Got me a Bongo (finally).

[gafman]

Recently took possession of this beautiful thing. Bongo 5HS in Sapphire Black.

I played it unplugged for about half an hour (something I do with most new instruments) just to get an unbiased 'raw' kinda perception of playability without being distracted by amplified sound. I was extremely impressed with what I held in my hands in this regard.
Then I plugged it in and got busy. My youngest daughter came in and sat down and watched/listened to me play for a few minutes before exclaiming, "you sound really good Daddy". I didn't have the heart to tell her it was not me but the bass .
I spent yesterday afternoon restringing with EB rounds and setting up as per factory specs. Without a doubt this is the best bass I have played in the last 23 years. It actually makes me want to be a better bass player. I am now taking stock of other basses I own and believe their days are numbered.

 

[TNT]

by the way - great pic!!!

 

[Fred_Flux]

Wow. Anyone disliking Bongos should look at that. Such a good looking babe.

 

[stomaraka]

you don't know what you've gotten yourself in...
it's unputdownable

 

[jlepre]

Nice Bongo...congrats and welcome.

 

[Nasty_Hitman]

Without the right fingers even a Bongo could sound crapy.....but such a fine bass helps

Congrats and welcome to the tribe.

 

[Runnerman]

Congratulations! Beautiful specimen.

 

[laneline]

Welcome aboard gafman, congrats on a smokin' Bongo, love to see some more great pics of that beauty.

 

[drTStingray]

Congrats, nice bass.

I see it has EB Group 3 flatwounds - prepare to damage buildings and other nearby structures with that tone and punch monster.

 

[jlepre]

Congrats, nice bass.

I see it has EB Group 3 flatwounds - prepare to damage buildings and other nearby structures with that tone and punch monster.

How can you TELL?

 

[adouglas]

Blue windings

 

[adouglas]

I too like to play unplugged for first impressions. The Bongo impressed me in the same way. It was like holding a living thing.

The Al, as cool as it is, is not like that.

 

[jlepre]

It looks blue on one end, and red on the other? I have Group IV flats, but they are blue on both ends.

 

[drTStingray]

It looks blue on one end, and red on the other?

Oh yes you are right John - I didn't notice the top - my Hercules Poirot skills are waning! Perhaps non EB ones then. However, Bongos can cause structural damage no matter what strings, I believe. I also agree about the acoustic nature of the Bongo - the harmonics are fantastic also.

Enjoy your bass it looks great.

 

[Oldtoe]

Bongos are absolutely the best basses.

 

[Movielife]

See, I have no way of testing one of these. I partly want to order a NOS one I know is with a dealer, at a great price. But, part of me thinks im being greedy as I already have 3 EBMM 5ers at the moment, and 2 (when the other arrives) 4 strings.

One more wouldnt hurt, but Ive spent a bomb this year on gear haha!

 

[Freddels]

I really like my Bongo but my band absolutely loves it.

 

[keko]

Congrats, ...that's a really nice one!

I must get a Bongo, ...soon or a later!

 

[Golem]

Wow. Anyone disliking Bongos should look at that.
Such a good looking babe.

Wellllll .... it's typical of many "glamour" shots of
babes with weird physical features .... notice how
the shadow hides BMW's most notable contribution
from your eyes.

As a Boingo player, I still maintain that they are
amazing, just amazing that something so uggleee
actually sounds so good


`

 

[gafman]

Thanks for the nice comments everyone. The former owner told me that the strings on it were Ken Smith Burners (roundwounds). It now sports EB roundwounds but would like to try EB flats on it after reading some other posts on here.