My Bongo Query

[Malcspring]

Hey Fellas,
I have a Bongo 4 on order with my local MM dealer in the UK. My order was for a 4 string in Tangerine Pearl with the black pearloid pickguard (like the one in the pictures on the MM website). That is the reason I ordered that colour in the first place as it is such a looker.
I do now have a bit of a query as it doesn't appear to be available anymore on the MM website. It shows the Tangerine Pearl with a plain black pickguard and I certainly don't want that. I have just sent an email to Music Man, so hopefully they will be able to allay my fears. I only ordered it at the beginning of December, so I don't suppose they have started it yet anyway. I see that they have recently added a new colour (Chilli Red) which sounds great and also has a tortoiseshell pickguard. If I can get to see a picture of one I may switch to that instead.

 

[ksandvik]

As far as I understood you could always order another pickguard for the bass from customer service. Or then there are third party resellers creating various Bongo pickguards. But yes it's always nice to get the thing you ordered. EBMM is pretty good at fulfilling orders to the exact point based on the original reseller order.

 

[MrMusashi]

did you get the build code for the bass? the last two digits describes which pickguard it has. 01 is black, cant remember the code for perloid black

hth

MrM

 

[Malcspring]

Thanks for your suggestions/advice. I didn't know about the build code. I basically told my dealer what I wanted and he dealt directly with the UK distributor. Quick update however. I have just spoken with the UK distributor and there was a cut-off of early January where the colour changes happened, so anything prior to it will remain the same. Since I ordered my Bongo in early December the spec will be the one that I wanted. Just had a phone call from my brother however (he is a professional drummer). He has been slating the Bongo ever since I said I was getting one, but all of a sudden he has decided that they are beautiful and that I should change my order from a 4 string to a 5. I already have a 5 string Yamaha and I was seriously considering getting my Bongo in 5 string form, but the extra cash is just stretching it too far. I could use the extra money to put towards upgrading my backline as I currently only have a small Roland practice combo. When the Bongo arrives I want to be able to do it justice with a good amp and cab rig.

 

[steevo]

Ive never been a big bongo fan but it does offer something different.
Ive played 5's for years and id only really buy a 4 string if i found one i fell in love with.

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[five7]

Aren't bongos the same price, 4 or 5.

 

[Malcspring]

Hey steevo,
I was originally looking at getting a Fender Jazz, but then I saw the Bongo and immediately fell in love with it. Such a unique looking guitar. For me there are only a handful of basses out there that you know exactly what they are the moment you look at them. The Bongo being one. Fender Jazz and Precision and the Rickenbacker. All other basses have that generic look to them. I know it is always subjective, but the Bongo really does it for me. Such a beautiful bass. Luckily my MM dealer got a Bongo 4 in so I could try it out before I signed on the dotted line. It felt excellent. I brought a bass player friend with me and we both tried it out and came to the same conclusion that it was an absolute winner. I still love my Yamaha 5 string, but that will be relegated to second choice once the new one arrives. Just gotta carry on waiting. Well I am two months in, so only another 2-3 months left unless by some strange twist of fate they can pull it forwards somehow.

 

[ksandvik]

Aren't bongos the same price, 4 or 5.

No there's a price diff.

 

[Malcspring]

I reckon that the 5 would have been more expensive as there is more wood in it and more components.

 

[steevo]

Hey steevo,
I was originally looking at getting a Fender Jazz, but then I saw the Bongo and immediately fell in love with it. Such a unique looking guitar. For me there are only a handful of basses out there that you know exactly what they are the moment you look at them. The Bongo being one. Fender Jazz and Precision and the Rickenbacker. All other basses have that generic look to them. I know it is always subjective, but the Bongo really does it for me. Such a beautiful bass. Luckily my MM dealer got a Bongo 4 in so I could try it out before I signed on the dotted line. It felt excellent. I brought a bass player friend with me and we both tried it out and came to the same conclusion that it was an absolute winner. I still love my Yamaha 5 string, but that will be relegated to second choice once the new one arrives. Just gotta carry on waiting. Well I am two months in, so only another 2-3 months left unless by some strange twist of fate they can pull it forwards somehow.

I owned a squire jazz bass when i was a kid and loved it then, one of the better made japanese squires. Nowadays i find fender's are disappointing to play, they are too rooted in the olden days and it still annoys me when i see them putting out brand new guitars with the old style trussrod adjustment. Ive been a bit spoilt by musicman guitars over the years.
Good luck with the bongo though, im sure youll have many happy years with it.

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[Golem]

I reckon that the 5 would have been more expensive
as there is more wood in it and more components.

Reasonable assumption, plus one tuner and one more
bridge saddle. Maybe the cost of the arched contoured
body is significant enuf that the extra tuner, and a bit
more wood, is a non-issue ?

FWIW, I find the 4 string has better hang balance. The
Bongo body seems light enuf that the extra tuner and
wider neck affect the balance.

Speaking of wider neck, another reason to be happy to
have ordered a 4-string is that you have that Yamaha
5 string, and IIRC it's 19mm 5-string, IOW a "wide 5".
The Bongo is a more typical "normal" 5-string. If you
are happy with a wide 5, you may or may not adjust
well to a more typical 5-string.

 

[Malcspring]

Thanks for the advice Golem.
I am always open to other peoples greater knowledge. Being a bit of a noob it is the only way I am going to move forward.