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Axis 30th Anniversary

My Bongo... God I like saying that!

Psycho Ward

Psycho Ward

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2005
Messages
5,053
Location
Elk Creek, VA and Murrells Inlet, SC
Well I only have a few initial impressions of my Bongo, current events here at my house have made it hard for me to lock the studio door and bond with my Bongo. I didn’t even get to play it at the jam the other night, too late, too drunk and too tired.

I really like it, the handful of minutes I’ve got to play here and there show a bass with a very powerful preamp, but I’ve been mainly playing with the pan knob with every else set flat, hell, there’s a killer bass right there. Then when you turn one of the eq knobs big things happen, there will be a lot of time learning the options available with those two concentric knobs.

I like the balance of the bass, the workmanship, of course, is top notch and the sound is killer with everything set flat, I’m happy!:D


Basswood is soft though, be careful with the straplock conversion… assuming you would ever modify a Bongo. I did and had to use a toothpick; those of you that have been there know what I mean…
So far, big thumbs up!

The Candy Red 5 string will be here Monday… but I won’t…:(
 
Psycho Ward said:
Well I only have a few initial impressions of my Bongo, current events here at my house have made it hard for me to lock the studio door and bond with my Bongo. I didn’t even get to play it at the jam the other night, too late, too drunk and too tired.

I really like it, the handful of minutes I’ve got to play here and there show a bass with a very powerful preamp, but I’ve been mainly playing with the pan knob with every else set flat, hell, there’s a killer bass right there. Then when you turn one of the eq knobs big things happen, there will be a lot of time learning the options available with those two concentric knobs.

I like the balance of the bass, the workmanship, of course, is top notch and the sound is killer with everything set flat, I’m happy!:D


Basswood is soft though, be careful with the straplock conversion… assuming you would ever modify a Bongo. I did and had to use a toothpick; those of you that have been there know what I mean…
So far, big thumbs up!

The Candy Red 5 string will be here Monday… but I won’t…:(
Click to expand...
That old toothpick trick works pretty well........
 
Awesome to hear Chuck! No worries. Those Bongoes are keepers. You'll have plenty of bonding time to come.
 
I look forward to next week when I'll be able to say that. 3 months doesn't seem like such a long time now, but 5 days seems like an eternity. Aggh!

It'll all have been worth it, I hope.
 
I’ve been mainly playing with the pan knob with every else set flat, hell, there’s a killer bass right there. Then when you turn one of the eq knobs big things happen
Click to expand...

That's what I do, Chuck - just use that pan knob and it's all fun. I rarely do anything else and I have all the variety I could ever want.

FTR, I haven't had any probs with installing straplocks.

Jack
 
Congratulation, Chuck !!

I am about to order a Bongo 5 with fretless fretboard with single Humbucker soon.
How do you think?

will it be a good choice?



anyway, I hope to see your new Bongo.
 
bovinehost said:
FTR, I haven't had any probs with installing straplocks.

Jack
Click to expand...

I went with Schaller’s on this one, maybe that was it, but I did have to pull as I unscrewed the original from the bottom, top horn was no problem… and believe me, I was very careful! But the toothpick did the trick, good, tight install and I’ll never mess with this again. The Bongo is a bass a good player could kill with, straight from the box!:D :D :D
I need instructions…
 
The guy that repairs all my instruments here, told me the Bongo is the best bass he's ever played and heard. He's a bass player himself and does all the warranty work here for all the major stores/brands.
 
ShootingRay said:
Congratulation, Chuck !!
I am about to order a Bongo 5 with fretless fretboard with single Humbucker soon.
How do you think?
will it be a good choice?
anyway, I hope to see your new Bongo.
Click to expand...

Its the best idea in the world...Here is example A
IMG_0612.jpg

Also, save up some extra pennies and make sure you spring for the Piezo, I feel it is a must for this setup.

Also, my Dunlops have installed perfectly on every EB I have had so far.
 
Congrats, Pyscho! :)

An observation: The strap buttons on the Bongos are completely flat on one end. Most guitars I've seen have some kind of tapering going on. The Bongo-style strap buttons are excellent, as straps don't edge their way towards falling off - they're stuck back there. Thus, I haven't had the need for strap locks myself.





All guitars should have these.







That and the truss rod wheel.
 
smallequestrian said:
Also, save up some extra pennies and make sure you spring for the Piezo, I feel it is a must for this setup.
Click to expand...


thanks for the picture above and the advice.

I also hope to set the piezo up for my Bongo.

But unfortunately, I am a left-handed player so I can't get it.
 
Thanks Larry, I didn't think the factory screws would fit the Schallers so I didn't even try. Plus I'm pretty sure the factory one was stripped as it wouldn't come out by it's self, I had to pull as I screwed.

It's in real tight now, I'll probably just leave it, but the factory are longer and there fore better. If it gets to be a problem I'll try the old one. But it's probably best left alone at this point, it's a truly great instrument!:D
 
From what I remember of my Stingrays and the Stealth Bongo (or of anything, for that matter), the factory strap buttons are designed to prevent slipping.
 
I use a Levy's Leather strap when I play casually, and haven't had any problems with it slipping off.

If I'm playing with the band I use one of those Kepur branded straps. They are very secure - I can't imagine them ever falling off.
 
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