OldSchool Noob
Well-known member
To re-state what others have said -- that is a big, serious, MANLY bass.
- Thread starter cyoungnashville
- Start date
Bean
Well-known member
MrChedda
Active member
That Bongo is stunning, congrats.
Question for you/bovine/poppa/bongo owners.... (and definitely not meant as a hijack...)
While reading this thread this morning, I was pretty blown away by your response to how good the instrument is. I guess this is probably because (from what I've read), you're a pro and you already own a Reflex. Given all of the tones one can can get from the 25th, it really resonated to hear your review.
My question is.... are the 4 band instruments (Big Al, Reflex/25th, Bongo) really that different, from a tonal perspective? I think I've incorrectly assumed that since they all share the same type of 4 band, they all generally generate a similar tone (or at least in the same ballpark). I've also assumed the Big Al 4SSS is somewhat unique given the singles vs. the H.
Sorry for the long winded response, but your review really lit a fire with me to acquire a Bongo (not that I've been ignoring the info from Lord Bongo).
Disclaimer, that's worth noting: I'm firmly entrenched in the beginner bass player category, as well as someone who fits into the category of musicians who shouldn't use tools, etc (thank god for the MM truss rod). I don't pretend to know jack about electronics, impacts of various woods on tone, etc. So if any of the above sounds newbish, it's because I definitely am.
Question for you/bovine/poppa/bongo owners.... (and definitely not meant as a hijack...)
While reading this thread this morning, I was pretty blown away by your response to how good the instrument is. I guess this is probably because (from what I've read), you're a pro and you already own a Reflex. Given all of the tones one can can get from the 25th, it really resonated to hear your review.
My question is.... are the 4 band instruments (Big Al, Reflex/25th, Bongo) really that different, from a tonal perspective? I think I've incorrectly assumed that since they all share the same type of 4 band, they all generally generate a similar tone (or at least in the same ballpark). I've also assumed the Big Al 4SSS is somewhat unique given the singles vs. the H.
Sorry for the long winded response, but your review really lit a fire with me to acquire a Bongo (not that I've been ignoring the info from Lord Bongo).
Disclaimer, that's worth noting: I'm firmly entrenched in the beginner bass player category, as well as someone who fits into the category of musicians who shouldn't use tools, etc (thank god for the MM truss rod). I don't pretend to know jack about electronics, impacts of various woods on tone, etc. So if any of the above sounds newbish, it's because I definitely am.
cyoungnashville
Chief Fanboi-ardee
i hear ya bp. i was just goofin around about the color thing, but sorry nick, if u thought i was really takin a stab at you. i guess theres just no way to kid around in a post without it leading to some amount of confusion. ill will refrain in the future although i fear it will make my journey to "senior member" status, twice as long.
cyoungnashville
Chief Fanboi-ardee
man, that is a great question. i asked the same thing many times before it became obvious that i just wasnt gonna know until i laid hands on one and tried it for myself. as a beginner, you actually might not hear a huge amount of difference, but with the maturity shown in the way you phrased your question, you might be more advanced than you give yourself credit for and hear all the difference in the world. for me every one of these basses is a different mood, or attitude. if im doing a track thats just flat balls out rip your face off metal, can i get there on the reflex, sure thing, but the stingray, or the bongo, might get me there quicker. every bass will sit differently in a mix, live or studio, it will take some time to learn which golf club to use, but you should definitely avail yourself of the tools, if and when you can.
bovinehost
Administrator
This goes double for me except for the senior member part.
bdgotoh
Well-known member
One little clarification, the single H Bongo has a 3 band EQ. Any Bongo with 2 or more pickups (magnetic or piezo) has the 4 band EQ. So a single H with piezo has the 4 band.
Just in case you want the 4 band and were thinking of the single H.
drTStingray
Well-known member
cyoungnashville that's a badass bass you got there - the 6 string single H pick up looks a real monster in that picture.
Will you be posting some tracks done on this? The Reflex one you posted was great.
Will you be posting some tracks done on this? The Reflex one you posted was great.
adouglas
Well-known member
I believe the answer to that question is yes.
IMHO you're correct in your assumption of incorrectness. The four-band EQ is just one small part of the equation. Not to mention the fact that the actual guts of the EQ are undoubtedly different. Music Man's head electronics sorcerer, Dudley Gimpel, is a very clever and resourceful guy.
Tone comes from many things....
Body wood
Preamp
Pickup magnet material and configuration
Pickup placement
Construction that affects how the bass resonates (the unique Music Man bridge bolts, for example)
To me the genius of the Music Man product line is that the various offerings are so different from one another while all sharing the MM vibe.
There are brands where the same few designs are produced in dozens of variations and your choices are more about the details than the fundamentals.
strummer
Enormous Member
bdgotoh
Well-known member
True, but the 4-band can be had as an potion on the H too
Really? I've never seen one and this is from the EBMM Bongo website:
adouglas
Well-known member
The 4-band is ONLY available on the H if you get the piezo. Then it is mandatory.
There is no such thing as a non-piezo H with a four-band, and there is no such thing as a piezo H with a three-band.
There is no such thing as a non-piezo H with a four-band, and there is no such thing as a piezo H with a three-band.
strummer
Enormous Member
Must've been dreaming, I was so sure you could have the 4-band as an option...
cyoungnashville
Chief Fanboi-ardee
oh yeah, there will def be a bongo6 tune coming. this one might take a minute though. i have to learn what in the hell to do with these two extra strings first!!! "4 strings<wtf?" anything over 4 strings is a concept that i ignorantly went around making fun of, but im man enough to admit that i am absolutely loving the new real estate. turns out i can be wrong from time to time. who knew?? besides jackson, and my wife?
danny-79
Well-known member
That sounds like me.
Been thinking about a 5 banger on/off forever but always stuck with 4s.
Its a good theory that if your going to do something different with the addition of more strings messing up your playing style then why not go the whole hog and jump straight in with a 6 ?
I dig
drTStingray
Well-known member
MrChedda
Active member
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I can completely understand the different attitude/mood in regards to the bass selection. I tend to grab the Ray for rock, the Big Al for almost anything, and I'm still getting used to the 25th.
There's a lot to be said for a "point and shoot" instrument. For me, the middle pickup on the Big Al, is exactly that. Don't have to mess with the EQ that much, and it just works (at least the one I like the most).
The 25th is an entirely different animal, and I've spent more time trying to find the tone that's me or fits the music I'm playing. This is admittedly because I'm a novice when it comes to trying to dial in an instrument, and probably falls into the category of me "diming" the EQ as opposed to incremently working through what the EQ/pickups have to offer. I'll keep at it, it's the finest instrument I've ever played.
Again, thanks again for the info and sorry for the hijack. I'm definitely motivated to acquire a Bongo; maybe the single H is the way to go initially, since it may be a little more point and shoot.
MrChedda
Active member
Gotcha, I just assumed it was the exact same EQ in all of the 4 band instruments.
