Bongo HS

[basssteve]

Hello forum, I'm new here and to Ernie Ball/Musicman in general.

I have played Fender Basses for 35 years, happily, but I was sold when I happen to stop in a friends music shop and saw/played a Bongo...

I played a 4 string h black stealth...and loved it but I did not purchase..wanted to think about it. I ended up finding on E Bay a Green Envy HS and fell in love with the look so I bought it..

Delivered in great shape.. and it sounds awesome. But I wanted to lower the action a tad and when I lowered the saddles (only one turn) I got a bad buzz and dead frets...Are the saddles on this bass very sensitive..or does the forum recommend that I try the truss rod.. To me the neck looks like it bows a bit but I may be wrong..The action is nt overwhelmingly high so I'm not sure why the drop of string height would have been so adverse.

I will likely bring to my tech guy to set up but really wanted to get as familiar as I can with the bass/nuances..

Any ideas ?

 

[nicjimbass]

I just learned in the past couple days that adjusting the truss rod is good for the initial change in action, and if it's still not to your liking, THEN you start adjusting saddles. I think the neck is usually a personal preference, but I usually have mine pretty straight. Taking it to a tech may be a good idea though.

 

[adouglas]

The only reason to adjust the saddles away from the factory setting, in my experience, is if you change string gauges. You should be able to get a very, very low action using only the trussrod. I can.

I own three Bongos. I've never had to touch the bridge screws on any of them. No buzz, very low action, no problem.

Put 'em back exactly where they were and adjust the trussrod.

Here's the sequence for setup. It is always the same, and ALL steps should be followed in sequence.

1) Tune to pitch and check relief. There are a few ways to do this...I do it by fretting at the first fret with my left hand, then putting my right thumb at about the 15th fret, then stretching my right middle finger up over the 7th fret. I tap...I should be able to just hear the "click" of the string hitting the fret (indicating there is clearance) without being able to see much clearance at all.

Some people like to use feeler gauges or a business card to check for clearance at the 7th fret, but it occurs to me that the gauge/card itself can move the string, so I really don't see how that works. My method is fast, simple, requires no tools and only takes two hands.

2) Adjust the trussrod until the relief is correct. Re-tune if necessary.

These two steps are all I ever have to do. If it's still not right, then a saddle adjust is in order.

3) Check string height using a machinist's ruler (about five bucks at any hardware store or big-box home improvement store) and adjust according to factory spec (spec is in the FAQ at ernieball.com). Re-tune if necessary. While you're at it you might as well check and adjust pickup height to factory spec, also listed in the FAQ.

4) Check intonation and adjust if necessary. Re-tune if necessary.

Go back and check everything over again from the top. This is an iterative process...everything affects everything else, so it doesn't necessarily all happen in one shot.

Doing setups on Music Man basses is really, really easy because of the capstan trussrod wheel. I do it routinely, whenever the weather changes. Hence, the action is almost always just right.

 

[Old_Guy]

+1 on everything adouglas said. If you don't think you get get the saddles right back where they were, please take it to someone who's familiar with Bongos (not sure where you live - I can recommend a few good dealers in the Wash DC area..) I have a Bongo HS and Sterling HS and never ever never have to monkey with the saddles.

 

[basssteve]

Bongo Bass

A Douglas and all..Thank you very much for your suggestions/advise. I'm gonna give it a whirl..and I am sure I will be successful.

Merry X Mas/Happy New Year!

Thanks again.

Steve

Bongo HS Envy Green

 

[strummer]

And let's see some pics of the Envy Green!

 

[bdgotoh]

It's the one I just sold, welcome to the forum Steve.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Att: Moderators

Any idea why my post in response to the trussroad adjustment was deleted?

All I suggested was to adjust the trussrod without touching the saddles as quoted by BP?? What on earth is going on?

 

[basssteve]

Bongo Bass

Thanks Brad, glad to be here..What a great forum.