A sad day in bassland...

[Samingo]

Gentlemen, this is difficult to discuss so I'll out and say it. I am very seriously considering selling my Music Man Bongo.


Now that you've stopped your conniptions, I shall try and explain.

Recently I've felt very frustrated. I've had the Bongo for a week and every time I've picked it up I've felt constricted and unpleased, and keep blaming it on some stupid environmental issue. In reality I don't believe that's it. I've gotten so frustrated as to believe I'm losing it as a bassist and it's all over for me. Then just now I had an amazing session with my SUB. My Sub. No four band EQ, no Neodymium pickups, just good old fashioned SUB.

I've decided that's it's the neck H that I just can't stand. I'm used to the bigger hunkier Ray body. I love the Ray body. It feels lose and not tight. The same tight feeling that made me leave other basses like a Fender Jazz is the same uncomfortable tight feeling I'm getting from my Bongo. Don't get me wrong. As far as sound goes. In every respect, it still blows me away. Though... When I pick it up.. I don't have a good time. I just feel frustrated and limited.

I'd still like to keep it. If I could afford it I would but seeing as how I'm not rich I made the decision to not keep anything I'm not Really using. I think everybody should have a Bongo lying around. I just can't afford it and would be much happier with a Ray. I believe my music fellow had a very nice greyish Ray hanging right behind the Bongo so my plan is to try for that. One day in the future I shall rebuy myself a Bongo. It'll probably be a H four string as I feel the one pickup configuration would help with the tight feeling. For now though, I am sad to inform you all that I may very well be leaving the Bongo Brotherhood.

On the bright side I'm still in love with Ray's and Sterling's and Music Man. Anyhow, just thought I should inform everybody so incase I do get rid of it and I eventually get around to posting pics nobody will find it wierd that I suddenly have a Ray and no pics of the Bongo I was so excited about.

 

[Psychicpet]

Very understandable Sam.... atleast you're astute enough to know what you like and what makes you want to play!
BTW, what part of Canuckville are you in... if you do sell your Bongo........ I've got a natural finish SR5 with Tort gaurd/Rosewood board and only 1 year old.......

 

[crazybass888]

Fear not, my friend. I had a Lava Pearl 4 HH Bongo for about a month and a half. As much as I loved the tones, it just wasn't for me. I tried to convince myself I liked it, but once a I found my "Pumpkin Ray," it was all over and I haven't looked back...

 

[Bassplyr]

It takes a strong bassist to admit to his unfavorable opinion of any MM on this forum.
Go with what you like. Because in the end, it's all supposed to be about fun anyway , right?

 

[cgworkman]

I have a four banger Desert Gold Bongo HH, but I still prefer my Honey Burst SR5.

Now if you were saying you were getting rid of all your MM's - well then we would dispatch our EB Ninja Assassins.....

 

[Dees]

Get the bass that works best for you, as simple as that (as long as it's an Musicman of course ). sorry to hear you need to sell

 

[Disquieter]

I'm still considering a trade for my burnt apple stingray straight across for a bongo.

I want to try a bongo without spending any money.


it'd have to be a sweet bongo though, my burnt apple is one of the best basses i've played.


joel D.

 

[Samingo]

Well just so you all know I live in St. Catharines Ontario. I don't know too much about shipping and that whole deal, but if anybody on here does want to do a clean swap or something along the lines feel free to contact me. Incase you don't have an autolink somewhere my e-mail address is [email protected]

More importantly... Thank you all for being so supportive. I felt so bad not going wth the Bongo. And after working so hard for it and everything. It really helps to have some sort of assurance in the matter.

 

[tkarter]

Well just so you all know I live in St. Catharines Ontario. I don't know too much about shipping and that whole deal, but if anybody on here does want to do a clean swap or something along the lines feel free to contact me. Incase you don't have an autolink somewhere my e-mail address is [email protected]

More importantly... Thank you all for being so supportive. I felt so bad not going wth the Bongo. And after working so hard for it and everything. It really helps to have some sort of assurance in the matter.

Don't you feel bad honesty is the best policy!! Especially with yourself. Of all the posts I have read here I am most impressed with this one. I am wanting a Bongo, I may too not want it after playing it and would feel like I wasn't the right guy for saying it. You have proven to me that we can be different and the same at the same time. Basses are toys. The real choice one must make in life is the wife. Can't afford to do too bad at that choice. However that is revocable too.

Rambling on here so....


tk

 

[lowstrung]

Well sorry,

As you know, If you have been following the forum, I traded cgworkman my honyburst 5 for a medalion gold 4. It came in imaculate condition. Chris said it was a good player, and it seems to be more powerful than my nautral 4. Has a lot of growl. Cool color too. I would be willing to make a trade for a Bongo 4 banger. It would have to be a streight trade. You can ask Chris that I'm good on a trade.
Maybe we could start some kind of trade rotation so everyone could play diffirent bass for a while. All you are out is frt. and insurance. These things ship well if packed properly. My experiance is most of these basses are well taken care of becouse they have that EB pride of ownership. Not to mention they are expensive. So what do you guy's think? Should we do some trading. Some day I would like to trade for a fretless. you know practice that perfect intonation without having to spend a grand to find out you dont like it. Keep these basses in the family and off of e-bay

Mike

 

[spectorbassguy]

Well sorry,

As you know, If you have been following the forum, I traded cgworkman my honyburst 5 for a medalion gold 4. It came in imaculate condition. Chris said it was a good player, and it seems to be more powerful than my nautral 4. Has a lot of growl. Cool color too. I would be willing to make a trade for a Bongo 4 banger. It would have to be a streight trade. You can ask Chris that I'm good on a trade.
Maybe we could start some kind of trade rotation so everyone could play diffirent bass for a while. All you are out is frt. and insurance. These things ship well if packed properly. My experiance is most of these basses are well taken care of becouse they have that EB pride of ownership. Not to mention they are expensive. So what do you guy's think? Should we do some trading. Some day I would like to trade for a fretless. you know practice that perfect intonation without having to spend a grand to find out you dont like it. Keep these basses in the family and off of e-bay

Mike

Hmm... interesting. A swap. I'll swap anybody my SR5 Fretless for a Bongo 5 fretless.....

 

[Samingo]

geez, what have I gone and started.

The swapping for a little bit is a pretty cool idea. Though I'm sure what will be encountered is that a lot of fellas, if they're anything like me, have some very very strong attachements to their basses. Any parting of it at all can be painful. As far as keeping it in the family as opposed to e-bay. I think that's really swell. If I were to trade a bass the first place I'd surely come is here. I may not be too overseas or internet savvy, but I do know you fellas a lot better than I would most music stores. I know you all to be bassist and since we're all here we all more or less think the same. Besides, I'd only ever want a Music Man.

I surely am sold on those. My list of things to want already includes a SR5 and a Sterling, the Sterling's been on the list for quite some time now. I saw flea play with one once, that was sort of encouraging, but in reality I was in Toronto one day and saw one hanging there for the first time ever in a music store. The headstock was So crazily small, the body sleek. And from all I hear it's got punch and power to-boot. Very good things in my book. Not to mention the neck.

In any case, I don't know what I am to do with the Bongo for now. As mentioned, if anybody would be interested in it and would like to talk to me before I swap it into my small shop for a Ray be sure to contact me soon. Chances are I'll give it a week abouts to give it the benefit of a doubt but if I just don't feel it, I'd rather have something I'm happy with.

 

[Rayan]

Answering my own questions

Hey Samingo,
~
I've reread your original post a couple of times ... you've sorta got me wondering on a couple of points ... aside from the fact that I think what your talking about doing is immoral ))

since I was originally very startled by the whole concept of the Bongo, and my plan all along was for another SR5 piezo but with Rosewood ... I was hooked pretty good by the 24 fret and HHP features ... enough at least to open my mind about the Bongo's unique style and lack of my favourite natural or burst woodgrain shades ... now you got me thinkin' ... do I really want a Bongo at all ?

A) pls expand a bit on the "tight" feel ... is that a physical or an emotional sorta thing you're getting at ...

B) is the Bongo the next generation of Music Man Bass here and now?

C) or is it just a flashy new cut for the headbanger and libido markets ?

D) should I be looking back at my original plan ?
~

As an EBMM enthusiast, I do appreciate the basic story of the Bongo's development ... Sterling's vision and collaboration with forward thinking design consultants ...

but I was also around the motorcycle industry, literally with BMW, when the BMW m/c division first developed and launched the K series bikes supposedly spelling the end of the traditional R series Boxer Twin era ...

as it turned out, riders around the world would not abandon the Boxers for the Flying Bricks and BMW was forced to advance with 2 different concepts running parallel ... each appealing to a different crowd ... I wouldn't go with newer just because it was newer ...

since I also can't afford wrong choices ... "should I stick with what we all know works ... or listen to the call of the Bongo sirens" ?

One more point re your original post ... since I'm not a professional player ... I probably don't have a unique sound or repertoire to support or define myself with ... every day and every play is a new and exploratory experience for me ...

there are many days when a particular tool just doesn't seem to get me where I want to be ... I'm not exclusively an SR5 player ... my BCRich Eagle is a very special instrument that plays and sounds like no other ...

and I feel very fortunate to play a really fine Fender Jazz Dlx 5 - I had an early version ripped off last year and I think Leo Fender would be proud of the new generation replacement I received ...

since your original post seemed to be very thoughtful and almost difficult for you to talk about, I'll be very interested to hear your reply to my humble questions ...

now ... having come this far ... I think I've answered my own questions and I'm ready to say thanx for helping me avoid a costly, lusty error
~

tnx / Rayan