Bongo set-up

[boyet]

Can somebody please give me some tips or advice on how to set-up a Bongo properly. I tried doing some adjustments myself tweaking the truss rod; adjusting the saddles for the intonation and adjusting the action but I can't seem to get the proper settings. Now everything's screwed-up with all the buzzes from different parts of the fingerboard I tried consulting some "luthier" and he told me I'm not suppose to do those adjustments myself and that all the fret buzzes are caused by uneven fretwork that needs some leveling...can somebody please help me on this...thanks!

 

[Hutton]

I would question your luthier's judgement on this one. Uneven fretwork just doesn't happen on EBMM basses. Try the search facility on the forum for set up advice. You can also go to the FAQ section of the EB website for setup instructions. If that doesn't sort it contact customer service, they are second to none.

 

[LowDownDave]

I'm not a Bongo owner (yet) but I believe I can (relatively) safely say that your luthier's comments may not accurate. Not sure if you bought your Bongo new, but if so it is unlikely it left the factory with any fret level problems.

You should be able to find some good set-up directions by searching this forum, and the internet in general which should help. At least with my Stingray, I've been able to sort out fret buzz in various locations simply by CAREFUL adjustments of the truss rod, bridge saddles and pickup height. I believe a basic set-up guide is located in the FAQ section of this site, but I found the intonation adjustment directions were backwards, so not sure if this has been corrected yet or not.

Setting up your own bass is a useful skill to learn, as only you can know how you want your bass to feel (and sound) in your hands, but as mentioned earlier, be careful when adjusting the trussrod. I typically turn the wheel "1 hole" adjustment at a time, and allow the neck to "settle" to its new position (by leaving for a short while) before making other adjustments.

Search this forum thoroughly and you should find all the information you need to sort out your bass. I used to be completely in the dark about these things, but now have no problems setting up my bass. I have this forum to thank for obtaining that skill.

Good luck

 

[maddog]

The way I do it:

1. Fret E string at 1 and 12th. Tighten trussrod until no space between 6th fret and E string.
2. raise/lower saddles until there is no buzzing at 5th-12th frets.
3. loosen trussrod until there is no buzzing from 1st-5th frets. (move the capstan wheel slowly and sparingly.)

This isn't set in granite. I'll bastardize it as needed. Hopefully this is a nice little framework that will get you where you need to be.

 

[oldbluebassman]

I can sympathise with you boyet.

I had a similar problem when I bought my new Bongo 5 in 2004. Probably due due to temperature/humidity changes coming from the USA to the UK, and general settling in, it became unplayable and try as I might I could not get it right. In the end I took it to a local Luthier, who was been recommended by friends for whom he had undertaken work.

He started completely from scratch, levelling the uneven frets, checking everything and finally adjusting it to my playing style. When I got it back it was a different instrument and has performed superbly since then. Incidently it hasn't needed any tweaking either which is a testimony to the quality of the basic instrument design and the materials used.

Now I am not averse to doing my own basic set-ups and adjustments however I quickly recognised that what needed doing was outside the realms of my capabilities. Had I attempted to go any further I'm sure that I would have just wrecked the bass. I'm a great believer in using a qualified and trusted specialist when required.

 

[boyet]

Thanks for the tips guys! Right now I'm allowing the neck to setlle for a night and maybe tomorrow I'll check if there are some improvements. This is the first time I did some adjustments from my purchase of this Bongo last January. I think it's all about the change of weather...it's winter when I got the bass and now it's around a 100 degrees in the shade! If all hopes gone and nothing improves, I'll seek the help of the pro!

 

[mike not fat]

Hello Boyet,

as a bongo owner, I highly recommand you, if you still have the stock stings or light gauge ones, to change them for heavier gauge ones.

At the beginning, i also had some probs to find the good settings avoiding buzz but allowing low action.
Changing for 50-105 (regular slinkys) or 55-110 (power slinkys, that's what i use) really improves the ability to bring the neck to the perfect relief, following the instructions on the EBMM FAQ's and the advices given by other foumites.

Of course, a pro set-up is a good thing, but the use of the capstan wheel is really easy if you are carefull.

MNF

 

[boyet]

Hi mike!
Actually I'm still using the stock strings I don't know if my fingers will get used to a higer tension set.

I made some more adjustments this morning cause when I checked on the neck relief and the action, they still seem quite not the way I want it to be. The fret buzzing is still there and some intonation problems still exist.

Is it necessary for me to use some filler gauge for the measurements? If so what do you guys recommend? Or should I just rely on how it feels when I play it? Man I've been doing this for a couple of days now! It's more complicated than I thought it would be. If all else fails by tomorrow I'll probably bring it over to someone who knows how to fix the problem...

 

[bovinehost]

as a bongo owner, I highly recommand you, if you still have the stock stings or light gauge ones, to change them for heavier gauge ones.

Hey MNF,

I've had a Bongo or two and I can tell you that this is true with some basses and not true for others. Wood is what it is, and it can vary from instrument to instrument.

Just my observation.

 

[mike not fat]

Hey MNF,

I've had a Bongo or two and I can tell you that this is true with some basses and not true for others. Wood is what it is, and it can vary from instrument to instrument.

Of course, it's only my expirience with the only Bongo I have.

I think it's worse trying it for Boyet, because if it works it's really a great improvement.

MNF

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

boyet. What the luthier told you, IMO (and with due respect) is a lot of B.S.

They're adjustments you can do yourself and I doubt if your Bass (at this point in time) has uneven frets.

I approach setup as maddog does.

You're welcome to my notes. They're composed from speaking to different luthiers, reading articles and from my own personal experiences.

My Email

 

[boyet]

Hi Rod, whew! I was about to schedule when I can drop-by on this so called luthier's shop to have my Bongo's set-up but when I saw your post I changed my mind. I'm still having some problems and can't seem to figure-out the right string height for my bass. I checked the EB FAQ and followed the setting-up procedure suggested there but still can't get the fret buzzes off my bass...I really don't know what to do now...

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Perhaps it may be a good idea to get a luthier to set it up for you and ask if you can be there when he does it. That will give you an idea of how to go about it.

What is your email address?

 

[boyet]

Perhaps it may be a good idea to get a luthier to set it up for you and ask if you can be there when he does it. That will give you an idea of how to go about it.

What is your email address?

I've consulted another luthier and I'll be dropping by his shop tonight to have my Bongo checked. I'll stay put definitely.

My e-mail: [email protected]

Thanks!

 

[prickly_pete]

My advice: Don't start turning stuff without a purpose. Once you get the bridge set (action and intonation), and the pickup hight set, the ONLY adjustment you should have to make periodically is a seasonal truss rod TWEAK. Don't just start turning nuts and bolts without a specific purpose!

 

[boyet]

The things I did does have a purpose and that is because of the fret buzzing probably caused by the sudden change of climate from winter (I bought the bass in Tokyo last December/January) and brought it home to a tropical climate with a temperature range of around 34 degrees C at noon. It is quite understandable that woods react differently especially at sudden changes in temperature and humidity. This is probably why after a couple of months some fret buzzing started to show up hence the adjustments.

 

[tadawson]

I think what others are trying to say, is that the only adjustment that should change with seasonal or climate changes is the trussrod. You should never have to touch the bridge to compensate for humidity/climate, if it was correct to start with . . . .

Myself, I always set relief first, which for me it to fret 1st and last fret on the B or E, and then set for about one business card thickness at the 12th. Then set the saddles as low as you want before you get a buzz. Not terribly scientific, but it has worked great on all four basses I own . . . . .

I guess the key for me was to recognize that the truss rod is not for setting string height - it is for setting releif. Height is set on the bridge saddles.

- Tim

 

[boyet]

Perhaps it may be a good idea to get a luthier to set it up for you and ask if you can be there when he does it. That will give you an idea of how to go about it.

What is your email address?

I recieved your e-mail. Thanks man!