Bongo Letdown?

[grooveguru]

Well I've used my new Bongo 5 HS for two rehearsals so far and I'm not hearing that "Bongo" tone that everyone raves about so far. I was expecting it to sound like the voice of god according to what I've read here.

I played last practice using my gig rig (Eden WT800 set flat and Eden D410XST) and had the Bongo set (bass slightly boosted-Low Mid slightly boosted-high Mid flat-Treble slightly boosted) and I was getting lost in the mix.

I did read about someone's Bongo losing punch when the battery started to die and I also just found out that Bongo's ship with nickel wound strings (I use stainless on my other basses.

Any ideas, I really like the bass but need it to punch and to really feel the low end out on the dance floor. If not I'll have to trade it!

 

[Motojunkie]

For punch you may need to boost the mids a bit and/or roll to the bridge pickup a bit.

I have Bongo HH's, and I don't boost the bass at all....no need imo.

 

[Jazzbassman23]

Everybody's mix is different depending on a myriad of factors. What's the instrumentation in your band? What's the room like? I'd be shocked if you can't dial in the "voice of God" sound with your Bongo. Having been a stainless steel user for years, I'm now torn because every new MM bass I get from the factory just sounds so damn good to my ears, that I've got nickel on several basses now. But to each his own. I'm sure with a little experimentation you'll get that sucker dialed in, and then none of us will be able to wipe that grin off your face.

 

[Aussie Mark]

D'Addario Chromes + Bongo = Punch

 

[strummer]

Any ideas, I really like the bass but need it to punch and to really feel the low end out on the dance floor. If not I'll have to trade it!

Get out on the dance floor, and I'm convinced you will experience the true voice of the Bongo.
Otoh, last night our drummer (yes he's a decent bass player too) played my bass, and in his hands it sounded way strange. He fiddled some with the eq and it was ok , but when I got it back it sounded way strange again. Turns out we have very different right hand technique, that was all.

 

[maddog]

Put in fresh batteries, check the pickup height and experiment with your right hand position.

I hope that one of these five things will lead you to the Land of Bongo Bliss.

 

[Musicman Nut]

Well I've used my new Bongo 5 HS for two rehearsals so far and I'm not hearing that "Bongo" tone that everyone raves about so far. I was expecting it to sound like the voice of god according to what I've read here.

I played last practice using my gig rig (Eden WT800 set flat and Eden D410XST) and had the Bongo set (bass slightly boosted-Low Mid slightly boosted-high Mid flat-Treble slightly boosted) and I was getting lost in the mix.

I did read about someone's Bongo losing punch when the battery started to die and I also just found out that Bongo's ship with nickel wound strings (I use stainless on my other basses.

Any ideas, I really like the bass but need it to punch and to really feel the low end out on the dance floor. If not I'll have to trade it!

I Have found over the years there are certain Amps that just sound better for Certain Basses, The combination I use is this: GK 1001RB II, 6-10 SWR Cabs, Aguliar Tube DI, and my bongo has more punch then just about anything I have ever tried.

Now I have a SWR750X and the Eden 800 and for me they never sound good with any Music man basses I Have, Just my personal thoughts , hope it helps DJ

 

[adouglas]

I Have found over the years there are certain Amps that just sound better for Certain Basses,

+1.

The rig I've got is most definitely not for everyone (Bongo->BassPODxt->Bose PAS extended bass w/4 subwoofers), but it gives me the sound I've got in my head. Punches like nobody's business.

 

[drgroovenstein]

Took my bongo to rehearsal last night, I wasn't floored, it did alright. I thought it sounded kind of thin and hallow in the mids. One of the guys commented on liking the tone of one of my other basses more....

I put some blame on the bose PAS. I was running it flat, with one of the pre-sets for active bass. I don't have any modeler or anything like that.

Then I listened to my minidisc recording, and it sounded pretty decent. Sure, my chops could use some major work, but the tone of the bass was cutting and sounded good. Certainly better than I remembered when I was in the room! I was mostly running flat on the eq on the Bongo, maybe a touch of bass and a little pan either direction. I think I just need to learn how to work this thing. Generally, I like plug and play.. heh.

I just changed back to EB strings last night after rehearsal (before I listened to the minidisc doh!), so we'll see what happens at my gigs on Thursday and Friday. I'm going to try to use the Bongo for all the sets..... though, I'll take a backup just in case I am not comfortable enough yet.... I'm so dependent on muscle memory.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Dude....you went flat into a BOSE system, with no preamp and left the Bongo flat?

And, you wonder why it sounded uninspiring?

Cheese and crackers, man--give the Bongo a fighting chance, at least...

 

[grooveguru]

Took my bongo to rehearsal last night, I wasn't floored, it did alright. I thought it sounded kind of thin and hollow in the mids. One of the guys commented on liking the tone of one of my other basses more....

That is exactly what I thought too!

I'm going to swap out the batteries, try my Sansamp (w SVT setting) directly into the PA (All JBL and very fat sounding) and see if I can dial in some serious Booty.

If not I might have to go back to a "W" to get some bottom. Gawd forbid!

 

[Psychicpet]

???

even though my Bongo5 is lacking factory pre-amp, my fretless does have it and it's more than enough to get wacky lo-end. Put both p/u's full upand try it flat... if that isn't 'modern booty' enough for you then by all means bump the bass up BUT do realize that the Eden isn't the 'flatest' of response when it comes to bass and if you've got alot of lo-end coming out of your amp and not enough lo-mid/hi-mid you will get 'lost' in the mix.
don't give up on the Bong just yet, tweak a bit on the bass but try to leave(like you said earlier) the amp flat.
and if that don't work, leave the Bongo flat and sweep the mids on the Eden, do a good +15 db boost and sweep the range to see what frequencies help cut through.(then back off the boost a little bit ofcourse )

hope it all works out though.

 

[koogie2k]

My bongo leaves my drummer and guitarist in the fetal position after practice........

But, to each his own. I think you need to fiddle with it some more and try different eq settings. Mine are set a certain way and I don't change them. I did make some adjustments on my amp settings recently (thanks to my forum bros!) and now the bongo shakes the block.

 

[drgroovenstein]

Yeah, I need more fiddle time, for sure. I'm not saying that it wasn't good, just that I didn't think it was good at the time. The tape don't lie, it sounded good on my minidisc.

Yep, straight into the Bose PAS. I do that with all my basses, and honestly, none are perfect. My Fender does sound the best of the three in that situation. I do think I need some type of pre-amp or amp modeler to use with the PAS, but I haven't decided which.

On Thursday/Friday I'll be using my EBS HD-350 + Accugroove Tri210L, so it should have plenty of bottom.

Do any of you all notice the lacking mids in the tone? Kind of like flat pre-amp = instant scoop tone? Make for some absolutely sick slap tone, but fingerstyle could get lost. Again, I haven't fiddled with the pre-amp other than just boosting slightly.

 

[drgroovenstein]

My bongo leaves my drummer and guitarist in the fetal position after practice........

But, to each his own. I think you need to fiddle with it some more and try different eq settings. Mine are set a certain way and I don't change them. I did make some adjustments on my amp settings recently (thanks to my forum bros!) and now the bongo shakes the block.

Share the magic, dude!

 

[tadawson]

Yeah, I need more fiddle time, for sure. I'm not saying that it wasn't good, just that I didn't think it was good at the time. The tape don't lie, it sounded good on my minidisc.

Yep, straight into the Bose PAS. I do that with all my basses, and honestly, none are perfect. My Fender does sound the best of the three in that situation. I do think I need some type of pre-amp or amp modeler to use with the PAS, but I haven't decided which.

On Thursday/Friday I'll be using my EBS HD-350 + Accugroove Tri210L, so it should have plenty of bottom.

Do any of you all notice the lacking mids in the tone? Kind of like flat pre-amp = instant scoop tone? Make for some absolutely sick slap tone, but fingerstyle could get lost. Again, I haven't fiddled with the pre-amp other than just boosting slightly.

"If missing highs, and lousy lows,
that's the sound, unique to Bose . . . ."

I honestly can say that I have never heard a Bose system that I did not feel has absolute crap for low end response. Either none at all, or a big, tubby, boomy blob of s**t . . . . . . that's just the Bose sound . . . . so like it, myself, I think it Blose . . .



- Tim

 

[drgroovenstein]

I don't think the Bose is that bad really. For gigs that are large enough, we use an added 18" powered sub as well. Usually the poles are reserved for really small coffee house stuff and church services. Otherwise, we break out the amps etc.

 

[sir funkytown]

I've been having issues with the tone of my bongo ever since i got it.Specificaly the e string.It just sounds to me like it is distorting all the time.All the other strings sound great and it plays like a dream but that e string all up and down the neck just kinda sounds like it doesn't belong on the bass...and yes, I have changed the batteries and the strings(four differant sets) and messed around with the pickup height and put more relief on the neck(my second neck on this bass) and raised and lowered the action and checked the input volume in regards to the gain on the amp and tried a few differant cabs and ...well you get the picture.I really like this bass, but lets face it.,..that E string is our bread and butter.I even moved the front pickup back a bit...that actually improved the situation a tiny little bit.
...funny thing, sound guys don't seem to mind it.But when i listen to the bass on headphones or with an amp....all my low notes are crunchy.
I would love it if someone from the company could give me some ideas about this...is this just the way the Bongo sounds?....the other ones in the store don't sound like this.
I was thinking that perhaps it is because i allways play with the pickup balance right in the middle and the bass EQ mostly flat , when I pan either way a little(especialy to the front)it smooths out a lot...is the Bongo not meant to be played in the flat position?....I know what you are saying "well....there you have it, just nudge the balance in either direction and your tone issues are solved"...well....if i am recording then thats fine, but live in a big PA ,when 8 other instruments are mixed and EQed around me , I don't want to be nudging one of the seven control knobs ,change the mix and have the sound guy hate me.Just leaving everything flat is safer.Right now if I boost the bass a little and roll off the low mids a touch, that seems to be a lot better as well....but seriously , I hear ya grooveguru !

 

[maddog]

Other than trying a new set of strings, I'd call customer service:

1-800-543-2255

ps: I've found most sound guys to be quite deaf.

 

[sir funkytown]

i hear ya,but we play at a financial level(big corporate shows) that gets us great sound guys most of the time,not all the time, but most.Aparently the Bongo sounds great in the mix to them ...I always look at the board EQ , just to see what they have done to the tone to fit it in the room.Always a little bottom rolled off(big rooms)and a bit of the very high frequencys rolled off as well...but really thats about it, basicaly flat with a touch of compresstion.