Bongo review from 2003 Winter NAMM

[DJBenzBass]

I remember reading the following quote from Bass Guitar Magazine (from the UK) back in 2003, and it struck me as funny because I was consulting for Mercedes-Benz corporate at the time and a friend on my baseball team was working for BMW corporate at the time:

From page 75, Bass Guitar Magazine. Issue 1/2003 (#5, Geddy Lee on the cover)

“Perhaps the most radical launch of the show was the release of the new Ernie Ball Bongo bass, which has been designed by BMW, no less. We’re not sure that after such a radical makeover that BMW would have been pleased to hear the bass described by Ernie Ball as the difference between a classic 1950’s Mercedes and a modern Mercedes, but none the less, the Bongo bass is a stunning looking instrument quite unlike anything else we’ve seen from Ernie Ball who are better known for their classic StingRay and Sterling instruments.”

My question is: Is that true about the Ernie Ball Mercedes quote?

For some reason that article always stuck in my head. It was actually fun looking through all my old bass magazines to find it.

 

[Beth]

I remember reading the following quote from Bass Guitar Magazine (from the UK) back in 2003, and it struck me as funny because I was consulting for Mercedes-Benz corporate at the time and a friend on my baseball team was working for BMW corporate at the time:

From page 75, Bass Guitar Magazine. Issue 1/2003 (#5, Geddy Lee on the cover)

“Perhaps the most radical launch of the show was the release of the new Ernie Ball Bongo bass, which has been designed by BMW, no less. We’re not sure that after such a radical makeover that BMW would have been pleased to hear the bass described by Ernie Ball as the difference between a classic 1950’s Mercedes and a modern Mercedes, but none the less, the Bongo bass is a stunning looking instrument quite unlike anything else we’ve seen from Ernie Ball who are better known for their classic StingRay and Sterling instruments.”

My question is: Is that true about the Ernie Ball Mercedes quote?

For some reason that article always stuck in my head. It was actually fun looking through all my old bass magazines to find it.

Hey Nerv,

Classic magazine misquote. Sterling had said that if the car industry was anything like the electric bass industry, we'd all be driving 1950's Mercedes. The general electric bass design hadn't changed in 50 years. Music Man wanted to envelop a demand (dual-pickup bass) with an innovative shape and new electronics that would evolve the design of the electric bass as we know it. One of BMW's design teams helped along the idea of the Bongo bass, but there were many other hands involved, BP and Dudley to name a couple.

Hope this straightens things out. Cheers!
-Beth

 

[Aussie Mark]

Sterling had said that if the car industry was anything like the electric bass industry, we'd all be driving 1950's Mercedes.

We wish!

 

[cat_empire]

+1 to that!!

 

[Big Poppa]

That is a great explanation..I actually was probably giving an interview to a german mag but who knows. Aussie the funny thing is that I rarely drive a car that is made after 1970...

 

[Bill]

I know that Lincoln you drive is HOTTTTT!!

 

[adouglas]

All:

Buy more basses. Forget new shoes...BP needs to fill his gas tank. I'm thinking the entire profit from the 20th SR might get him to Vegas and back.

 

[DJBenzBass]

Hey Nerv,

Classic magazine misquote. Sterling had said that if the car industry was anything like the electric bass industry, we'd all be driving 1950's Mercedes. The general electric bass design hadn't changed in 50 years. Music Man wanted to envelop a demand (dual-pickup bass) with an innovative shape and new electronics that would evolve the design of the electric bass as we know it. One of BMW's design teams helped along the idea of the Bongo bass, but there were many other hands involved, BP and Dudley to name a couple.

Hope this straightens things out. Cheers!
-Beth

Yes. Thank you. I assumed it was a misprint or misquote because no other magazine or publication that I had read printed the same quote. If such a quote was really made, I would assume that other publications would have been all over it.

My friend at BMW corporate couldn't verify the story either. Not sure what sources he had access to, but he couldn't find anyone being upset as they would have been.

Thank you Ernie Ball in general as well for building the SR5 HH that got me out of the "bass guitar blahs". My ebay activity has certainly dropped since I used to think the problem with my "average at best" tone was the amps!

Thank you again,
Don

 

[DJBenzBass]

That is a great explanation..I actually was probably giving an interview to a german mag but who knows. Aussie the funny thing is that I rarely drive a car that is made after 1970...

Do you have your own secret stash of Regular Leaded gas too?