Question fretless Bongo setup / Piezo settings

[cellkirk74]

I am just starting to get into the fretless Bong 4 Hp and was wondering about how I have to set it up for an open, singing, mid-pronounced sound with clear highs.

Can you please make some recommendations on string height, neck relief and strings? I am not into flatwounds on that.

I also read something in an older thread about being able to do settings to the piezo preamp (like output/ string balance) somewhere in the bass? Who has some experience with that? How does that work?

Looking forward for your hints.

 

[Manfloozy]

Use low action with a fairly straight board, this will help the mwah factor.

Keep the rounds if you like IMHO they work better with the Piezo.

In the added Piezo control cavity there are little (fragile) control pots for master volume and individual saddle volume. If these aren't way off I highly highly recommend leaving them alone. Also on a fiver, the one by itself is likely the B string volume not the master volume. They are in order I just don't remember which direction.

There are more technical people who can give better details, but hopefully this helps.

 

[cellkirk74]

Thanks Matt!

From your experience with the 25th, how did you get more mids and highs from the EQ?
Maybe I should try steel rounds?

I already have the action low, but the E and A string still sound more like a fretted bass.

 

[MadMatt]

Thanks Matt!
I already have the action low, but the E and A string still sound more like a fretted bass.

Here's the other Matt

My non-Piezo de-fretted Frankenbass, it is the same. The "muhaawww" only really comes though on the D & G strings. I think that is just the nature of the beast but Matt "Mr Frettless" Manfloozy will be the ultimate expert on this.

-Matt

 

[smallequestrian]

When I had that bass, I had it strung with Thomastik Jazz Rounds, which are by far my favorite fretless strings. Being that Thomasktik is German (or maybe Austrian) they are hopefully cheaper for you than they are for people in the US.

 

[Manfloozy]

Try favoring the rear piezo 60/40. Cut the lows maybe 20% leave the low mods center, boost the high mids about 20% and leave the highs at center (or adjust to taste).

For a real mid-present tone, consider a lighter gauge flatwounds string (but they will kill the high end).

Honestly you can probably get the tone you're after with slinkys. Just think about removing the lows and low mids as opposed to adding highs.... When you start pulling those lower frequencies out new frequencies will fill in and take their place.

 

[cellkirk74]

Thanks Manfloozy, I will try that.

The Thomastiks are expensive here too, but maybe some time.