Bongos Still Rule

[oddjob]

I got this 25th and my Bongos, all of the sudden, became a bit nervous (as I am one to gig all my basses rather that use them as investment pieces). I had a chance last night to get to know my 25th in a live situation. I tinkered, I listened - I tweeked and at the end of the night my Bongos still ruled. Maybe it was me but I just couldn't get the 25th dialed in. I could get the lows but the highs weren't quite where I wanted them. I would get the highs and the lows weren't there. I found myself wanting a pan knob just because I couldn't quite get the balance I needed.

NOW, don't get me wrong, the 25th is EXCELLENT - just not sonicly what I am looking for compared to the Bongos (which seems really strange to me). I am giving it another go tonight at a different venue and hoping I was just missing something, or it was the room, or I was a dumbass - but the Bongos will be there... just waiting

 

[JayDawg]

I played a 25th Anniversary the other day at Guitar Center and was really impressed with it. It was a 4HSS. I also played a Big Al 4SSS. Both were great basses but I was wishing I had one of my Bongo's there to give a 3 way perspective. Both basses definitely surprised me on their capabilities though and how they felt. Both were slightly heavier than I thought they would be but that is not a bad thing. They both had a very solid feel to them. Give it some time of playing with the basses EQ and I'm sure you will find the sound you like ti get dialed in. Maybe not identical to the Bongo but Im sure it will be close and just as good. On the 25th I played, I really wanted to have more playing time on it but the wife hates it when I go to music stores and so she stayed out in the car waiting knowing it would make me feel obligated not to be in the store as long.

 

[tunaman4u2]

they do, as I play my Bongo now... ha ha

 

[bovinehost]

Well - of course. Of course Bongos still rule. They rock more than robots programmed to rock, as my boy Jeremy says.

The 25th/Reflex is a different animal. It doesn't have the super-easy pan control that we Bongoloids are used to, which can frighten and confuse us. "Where is my super-easy pan control?", we cry, stunned and gobsmacked when we cannot find it. We are like that first upright human, standing at the edge of the cave, staring out at the vast grasslands. It can be disconcerting. THERE MIGHT BE A TIGER.

The level of control the 25th gives you is considerable. For a fairly dumb-ass human like me, some might say it's even 'overwhelming'. I wouldn't argue with that. I'm easily confused by blinking lights or buttons or my wife wanting me to make her an appointment, say, at the Apple Store.

But there are so many good combinations in the 25th that I must shout: "Don't give up!" What I did (not that I recommend anyone do what I do, and that means under any given conditions) was find two combinations that approximated what I generally use most of the time. I think of them as "not so angry" and "really effin' angry". And then I can add/subtract little bits according to room/song/brain sizzling. This way I'm not more involved with the knobbage than I am with what I'm playing.

Am I tempted to just grab a Bongo sometimes? Oh sure. Most of the time, really. But I like the sort of non-Bongo-esque things my 25th does and it's like my reward for trying to be less dumb-ass.

I doubt this helps but I'm having coffee and what else am I going to do?

 

[adouglas]

There's a pan control?

 

[oddjob]

Jack, not giving up (and I would consider you lots of things OTHER than a dumb-ass human). I consider myself to be like early man. I have discovered that fire thing and mastered the wheel; however, sliced bread keeps eluding me and I am annoyed at cutting my fingers. I know it will workout in the wash but I have been spoiled by my Bongos (especially the H - point and shoot - doesn't get much better). Life is good now but I figure eventually I will work that bread thing out and all will be right with the world.

ADoug, that pesky pan control isn't used too much on my HH - I have found the sweet spot and don't stray too far from it. In fact the only reason I bring it up is that the 25th doesn't have one. I am sure that if it did, I would set it and forget about it too.

 

[tunaman4u2]

ADoug, that pesky pan control isn't used too much on my HH - I have found the sweet spot and don't stray too far from it.

I made this mistake a month ago... was told around here to experiment at the extremes of the pan & wow, a whole new dimension

 

[midopa]

different tastes for different days
somedays im luvin the tone from my stingray, others for my bongo, or my sub
or i may prefer beatboxing or jamming to hacked 8bit noises

but i like the 'angry' setting idea. lets just have one knob that dials in amounts of angry

 

[Golem]

`


Boingos are friendly. They aren't too
well suited for making angry sounds.
Maybe thaz why they are round and
why they can be found in such brite
colors covering them all over, nose
to tail and back side of neck


`

 

[adouglas]

Golem: you need to turn it up more.

Bongo you describe:

Bongo I know and love:

 

[keko]

Reflex still rule to me, ...but probably 2012./2013. I'm going to order my first Bongo, ...than I could discuss with more details about Bongo!

OK, ...I tried a few Bongos, but it's different when You pick up Your own configuration and use it like a tool!

 

[strummer]

Bongo, what else is there? I mean, really.

 

[tunaman4u2]

Oh they can make angry sounds, pan to the bridge, cut lows, boost low mids & high mids

ANGRY

 

[AnthonyD]

What Strummer said...