Music instructor digs my new bongo

[grogfisher]

Had a lesson today and took my Bongo 4 HH...egyptian smoke...
My instructor was aware of Bongos however, he thought they were created with more of a youthful audience (filling a niche)...He was really quite amazed with it...I have been messing around with the set-up for about a week, and I think I've got it where I want it. I don't think he expected it to play like it did...
I'm going to spring the Stingray HH with SLO neck on him Saturday, I'm interested to get his take on the differences between the two...

 

[Powman]

Had a lesson today and took my Bongo 4 HH...egyptian smoke...
My instructor was aware of Bongos however, he thought they were created with more of a youthful audience (filling a niche)...He was really quite amazed with it...I have been messing around with the set-up for about a week, and I think I've got it where I want it. I don't think he expected it to play like it did...
I'm going to spring the Stingray HH with SLO neck on him Saturday, I'm interested to get his take on the differences between the two...

You have a Bongo and a Stingray and you are taking lessons? You sound like ME! (Except its Bongo and Sterling) Thats a great!

 

[mixmastered]

I had the same remark during my lessons.

He said it sounded more versatile than a StingRay. He sounds pretty interested in getting one too.

 

[grogfisher]

A friend of mine has been playing for roughly 10 years and I (having no real hobbies) and living in Alabama decided - what the heck...So, started the "hey can you teach me" route...And that eventually grew...I've only been playing for about a year and have gone through about 8 basses...I have 4 currently and am blessed to have what I feel are good basses: HH SLO Stingray, HH Bongo, Am P Bl@#nder, Am Jazz F$%der...
Unfortunately I only really have a B Dec amp to go through...but it suits my needs for now....
What are your thoughts on progression from practice amp to a bigger boy set-up; not trying to be Adam Clayton--just feel I might get a better feel for the instruments and their capabilities with a more adequate system?

 

[mixmastered]

A friend of mine has been playing for roughly 10 years and I (having no real hobbies) and living in Alabama decided - what the heck...So, started the "hey can you teach me" route...And that eventually grew...I've only been playing for about a year and have gone through about 8 basses...I have 4 currently and am blessed to have what I feel are good basses: HH SLO Stingray, HH Bongo, Am P Bl@#nder, Am Jazz F$%der...
Unfortunately I only really have a B Dec amp to go through...but it suits my needs for now....
What are your thoughts on progression from practice amp to a bigger boy set-up; not trying to be Adam Clayton--just feel I might get a better feel for the instruments and their capabilities with a more adequate system?

I'm looking for a new rig too. And I have similar basses. Minus one or two.

Maybe some of the guys could chime in and give some opinions on the amps and cabs.

 

[Powman]

What are your thoughts on progression from practice amp to a bigger boy set-up; not trying to be Adam Clayton--just feel I might get a better feel for the instruments and their capabilities with a more adequate system?

Excellent question. I had a pretty good amp, but I needed more power and less weight. It was an Ashdown 300 W Combo that put out 200 W by itself, 300 with an extension cab. Total weight was about 100 lbs

Now I have splurged on a Markbass combo and a Markbass cab. It puts out 500 W altogether. Plenty of power. and the two pieces weigh only 60 lbs. Much easier on the back.

I suggest doing a search on some previous threads about amps. There are lots of good suggestions.

Basically you can get good used gear nowadays since many bass players are trading in their heavier gear for some of the newer lighter rigs like the Markbass stuff. So if you don't mind doing some heavy lifting, there are some good deals to be had.

But, if you are willing to spends some money, then you could consider the newer lighter rigs made with neodymium magnets.

 

[grogfisher]

Thanks a ton for all the comments and suggestions...I happened to be in Atlanta last weekend with wife (she was there for work) so I cruised to GC one fella had tremendous kudos for the mark bass line...

 

[cellkirk74]

What are your thoughts on progression from practice amp to a bigger boy set-up; not trying to be Adam Clayton--just feel I might get a better feel for the instruments and their capabilities with a more adequate system?

really great and even big enough to use with a band an an extension cab are the little markbass '12 combos.

Also Carvin did a really nice sounding new little amp, the bx500. for being a little more flexible I would go for a little head, may it be Genz Benz, markbass or Carvin and a decent 1x'12 oer 2x'12 cab and buy both used.

For praticing the Roland Cube 100 also is a good choice because it has many options.

 

[trunkshope6]

i need a bongo!!!!!!

 

[bovinehost]

The Markbass stuff suits me perfectly. And it IS nice to hear the power and majesty of the Bongo(s) nice and loud. I use a Little Mark II and two of their cabs, a 2-10 and a 1-15 and we do some pretty loud gigs. I'm never thinking, "Gosh, if only I'd brought my Sunn and Ampegs!"

A good amp does help.

I played with those B-Deck amps a while back with a few of the F&nd$r reps and we all had a good time with the bells and whistles, but damned if I could tell you how the thing actually sounded.