can a Bongo sound like a Jbass?

[MK Bass Weed]

FTR, I think it's okay to want to get sort of a Jazz-bass-ish sound and I certainly can approximate that general tone, but there are some questions about what that tone really IS.

+1

That's what I mean earlier by "sonic footprint". It's covered. At least for me it is. Especially when the band plays.

But like Jack said, NO one is going to agree what the hell 'that' tone IS.
If all you do is wank in your room, solo, (on your bass), sure, you're gonna hear all kinds of nuance, but Geez Loueez, once the band starts playing, well, alrighty then, your tone just took a walk out the door with the Marshall stack.

And besides, with BP's fingernail under the neck of every Bongo*, all that mojo will conjure up anything you want.

*See other thread

 

[OldSchool Noob]

... If all you do is wank in your room, solo, (on your bass), sure, you're gonna hear all kinds of nuance, but Geez Loueez, once the band starts playing, well, alrighty then, your tone just took a walk out the door with the Marshall stack ...

... or in my case, the Leslie speaker.

Great post.

 

[bovinehost]

In my case, it's Oldtoe's brother Andy.

 

[Oldtoe]

Aye, he's a chip off the old 'nail, he is.

 

[Randracula]

I would have to disagree with you on that one. I don't find that it does. Maybe the pickup spread of the neck and bridge are too wide or the middle and bridge are too far back, but it's not the same sound to my ears.

It will do a pretty good P though.

I agree, the Big Al can nail the Jaco rear pickup Jazz tone but not the both pickups on full Jazz tone. For that, my Sterling HH and Stingray HH both get pretty close.

 

[Colin]

The real question we should be asking is "can the Bongo sound like the Kid from the Partridge family?"

 

[Big Poppa]

Id arm wrestle that guy...Let me answer...I dont know because I've never tried...with any of the stuff...I am not being flippant....The J and P and INCREDIBLE instruments and I just wanted to do something different...

 

[bovinehost]

Id arm wrestle that guy...Let me answer...I dont know because I've never tried...with any of the stuff...I am not being flippant....The J and P and INCREDIBLE instruments and I just wanted to do something different...

I'm not being flippant, either. I played P basses for a long time and J basses for maybe even longer.

But - once I really figured out what I wanted and once I knew how to get it, it was never even close. I strung a Stingray with flats and it was game over.

And then came the Bongo. You think it got my attention?

Jackie

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I see the EBMM line as having their own distinct sound (which they do). I think some people want ultimate versatility, which really can't be covered by any one bass. Some are more versatile than others, but one bass isn't going to do every sound available.

That's why having multiple basses is so much fun, and good for the economy!

I think just about any good sounding bass in the right hands can fit into most musical situations. I agree, a bass soloed really doesn't sound the same as in the mix. All the minute differences we hear don't make as much difference when the band starts.

 

[stu42]

When I'm thinking of these types of comparisons I'm thinking of how each bass sounds *when I'm playing it* - not how one of them sounded on some famous recording. The J-bass has been used for a loooong time in many different contexts by as many different players and a lot of different sounds have resulted.

Let's face it though...a lot of that resulting sound has more to do with the recording process than the actual sound that would have been heard in the room.

So...to the O.P.'s question, I think the only legitimate comparison is to compare two basses with the same player, playing with the same technique, in the same room with the same amp - and using the settings he was asking about which is a J-bass with both pickups up full. Any other comparison is beside the point.

Whether you think this is a useful exercise or not is up to you but I think it's a legitimate question if for no other reason than just for satisfying curiosity and possibly putting it to good use.

Another thing IME...at my gig we're using in-ear-monitors and I can tell you that the sound of my Sterling is very different than the sound of my Bongo. Yes...some of the details are lost when the band starts up and the sound guy starts messing with things but there is, nevertheless, an appreciable difference in tone as far as I'm experiencing it and that contributes to my own enjoyment of the music. Also, other band members and the sound guy notice this a lot and comment on the difference. Whether anyone in the audience hears it or not is another matter.

If this wasn't the case then why would any of us bother to try different basses? And why would the good people at EBMM bother to design all of these different model? We'd all probably just buy one that feels and looks good for a cheap price and be done with it. But....clearly that is not the case.

FWIW...I think the Bongo does a hell of a great job copping the Geddy Lee tone, though - even without the overdrive/signal boosting equipment Geddy uses. It requires some particular right-hand technique but it's pretty amazing IME!!

My two cents.

 

[TheAntMan]

Let's face it though...a lot of that resulting sound has more to do with the recording process than the actual sound that would have been heard in the room.
...

So...to the O.P.'s question, I think the only legitimate comparison is to compare two basses with the same player, playing with the same technique, in the same room with the same amp - and using the settings he was asking about which is a J-bass with both pickups up full. Any other comparison is beside the point.

...

If this wasn't the case then why would any of us bother to try different basses? And why would the good people at EBMM bother to design all of these different model? We'd all probably just buy one that feels and looks good for a cheap price and be done with it. But....clearly that is not the case.

+1

--Ant

 

[cellkirk74]

The right question would rather be:
"Why would I need a JB tone at all when I have a Big Al with neck and bridge in active mode?"

Yes, right, I would not...

 

[tkarter]

Time for it. The tone is in your hands.

tk

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Okay, I know the original question was if it was possible to get a Jazz tone out of a Bongo, but I was just playing my Big Al and Jazz back to back. I would say the "Jazziest" approximation from the Big Al is the two rear pickups, either passive or active with some mid roll-off. It's not the same sound but in the general ballpark.

 

[drTStingray]

Okay, I know the original question was if it was possible to get a Jazz tone out of a Bongo, but I was just playing my Big Al and Jazz back to back. I would say the "Jazziest" approximation from the Big Al is the two rear pickups, either passive or active with some mid roll-off. It's not the same sound but in the general ballpark.

+1 also - but with the SR4HH on position 2 (outer coils) - presumably as with the BigAl because the operating pu positions are in the same sort of area as the Jazz, even if the build and EQs etc are totally different.

I don't wish to diss the Bongo in any way at all but I'm thinking the lack of coil switching, having pick up pan instead, will tend to prevent an 'outer coil' sound, which is a fundamental of the Jazz and it's copies/clones etc? Just a thought.

 

[Big Poppa]

I believe that the original question is a good one...

 

[cellkirk74]

I believe that the original question is a good one...

Why?

The closest I can get on my Bongo HH is by cutting the low mids, boosting highs and high mids a bit, bass flat with a little pan to the bridge.

 

[shakinbacon]

IME....No, it can't. Considering that even hum-cancelling Jazz pickups don't give what some consider to be a true J-bass sound, I really don't think you could get there with any humbucker-equipped EBMM bass. The closest I've been able to get to a modern Jazz sound on my HS is to set the pickup blend in the middle or maybe blended slightly towards the bridge p/u, cut a little bit of low mids and boost a little bit of high mids and treble.

This setting works a lot better at copping a Jazz tone on my HS than any setting I ever used on my old HH, but it won't really fool anyone with a discerning ear. Of course, there are very few of those in a typical listening audience anyways. But, only you will be able to decide if "close enough" is close enough for you. In the end, they are different tools for different sounds. I'll bet you can get a lot closer to making your Bongo sound like a Jazz than you could ever get to making a Jazz sound like a Bongo, that's for sure. I left Bongolia once because I "needed" a Jazz bass tone. 3 years and a half dozen basses later, I came back. No single bass will nail ALL the classic tones, but the Bongo comes a lot closer than any other bass I've ever had.

However, pickup blend centered and all EQ set flat gives me one of the most satisfying tones I've ever had. Seems odd to have all that control and flexibility at your fingertips and not to use it, but it just works better that way IMO. It's the Bongo tone...classic, yet modern...warm, yet aggressive. I'm done chasing tone dragons and trying to get 1 bass to sound like 3-4 different basses. I wish you luck, but I think you'll do better to concentrate on just playing the darn thing .

First i want to thank everyone for the helpful posts. This one in particular has been very helpful along with a few others.

to be honest, the Bongo gets the closest to the tone in my head of any bass i have had the pleasure to play. i will do my best to temper my knob tweaking (the bass has so much control i feel a need to tweak knobs - a problem i suffer from)

i had a chance to try a j bass with both pups dimmed recentlz and i was impressed with the clarity of notes. it lacked the thickness of the Bongo, but it is this clarity that i was chasing

again, i want to emphasize how much i appreciate the responses - youve given me things to ponder whilst im vacationing in Europe (do not hate me - i am going through withdrawal without my bass he he he)

 

[TheAntMan]

I believe that the original question is a good one...

Fair enough.

ShakinB - I don't think any instrument can sound exactly like another one. Some can come close to others, depending on the options available on them (pickups/EQ/Strings/woods/etc...). As a former J-bass player and now only using my Bongo and 25th, I would say that the Bongo (I only have the HH model) can not sound exactly like a J-bass but can do steroid enhanced J-bass "cousin" type tones. Not to mention that there are all types of J-bass configurations. Do I miss having that "Jazz Bass Tone", nope, got wider range of solid tones from my Bongo and 25th and that to me is better. But, if you want to get a Bongo to do the "Jazz Bass thing" then keep trying and maybe consider amp emulators and effects to shape your tone.

As a test, maybe have another player try different settings on the Bongo while you are blindfolded and have them switch between them to see if you can tell which is which. It is sometimes easier to focus on hearing when not the one playing. Good luck on your quest

Hmmm, BP, as someone who was around Leo Fender and familiar with his bass designs, and you designed the Bongo, what would be your answer to his question?

Also, now that I'm thinking more about this, have any of the EBMM basses been specifically targeted to go head to head towards getting a J-bass tone? Hmmm, now my interest is piqued

--Ant

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The Bongo does sound huge. I ended up trading my HH (for a SR5) just because of the weight. It was a really nice bass and I know what all the gushing is all about.

I've only tried an SR4 HH plugged in once and I was thoroughly impressed. All great and usable sounds.