I've done it... I'm a bongoloid

[shakinbacon]

Pics coming soon. Bass came yesterday. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the controls (in a good way)

Be prepared for a barage of questions if I can't find answers via the search function

 

[bovinehost]

I bet we'll know the answers.

 

[Big Poppa]

We love Bongo questions

I will tell you how I would suggest that you start.

Flat and volume 75%....if it is a two pick up center detent. Now add and cut from there...sparingly and you will be amazed at the subtle tones you can get

 

[AnthonyD]

Flat is where it's at!

 

[MrMusashi]

yeah.. flats.. and tone controls flat too

MrM

 

[syciprider]

Low mids dimed does it for me!

 

[markbass99]

Don't listen to those flats guys- Slinky's all the way. Welcome fellow Bongoloid, there will be more.

 

[shakinbacon]

Thanks everyone

Wow, what a welcome!

First of all, thanks to everyone (I'm honored BP replied). I was in a rush when I posted originally so let me give more information.

It is a 2004 Bongo 5HHp I got in a trade with a great member here. I traded for a nice SR5HH... wish I could have kept both but that's another story.

As promised here are a few pics as proof :

Now for my first questions:

1) Should the piezo overall volume via the control cavity trim pot be set to a volume such that it is equal to that of both magnetic pickups on?

2) As the volume increases when both Neo pickups are on (in the center detent), does that imply they are in series? Just curious

3) I'm gonna be spending hours trying to dial in tones on my own using techniques described here and in the forum. Are their any "tried and true" settings for copping certain fingerstyle tones to help me along (reggae, Pbass blues, Jbass funk, heavy metal grind, HiFi ballistic DOOm (that seems like everything flat ) - I'm just looking for ballpark ideas here)?

Thanks,
shakinbacon

 

[jlepre]

Great choice! Quite a looker too!

Welcome to the affliction

 

[Basscake]

Congratulations! Enjoy this beauty!

Now for my first questions:

1) Should the piezo overall volume via the control cavity trim pot be set to a volume such that it is equal to that of both magnetic pickups on?

Thats what i would do. At least to start with...

You still have a blend poti on the front controls for mixing the piezo with the magnetic ones.

 

[Busterkilrain]

Congrats Man,
Welcome to Bongo World!
Brent

 

[shakinbacon]

tones tones tones

Spent a few hours researching threads on tone in this forum to learn what I could.

Spent a few more with headphones and tweaking the eq knobs (slightly and with 75% volume knob per BP)

LOT of tonal options with *minor* knob tweaks. Not sure it can cop any tone yet as I've read, but the versatility is very impressive.

Using the pickups alone, there seem to be a few "secret sauce" points

Hi mid cut
Lo mid boost
Treble cut

all of these are slight. The lo/hi mid seems to be the money knob

The piezo and pickup pans are the next frontier. I definitely could use pointers on these guys (Grand Wazoo has been a *big* help in private conversations)

Then I go and do the same thing after introducing my amp and cab into the equation.

I have my homework assignment

 

[GreyDad]

Fantastic looking bass, love that colour combination

Plenty of knobs to twiddle with, I kept it simple for my first Bongo (single H) as I'm getting old and easily fuddled. Have fun!

 

[nicjimbass]

My oh my, that's a nice looking Bongo!

Thanks again for the SR5... I think we both ended up winning on this trade.

 

[shakinbacon]

My oh my, that's a nice looking Bongo!

Thanks again for the SR5... I think we both ended up winning on this trade.

Yeah, my quote is we each think we got the better deal... and we're both right

Thanks for the Bongo... its growing on me

 

[Zippydog]

Congratulations and welcome to Bongoland - great looking bass!

Enjoy the next few weeks!
You've got about another 60 days or so before you start gassing for a 2nd Bongo. ...and so it goes.

 

[RobertB]

Congrats. Love Sapphire Black with Black Ice. Enjoy.