Test drove a Bongo ..impressions

[ronnyG]

I am aware that Guitar Center for whatever reason does not carry the Bongo any longer. However the GC here in Hollywood has a few floor models leftover..2 Bongo 5's and a Bongo 4 that I could notice, may be some more, it's a huge store.

I was there with my friend who plays guitar and he was messing around for quite a while so I asked a salesperson if I could test drive the Bongo 4HH.

Must say..it's a monster..more highs, lows and mids on tap that anyone could desire and the action is sweet. Feels a little like my 90 SR4 but that has a maple and the Bongo had a rosewood..I can feel a little difference but it's not really fair to compare an 18 year old relic to a new bass. However I did A/B it with a spankin new Fender active Jazz Bass and there's no comparison..the MM plays and sounds much much better..not that the Jazz sounded horrible, it didn't..but the action on it ..frankly, sux in comparison for lack of a better term.

Needless to say, I opened her up and shook the store a little. Then a few customers and sales people came over and asked me if I would be willing to jam with them..not to turn the volume down which I thought for sure was going to be the result. I was flattered but I just passed an audition with a touring band so my "jamming" days are over for a while.

Overall I give the Bongo a 9.5 out of 10. I only take off the 1/2 point because I still am not used to the odd physical appearance..however the Stealth 5 that was also there is a knockout. Bottom line, if I had the money I would have purchased it on the spot, and it is among the tops on my wish list, can't wait till my first paycheck from the new band comes in. However the band is presently endorsed by another manufacturer, I hope I don't peave anyone off playing an MM since in that area I don't wish to compromise

 

[maddog]

I am aware that Guitar Center for whatever reason does not carry the Bongo any longer.

I'm a bit out of the loop. When did this happen?

 

[ronnyG]

I'm a bit out of the loop. When did this happen?

I don't know when this happened, but I have read on this forum more then once that this is the case. And the only Bongos I saw at the Hollywood GC are roped off in the center of the store marked "clearance"..there were none hanging on the walls that I could see.

It has been posted in this forum where they are still available but I forget..perhaps someone will be kind enough to post the info here.

 

[maddog]

dang.

 

[syciprider]

Guitar Center dot com sells em.

 

[LoEnd]

?

I still don't understand why GC would do this, ronnyG is just another example of what people think about the Bongo, and why dosen't GC see this. I mean these basses do sell. Right?

 

[ronnyG]

Perhaps I am overstepping my boundries here with an "assumption" but I understand quite a bit about retail..and it always comes down to points. Now if you look at what GC really promotes...Mex Fenders, Squires etc...I would imagine they make more profit and of course move more volume of a 400-600 dollar "retail price" instrument (where they probably make at least a 50% markup) vs. a $1700+ instrument that although is AWESOME...is not as popular in reality. Not to mention the Fender "custom shop" axes where they take a nice new ax and beat the tar out of it, rust the chrome..and mark it up 500+%.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. But I could be wrong..I am certainly no rocket scientist, but have served some time in the larger chain retail world.

 

[LoEnd]

I can see that, but man it would be nice to have a local store that carried the Bongos.

 

[ronnyG]

True that..but as long as MM is pumping them out, there will be a way to get one. And in a way the Bongo not being available in such a large chain store gives it more "clout" if you will. Kind of like at BestBuy where they sell entry and mid level models of well known brands (ie Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer)... but to get the high end stuff you need to search around.

But I am glad they had a few leftovers at my GC since trying one out has made me a believer.

 

[RobertB]

Guitar Center dot com sells em.

I suppose there would be no reason not to. If GC's reason for no longer stocking them at the stores is that they can move more non-Bongo EBMM product in the same physical space occupied by a Bongo, it still makes sense for them to retain the possibility of online Bongo sales, since those orders are not filled by product sitting in the stores.

The fact that it has come to this is such an irony, in my opinion. The worst part is that I think the vast majority of people who "pass" on the Bongo have never played one, and therefore don't realize what they're passing on. It's no exaggeration to say that the Bongo gives you more of what we all love as bassists (at least those of us who don't prefer passive basses) ... huge, killer tone. I just can't emphasize that enough. For that reason alone, not to mention the superb neck profile and comfort factor of the body, they are literally invigorating to play. I can begin to imagine and appreciate BP's frustration. It's his baby, and as he might rightly say, I don't have a "horse in the race" (a good way to put it), but I still feel genuine frustration when I encounter that resistance in people, because I'm certain that at least 90% would LOVE it and be as blown away as I am by them, if they just tried one. It's like ... dudes, you just don't realize what you're missing out on. Do you like KILLER sounding bass, or not?

A few days ago, when I told a GC sales guy I was bummed they didn't have any & had appeared to stop stocking them, he actually tried to tell me, "well, they send us what they want to send us & they just stopped sending 'em to us".

Right buddy. Pull the other one.

 

[TheAntMan]

The worst part is that I think the vast majority of people who "pass" on the Bongo have never played one, and therefore don't realize what they're passing on.

This is very true. I was not interested in the Bongo until I went into a GC and just tried one and was blown away. Now I own 2 - a 4HH and a fretless 4HH. I still love my SR 4H and look forward to getting a 4HH (either StingRay or Sterling).

Ant

 

[bovinehost]

I've been too depressed about GC dropping Bongos to even talk to BP about it on the phone. He's going to be the man to go to for answers.

I imagine it comes down to a couple of factors. First, while I have always defended GC in an overall sense, the terribly informed bass salesman is generally the exception rather than the rule. (I mean knowing more than "That one is made in Mexico. The other one costs 900 dollars. I don't have any more of those in the back.") So there they are, selling MIM Fenders and Squiers and Ibanex and other low to mid-priced gear, and along comes the Bongo.

"Look, Josh, it's a *&$*ing spaceship bass."

"No way, dude, it's a TOILET."

(general stoned laughter)

One of them's a guitarist in a band that's just this far from a deal with Intermegaspace Jagoff Records, a subdivision of Winifield Soap and Laundry products and the other is only alive because his girlfriend works at Denny's and feeds him Grand Slams on the sly.

Are either of them going to explain the features? Can either of them pronounce "neodymium" or replace ONE battery, much less two?

So who can blame them. They take the easy sales. "It's a Stingray, dude, just like Flea plays, you know? It's a SLAP MACHINE." Or, "It's like a Stingray, only the neck is little, and it say 'Sterling' on the neck-end-thing."

Or the MIM J bass or the....whatever.

The Bongo is just too far ahead of the curve, maybe. Or maybe if they had a stable sales staff and had sent one smart EBMM rep around to introduce the Bongo and explain the features and give them t-shirts they could trade for weed or something.

Or maybe not even then. I don't know.

Maybe I'm talking out of my ass.

But for whatever reasons, GC wasn't selling Bongos, I think that much is clear, because otherwise they'd still be stocking those bad boys.

Maybe instead of bitching and griping about this, I should just be really happy that Pete and Brandt and Beaver and the other shops are still selling Bongos.

Yeah, I think that's what I'll do.

See the silver lining.

Yeah.

 

[RobertB]

and the other is only alive because his girlfriend works at Denny's and feeds him Grand Slams on the sly.

That's the first time I've actually laughed out loud upon reading a post here. So freakin true.

 

[KennethB]

I laugh out loud all the time at Jack's posts, especially those with pictures.

About the Bongo...I think it is still a design thing. Many people "listen with their eyes", kind of like the story of Les Paul and "The Log". And sometimes it's not just the players themselves you have to convince, but bandmates/leaders (sometimes even the audience) as well.

 

[Mike Irish]

I've picked one up at our GC in Boise and it sounds badass, but I haven't gotten used to the overall look of it. I'd pick one up, but I'm still making payments on a new SR4 that showed a few days ago.

 

[the unrepentant]

I think the 'problem' with the bongo, is it's contraversial looks. Many a time i've gone into a guitar shop and looked through their basses and thought hmm, that looks nice, that looks nice, WOW that's ugly! (not directed to the bongo, i rather like the bongo), but not once have i ever been compelled to try that ugly bass. I mean why would you? Live shows are as much image as they are sound right?

There are probably other contributing factors too, people like to play it safe, buy a stingray, everyone knows the stingray. Or even a precision, that's totally playing it safe. Also when i tried a bongo, admittedly i did find the controls a little overwhelming, but that's nothing some well informed sales staff couldn't have handled, but how often do you find that these days? not often enough, as jack made a good point of saying.

I've only ever seen two bongos in the flesh in the UK, EVER. One of which, the bassist for bullet for my valentine was playing at download festival this year (it was a stealth, along with a stingray 4, get that man an endorsement if he doesn't already have one!), and the other was in a reverb store in leicester which i had to travel about 25 miles by train to get to. As i said, people like to play it safe a lot. In shops here, the majority of stuff sold/on display tends to be fenders, fender copies etc. I've only ever been in two music shops that have had more than one EBMM bass in stock at once, and i've been in a fair few shops! It's not often that you'll even see a stingray here. I don't think i've ever seen a sterling in a shop, i've only ever seen one, and i was lucky enough to give her a good play Same with the bongo, and after a bit of noodling and playing with controls i loved it! Shame i can't afford one, but if everyone had a go on one, i'm pretty sure they'd change their minds. People just seem to be stuck in the mindset that if it's different, it's bad at the moment. Hopefully things will change, but us knuckleheads will always support you BP, no matter how crazy looking your bass designs are!

 

[ronnyG]

Well what got me to even want to try out a Bongo was this forum. A couple of Bongo owners were so passionate about the basses performance that I was encouraged to try one. The looks of it is definatly intimidating..or strange...but that is not nessecarily a bad thing..In other words certain cars have that "sexy" look..but if all cars looked the same..and every bass looked like a Fender Precision, I think it would be a pretty boring world. But I figure if Bootsy Collins can play a bass shaped like a star, then I can play a Bongo.

If my sound is incredible..people will remember that..not so much that I was playing an odd looking bass. But I would recommend a Bongo as well if anyone asked my advice for finding a killer bass...and I have owned and played many. So just spread the word. Maybe if enough people came into GC asking for Bongos they would carry them again. I really look forward to a purchase of one in the future but for now my old beater SR4 will have to suffice..and it's no sloutch, but is getting a bit worn from so much live work, it needs a pinch hitter.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Well what got me to even want to try out a Bongo was this forum. A couple of Bongo owners were so passionate about the basses performance that I was encouraged to try one.

Me too. I bought the hype from Jack and others, and ordered my first Bongo in 2004 without having seen or touched one in person. Where there's smoke, there's fire, you know.

 

[strummer]

I was looking to get an SR5, but saw the Bongo at Beaver Feltons place, and I just knew it was the bass for me! Didn't try it, hey it's a MusicMan, I just paid and that's it.

Oh yeah, the sound is better than any other bass too

 

[LoEnd]

I think the 'problem' with the bongo, is it's contraversial looks. Many a time i've gone into a guitar shop and looked through their basses and thought hmm, that looks nice, that looks nice, WOW that's ugly! (not directed to the bongo, i rather like the bongo), but not once have i ever been compelled to try that ugly bass. I mean why would you? Live shows are as much image as they are sound right?

There are probably other contributing factors too, people like to play it safe, buy a stingray, everyone knows the stingray. Or even a precision, that's totally playing it safe. Also when i tried a bongo, admittedly i did find the controls a little overwhelming, but that's nothing some well informed sales staff couldn't have handled, but how often do you find that these days? not often enough, as jack made a good point of saying.

I've only ever seen two bongos in the flesh in the UK, EVER. One of which, the bassist for bullet for my valentine was playing at download festival this year (it was a stealth, along with a stingray 4, get that man an endorsement if he doesn't already have one!), and the other was in a reverb store in leicester which i had to travel about 25 miles by train to get to. As i said, people like to play it safe a lot. In shops here, the majority of stuff sold/on display tends to be fenders, fender copies etc. I've only ever been in two music shops that have had more than one EBMM bass in stock at once, and i've been in a fair few shops! It's not often that you'll even see a stingray here. I don't think i've ever seen a sterling in a shop, i've only ever seen one, and i was lucky enough to give her a good play Same with the bongo, and after a bit of noodling and playing with controls i loved it! Shame i can't afford one, but if everyone had a go on one, i'm pretty sure they'd change their minds. People just seem to be stuck in the mindset that if it's different, it's bad at the moment. Hopefully things will change, but us knuckleheads will always support you BP, no matter how crazy looking your bass designs are!

Well. I will tell you that every single show I get at least one compliment on my Lava pearl Bongo, and they say "Man that is a awesome looking bass" word for word, so I guess it depends on the person, but I feel ugly is definatly the right word for this bass.