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.
bongo 4 hp piezo issue
- Thread starter ganglio
- Start date
pete bass
Well-known member
Wow, This is tricky one...To eliminate the Piezo circuit having issues did it sound Ok with the old strings ??.....
Stingray 4Hp
Stingray 5 H
Stingray 4Hp
Stingray 5 H
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...
Someone outside the forum is saying bridge piezo crystals issue? I am really clueless and sort of angry...
oddjob
Well-known member
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
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.
`
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.
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
What's the word on the state of your Bongo 4Hp?
keko
Well-known member
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!!!
Maybe GDA tiny brass "grains" were lost somewhere on the floor when You did strings swap?
Customer service is Your only chance, ...I believe!!!
