Bongo Set Up

[Mogee]

The last guy that had my Bongo has the action pretty high. I adjusted the truss rod and it has helped some, but the bridge seems to be set up at the highest it will go. I think I need to adjust the bridge. <<FEAR>> Anyways, does anyone have the link on here with set up instructions.

 

[adouglas]

I encourage you to use the search tool. This has been covered many many... many... times in great detail.

It's important that you understand three things:

1) Action height is not, as is commonly believed, set by simply adjusting bridge saddle height. It's evident that the previous owner didn't know this and threw the whole thing out of whack. Your trussrod has a lot more to do with action height than most think.

2) This is an iterative process (i.e. you go through the procedure more than once, each time getting closer to the perfect setup, until it's all correct).

3) All the various adjustments interact with one another. Change one thing, and you'll have to adjust another thing. Which is why you have to go through the whole process several times.

(The detailed explanation of all this stuff is out there and you'll find it if you search for it. You will need proper tools...at a minimum, a ruler that can measure in 64ths -- available at any hardware store -- and the appropriate Allen keys for the bridge. Stew-Mac has a nifty measuring gadget also.)

That being said, in brief it goes like this....

- Set relief using the trussrod.
- Check string height and compare to factory spec (see the EBMM FAQ).
- Adjust saddle height to get string height to factory spec (FAQ).
- Re-check relief, adjust if necessary.
- Re-check string height, adjust saddles if necessary.
- Repeat until it's right.

Then...

- Check pickup height and adjust to factory spec (FAQ).

Then...

- Check intonation and adjust bridge if necessary.

Then...

- Go back to the top and check everything one more time. Adjust if necessary, starting at the top and going through the whole process. Keep doing this until it's right.

Once you're done, the only reason you should need to adjust your bridge is if you change string gauges. Any fine-tuning of string height should be done with the trussrod.

Trussrod adjustments should be made whenever the climate throws your setup off. The marvelous EBMM trussrod wheel makes this incredibly easy.

Hope this helps. It ain't rocket surgery and unless you're really, REALLY ham-handed you can't actually break anything. The worst that can happen is that you'll wind up with a worse setup than you've got.

 

[five7]

adouglas deserves an A+

 

[bovinehost]

And rocket surgery IS hard.

 

[rizzo9247]

And rocket surgery IS hard.

As is brain science.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

http://www.ernieball.com/faq/4-MusicMan-Bass-Guitars-FAQ

 

[MrMusashi]

also a tip: dont use cheap material on the items you put into the trussrod wheel.
i think more than one guy in here has broken off that cheap allen wrench or screwdriver and seriously damaged their bass... i did it the other day, but luckily i didnt have to apply too much force so i managed to not scratch up my precious!!!

3mm allenwrench of good hardened steel quality should work fine

MrM

 

[SharonG]

And rocket surgery IS hard.

ROTFL!!


Thanks adouglas - I needed the refresher, too. Nice Summary!

 

[GGK]

also a tip: dont use cheap material on the items you put into the trussrod wheel.
i think more than one guy in here has broken off that cheap allen wrench or screwdriver and seriously damaged their bass... i did it the other day, but luckily i didnt have to apply too much force so i managed to not scratch up my precious!!!

3mm allenwrench of good hardened steel quality should work fine

MrM

I took one of those pocket screwdrivers (approx 0.115" Thick) and sawed off about 1/3 of it (tip+) I then filed the edges so it is rounded and very smooth.
Works perfect.

 

[bkrumme]

This same process applies to the skinny-stringers, too.

They need to look over here more often...

 

[Mogee]

Took me a couple of hours, but I got it bak to factory specs. The A and D strings are just a hair flat on the 12th fret, but I do not know if it is bad enough to mess with or not.

 

[five7]

If you have a good tuner, it is easy to set the intonation as well. If the note is flat at the 12th fret, move the bridge piece for that string towards the neck.

 

[adouglas]

If you have a good tuner, it is easy to set the intonation as well. If the note is flat at the 12th fret, move the bridge piece for that string towards the neck.

Well done on getting it back in shape on your own.

Remember, always, that this is all interactive.

Don't be afraid of it... 57F*nd*rjazz has it right. Since you've gone this far, you might as well learn everything. I'd go for correcting the intonation if it were me.

If you do move the saddles to correct intonation, you should go back to the top and check everything again.

It may well be all okay, but everything you do affects everything else. Never stop until everything works as it should.

The first time through you make big changes. The second time the changes are much smaller. The third time they're really tiny.... and so on.

 

[five7]

adouglas you are so right! Small changes add up! Once you have it, you sure feel good! And you have really bonded with your bass.

 

[Mogee]

Man did it play so much nicer. Such a pretty bass. Is it wrong to love a piece of wood?

 

[strummer]

Is it wrong to love a piece of wood?

Yes.

Welcome to Bongolia, Bongoloid.

 

[nashman]

Man did it play so much nicer. Such a pretty bass. Is it wrong to love a piece of wood?

Not if you are Pinocchio

 

[MrMusashi]

its not wrong if it says ernie ball on the headstock

MrM

 

[kirkm24]

Just an FYI. I got the factory specs off the EBMM website and set my Bongo up based on the factory settings and the bass plays absolutely perfect after putting a fresh set of Slinkys (45-130) on it. I bent one of my machines in the process (not sure what happened) but Dan at EB customer service was very kind and helped me order a replacement.

 

[five7]

There you go!