/4 and leave some room for on the fly adjustments, for solos etc.

 

[tkarter]

The bongo sounds better without diming the volume. IMHO. I run mine at around 50 per cent most of the time. Never above 70 percent.

Thanks for teaching me that BP.

tk

 

[Ole Man Blues]

The Bongo is different animal all together, but in a good way......

It's good to find out what other Bongo players are doing and in doing so helps me figure out how to pull the best overall tone and volume levels out of this Baby.....

What I can't figure out is why I got rid of the 1st Bongo I had.....

OMB

 

[DTG]

i have the volume set full and its never been a problem for me.it really is the most amazing onboard eq,the type of stuff i play can really change in a night.with the bongo it makes it real easy to control my tone.

I used to get a tone i liked and then just leave it alone,but with the Bongo i set my tone and then if i am playing a rock set i boost the low mids and high mids just a tad and it perfect the same goes for other styles.With just the smallest boost or cut i can really make the bass sound different.

Every gig i used it in the rest of the band rave about the tone of the bass.The mark bass rig and my Bongo are just a match made in heaven.

Add my SR5 into the mix and its the perfect set up for me !!

 

[AnthonyD]

I like it in the 75-80% range...

Just enough room to get rude if necessary...

 

[syciprider]

I run mine @ 100% because my fave dirt pedals love it like that. I back off when I have an env filter on.

 

[strummer]

Live I dime the volume, but that's just for convenience. Changing the volume on the bass during sets isn't too popular with our sound guy, if I want louder on stage I just crank the amp some.

Recording it's always rolled off somewhat, maybe 1/3 or so.

 

[Big Poppa]

im so old....I use a cable and a tuner.....dirt pedals envelope filters....hmmmmmm

 

[bovinehost]

FWIW, I leave myself room to kick it in the teeth and I'm usually the soundman, too, so I hardly ever annoy myself when I do so.

(I do recall one night at a famous downtown Dallas speakeasy - the soundman complained about my stage volume between sets, but the rest of the band told him, "We're fine." I already miss that band.)

I suppose I think of it like driving. If you have the accelerator buried, there's nowhere to go but down.

 

[mynan]

im so old....I use a cable and a tuner.....dirt pedals envelope filters....hmmmmmm

I must be getting old too. I'm down to my tuner and distortion pedal...and the dirt pedal is on thin ice. I listened to a recent recording of my band and as soon as I hit the dirt pedal, I got lost in the mix. It sounded sweet standing in front of my amp, but not in the mix.

 

[Ole Man Blues]

The Bongo sound is so clean, the bass so tight and sweet sounding that it would be a shame to add dirt or distortion and muddy up the tone...........

it's perfect just like it is....

OMB

 

[Oldtoe]

I want to look like I'm a big rock star, so I have two tuners.

 

[tkarter]

You have to tune a Bongo? I thought they did that at the factory.

tk

 

[UKFIN]

You have to tune a Bongo? I thought they did that at the factory.

tk

LOL

 

[nicjimbass]

Since BP schooled me on how to use the volume/ EQ, I usually go no higher than 50%, normally a little lower. You'll be surprised how much bigger it sounds!

 

[Ole Man Blues]

Since BP schooled me on how to use the volume/ EQ, I usually go no higher than 50%, normally a little lower. You'll be surprised how much bigger it sounds!

Positive results from the right kind of adjustments......thanks...

OMB

 

[slaine01]

I agree with BP on being old school and not needing pedals, but I do admit that these are the only 2 I use regularly.

And my favorite -

 

[bongo man]

When gigging is it better to dime the volume control and adjust it off the amp or leave a little free play at the bass to adjust up if needed?

.
At the Forum hang in Sept. someone ask us where to we keep our master volume on the Bongo. I shot from the hip and said all the way up. That is not the case at all.
Especially in session work, but even for live-- I work that volume knob all the time. In the studio I mark all the tone settings with a grease pencil and have a marking on the master volume knob at around 70%.( As you add or take away EQ -that effects gain as well).
I love having that control and use it all the time--I needed to clarify that because BP is right on the money and that versililty is one of the many things I love about the Bongo.
Thanks for letting me throw my 2cents in.
cliff