Bongo Basswood Susceptible to Dings?

[stcheez]

I am interested in buying a Bongo bass but have one concern. I have heard that basswood is quite soft, and does not take abuse well. I have no issues with the sound or feel of the bass, I just don't want to buy one and before too long have it looking all dented and beat up with normal use.

Just looking for anyones feedback on how your Bongo has taken abuse. Does it show dings really easy?

Thanks

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

I've abused my Bongo HH pretty badly and she still looks factory fresh.

 

[bovinehost]

Nothing to worry about. The finish (which is what is going to take the most abuse) is very durable.

Jack

 

[Psycho Ward]

Unlike some instrument builders EBMM doesn't charge any extra for dents and scratches.

Make your own relic.

 

[tommyindelaware]

when ya bang a geetar.......99% of the time..........the finish takes the hit. ebmm's finishes are as toughf as ANY..............& toughfer than most.

basswood is softer.......but the finish is the armor. if the geetar is subject to a hit that will penatrate the armor.......it's not gonna matter if its basswood...or steel......yer still gonna have pretty much the same cosmetic damage.

armour
armour
armour

 

[strummer]

when ya bang a geetar.......99% of the time..........the finish takes the hit. ebmm's finishes are as toughf as ANY..............& toughfer than most.

basswood is softer.......but the finish is the armor. if the geetar is subject to a hit that will penatrate the armor.......it's not gonna matter if its basswood...or steel......yer still gonna have pretty much the same cosmetic damage.

armour
armour
armour

+1

The basswood is there for a very good reason: Sound.
The finish is there for at least two good reasons: To look good and to protect the good sounding wood, be it basswood, alder, ash or rareashellium.
Now get yerself a bongo!

 

[roballanson]

Lets not forget that you will own one of the best made precision instruments on the market....you will look after it.
I regularly slap, beat and thrash the proverbial out of my BongoHS during a set but nothing out of the ordinary, but its still lovingly cared for and still looks brand new.
do you get what I mean - you dont buy this kinda bass to throw down the stairs for cool scars....but it will stand up to a heck of a lot (just watch the ceiling)

 

[maddog]

Now I'm all curious. I think I'll head home and take a screwdriver and some bicycle chain to my Bongo to see how well it will stand up.

 

[roballanson]

Now I'm all curious. I think I'll head home and take a screwdriver and some bicycle chain to my Bongo to see how well it will stand up.

now thats abuse........but wait til BP hears what you got planned.....

 

[strummer]

Now I'm all curious. I think I'll head home and take a screwdriver and some bicycle chain to my Bongo to see how well it will stand up.

Don't use a hollowpin chain, it'll be damaged

 

[maddog]

Don't use a hollowpin chain, it'll be damaged

Dang strummer, all I got laying around are SRAM PC99 hollowpins. Alright, maybe just the screwdriver then.

 

[strummer]

Dang strummer, all I got laying around are SRAM PC99 hollowpins. Alright, maybe just the screwdriver then.

Hey, if you'äre set on using the chain you can always slip a hain wheel onto the chain and hit the bass with that

I recently got back into the saddle again, and first real ride I had a PC99 break on me. Twice. Now I'm back to XT chains...

 

[maddog]

I recently got back into the saddle again, and first real ride I had a PC99 break on me. Twice. Now I'm back to XT chains...

Strange. I weigh 195 and have been running the same PC99 hollowpin on my MTB for about a year, no probs. Although, I'm more of a spinner. Can't stand the shimano chains due to the extra pins you're "supposed" to use every time you break the chain for maintenance.

 

[strummer]

Can't stand the shimano chains due to the extra pins you're "supposed" to use every time you break the chain for maintenance.

Lol, I have like 20 of those with me at all times, along with the two extra thick inner tubes (never got the UST to work properly) and the Alien. I'm like the MTB Boy Scout

I am about the same weight, but I am NOT a spinner. For me it's 100% attack uphill and then rest (well, no pedaling) down hill.

Do you have a "2% from disaster"-song?
When I'm about 2% from a painful crash I always find myslef singing the chorus to "Li'l Devil" by the Cult.

 

[maddog]

Lol, I have like 20 of those with me at all times, along with the two extra thick inner tubes (never got the UST to work properly) and the Alien. I'm like the MTB Boy Scout

$6 for 5 of those suckers gets to be too much after awhile. I like UST alot but I found that it only works well if you use a sealant (like Stan's)

Do you have a "2% from disaster"-song?
When I'm about 2% from a painful crash I always find myslef singing the chorus to "Li'l Devil" by the Cult.

The only time I get songs in my head is when everything is going just right. Legs feel good, heart is in the right zone and groovin' down the trail. Otherwise, I'm in misery.

 

[adouglas]

Holy schmokes! Talk about a thread hijack!

Back OT.

The Bongo's finish is polyester resin. Polyester resin (with glass fibers in it) is what most boats are made of. The surface layer of those boats, called gel coat, is pretty much solid polyester resin. They're pretty tough, and so is the Bongo.

The only damage that the Bongo seems prone to is what has come to be regarded as the "standard" ding in the end of the headstock. This phrase has even shown up in for-sale ads around here!

The headstock ding is due mostly to the fact that the Bongo is very long compared to most basses and has a pointed headstock tip. Has nothing to do with the wood (which is maple up there) or the finish...any bass would suffer the same thing.

 

[Paul_C]

I've abused my Bongo HH pretty badly and she still looks factory fresh.

shame you didn't ship that one instead of the dented one I got


P.

 

[stcheez]

The Bongo's finish is polyester resin. Polyester resin (with glass fibers in it) is what most boats are made of. The surface layer of those boats, called gel coat, is pretty much solid polyester resin. They're pretty tough, and so is the Bongo.

Thanks everyone for your responses. This is the type of key information I was looking for (see quote above) and someone to stop the hijack of the thread (thanks adouglas) . Well I think once I can get the money out of a bass I currently have for sale, then I will be seriously looking at a Bongo for my next purchase.

 

[philthygeezer]

Luthiers make basses with redwood tops and that stuff is way softer. Nobody seems to care about soft redwood tops...

 

[Aussie Mark]

The haunted Bongos ding a lot easier than the standard ones.