• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

ganglio

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2013
Messages
5
Hi there. Bought a second hand bongo 4 Hp 2 days ago. tested it and everything was fine. At home swapped strings with fresh ones and suddenly a superhuge different volume issue only with the piezo pickup appears. Low E string has huge volume. Other strings seems almost dead and heavily 'compressed'. Fresh batteries didn't help. Lowering piezo trimmers neither. Sort of clueless and uncomfortable feeling now. Any idea appreciated. Regards.
 

ganglio

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2013
Messages
5
Nope, putting old strings and anything changes. Seems everything went wrong during string change. Sort of wanna bang my head to the wall. (The real Wtf?!?)
Someone outside the forum is saying bridge piezo crystals issue? I am really clueless and sort of angry...
 

oddjob

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2004
Messages
2,839
Location
Monroe, Ohio
Call EBMM customer service on Monday (they really are great to deal with) - they will truly have your best answer without us second guessing issues. Good Luck!
 

JayDawg

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
1,880
Location
Sterling, Colorado
Check your battery compartment and see how the connections to your battery are. Also, check all of your wires to make sure none are loose.
 

Golem

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2005
Messages
2,278
Location
My Place
`

I have experienced this "flaw" on various basses, EBMM and others,
that use the MM type of bridge rather than the under-saddle ribbon.

Gently but firmly push each of the piezo elements down into its own
saddle. A small wooden poker or such is good, NO METAL TOOLS. If
you do this while connected, the POP will be waaaaay loud, so avoid
that. You did say that you get some sound, however reduced, from
all the saddles/strings ... so you haven't broken a wire. Do be aware
of the very thin wires under the saddles. On some basses, if you set
a saddle extra low you can crush the wire, especially if adjusting the
intonation distance. It's not really high risk as long as you're aware
to watch out for this.

I guess the piezo elements are simply press fit into the saddles on
all piezo bridges of this type, cuz it's not a "brand-connected" thing.
 
Last edited:

ubnomnar

Active member
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
33
Location
San Diego CA
Nope, putting old strings and anything changes. Seems everything went wrong during string change. Sort of wanna bang my head to the wall. (The real Wtf?!?)
Someone outside the forum is saying bridge piezo crystals issue? I am really clueless and sort of angry...

What's the word on the state of your Bongo 4Hp?
 

keko

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 10, 2009
Messages
2,702
Location
Zagreb, Croatia, EU
It sounds like tiny piezo saddles issue during the strings change? Something went wrong with that?

Maybe GDA tiny brass "grains" were lost somewhere on the floor when You did strings swap?

Customer service is Your only chance, ...I believe!!!
 
Top Bottom