piezo knob on Bongo

[shakinbacon]

Maybe having too many knobs just isn't for me...

I find that there is this internal struggle with me that goes something like this: "you payed for the piezo you might as well use it" whenever I set the tone of my Bongo. Lately I'm liking the tone without the piezo.

Sometimes many tone options can be frustrating/distracting.

I've trained myself to set my amp flat as opposed to fiddling with all the tone knobs on it. Thus maybe its just a matter of time for me to come to terms with "just because its there doesn't mean you have to use it" when it comes to the controls on the Bongo.

The 25th or Big Al would send my head spinning

Somebody set me straight, please.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Enjoy the possibility that you have with the piezo and think at how you'd miss it if it wasn't there. It's all I can say to you.

Next subject?

 

[keko]

Try to set all pots in the center first!

Than use only balance piezo pot and turn it clockwise to the end, it should be now only magnetic pups in use, play a bit and than turn the same pan pot counterclockwise to the end, than should be in use only piezo, try to play than... and You really must hear the huge tonal character difference!

Later try, more balance mixing between magnetic & piezo pan pots, try to find Your best tone without using the preamp first!
Only then slightly boost/cut the preamp pots...etc.

Hope it helps!

 

[DaddyFlip]

I'm starting to feel your pain, bacon. I have an HH Bongo with six knobs. I'm about to receive a 25th with six knobs and four buttons. I have an amp with 28 knobs and switches and a compressor with 23 knobs and switches. That's a total of 57-61 knobs and switches at any one time for me to think about, want to think about or need to think about. It is easier to not worry about them when they are not there.

That's why I'm thinking about selling my amp and compressor and getting something way simpler; it's a psychological thing more than anything else, I guess- a mental distraction.

 

[leond]

I agree with the OP. Too many options and I get paralyzed. Maybe that's why three quarters of my basses only have one pickup?

Short of playing a P bass, here's how I handle it.

On my basses with active electronics, I set the amp flat and control the eq from the bass. On my bass with passive electronics, I control the eq from the amp.

On my bass with a piezo, I start with 100% piezo and add the mag pickup till it sounds right.

At least I don't have to worry about which pickup to use.

LeonD

 

[Powman]

I

On my bass with a piezo, I start with 100% piezo and add the mag pickup till it sounds right.

LeonD

Maybe I shouldn't comment here as I do not have a piezo pickup. But in one review about the Bongo that I read, the reviewer suggested the opposite. Start with 100% magnetic, then add a bit of Piezo as "extra seasoning". Again, this is not coming from personal experience, just something I read.

 

[DaddyFlip]

I can say this- I sure am looking forward to the Classic Collection. Heck, it wouldn't have hurt my feelings if the bass and treble had been combined into one tone knob. I'll prolly keep the treble 100% CCW anyway. We'll see.

 

[oli@bass]

I don't get it... the 2EQ 'Ray has been always available....why didn't you all go for it instead of a space ship with a Houston Control Center on board...

 

[DaddyFlip]

I don't get it... the 2EQ 'Ray has been always available....why didn't you all go for it instead of a space ship with a Houston Control Center on board...

Great point, and from my perspective, there is an easy answer. Knobs, buttons, switches and lights sell gear, especially to beginners, because they promise flexibility, excitement and "cool" to the uninitiated. Then, after all that wears off, and wears thin, said beginners begin to look for simplicity, familiarity and reliability.

I wish one were able to pick the best gear by buying the most expensive or the best looking or the one with the most switches and knobs. As it turns out, a great musician can sound good through anything. Also, great musicians are rarely GASaholics; they focus more on tone, technique, their art, their music or their gig. I'm trying to get to that point where the equipment doesn't matter and the music does. Then I won't care how many knobs and switches there are.

 

[sitonmybass]

The vast variety of tonal options on the 25th and the Big Al is not for me. My Sterling 5 single H, Bongo 5 single H and Bongo 5 HH suffice.

 

[five7]

I'm starting to feel your pain, bacon. I have an HH Bongo with six knobs. I'm about to receive a 25th with six knobs and four buttons. I have an amp with 28 knobs and switches and a compressor with 23 knobs and switches. That's a total of 57-61 knobs and switches at any one time for me to think about, want to think about or need to think about. It is easier to not worry about them when they are not there.

That's why I'm thinking about selling my amp and compressor and getting something way simpler; it's a psychological thing more than anything else, I guess- a mental distraction.

That is alot of knobs, what the

 

[Powman]

Also, great musicians are rarely GASaholics; they focus more on tone, technique, their art, their music or their gig. I'm trying to get to that point where the equipment doesn't matter and the music does. Then I won't care how many knobs and switches there are.

Oh oh, this sounds like me. I better hunker down and practice more. But two basses isn't too many I hope.

 

[AnthonyD]

Don't Fear the Knobs...

You don't need to touch them...

I prefer the simpler set-ups as well; I suffer from the "distraction factor" described. But the truth is I only noodle with the variety of tones in the confines of the practice room. When we're "out in public" everything starts at flat and I tweak just a bit from there.

Piezo is a must have for me and I have it set at 50/50 with the mags (on the detents). Adds a sparkle and a thump to my sound that I simply love.

 

[shakinbacon]

You don't need to touch them...

I prefer the simpler set-ups as well; I suffer from the "distraction factor" described. But the truth is I only noodle with the variety of tones in the confines of the practice room. When we're "out in public" everything starts at flat and I tweak just a bit from there.

Piezo is a must have for me and I have it set at 50/50 with the mags (on the detents). Adds a sparkle and a thump to my sound that I simply love.

Anthony,
Thanks for the response. Can you tell me how loud the piezo is with respect to the mags. With only piezo, is the volume up or down from only mags?

You give me hope with the piezos

shakin

 

[AnthonyD]

With the pick-ups adjusted to recommended heights the mags solo volume vs. the piezo solo volume is comparable.

I'm a one-trick guy re: tone. I have "my tone" and apply that across everything we play. I do not tailor my tone for a particular song. Makes things very easy.

I run my Bongos 50/50/50 (evenly between both mags and the piezo). Only thing I ever touch is the mids - I bump a bit to clear the mix if necessary.

The best way I can describe what the piezo brings to the party is "presence" - it adds a sharpness to the tone, and a definite punch to the bottom. I play with my fingers and like tight articulate bass - the piezos do it for me.

 

[shakinbacon]

With the pick-ups adjusted to recommended heights the mags solo volume vs. the piezo solo volume is comparable.

Do you mean the bridge pickup solo'd vs piezo or both bridge and neck together?


thanks

 

[Old_Guy]

Piezo is like vermouth; it adds a nice touch to a martini, but nobody ever drinks it by itself (except occasionally Italians in Italy). I have a knob farm hanging on a strap in front of me as well; here's what I do:
- Set the amp for the speaker and room environment. Generally it doesn't change that much, so I have those settings in my notebook in case the knobs get moved during movement and set-up. That's my 'neutral' sound.
- Use the knobs on the Bongo for the song type. Yea, I know, it'd be easier if all I played all night were Rolling Stones covers or something, but:
--> Rock & Roll stuff gets slight treble boost, no piezo
--> Roll off treble and low mid for R&B, Mowtown ('vintage" tone)
--> Pad up high mid a little for Tower of Power (Rocco) (Maybe 10% piezo)
--> Increase piezo mix to about 40%-50% for "show tunes" (eg, original recording was an upright - Etta James, Sinatra ballads, etc.)

not difficult, only takes a second.

 

[Powman]

Hey old_guy. One more post and you are a senior!

 

[AnthonyD]

Do you mean the bridge pickup solo'd vs piezo or both bridge and neck together?

Single mag comparable to the piezo. Both mags combined slightly louder than piezo solo'd.

Fresh batteries, new strings and set-up (including pick-up height) on HHp. Just my ears/perceptions - your experience may differ.

 

[keko]

I just watched on the TV yesterdays live N.Y. gig of my previous band in one famous live TV show, and noticed that my successor in the band plays black HHp Bongo!

They were playing live and was very obviously that he focused his tone to the bridge H & piezo pickups with just maybe slight preamp support, other was done from sound engineer stuff!
It was really nice to see friends on the TV show playing live, and I was so proud that there was even two Music Mans, this Bongo and S. Lukhater guitar too!

By the way, . ...the drummer in that band is brother of general importer of EBMM products in my country!

Happy N. Y.