Hearing, & GoingBongo

[Rayan]

This is a sort of survey
- I'm curious to know, especially from Bongo players

Part A)
Who of you can hear what ? Who wears ear protection?
Who has suffered hearing loss from overexposure in excessive loud band / gig environments ?
===

I'm slowly becoming convinced by posts here that Bongo is the way to go for gigs (ie. quality blues club, arenas, courtyards etc) where 'the sky's the limit', and 'phat is where it's at'

Part B)
Is a Bongo useful in quieter, intimate clubs and private gigs (duo, trio) where the singer (bossgal, unplugged) is the main event, and she likes 'smokey, uprightish tones'
===

It seems mainstream BongoKats are completely hooked on 'double hummers' for the ultimate powertrip

But indications are my best Bongo choice may be an HP, or possibly an HSP, or maybe I don't even need a Bongo (except for satisfying pure lust)
- my traveling rig is an SR5 Fretless/Piezo : SWR Workingman12, and sometimes a single 15 ext cab

/R

ps. - if BP is lookin' in, his input could be the deciding factor, especially since I think I read somewhere that he thinks the H Bongo is the kittykat's meow

 

[Aussie Mark]

>Part A)
>Who of you can hear what ? Who wears ear protection?
>Who has suffered hearing loss from overexposure in excessive loud band / gig >environments ?

I've still got good hearing after 25 years of playing live, plus a number of years standing in front of the main PA stacks watching other bands. I've done a little shooting too, and used to wear hearing protection when using centerfire rifles and shotguns (but not rimfire). I've never worn hearing protection to a gig, either as a player or a spectator. I've left gigs as a spectator with my ears ringing, which is know is a bad thing, but rarely have had ringing ears following a gig when I've been playing. On stage, the PA can be as loud as a jet aircraft, but because I'm standing behind the firing line I only need to worry about my stage volume, which is not quiet, but certainly not in a damaging volume range.

>Part B)
>Is a Bongo useful in quieter, intimate clubs and private gigs (duo, trio) where >the singer (bossgal, unplugged) is the main event, and she likes 'smokey, >uprightish tones'

Any bass can be suited to that type of gig, but moreso a fretless with flatwound strings. You can do that with a Bongo. You could always shove some foam under the bridge ala James Jamerson/Bob Babbitt for a muted upright type of tone if you really wanted.

 

[midopa]

Fortunately, I'm neither in a big band nor play in very loud gigs so part A doesn't apply to me.

As for part B: Sure! All you need to do is lower the volume. To get a close upright sound, I either palm mute or put some foam/tissue paper underneath the strings near the bridge. Roll of the highs, most of the high mids, and bump the low mids and bass to get the sound. Oh yeah, panning towards the bridge pickup on a dual-pickup model would help, too.

 

[Big Poppa]

WHAT? What did you say?

I have hearing loss from playing, I have glasses to read, and hair grows where I dont want it.

You must follow your ears and heart and choose which one is best. They are all very valid and there is no wrong choice. Be careful you could end up like Jack and have all of them and spend three hours and two ciroc martini's before a gig trying to pick one.

 

[SteveB]

Jack must be getting more decisive if it only takes 2 martinis for him to make a choice.

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

I have hearing loss in my left ear, but I don't believe it's from gigs/practice. More likely having a car with no AC in Arizona, driving 30 highway miles one way to work with the window down for 10+ years.

I wear hearing protection every time I play. I got the plugs by Etymotic Research. They seem to work well. Not custom fit to my ears or anything like that.

 

[bovinehost]

I have hearing loss from playing, I have glasses to read, and hair grows where I dont want it.

Amen to that. I've often compared my eyebrows with the explosive period of Dutch expansionism. "We claim this forehead in the name of the eyebrows!" But Sterling still makes a better pirate than do I.

Bongos do the quiet, thoughtful pieces very well indeed. Seems that most of us play more regularly in more raucous combos, so we tend to emphasize what the basses do in those settings, but I have played in a duo with my dual-H Bongo with excellent results.

Having said that, if I were doing primarily that type of music, I might consider a Stingray 5 with the piezo option. I find the Stingray tone to be a bit more organic, and loved the tonal options on my Stingray w/piezos.

Bassmonkee, however, has the piezos on his Bongos, so he might be able to give you a better take on how those work for him.

Either way, you can't really go wrong.

Good luck!
Jack

 

[MingusBASS]

A/ I'm a fairly young guy(24) and my hearing is great right now but I realise that I should take some steps so I'm not deaf in 20 years. I'm actually in the process of getting some custom(musical earplugs molded to the shape of my ear w/ filters for the Db levels)made plugs for gigging.

B/ I happen to play with a group where we play smaller, quieter gigs usually in a jazz setting and my Bongo HH 5 works amazingly well for that setting. Although the Bongos lows can be earthshaking, the highs are syrupy sweet to my ears. There ain't noth'n a Bongo can't do!

Andrew

 

[bassmonkeee]

Bassmonkee, however, has the piezos on his Bongos, so he might be able to give you a better take on how those work for him.

Either way, you can't really go wrong.

Good luck!
Jack

The piezos are where it's at, for sure. While the Bongo's forte is slapping you upside the head, it also likes to cuddle. If'n you're into that sorta thing.

When I am feeling sensitive, and vulnerable, I'll use the fretless with the neck pickup soloed, add some piezos to the mix, drop a little treble, bump a little low mid, and make all the young girls cry.


I used to have some custom molded ear plugs back when I was playing really big places in college. At the time, I was pushing about 280 lbs, too. I lost a lot of weight, and apparently I had fat ear canals because the molded plugs no longer fit.

I use the cheapies now (especially when I go see other bands), but I plan on getting another set of molded plugs in the near future.

I really don't want to end up with hearing like Paul Gilbert (EB String endorsee and all around rock god):

 

[phatduckk]

i like things loud ... all my bands have been really loud

my last band was a punk trio and the death metal band (2 guitars, bass double kick drums etc) in the reherssal space next door told us we were loud

i never use ear plugs. i dont like em. all the ones ive used have just cut out high freq's and made stuff sound crappy. ive been told a million times that "good" ear plugs dont do this but havent bothered lookin into 'em yet .... tho, i know i should

 

[Psycho Ward]

I can’t comment on the Bongo… other than “I WANT ONE!”

Unfortunately I know a lot about hearing loss and tinnitus (the ringing in the ears), I suffer from it. I have six separate tones at all times and hearing loss. I wear hearing aids by day and ear plus at gigs or anywhere there is high volume. This condition led to the end of my sax playing days.

I highly recommend custom fit musician ear plugs; I have to sets, ER-25’s (20db deduction) and a set of ER-15’s for lower volume gigs. The ringing is more damming than the hearing loss and it’s avoidable! I tried all the ear plugs out there and most of them do cut the highs and nothing for the lows. The ER’s are a major improvement over foam or diaphragm plugs and are very close to being flat. I suggest to anyone that is in a loud environment to get fitted. They cost around 150.00 and are worth every penny. I also recommend that all of you have a hearing test just to see where you are.

I get tested every two years and since I started using the ER plugs no further damage has been done.

Don’t wind up like me!

Chuck

 

[AnthonyD]

Great advice Chuck - and worth taking!

 

[tkarter]

Tinnitus here. Wearing ear plugs now no matter what they cut out. I can play okay with them. I wish I had thought to carry ear plugs before the crickets started.

tk

 

[Mobay45]

I've had tinnitus so long I don't remember what it's like not to have it. I just called a friend of mine that's and audiologist and they're checking into the ER-15s for me. I had my hearing tested a few years ago and I do have some loss in the lower end, I just don't remember the specifics of the test.

 

[Joe Nerve]

My ears ring all the time, I pay it no mind. I went waay too many years without wearing earplugs. I wear good ones now at rehearsal, and crappy ones at gigs I'd prefer wearing none at gigs but the rubber ones let enough sound go through that I still get into what I'm doing. Loud music gets me going. Always did, probably always will. Had my ears tested about 8 years ago and was told I had some loss. Started gigging heavily after that and I'm sure I'm in bad shape here. People gotta speak up. Not happy about this but it is what it is.

As for my Bongo... uh, I can't hear it. Actually, I haven't yet used it for quiet music but it seems to sound really sweet on our more dynamic tunes and in the house. Has a lot of smooth round bottom when I cut the highs and lean towards the neck pickup.

Was there another question?

 

[Psycho Ward]

For the members with tinnitus you may find this useful.

I’ve been using Ginkgo Biloba for several years now and it reduces the volume level of the ringing quite a bit. It takes about a month to start working and it has other benefits as well. I’m not into vitamins and herbs but Ginkgo works for me,

Chuck

 

[Mobay45]

Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely give it a whirl.

 

[mike not fat]

about my ears : I use a bit of absorbent cotton in my ears everytime I play. It cuts some high fq (espescially cymbals) but not to much so you dont loose the pleasure. It works well, because I never have ringing ears after training or giging.

about the bongo : just adjust the sound and it will work everywhere for any kid of music. This bass can play anything.

MNF

 

[Psychicpet]

DEFINITELY USE PLUGS !!!! I'm in the proces of replacing my lost custom molded plugs with a 15db cut. They're amazing and a seriously wise investment no matter how loud or quiet a gig is.

as for what p/u config for a Bongo, I've got a dualH 5 and it works great for everything. The soloed neck p/u sounds so much like a P-Bass on 'roids it's great and just the overall flexibility is good. I use a levy's gig bag and SKB Bass Safe for flights and it's been on quite a few already and travels great not to mention the steady stream of "what are you playing?!?!!?" and from the 40+ yr. old ladies saying "that is such a pretty bass" , seriously, I do a lot of conference playing for a few different ministries and the latter comment gets said quite a bit, good job with the Desert Gold finish Big Poppa, the Ladies love it fortunately my faux-hawk and fat ass keep me out of the trouble the Bongo starts

 

[Rayan]

CasingTheBongo

... I use a levy's gig bag and SKB Bass Safe for flights and it's been on quite a few already and travels great ...

Tnx for the input and especially this point about a case,
which I understand from my retailer is not supplied with the Bongo

Re a Case for the Bongo bass,
maybe this has been addressed in other threads which I didn't look too deep for at htis time,

Q1 - does EBMM absolutely Not supply any case for the Bongo?
or is a case an 'option' from EBMM?

Q2 - if no case is available from EBMM, is the Bongo basically shipped from the factory in a cardboard box?

Q3 - does EBMM recommend any particular brand of cases,
and/or are any good quality, protective cases 'cut' for a Bongo?

Depending on replies, I already have a price quote from my retailer
I'm getting closer to placing an order for an HP
hopefully to become Bongo #1 at my house by the end of the summer
(my SR5s say they're lonely and they'd like a baby sister)

/R