Bongo in LA

[ExLurker]

I'm going to be in LA and Las Vegas for a few days at the end of May and I'm in the market for a Bongo 5HH. Can any of you good chaps point me in the right direction of any retailers that would likely have stock? Colour preference would be something dark i.e.

Graphite Pearl
Sapphire Black
Stealth

Just want to get a feeling and what my chances would be of finding what I want 'off the shelf' or would I be into a special order to get the colour I want?
Cheers

 

[maddog]

Click here:

http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/dealers/

enter the zip code for where you're gonna be staying. Then hit submit. A list of dealers in and around that zipcode should come up. Click on a dealer to see what they have in stock. Not sure how up to date it is however.

 

[LowDownDave]

Hey Exlurker. Definitely follow the instructions listed above. Went on a similar US holiday myself last year, and hit all the guitar shops I could hunting for a good deal on a second hand bass. Unfortunately I never did find one (yes, prices for new basses still better than here, but was still worried about getting burned by customs bringing it back) but definitely saw more EB basses in California/Nevada than I ever have here. And visiting a Guitar Centre was definitely an "experience". It's BIG! Best o' luck!

 

[azzy_wazzy]

Mmm I bet customs would be a worry! Expensive too...

Does sound like a good plan though - if I ever get round to visiting the US I'd love to do that - but I'm a fussy cow and have difficulty finding something I like

Keep us posted on how you get on, esp if you get one in the end!

 

[ExLurker]

Maddog thats great thanks, I tried the search engine and the various Guitar Centres aren't too great at keeping the stock list updated so I'll be taking a chance on finding one I want.
There is the customs issue when I arrive back (not to mention having the very real possibility of having to put the bass in the hold on the plane trip back) yeeks!
In real terms I won't be saving very much as opposed to buying one over here in the UK once I've paid import tax and and VAT.
I tried a Bongo 5HH a few weeks ago in London (Denmark Street) but it had had a few too many test drives for my liking and it was Burgundy which doesn't float my boat. The sound though ... wow. I've always coveted the sound of Wal basses but never liked their feel. The Bongo is more than reminicent of its tone but with brilliant playability. The low and high mid boost has got me very interested. I have always liked basses where I can vary my tone on the fly direct from the bass rather than hopping back and forth to my amp and the Bongo does this in spades.
Watch this space because I can definitely see a Bongo in my near future.

 

[Randracula]

If you want to drive about 50 miles east of L.A. I can point you to some really good deals.......

 

[BOOST]

you know the title of this thread, does it sound like a movie? or is just me?

 

[midopa]

Hi ExLurker,

There're GCs in Northridge and Sherman Oaks, the later having a little more selection in terms of basses. Also, I spotted a preEB SR at the Sherman Oaks branch last time I was there. And if you drive a bit further east from the Sherman Oaks GC, you'll eventually run into the Amp Shop, another bass store with some EBMMs (though it's been a while since I checked). It's easy to miss Amp Shop, though. It's pretty small.

I think your best bet would be at the Sherman Oaks GC. For sure they have Bongo 5 HH models.

 

[ExLurker]

If you want to drive about 50 miles east of L.A. I can point you to some really good deals.......

Thanks! Driving 50 miles is no problem at all, point away! I'll call Sherman Oaks a swell..

 

[Randracula]

Thanks! Driving 50 miles is no problem at all, point away! I'll call Sherman Oaks a swell..

Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino GC's have some really nice Bongos at REALLY nice prices.Did I mention i'm getting a $3,100 tax return next Friday

 

[ExLurker]

Damn, you can buy 2 with that. If they have got a graphite pearl DONT BUY IT - me want it.
Nah, you go ahead, dont give me a 2nd thought
Thanks for the pointers. I'll give them a call, the anniversary ones might have landed by then...

 

[tkarter]

Graphite pearl is a fantastic color. On any EB bass. "hold on tight to your dreams"

Good luck.

tk

 

[Randracula]

They have a 4HH and 5HH both in Graphite Pearl.

 

[ExLurker]

They have a 4HH and 5HH both in Graphite Pearl.

Hey thanks for that, beyond the call. I'll telephone them before I arrive in LA (end of May) and if they've still got them (unlikely) or new stock it looks like I'll be hooked up. I tried a 5HH yesterday in Burgundy and it really is a great intrument. The B string was wonderful, it felt like a natural extension of the other 4, rang true right up the fretboard. Very rare on any 5 'er at this price point. I'm really chomping at the bit to get one.

Thanks again

 

[ExLurker]

Well I've done a bit of research and called a few GC's and it would appear that no one has a Graphite Pearl 5HH in stock in LA area. I've had various disinformation from GC staff ranging from the Bongo is discontinued! they come with case, don't come with case and had a myriad of diverse and inaccurate prices quoted for other colours of basses they have on the wall. Having seen some of the basses on GC's wall and how some are mistreated I came to the conclusion that I might as well buy it here in the UK. There are also risks with having to cart the bass back to the UK, I might not be able to carry it on board the plane and the bass would in all likelihood have to go in the hold with sub zero temperatures . You also have to leave all cases unlocked on transatlantic flights for security reasons - double I know this because I had the padlocks cut off my baggage when I recently returned from Denver.
The upshot is that my local friendly MM dealer has located a 5HH in the colour I want at the UK distributer and its on its way to me as we speak.
I figured that even if I had managed to find what I wanted in LA, the attendant risks bringing it back were not worth it. Also, I would have lost the guarantee and once I'd paid the import duties and tax I would'nt be significantly better off anyway.

So here I am (not very) patiently awaiting my entrance into Bongoland, will post pics when I get it.

 

[tkarter]

It is good that you are getting the graphite pearl you wanted. Great that it is on the way to you. Congrats on your new Bongo.

tk