Question BP/EBMM staff - Bongo tonal differences???

[oddjob]

We knuckleheads have beat the H/HH/HS thing into the ground. I do, however, have a serious question regarding tone. I have 2 single H Bongos, Kermit and a Dargie I. Both basses are just absolute beasts. I did notice that Kermit was much more aggressive.

I think I had noticed it in the past but just put it off on different setups. I have had Kermit in the case for almost a year and decided last month to set him loose. I spent a day prepping all of my basses and resetting them (new strings and batts too). Got to practice and started on the Dargie. Great sound, a bit of growl... perfect single H tone. Switched to Kermit... wow! The mids were much more pronounced (both bass eqs were flat, btw). The growl was more noticable - it was a head splitter (in a good way). The guitarist and singer even noticed the difference (and you know if they notice ANYTHING besides themselves it is big).

Anyway, I rechecked the setup heights and everything and they were pretty much dead-on identical. Any thoughts as to the tonal differences??? (not complaining - I think it is cool)

 

[syciprider]

No two basses will sound identical?

 

[bassmonkeee]

What's the weight difference in the basses?


The only change in Bongo production pickups that I'm aware of is that the original Bongo single coil pickup was replaced with a different design in year 2 or 3.

 

[oddjob]

I know no 2 basses will sound alike but this is pretty different (as I said, in a good way) - weight is roughly even (maybe .5 off)

 

[danny-79]

Both my Ray's are Technically identical (apart from the cosmetics) both leaving the factory weeks apart from each other, but they are two totally different beasts in feel, sound, everything.
Why that is i don't no, just the theory of no two are ever the same i guess.
The possibility of theory's behind this is endless....

 

[Big Poppa]

NO differences my friend!

 

[bovinehost]

NO differences my friend!

So there's your reality check.

UNLESS HE'S JUST TRYING TO THROW US OFF THE TRAIL.

(Remember how he wasn't going to put the Big Al 5 into production?)

Seriously, I have two "identical" single H Bongo 5s, unless you count paint. They do sound different. They play differently. They do not weigh the same.

And that last bit, the weight, might just account for the first bit, the sound.

Who knows?

 

[RobertB]

and that last bit, the weight, might just account for the first bit, the sound.

+1

 

[oddjob]

I have no doubt what-so-ever that what BP says is true - I have owned many "identical" instruments and most are in the ballpark sound-wise but not the same. This one is glaring different (that will teach me to case a bass for a year). As I said, for the rest of the band to notice is something. I was just curious if any other mods were made to the electronics package after the first year or so (and I did know about the change to the HS bass). Sometimes you just get an instrument that is special (for lack of a better term) and I think this one is it. - Thanks for the answer BP.

 

[oli@bass]

Wood is a greatly cursed living work material. Just look at the grain. And then try to think how that structure could possibly have an impact on vibrations running through it.

I am actually amazed, that instruments can even sound as similar as they do.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Wood is a greatly cursed living work material. Just look at the grain. And then try to think how that structure could possibly have an impact on vibrations running through it.

I am actually amazed, that instruments can even sound as similar as they do.

Yep, you get a piece of wood that was created during a time of a lot of rain vs a drought, and you are going to get some sonic differences 30 years later when it becomes an instrument. Two basses from the same tree won't even sound the same.

 

[oddjob]

Yep, you get a piece of wood that was created during a time of a lot of rain vs a drought, and you are going to get some sonic differences 30 years later when it becomes an instrument. Two basses from the same tree won't even sound the same.

All true - but with an active electronics package I thought that this was generally minimumized (with some difference but not that much)

 

[guenter]

All true - but with an active electronics package I thought that this was generally minimumized (with some difference but not that much)

In which case the electronics had to adapt/compensate the resonance characteristics of each bass to some standard behaviour. Sounds like mission impossible.

 

[keko]

In which case the electronics had to adapt/compensate the resonance characteristics of each bass to some standard behaviour. Sounds like mission impossible.

Yeah, right!

That's why I always try any bass for a first time not amplified, ...unplugged!

 

[danny-79]

That's why I always try any bass for a first time not amplified, ...unplugged!

A lot of the time i don't plug in when practicing, the acoustic quality's are nice by them self.

 

[sitonmybass]

All the more reason to buy as many EBMM basses as possible.

There, BP...I said it for you.

Shouldn't that qualify me for an endorsement?

 

[MadMatt]

Yeah, right!

That's why I always try any bass for a first time not amplified, ...unplugged!

I personally love the way my 25th growls against my belly even when its not plugged in.

 

[oli@bass]

A lot of the time i don't plug in when practicing, the acoustic quality's are nice by them self.

+1!

And yes, I generally try basses unamplified first. If I'm not buying over the internet or having them built to order. Which seems to be the case lately.

However, it's also nice that each one has it's own character. It makes collecting them even more fun. Even if all of the lot end up to be black'n'maple classic 'Rays

 

[MK Bass Weed]

I have 3 kids

2 boys

One girl

they all weigh different...

Sound different..

Love them all...

Just like my basses..

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I assume the resistors and capacitors in the preamp have a 5 or 10% tolerance. So if a few of these are "off value" in the same direction (but within tolerance), then you can get a different tone. Five percent here, five percent there; it can add up.

Testing this would require swapping the preamp (or preferably the entire control plate), which is a pain. It would scientifically eliminate electronics as a possible reason...