Any fretless Bongo soundclips (pictures too)?

[Darth Tater]

I have a fretted Bongo so I'm already familiar with the Bongo itself, but I'm curious about how a fretless Bongo sounds? I have two fretless basses now which I love, but each one is about 90% of what I really want. I want something 100%!

I want lots of deep growl, and TONS and TONS of MWAAAAH
Keep in mind that one of my fretless basses is a Zon Sonus with a graphite neck.

Think Tony Franklin.....

So I'd love to hear some good fretless Bongo clips, and some pics would be cool also.

 

[NickDuBaldo]

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3448/fretless3ye.jpg


One from the EBMMOH. Just some kid messing around.

 

[Darth Tater]

On a fretless Bongo is the fingerboard just plain wood or does it have an epoxy on it? I will be using roundwound nickels (does it ship with rounds?)

Also, I'm thinking a single H with piezo would be best for fretless since I don't really use the neck pups on my current fretless. Comments?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just a little giddy about possibly getting a fretless Bongo plus it's not really something I'll be able to play before buying.

 

[smallequestrian]

The fretless basses have plain Pau Ferro fingerboards. You will probably see some wear from those strings. All EB basses ship with rounds. As for the choice of Single H/w piezo, I couldn't agree more.

 

[Alvabass]

All EB basses ship with rounds.

I asked for flats from the factory when I ordered mine and my request was honored:

 

[smallequestrian]

I asked for flats from the factory when I ordered mine and my request was honored:

You sure it wasn't the distributor who put the flats on. I made the same request and was soundly but gently told no. In fact here is the associated quotes from the conversation.

BP, any chance that I can get my fretless Bongo to ship out with EB flats then? Slinkys chew through my fingers for some reason, and will get removed immediately, wasting your guy's time and mine.

Never ask Bovine a technical question when he is sober.

We cant start putting different strings on differents instruments...........That would add another 12,000 options to the product mix if they let us spec the strings that we wanted.

Also good advice about Jack there.

 

[Alvabass]

Good to know. Thanks for the info, Smallequestrian! (So my question now is: What strings does my bass have? )

 

[bassmonkeee]

On a fretless Bongo is the fingerboard just plain wood or does it have an epoxy on it? I will be using roundwound nickels (does it ship with rounds?)

Also, I'm thinking a single H with piezo would be best for fretless since I don't really use the neck pups on my current fretless. Comments?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just a little giddy about possibly getting a fretless Bongo plus it's not really something I'll be able to play before buying.

I wouldn't be so quick to discount a neck pickup with the fretless--especially with the piezos. One of my favorite tones is 60/40 neck pickup/piezo with a low mid bump and a slight treble cut.

I loved how it sounded with flats, but I'm really enjoying the singing quality of the rounds I put on there. Fretboards are like tires. If you use them, they are going to wear out. You get them planed every 5-8 years and move on. Go for the sound that you want, and maintain your instrument.

Here's a couple of pics:

 

[smallequestrian]

Good to know. Thanks for the info, Smallequestrian! (So my question now is: What strings does my bass have? )

They probably threw a set of EB flats on, at least that would be my guess.

 

[AnthonyD]

What Bassmonkee Said...

I have to agree with Bassmonkee (extra sting or not, he's got exquisite tastes) - the tone and tonal flexibility of the HSp Fretless Bongo is the way to go.

I'll be honest, I'm still learning to love my Bongo. My Sterling and I connected instantly on all levels and for me, the Sterling is "the" perfect bass.

In some ways, my Bongo future is has always been open to debate based purely upon physical (i.e. confort-factor) reasons. On more than one occasion I have "decided" it's not for me and considered selling. My Bandmates tell me I'm nuts and my wife tells me I'm nuts (they love EVERYTHING about the Bongo). The Easter Bunny has proven to be a real trouble maker here too- but that's another story...

But then I plug it in and I am completely in awe of it's sound - this bass has incredible tone. I usually play it 50/50/50 with the EQ flat and find the blend provides the right mix of rich, full bass purity with just enough "growl".

I also like the single-coil with the piezo. And the piezo soloed provides more of a typical upright mwaaah tone. The flexibility is great and the reality is I will never be able to part with this bass.

One can certainly find "lots of deep growl, and TONS and TONS of MWAAAAH" in an HSp Bongo!

Pics below...

 

[maddog]

Fretless question: OK, I'm not hip on all the fretlessness. Got my first one on order (Thanks Jack, keeping my fingers crossed about SOB delivert seo if kmy ttypig goes doenjrt hjill, juist letr mker knmow) So, in planing a fretboard, at what point do you replace the board and how hard is that?

 

[bassmonkeee]

Fretless question: OK, I'm not hip on all the fretlessness. Got my first one on order (Thanks Jack, keeping my fingers crossed about SOB delivert seo if kmy ttypig goes doenjrt hjill, juist letr mker knmow) So, in planing a fretboard, at what point do you replace the board and how hard is that?

I got my first fretless back in 1988. I'm about to have it's fretboard planed for the second time. At this rate, I won't have to worry about a new fretboard for about another 30 years.

As for the difficulty, I couldn't tell ya. I don't plan on doing it myself.