In praise of the Bongo!

[Deaj]

I've been struggling to practice regularly these days. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis last year and we're still experimenting with medication to find relief from the symptoms - joint pain. I enjoy the time I do play in spite of the pain. I'm learning to play with a lighter touch and that's helping. Anyway, onto the subject of this post.

I've had some idle time during the last few days and stuck at home so I spent some time playing along with a bunch of favorite albums and songs, learning new songs, and having fun. I had my two 4HH Bongo's on hand (one with roundwounds, one with flats) and an Ampeg B50-R Rocket Bass 1x12 practice combo. With the amps controls set to 12 o'clock and the basses EQs set flat I stared off with some Beatles and ended up playing songs from many artists and genres (selected several entire genres and set the media player to shuffle playback mode). I'm very comfortable with the Bongo's controls and find it very easy to make quick adjustments and dial in just what I'm looking for. As each song began I'd pause to change basses if I wanted to change string type, adjust the pickup blend, and make and EQ adjustments to match up with the tone of the recorded bass track. I spent almost no time at all doing this, just a quick effort to blend with the audio. The results were consistent song after song - tones and textures well matched to the recorded track. Not necessarily important for practice but it did make the time that much more enjoyable. I learned new songs, a few new techniques, had a blast, and was reminded yet again that there is nothing the Bongo can't cover. Volume / punch is consistent and balanced string to string, string tension is perfect, very dynamic / responds well to a wide variation in playing technique, near limitless sonic flexibility, and exceptionally comfortable to play - very important to me at this time given my current health condition.

The Bongo records wonderfully especially when plugged straight into the board - simple and easy to get great sounding tracks. It's also the best bass I've ever gigged - cuts through nicely, speaks with authority, and there's so much control on board. The controls seem very intuitive to me - on the fly adjustments are easy to make, no endless tweaking, no fumbling.

Thanks EB/MM for the perfect electric bass! My Bongo's are the only stringed instruments I own that remain completely stock (well, except for the addition of straplocks - no mods affecting tone or playability) and I can state with confidence that they'll remain stock. There's no room for improvement IMO. Thanks again!!

Bongo's are te only basses that I'll play anymore. All others have been sold and I don't miss any of them. Now if could just find a way to convince my lovely wife that I NEED a few more Bongo's: a 5HH, a 4H, a 4HS, and a fretless 4HH.

 

[Big Poppa]

Thank you very much...I am very proud of the Bongo...sad that it is not more accepted.

 

[strummer]

great read, and while I can't claim to be able to do what you do for practice, I totally agree anyway!


Sorry to hear about your health problems, but a possible upside would be to have your wife feel real sorry for you being in such a bad way, and maybe you can get a fiver to cheer you up? Do we ever get too old for that kind of stunts?

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Thank you very much...I am very proud of the Bongo...sad that it is not more accepted.

Awww poor BP, but we love your Bongo's, c'mon guys group hug!!

Young Stirling needs cheering up.

~~~~~~~~

Deaj, we have a family member with that condition, although medicine perse has not yet established a cause nor a definite cure there have been tests showing that aside the intake of anti inflamatory drugs, one of the best way of relief for the common stiffness created by this condition is infact excercise, I don't know where or how you are effected but if it's your fingers it is advisable that you keep on playing those Bongo as much as you can.

I am sure you know of this already but in any case you can read up on it here:

What is the treatment Psoriatic Arthritis?

There are many effective treatments - psoriatic arthritis treatments for psoriatic arthritis.

• Always rest severely inflamed joints.
• Exercise (under medical supervision) affected joints and muscles which have stiffened helps prevent loss of movement.
• Proper medical advice is vital about medications that can control inflammation and joint damage.
• Joint injections of some types of steroid can be very effective, although these do not work equally well in all individuals. They are safe when used in moderation and with precision.
• Diet: no particular diet has shown to be uniformly effective, cutting down on saturated fats helps some people and may reduce the doses needed of other treatments.
• Dietary supplements such as evening primrose oil and certain fish oils are of variable effect too but are safe and have other health benefits.
• Ultraviolet light helps psoriasis in some cases, otherwise climatic conditions such as the weather have a minor role to play, those whose skin and joints wax and wane together are hence better in summer than winter.
• Remember many so-called 'Cures' for arthritis are not proven by clinical trials to be of use and may be driven by profit to those advocating them.

Good luck son.

 

[oddjob]

Bongo's are te only basses that I'll play anymore. All others have been sold and I don't miss any of them. Now if could just find a way to convince my lovely wife that I NEED a few more Bongo's: a 5HH, a 4H, a 4HS, and a fretless 4HH.

With the fretless, might I recommend the 4HHp (or even a HSp) - yes on fretless the p make all the difference

 

[Eggman]

With the fretless, might I recommend the 4HHp (or even a HSp) - yes on fretless the p make all the difference

My Bongo fretless is an HSP and it is great. Bongo is the only bass in the Eggman casa (except my 63 Jazz - that only sees the light of day when I check to make sure it's still in its case!)

Great thread and your post echos many of our thoughts about this wonderful product.

 

[Deaj]

Thank you very much...I am very proud of the Bongo...sad that it is not more accepted.

The Bongo is definitely something to be proud of!

 

[Deaj]

With the fretless, might I recommend the 4HHp (or even a HSp) - yes on fretless the p make all the difference

I'll definitely keep this in mind. Are the 4-band pre and the peizo both available on the same instrument?

 

[Deaj]

Thanks for passing this along - very much appreciated!

Awww poor BP, but we love your Bongo's, c'mon guys group hug!!

Young Stirling needs cheering up.

~~~~~~~~

Deaj, we have a family member with that condition, although medicine perse has not yet established a cause nor a definite cure there have been tests showing that aside the intake of anti inflamatory drugs, one of the best way of relief for the common stiffness created by this condition is infact excercise, I don't know where or how you are effected but if it's your fingers it is advisable that you keep on playing those Bongo as much as you can.

I am sure you know of this already but in any case you can read up on it here:

What is the treatment Psoriatic Arthritis?

There are many effective treatments - psoriatic arthritis treatments for psoriatic arthritis.

• Always rest severely inflamed joints.
• Exercise (under medical supervision) affected joints and muscles which have stiffened helps prevent loss of movement.
• Proper medical advice is vital about medications that can control inflammation and joint damage.
• Joint injections of some types of steroid can be very effective, although these do not work equally well in all individuals. They are safe when used in moderation and with precision.
• Diet: no particular diet has shown to be uniformly effective, cutting down on saturated fats helps some people and may reduce the doses needed of other treatments.
• Dietary supplements such as evening primrose oil and certain fish oils are of variable effect too but are safe and have other health benefits.
• Ultraviolet light helps psoriasis in some cases, otherwise climatic conditions such as the weather have a minor role to play, those whose skin and joints wax and wane together are hence better in summer than winter.
• Remember many so-called 'Cures' for arthritis are not proven by clinical trials to be of use and may be driven by profit to those advocating them.

Good luck son.

 

[Deaj]

great read, and while I can't claim to be able to do what you do for practice, I totally agree anyway!


Sorry to hear about your health problems, but a possible upside would be to have your wife feel real sorry for you being in such a bad way, and maybe you can get a fiver to cheer you up? Do we ever get too old for that kind of stunts?

Never too old, no. ...and that's a great idea! Maybe I can work in something about the larger neck profile being more comfortable to play with my current condition. Hmmmmm.....

 

[TheAntMan]

Thank you very much...I am very proud of the Bongo...sad that it is not more accepted.

I find this so astonishing.

It can not be the EQ since I have seen other basses with much more complicated knobs/switches and levers.

It can not be the appearance since I have seen some really fugly looking basses out there.

The Bongo is sleek and futuristic looking and once you plug it in and play it, it sells itself. That was how I ended up buying 2 of them.

I have seen more and more of them popping up in bands. I think it will be just a matter of time before there is a birth of interest in them.

All that being said. I also thank BP and the team for creating a bass I love as much as my Stingray

I am just waiting to try out a BIG AL and the 25th Anniversary basses. One of them will be joining the Ant Team

-- Ant

 

[Eggman]

Are the 4-band pre and the peizo both available on the same instrument?

Yep

 

[Deaj]

Yep

Somehow I was under the impression it was one or the other - glad that's not the case. Thanks!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am very proud of the Bongo...sad that it is not more accepted.

How is the Bongo generally doing in terms of sales (if we are allowed to know)? Is it not widely accepted by the retailers or general market?

It's been a couple of years since I have seen a Bongo at one of my local retailers...

 

[Big Poppa]

there are a few great stores that support it but it is largely a special order and is steady but not great in the sales department

 

[Psycho Ward]

Well, its in a class of its own BP, an excellent instrument that goes one step further. I'm proud to own mine. Thank you very much!

 

[laneline]

Deaj, I'm in a similar situation except I have Osteoarthritis and Carpel Tunnel in both hands, in case you haven't heard about it check out a paraffin bath, I used it while doing some physical therapy and found it provides a lot of relief, they are pretty cheap like $40 or so. I got into EB/MM as I was playing 35" scale basses which were not only longer but a lot wider and adding to my hand pain, in regards to the Bongo, I agree 100% with what you stated, I love my SR5's but my Bongo is really addictive. I'm trying to sell my maple neck SR5 to fund another Bongo. Now I truly understand how so many players here have multiple Bongo's, and it really is great that EB/MM products are Mod free, talk about plug in and play. All the best , Rick

 

[Basstige]

I'm coming up on six months with my 4HH Stealth Bongo. Couldn't be happier. The day I bought it, I took it directly from the store to a recording studio where I had to redo a couple of tracks for an album I had previously recorded with a Stingray. When the producer/engineer, a long-time friend and collaborator, saw the Bongo, he asked, "What's that? Didn't you use a Stingray on those tracks?" I replied that I had traded in the Ray (reluctantly) to get the Bongo. So we set everything dead flat on the Bongo and set the blend in the middle. At the end of the session (two songs) my friend smiled and said, "You wouldn't like to redo EVERY track with that Bongo, would you?"

Since then I actually have redone a couple more tracks on the Bongo. Did it at no charge (was well paid for the initial sessions) just because I wanted to.

Thanks for the Bongo, BP. I have spent decades (yikes!) searching for the ultimate chameleon bass. Nothing I've encountered yet even approaches the versatility of the Bongo. Ray tone? Check. Jaco tone? Check. J neck pickup tone? Check. With a little tweaking I was even able to get a decent Rick impersonation out of the Bongo. As BP has said of the preamp: "All the tones are there."

 

[Deaj]

Deaj, I'm in a similar situation except I have Osteoarthritis and Carpel Tunnel in both hands, in case you haven't heard about it check out a paraffin bath, I used it while doing some physical therapy and found it provides a lot of relief, they are pretty cheap like $40 or so. I got into EB/MM as I was playing 35" scale basses which were not only longer but a lot wider and adding to my hand pain, in regards to the Bongo, I agree 100% with what you stated, I love my SR5's but my Bongo is really addictive. I'm trying to sell my maple neck SR5 to fund another Bongo. Now I truly understand how so many players here have multiple Bongo's, and it really is great that EB/MM products are Mod free, talk about plug in and play. All the best , Rick

Thanks for the info Rick! I'm open to any suggesttion that might help ease symptoms.

 

[philthygeezer]

I sold my first HH. Missed it so much I got two single H's to compensate. One with Super Slinkies and one with flats. IMO they are the best all-around basses I've owned.