Question Musicman Bongo preamp amp volume insane?

[AlexBongoCrazy]

So I had my live performance workshop today at music school, did very well, went to the session afterwards as well with people i didn't know and got loads of compliments on my playing and could hear the bassists talking about my bass.

So anyway. I've got a musicman bongo HS, the batteries are not new. The Bass tutor pointed out, while laughing, to the keyboard tutor that my bass must have a preamp on steroids because the bass was going through a huge aguilar rig and i had the volume on my bass turned down slightly and the gain and master on the amp was at around 7/8 o clock (so practically on 0) no joke but the bass was still louder than anyone elses so how come Musicman basses/ bongo in particular (someone else had a stingray) are just ridiculously powerful? the bass tutor has years of experience and was really surprised.

 

[keko]

Well, powerful 18 Volt 4 band EQ ...and You probably maxed tone contol knobs too much, ...I suppose?

 

[AlexBongoCrazy]

Nope. course not, had most of them down a tad especially mids. The tutors are all working professionals.

 

[bovinehost]

It's the Bongo preamp. I find the actual output can vary from instrument to instrument (slightly), but most of the time when I've been playing something else and leave the amp the same, I plug in a Bongo and BOOM goes the volume.

 

[keko]

Nope. course not, had most of them down a tad especially mids. The tutors are all working professionals.

OK, kudos to Your tutors!

Well, ...You know neodymium pickups on Bongos are real killers, ...but as long as sound is clear and without any distortion, everything seems to me just fine!

 

[AlexBongoCrazy]

Yeah but especially this time it was louder than usual. It's just crazy lol He was impressed and surprised which was funny. Highlight of today's live performance workshop though was teaching the keyboard tutor the structure! the song was You and I by lady gaga and the keyboard tutor is a guy that has worked with loads of professionals

 

[Holdsg]

It's the Bongo preamp. I find the actual output can vary from instrument to instrument (slightly), but most of the time when I've been playing something else and leave the amp the same, I plug in a Bongo and BOOM goes the volume.

That is consistent with my experience as well with other brand active basses. Acorst (nod to Golem) its most egregious when moving from passive P to active bongo... look out, she's gonna blow.....

 

[five7]

This is why we play bongos!

 

[adouglas]

Any questions?

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Comes with the territory

 

[Golem]

`

Yah OK all the above is true.

But are the PUs on your Boingo
raised up close to the strings ?
I'd a thunk somebody would've
asked already, but no one has.

`

 

[PaulBass]

According to the electronics guys at EB they said they had to really tone down the preamp output from the prototypes because it was way too much. So the public was offered the "tamer" version.

 

[bovinehost]

Yeah, the prototypes had some kind of crazy parametric-from-outer-space-monster-planet thing going. BP was telling me that you could dial in all these awesome tones but you could also get some that were completely whacked out and scary.

Unfortunately, it's true that you gotta dumb it down sometimes because some loudmouthed internet expert is going to go into Guitar Center, pick it up, max the knobs and say, "Well, this sucks." (Hey, it happens even without scary EQ options.) "Not only is the Bongo the dumbest name/ugliest bass ever made, it sounds like crap. I know because I played one at GC."

Yeah, okay. Anyway, it wasn't just the output that had to be toned down. Crazy, ain't it?

 

[PaulBass]

I saw a pic posted at TB and there are 3 op-amps in the preamp. Thats a lot of amplification of the signal. Or maybe the opamps serve as a filter or power regulator. I'm about to buy my first Bongo and I can't wait

 

[adouglas]

Yeah, the prototypes had some kind of crazy parametric-from-outer-space-monster-planet thing going.

Yes. Yes they did.

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Wonder where that is...

 

[J Romano]

That color is awesome!!!!!!

 

[adouglas]

Wonder where that is...

I'm thinking it got sent back to the DARPA vault.

 

[fly]

that was the ........ahem.....*toilet seat version*.....ahem......

unreal how things evolve......

 

[J Romano]

What's with the unusual placement of the 3rd strap button????? Toilet seat version???