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RGFLyer

Active member
Joined
Feb 29, 2008
Messages
39
I have been lurking around here for a while, I broke down last night and bought a 4H Bongo Bass finished in Desert Gold. I am really looking forward to getting it (should be here Monday).

I am curious as to y'alls opinion on the Bongo Bass? I have read the Harmony Central reviews, but I have found them to be pretty useless. Hope to hear from the experienced players out there...
 

dkassenbrock

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
124
Location
Phoenix, AZ
As fellow forumite Koogs would say, "welcome to the addiction". Balls are like potato chips...nobody can have just one!:eek: Good luck and welcome to the family -Capt. Don
 

Old_Guy

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Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
211
Location
Fredericksburg, VA (DC)
I am curious as to y'alls opinion on the Bongo Bass? I have read the Harmony Central reviews, but I have found them to be pretty useless. Hope to hear from the experienced players out there...
Completely totally underrated. Apparently the styling puts some people off? I can't believe how well balanced, how slick the action is, the overall build quality. I have two balls and a few 'other brand' instruments, but nothing compares to the Bongo. The guys I play with love the tone. My daughter's *&*^% slacker boyfriend loves it (he plays bass with other slackers at local slacker venues). The only complaint ANYONE can come up with is the pointy headstock gets dinged - eg, a non-complaint. I have mine strung with EB flatwounds - apparently a popular aftermarket move.
 
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INMT

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
735
Location
Montana
They play very well,
comfortable neck and profile (fretboard radius),
comfortable body
wide range of tones (due to the eq)
good balance (instrument).
The look (which is what grabbed me).
 

phatduckk

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
8,145
Location
San Mateo, California, United States
The Bongo is a pretty awesome bass. Ya, you can get whatever tone you want... that's for sure, but even more exciting is how comfortable the bass feels. it feels great, plays great and sounds great.

youll b happy :)
 

RobertB

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
1,657
Location
Denver area.
Congrats, you'll love it. As for details:

  • Sounds like you'll get the best perspective possible very soon - hands on
  • This forum abounds with very detailed personal Bongo accounts, testimonies, opinions, etc... try the search function, or just scroll through a few of the most recent pages - it's a frequent topic, and you'll soon find out why.
Enjoy!
 
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RGFLyer

Active member
Joined
Feb 29, 2008
Messages
39
I hate UPS, now my bass has been rescheduled for delivery tomorrow...this POS Fender I am playing is killing me....it sounds so nasaly...as if someone where holding JD Sumners's nose while he was trying to sing!
 

tkarter

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 22, 2004
Messages
5,921
Location
Kansas
The bongo will for sure fix that. They own any stage when you don't dime the volume knob and keep on start with the other controls flat. Then you may boost one or the other a bit to get your sound.

Enjoy your bongo.

tk
 

Old_Guy

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
211
Location
Fredericksburg, VA (DC)
...when you don't dime the volume knob and keep on start with the other controls flat.

Another good safety tip. Put all the controls flat (there's detents in the pup and tone knobs), flatten your amp's eq as well, and THEN start looking for the sound you want. I do generally keep the volume at about 75% or more though, and use the amp's volume control. Some folks (not saying you're one of them!) who are used to passive instruments, which have 'bleed' controls, don't get it that you can't dime everything out on an active. Check out the Mr. Sterling Ball (alias BP) videos - either in here or on GC's website for a quick demo of what the onboard EQ can do.
 

RGFLyer

Active member
Joined
Feb 29, 2008
Messages
39
Thanks guys, this is not my first active bass. I have had a few Pedullas, active P-Basses, a couple of Warwicks and a host of others over the years. I have always wanted a EBMM but just never found the "one" for me.

I will take all of the excellent advice and put it to good use if UPS ever shows up! The anticipation is killing me!
 

bovinehost

Administrator
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
18,200
Location
Dall-Ass, TX
bongocompositeapril2007b.jpg


I like Bongos.
 

RGFLyer

Active member
Joined
Feb 29, 2008
Messages
39
The Buzzard has bounced (Franky used the tag line I wanted to use)....

Anyway, the Bongo is here and man right out of the box it was still in tune! It has flatwounds on it which I am still not to sure of but only time will tell. It is a killer bass sounds great, plays great and then some...everything I never knew I wanted in a bass.
 

tkarter

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 22, 2004
Messages
5,921
Location
Kansas
The Buzzard has bounced (Franky used the tag line I wanted to use)....

Anyway, the Bongo is here and man right out of the box it was still in tune! It has flatwounds on it which I am still not to sure of but only time will tell. It is a killer bass sounds great, plays great and then some...everything I never knew I wanted in a bass.

Once you play that with the band you are so hooked. :)

Glad you finally got it.

tk
 
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