Bongo Seasonings

[usedtobeachacha]

So i'm about 7 months into to by bongo and i've noticed a couple things.... The main one being that the painted neck has the stranges feel. I love it while i'm playing it but it seems to need to be very clean to play smoothly. If i play with slightly dirty fingers then leave it even 15 mins i pick it up and i need to wipe it down before it feels smooth enough for me.

The other thing about the finish that's funny is that if my hands are very clean a couple playings in a row ( i should mention that when i'm not wage whoring i play this bass about 6 times a day for maybe 4 hours total!) the neck will be come kinda dry. So i've found that a very very slight amount of vasoline directly on the neck keeps it "Seasoned for a couple days". However if you try this technique its best to wipe the neck down first.

I play D'addario Strings, call me crazy but every bass i have plays better with them! And at this point i'm so hopelessly addicted to the bongo's clear fundimental and great overtones that i actually replace the strings every 5 weeks (not to mention new batts ever 2 weeks, i'm crazy i know). Which for someone like Flea is forever. But i used to only replace my Fender's strings every 6 months or so.

All and all Sterling Ball and his crew are welcome to dinner at my table any night of the week for bringing me this heavenly instrument!!!

 

[skabassist13]

1. Perhaps you should just let it get dirty. Let it get a bit of mojo going on.
2. Try lemon oil(I think) on the neck. The vasoline might actually be working against you.
3. Strings every 5 months is ok, batteries every 2 weeks, is a bit excessive. I would imagine you wouldn't need to change them more than once a year. Most here change them about that often just to be safe and not becuase they're worn.

Of course, this is all my opinion, but if new batteries every two weeks and vasoline works for you then by all means, be my guest.

 

[Randracula]

Of course, this is all my opinion, and if new batteries every two weeks and vasoline works for you then by all means, be my guest.

That's the funniest thing i've seen all day

 

[usedtobeachacha]

call me Eric Johnson, but i always feel like the newest batts give the best tones. I think i hear a difference in the high mid and treble controls after around 2-3 weeks. But as we all know the batteries are only working when the bass is plugged in and the Bongo is my main bass I play it everyday around 2-4 hours a day plus rehearsals and gigs. So it might be how much i use it. I'd actually like to change strings more, but i can't afford it!

As for the seasoning process i actually don't use oil because i dont want that much of a greasy feeling. I just like it to be smooth, perhaps i'm just more touchy about it. Beats me. I gett anoyed if my knobs don't track straight!

 

[Aussie Mark]

perhaps i'm just more touchy about it. Beats me. I gett anoyed if my knobs don't track straight!

But you sometimes play with dirty fingers. So, not true OCD.

 

[skabassist13]

That's the funniest thing i've seen all day

That didn't sound quite as funny when I wrote it, but now that I think about it, it is pretty freaking funny.

 

[tkarter]

Just signing up

tk

 

[bovinehost]

The main one being that the painted neck has the strangest feel. I love it while i'm playing it but it seems to need to be very clean to play smoothly. If i play with slightly dirty fingers then leave it even 15 mins i pick it up and i need to wipe it down before it feels smooth enough for me.

Main point: "I love it while Im playing it..." Everything else is irrelevant. It is a good idea to wipe the neck down after sweating all over it, but that's really about all I ever do and it works for me. It might work for you, too.

i've found that a very very slight amount of vasoline directly on the neck keeps it "Seasoned for a couple days". However if you try this technique its best to wipe the neck down first.

No chance I'm going to try THAT. Vasoline is also called 'petroleum jelly' and do you know why?

I play D'addario Strings, call me crazy but every bass i have plays better with them!

Now you DID invite me to call you crazy. But I'm bigger than that, right?

i actually replace the strings every 5 weeks (not to mention new batts ever 2 weeks, i'm crazy i know).

Is that another invitation? I don't think I change my underwear that often.

Really, as far as strings and batteries go, whatever floats your boat is absolutely what you should do, but I have serious concerns about the vaseline.

Sounds kinda kinky.

Jack