Bongo 6

[kamakazee]

Hey guys, first post on here. I'm a 4 string bass player, but I've been looking into 6 string basses lately. The Bongo 6 HS has really caught my eye. I have played 4 and 5 string Bongos and loved them, but have yet to get my hands on a 6. I love the Musicman growl, and this bass seems to really deliver. Before investing in one, I have a few questions.

Scale length - How does the low B sound?
Is the body one piece? the neck?
Are all 24 frets easily accessible?
How is the sustain?
Is it neck heavy?

Also, if anyone from Musicman could answer this - The selection of colors this year dissapoint me, Can it still be ordered in Orange Firemist? If not, will there be more colors avaliable soon?

Any help would be much apreciated!

 

[kamakazee]

Also, what's the truss rod setup? One or 2, reinforced or not?

 

[Bass Control]

I play a Bongo 6 HS right now and absolutely love it! It is not neck heavy at all, the sustain and tone is insane, and the low B is phenomenal. The scale length is 34" and it's perfect. It has one truss rod, but it does a great job handling the neck.

If you're close to Baton Rouge, go visit the guys at The Perfect Bass and try out a Bongo 6! Brandt and the guys will be more than happy to help you out!

 

[spencer]

Hey man, where are you from in louisiana?

 

[kamakazee]

Alexandria area. I've been planning a trip down to The Perfect Bass when I get some time off.

 

[spencer]

Sweet I live smack dab inbetween new orleans and baton rouge and frequent the perfect bass quiet often.

If you ever make it down here Ill be happy to drive you the extra 40 miles from my place to the perfect bass

 

[spencer]

Im also sure you know they appear to have 4 in stock

 

[kamakazee]

I've been down to The Perfect Bass once before looking for pedals, and they are awesome and very nice. If you're in Louisiana NEVER go to Shreveport Music, its a Music-man dealer. They are terrible with customer service. The guy I spoke with didn't even get me the price for the Bongo I was looking at. It looked like it had been sitting in there a year and was in bad condition sold as "new". But Perfect Bass in my opinion is the best overall music store I've been in. I'm gonna wait a few weeks until I've saved up enough to walk out the door with it. Can't stand layaway haha. I might hold out until I hear what colors will become available. I'm really diggin' that orange they had last year

 

[sitonmybass]

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, orange firemist is a discontinued color.
I was lucky enough to snag a Bongo 5 single H in orange firemist a few months back. In fact, I played it tonight at a gig and it looked (and sounded) great. I also have a Bongo 5 HH in sterling silver which is a finish that is still available. I get a ton of compliments about the sterling silver finish; you might want to consider that one.

 

[kamakazee]

So I went to the Perfect Bass in search of Bongo 6's. I honestly didn't like it at first. I tried the HS model and the single hummed like crazy. The action was a mile high, that might have alot to do with it. So I asked to try the HH and instantly fell in love. I liked it so much, I ordered a Blue Pearl HH with black pickguard. What do you guys think about aftermarket knobs and pickguards?

 

[Duarte]

I tried the HS model and the single hummed like crazy.

That's interesting, my HS doesn't hum at all. I assumed they had hum-cancelling coils in there somewhere...are you telling porkies?

 

[T Alan]

Congrats.
In my experience, EBMM replacement p/g's have a slightly better fit n finish than 3rd party outfits I've tried. My 'Ray5H has an EBMM replacement but my 'Ray4HP has a 3rd party 'guard.
Also, even though you just shelled out a hefty price for an EBMM instument, mods here are sensitive about 3rd party discussions.

 

[T Alan]

yeah...I hope my HS doesn't hum too bad.

 

[kamakazee]

Bad grounding maybe? I don't mean to bash the HS but the hum was very disproportionate to the output in a distracting way. It stopped humming when I shifted the blend all the way to the bridge H.

To my ears, the 2 hums complimented each other quite nicely. I got some amazing ground-shaking tones from that neck H and some bass boost. I've owned Fenders, Peaveys, and a Rickenbacker. This will be my first EBMM bass, and my first 6 string. Anything I need to know about either?

 

[keko]

There's something wrong with bass You tried according to this hum!

I tried HSp 5 Bongo, and no hum at all, in any balance pot position!

Anyway, I have HS 5 Sterling, and when switch is on single S pickup (+phantom coil of course) the hum is even less than when switched to the H pickup alone!

I say, just go for that Bongo 6!

 

[bovinehost]

Fluorescent lights?

 

[BongoPeg]

I got myself a Orange Firemist 6er. It's an HS and I can tell you it's completely worth it.
Sounds great, and I have no problems with hum. Sustain and tone are phenomenal.
All the 24 frets are easily accessed.

Then again this is bias because I'm madly in love with it.

Also you mentioned something about the action being high. That bass needs to be adjusted then cause mine is great.

All I need is another bongo except fretless and with a piezo.

 

[kamakazee]

Lucky. I wish they had the Orange Firemist still in production. Its gonna be a loooong wait for my Blue Pearl 6HH. But 3-4 months isn't too long to wait for perfection. Regretting now that I was too cheap to upgrade from black to the Black Pearl pickguard. Who sells EBMM replacement pickguards for the Bongo 6 HH? I have yet to see any.

 

[T Alan]

Lucky. I wish they had the Orange Firemist still in production. Its gonna be a loooong wait for my Blue Pearl 6HH. But 3-4 months isn't too long to wait for perfection. Regretting now that I was too cheap to upgrade from black to the Black Pearl pickguard. Who sells EBMM replacement pickguards for the Bongo 6 HH? I have yet to see any.

Ernie Ball does, for starters...otherwise, google it as the mods are sensitive to 3rd party supplier discussions. I already mentioned this, bro.

Anyway. I ordered my fretless 6 string Bongo back in mid Sept and am STILL waiting for it. ...starting to get pretty peeved about it too.

 

[kamakazee]

I was just wondering if I have to buy the EBMM replacement pickguard (not 3rd party) from a MusicMan dealer, or can I get them direct from MusicMan?