I found this bongo at guitarcenter..

[Frankie5Angels]

Frankie, that's because your avitar reminds me of the "godfather"!!

We interrupt this thread for an off topic post.

It is from the Godfather. Frank Pentangeli, aka Frankie "Five Angels". Pent Angeli means Five Angels in Italian.

And now we return to our previously scheduled thread already in progress.

 

[high mileage]

They're not ugly?

They are ugly? The looks were the reason I first wanted to check one out. Call me wierd (you won't be the first)...

 

[martin shane]

yeah spenser buy the fender for over 2 grand some of it is made in america...


JUST KIDDING! (i dont know if any of it....nevermind!)

haha thats hilarious BP

 

[spencer]

Well I got the bass..

The asking price was 1,199$

After playing the bass I found many things wrong with it.

Volume knob and pickup fader, are like bent or soemthing, when turned you can tell there not centered... The treble and bass eq knobs didn't turn independently, they turned together unless useing to hands to hold one in place..
The bottof of the bass had about 3 or 4 nicks and a few dents and scratches.
Top 1 dent and a few scratches..
Head stock has a chip of paint at the end..

I paid 986+ tax, they gave me a brand new case and I got them to throw in a pack of new strings... Main reason I got it was to see if I like 5 strings.. It sounded good, better than the SR5 that I played there... I probably won't be keeping it, but I like that I can use this 5 string to see if I need the 5th string..

Anyways I think looks good in its own ulgy way. Like the bass and like the sound...

 

[MrMusashi]

the bass/treble knob is an easy fix.. just loosen the lil locking screw on the top knob and lift it off. check if the bottom knob is loose.. if it is move the knob till the position you want it in (usually as low as it goes without scratching the surface) and fasten the locking screw again. then put on the top knob, adjust the distance between em so they turn independently and then fasten the screw again. works wonders.. i see this on stacked knobs all the time.. mostly from people who dont take care of their basses. maybe their ignorant, i think they just need information on how to do it themselves

hth

MrM

 

[tkarter]

Frankie, that's because your avitar reminds me of the "godfather"!!



Tk, does that mean if they called your Bongo beautiful, they would get it for half price???? Nothin' personal, I'm just doin' the math!!

LOL if you really liked my bongo. It would be priceless.

tk

 

[timmy5strings]

Not that I'm trying to influence you or anything , but beauty is in the eye of the beerholder

Thats what I thought he said

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I just can't get over the look of the Bongo. My basses have to look good, sound good and play well. And, you can't get better looking than a SR5 anyway!

 

[spencer]

OK I played the bass at church tonight..

I hate to say this but...

I really like the Bstring..

It sounds very good.

Not so good by its self but in a band situation I loved it. Well I could, but it would just feel like something is missing.. I feel way more comfortable with a 4 string thought, I always hated the idea of a 5 string..

I'd prefer to use a 4 string playing alone, and would prefer to be in a band that would only require 4 strings, but for this band [the only one I play in] a 5 string sounds so good!!!

Im not comfortable with a 5 string.. and I only used the B string for the lower 4 notes...

Looks like I will be getting a 5 string to keep.. Not sure if Im keeping the bongo. But it sounded good..

 

[tkarter]

Spencer pick up your bongo 5 hold it in your arms and say I am sorry I called you ugly.

As soon as it gets over being mad at you it will play its heart out for you and you will have found love.

Never play an open E again.

tk

 

[JeffreyB]

Is it just me...?
I'm confused....do you like it....or not???
Is it the desert gold finish bongo? what is the pickup configuration?
actually, we don't even believe you got it.....no pics, no bass!

 

[bovinehost]

I hate to say this but...I really like the Bstring...It sounds very good.

Many of us are wondering why you hated to say that.

I feel way more comfortable with a 4 string thought, I always hated the idea of a 5 string..

Of course you feel more comfy with a four string. You just got the fiver! Give it some time, give it some time. You'll be amazed how normal it can feel.

.. and I only used the B string for the lower 4 notes...Looks like I will be getting a 5 string to keep.. Not sure if Im keeping the bongo. But it sounded good..

You'll eventually figure out that there's more to that B string than the extra low notes.

Why would you NOT keep the Bongo? You don't want to disappoint Lord Bongo, do you?



Jack

 

[tkarter]

I still think all the bongo needs is a hug.

tk

 

[MMTODD]

Spencer, if GC won't deal - walk. Seriously. There are Bongos that show up here and you can trust the forum members. (Thanks Lucas!)

 

[slucas]

You are welcome Todd. I kind of miss that one but I don't play 5's that much. Glad you are digging it . I'm really intrigued with the Sterling 5 right now.......hint,hint .

 

[spencer]

I just never wanted a 5 string.. Just had something against them, I guess I liked to keep things as simple as possible.. Anyways I really like the bass, I like the color and I think the looks have grown on me..

However im not sure if this was a good deal you guys let me know... This was everything I found wrong with the bass..

Chips and scratches on bottom top and headstock
Volume and Pickup selector seems bent,
Top battery was loose and if touched it would cut out [fixed with tape]
Found that there is something broken off in one of the holes for the truss rod wheel.

Other than that its a great bass, I would just like to know if I could have gotten a better deal for the price I paid....

1075 with tax
New strings
New case..

 

[mynan]

Found that there is something broken off in one of the holes for the truss rod wheel.

It's probably the minijack from someone's iPod headphones...

 

[adouglas]

Just about every Bongo has a chip in the end of the headstock.

Lots of 'em have some chips in the paint. Including mine.

I will not comment on the knobs. See my sig. Bend 'em back straight and forget about it, lest you become the latest abuse target (not that I'd mind passing the mantle, mind you....).

The thing busted off in the trussrod wheel would bother me, but it's not anything that will prevent you from adjusting the rod, right?

So there's nothing significantly wrong with this bass from what you describe.

But if it were me, I'd return it unless you really want to support your local business. You can get a MINT Bongo on ebay for less than a grand, easily. Check the "completed items" listings. The only Bongos that routinely go for more than $1000 at the moment are those with piezos (an option that costs hundreds of bucks new) and LEs.

 

[spencer]

Well, it looks like its going back,

Since it wasn't a good deal.
And as much as I love the Bstring the bass just doesn't have the sound im looking for [more like a sterling] a actually do really love the looks now, and wish I could keep it, I think it it has alot to do with he HH, I think I would prefer a Bongo 5 with a single H,

Im looking more for that aggressive stingray/sterling sound and the bongo has its own distictive tone.

I also find that both of the Humbuckers are too muddy and that one alone isn't bassy enough due to its position closer to the bridge.. I did learn alot from this bass, I like 5 strings, I like the looks of the bogo and I think I would like the sound of a single H bongo, I might also need to try out another SR5

 

[tkarter]

The single H bongo speaks to a lot of us.

tk