Is Da Bongo a Cult?

[ZiggyDude]

Well - not like a real cult burning effigies of P basses or something. But, a knit group in some way.

What is driving this is that I was posting on a very small list type forum what it was like to be a Bongo player. Defending it actually. And in the process trying to express some of the vitriol that comes out of some folks towards it. (One of the first cases I saw it was a guy who was actually an EBMM dealer!)

One of the folks posted that they had never seen a Bongo “In the Wild” which was a cute way of talking about seeing another player use one live at clubs and such. And we all know that GC dropped the bass presumably due to volume. So, maybe we are some sort of undercurrent. Ziggy the Mutant Bass Player….

So, looking for an educational way to describe “The Bongo Thing” to that other forum. Not things like “Pure Heaven” – some other way.

 

[adouglas]

A cult?

Why, yes, actually.

Describing it?

This should suffice:

 

[strummer]

Bovinehost is the undisputed leader of the cult, so just get him to that other forum and you should be good.
Or, you could just smirk, rub your hands together and start chanting "their loss, thier loss, their loss..."

 

[Psycho Ward]

I prefer to look at us as an "elite group". Bassist without bounds, sonic pioneers... you know, cool people.

 

[syciprider]

Pffft. Their loss. Bongos sound so good.

 

[laneline]

Funny but I fine that usually the most vocal antagonist to the Bongo is someone who hasn't played one and is basically blinded by a preconceived notion. The Bongo thing is a bass that has one of the best profile necks fretted or fretless, can cover a rediculously wide variety of musical styles with it's killer 4 band EQ, has multiple pickup configurations including Piezo, and in any guise the bottom line is they are Tone Monsters. All you have to do is fire one up and let the Mojo take over.

 

[oddjob]

Guys, I need another coolaide refill

 

[KevinM]

Or, you could just smirk, rub your hands together and start chanting "their loss, thier loss, their loss..."

More Bongos for the cult.

 

[koogie2k]

Some people like 'em and quite a few are scared of them. Simply, the bongo is a great bass and is my weapon of choice when I play bass live....no one comes up to me and says a word about my bass other than it sounds great....which it does. I like the look of it...it is different and simply sits well on the shoulder when playing...especially as aggressive as I do.

 

[danny-79]

Koogs, theres nobody gonna argue with you, no matter what bass you playing !!! (lol Joke)

The only Bongos Ive been up close to have been on ----> that side of the Atlantic so apart from the odd ones that Ive been lucky enough to see/try in guitar shops her in UK have been whatever came in used as part ex. so options are what ever you can get.
I was lucky enough at the end of last year to get a loan of a 5HH that at the time was the only bass i was using (practice & play) an gotta say WOW! to it !!!
It did everything I'm used to an more !
I'm a four string player (for my own reasons, mainly cause Ive never found a fiver that the low B is usable on all along the board, it doesn't get in the way an rather than it just being "another string" its part of the instrument.) but this Bongo nailed it, tight an usable all the way.

I only had a couple of goes with it in a band setting but .... how do i say there was more of everything an anything that i needed, set it flat, hope for the best an when adjusting anything, less is defiantly more !!!
In a nut shell, cant fault it an overall great, brilliant bass !!!

So to the next question of why don't i own one ............. (sorry if this offends anybody but just my opinion, so will put it as polite as possible) .... In fact no i wont ! ill just leave it at , "We Need More <--- This Side of Atlantic" cause at the minute there are no options, heavily gigged-at-the-end-of-there-live examples are fetching silly money so its not a question of "cult status" with them, more ...."mythology" is more the word !

There (the bongo is) still only a Stingray at the end of the day, just in another format.... Single H Bongo anybody
<ducking for cover an logging off ! >

 

[oddjob]

Some people like 'em and quite a few are scared of them.

Not them... you, Koogs

 

[bovinehost]

I still occasionally get dragged kicking and screaming (spittle flying) into one of "those" discussions about Bongos. I really try to not do it so much anymore because I know it's, as we used to say in the armed services, "teaching the pig to sing". Which means it wastes your time and annoys the pig.

Cult, Elite Tone Warrior Group, Religion, Philosophy - I don't know, but I sure am glad to be a part of it.

 

[adouglas]

Cult. Definitely cult.

The Man said so.

Check my sig.

 

[bovinehost]

Good point. Cult, then. I might need more titles.

 

[Runnerman]

I just picked up my Bongo 4HH earlier this week and remain totally blown away by the instrument. I have been a long time passive pickup guy and so this is about as big a departure for me as possible from what I've been playing. I've had to totally adjust my approach to setting up my sounds...going to a flat eq on the amp with zero effects and adjusting the bass eq only. First band practice on Tuesday was a bit of an experiment and never really got it just right but confident it will get there. I can't believe the sensitivity at the strings....that is the one thing that no other bass can touch....and I've played them all. I believe this instrument has unlimited sonic potential and am looking forward to learning how to unleash it. Slap/pop is an unreal experience and I did not have any problem with the pickup placement and I have large hands. We must be a cult cause there is no other bass like this. Can you tell I'm stoked.

 

[Mark-NL]

Chiming in from the 6-string side (the thin ones).

The Bongo is easily the bestlooking EBMM bass (or any brand for that matter). Period. How anyone could think otherwise is beyond me.

Haven't played one so can't comment on sound/playability.

 

[mrfstop]

A Cult...I can see us all sitting around indian style in monk robes chanting in our best low deep baritone voices..."BonnnnnnGO, BonnnnnnnnGO"......hahahah!!
Gotta love it!

Hey I recall thinking the Bongo was a freak...a very odd looking sort....and had no interest what so ever in it.

THEN!

I saw my Lava Pearl Orange 2004 in an ebay auction and saved it in my watch list...... looked at it a few times.....then placed the winning bid.
It got a bit banged up in transit to me , due to a MO-ron UPS store owner in Arkansas who tossed it into a big box with no packing materials....only the generic hard case to protect it.
Once i got her fixed , and played her.
I WAS HOOKED!!!
Visually I LOVE IT
Musically I LOVE IT!!
Out of my Alembic, my Warwicks, and my 4 Stingrays....
I would have to say I am liking my two Bongos the best now days
Nothing else has the flat out tone balls these things have.
BIG thanks to EBMM for going out on a limb and giving us the amazing tool!!

 

[ZiggyDude]

Good Stuff

I also really like the 4 band EQ. I use the lower mid as a "Notch Filter" so that after really cranking up the low end I can cut back the low mids. On a two band what happens is the slope or decay rate of the boost ends up muddying up your mids. The extra EQ pulls the low mids back down - leaving the boosted ultra lows - and the sound I like. The two upper range EQs are dialed in to dress the details.

What had prompted me to start this thread was on the little forum mentioned we were discussng string choices. I talked about what was on my Bongos. His replay was "You're admitting to owning *Bongos *...." so - understandably was a bit abashed by that.

Is it only the crowd that thinks everything is a P bass and nada else is real, and Music Man should always be "The Other F**der" that takes exception to these? After all, amongst the pointy basses the Bongo is not near the severe of a Warlock, possibly even a Big Al.

 

[AlexBongoCrazy]

I'm not sure its the pointy aspect that people don't like, more the roundness. Some one called it an egg shaped bass and i'll admit it is slightly especially the pickguard.

Anyway: I love bongos. I love the bongo cult. After the amount of compliments I got and how good it sounded (even though I have to make the typical musicians complaint: it wasn't loud enough ) It's definitely my favourite.

 

[guenter]

The Bongo 5(!) is the best looking bass i have ever seen. Very nice shape. Coolest headstock ever seen. The proportions are simply perfect.

Did I say that I love his sound?

And now all together: "The Bongo 5 is the..."