• Ernie Ball
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  • Sterling by MusicMan

Evo 911

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Jan 31, 2008
Messages
24
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Hello everyone! I wanted to talk about a situation at hand, and hoping that EBMM family could advise me on that. Tried getting to Mr. Sterling, but apparently his inbox is full. So here goes.

I am a bassist/student from Pakistan, and have been an EBMM fan ever since I picked up the bass 3 yrs ago. But the real blow came about a year n a half ago when I jammed with a visiting musician from the US, and he had a Bongo 5. Man oh man, even though I was not very tone savvy back then, but that thing sounded like Swiss chocolate!! Amazing! Still remember the tone when I played it! Couldnt sleep that night!

Then I heard about Bongo 6 coming out. I needed a 6 string too, being fed up with the starter Yamaha RBX375. So I decided that if I ever buy one, its gonna be a Bongo 6. But then I checked the price of Bongo 5 online, and almost gave up the idea. My parents can barely keep up with my college n living expenses, and I make roughly $120 a month off a 40-hr/week job, which is primarily my pocket money. I cannot afford it!

But I had to make a choice, and I did. Ive been saving up for well over a year now, and have just hit the $1000 mark! If this keeps up, soon i will have enough money to buy my dream bass! But there comes the final hurdle, and that's where I need the Ball family help. WHERE TO BUY THE BASS FROM??

EBMM has no dealers in Pakistan, and no website delivers EBMM products (or any other for that matter) to Pakistan. There is a dealer in India, but the region's political situation is not very favorable for cross-country purchases n deliveries. One in China too, but the ticket alone is like $600. Again, not feasible! Now I am quite confused right now, seeing tht even if I DO manage to save up the total sum, I still might not be able to get it.

So the point of this extra-long scale post is this: Can EBMM provide me with a solution to this situation? Is there a way of buying Bongo 6 without paying a fortune above the average price? Please do respond asap, im quite worried and confused right now. Thanks!
 

silverburst

Well-known member
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Messages
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Location
Long Beach, CA
Maybe an e-mail to Ernie Ball Customer Service would be a good place to start.

Mr. Ball has REPEATEDLY asked to not be PM'd, and you should respect his wishes. He is paying the bills around here...
 

bovinehost

Administrator
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Jan 16, 2003
Messages
18,190
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Dall-Ass, TX
Tried getting to Mr. Sterling, but apparently his inbox is full.

Yes, PLEASE don't PM Big Poppa! He's not the guy to go to for questions like this anyway.

Sounds like you really want a Bongo 6. A used bass is your best bet, if you can find someone who will ship to Pakistan....but you aren't going to find a used Bongo 6 since they're just now shipping new. Used is going to be just about impossible for a while.

If you can deal with a Bongo 5, that might be the way to go. Those do come up on the forum for sale from time to time....convincing someone to ship to Pakistan might still be an issue, but you never know.

EBMM has no dealers in Pakistan

Try sending an email to customer service. The answer might well be, "No, there are no dealers" but they may have suggestions anyway.

Jack
 

Evo 911

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
24
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Oh, Im sorry abt the Big Poppa contact thing. Just that I am quite confused and stressed by the fact that one year's worth of sacrificed lunches and other luxuries are gonna be no good!

And yes, I did consider the used market option, but im pretty sure we wont have any used Bongo 6's at least for the first year. Even then, its not as good as new so decided to ask the HQ itself.

And Bongo 5, um.. well that wud be the ultimate desperate move. Otherwise im gonna hold my breath for as long as I can for Bongo 6! I need a sixer, and a good one at that. I cannot afford to buy a kickass 5er, and then go back to square one for the high C!

Anyways I have already mailed the international customer services (Beth and Nathan), lets see if they have anything to say on the subject. Oh n thanks for the quick response guys! Appreciate it!
 

Evo 911

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Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
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Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Hehe it might help u understand my situation, its 7 in the morning and I havent slept all night, doing research on the subject. Now God help me at work today! :(
 

Evo 911

Member
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Jan 31, 2008
Messages
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Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Haha, dont u think I wuda thought of that? What about the low B then? I do use it more than the high C. Progressive/Heavy Metal demands massive bottom!! High C is for harmonization with guitars, extended arpeggios n stuff.
 

oli@bass

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Jul 23, 2007
Messages
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Switzerland
I'm pretty confident, that by the time you have saved the whole amount for a new Bongo 6, you'll find some on eBay.
 

Evo 911

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Jan 31, 2008
Messages
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Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Haha.. lets hope so! Or maybe by then EB might even have a dealer in Pakistan!! They already have em in two out of the three neighboring countries!
 

Evo 911

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
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Location
Lahore, Pakistan
HOLY MOTHER OF ALL BONGOS!!!!!!! OMG IM GOING CRAZY!!!! EBMM is the best friggin company in the whole wide UNIVERSE!!! Unbelieveable customer service! Simply amazing! Never heard the likes of it ever in my life!

Ok... Deep breaths... Calm down... Alright, I just got a reply from Beth at EBMM International Customer sevices, and im not sure if I can share the details here, but in short she gave me a solution to the problem!! I CAN BUY A FRIGGIN BONGO 6!!!! YEEEEEHAAWWWW!!! Now all I gotta do is stop spending all the money, one meal a day, and get my dear dear Bongo asap! Lets hope the window stays open till i hit the mark!

My god, someone slap me to senses please! Im going nuts!!! Whooohoooooooooooooooooo!!!!
 

maddog

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Beth is a wonder, isn't she. :)

and be careful about skipping lunch. You'll need your strength to pick that 6 up.
 

strummer

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Aug 28, 2005
Messages
4,513
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Safe European Home, Stockholm, Sweden
be careful about skipping lunch. You'll need your strength to pick that 6 up.

Just my thought, what use will the Bongo 6 be if you suffer from malnutrition ;-)

Very cool to hear about the dedication you put into getting the best bass there is, I'm seriously considering an aircraft carrier too, mainly to confuse the gullible audiences prolly would think I could actually play...
 

Evo 911

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
24
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Haha thanks for ur concern Maddog! I'll keep that in mind. But im sure it will be lighter than my current Yamaha. Damn thing weighs 14 pounds! :O

And strummer, not a fan of 6 strings, are u? I wasnt either, but times (read influences) have changed! :p
 

strummer

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Aug 28, 2005
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Evo, sure I'm a fan, but I cannot see any immediate use for that high C for what I do.
But then, I unsuccesfully tried 5-strings for years, and then I got my first Bongo 5 and that was it, no more 4-string for me, so maybe when I get a 6 it'll be the same:)

Though before I get a 6 I want Heinz, and I'd also like a Bongo 5 HP... Hmmm decisions decisions...
 

The Swedish Owl

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May 14, 2007
Messages
51
Location
Lund, Sweden
What a nice story, Evo 911! I hope you win the lottery or something, so that you can at least have some lunch every day!

$120 for a 40 h/week job? I can't even understand how you'd manage that AND study at the same time.

Keep on fighting, and perhaps you'll have that Bongo 6 in a near future!

I'm currently trying to save up for one myself, at the end of summer.
 

Evo 911

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
24
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Hehe it almost feels regular now. College is 7AM till 11AM, come back home, food, college work etc. (outta town studying helps, no chores to cater to!), work starts at 2PM uptill 10, and then some practice, dinner, some college work if needed, and sleep around 1 in the morning. And back on the horse at 6:30 next day!

Ya I knw I need a life!

And speaking of lottery, I am expecting a bonus from work, should be around $450 USD (30,000 PKR). That would help a LOT!!
 

Evo 911

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
24
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
@Strummer: Hmm true, High C kinda IS a bit overkill, but ive been tapping a lot on the higher frets to compensate lately, so decided to go 6er. Ive seen ppl who sport 6 string Ibanezes, have totally rugged out the E and A strings, a bit of wear on B and D, and G + C are like new! And im talking abt one of the best selling mainstream bands here in PK! U dont wanna know whats the state of music here!

@Swedish Owl: Oh, and thanks for the warm wishes. Gonna need those!!
 
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