Prediction/speculation: Bongo guitar?

[adouglas]

Just hopping the fence for a few minutes...

I'm not a guitarist, but I've been the VERY happy owner of a Bongo 5 HHp bass for about ten months now.

Seems to me it's only a matter of time before they introduce a Bongo guitar. If that happens I'm all over it.

This must have occurred to everyone already.

What do you think? Possible or not? Good idea or not? Already talked to death and I just didn't find the thread or not?

 

[beej]

There was a proto of one at the open house ... it was fun to play, actually!

I don't think the style suited a guitar - didn't fit as well as it did on a bass. BP made a point of saying how bass players were more apt to take a chance on a new style, whereas us six stringers were too set in our ways. Thus the Bongo bass only.

Here's SteveB with the proto:

 

[adouglas]

BP made a point of saying how bass players were more apt to take a chance on a new style, whereas us six stringers were too set in our ways. Thus the Bongo bass only.

Hmmm...I'd counter that with the observation that some EBMM guitar styles are pretty "out there." The AL, fer instance.

 

[beej]

Good point. Well, good question for BP when he's back on the forum!

 

[darren]

Holy crap... i LOVE the shape of that Bongo guitar!

If they made that in a 7-string, i'd be all over it. I think it works really well as a guitar shape. It has a very progressive look to it (in the same way that a Parker is progressive).

I love my JP7, but i don't find it to be a particularly "beautiful" guitar from an aesthetic point of view (paint aside). That Bongo is sexay!

 

[robelinda2]

HOLY MOLY!!! That Bongo guitar is WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!! make it!!!! what a cool addition to the family that would be!!!!

 

[skabassist13]

I think it would be better with the matching bongo headstock, but thats me.

 

[Big Poppa]

A Douglas

No chance and the AL is much better looking...this thing barks

 

[SteveB]

Ahh, that was a fun little prototype... and to think that BP let us handle those one of a kind pieces! Just reminds me of how awesome the Open House was, and how generous BP and the whole staff were.

As I recall, the contours on this Bongo guitar don't quite match the angles that made it into production on the bass. They refined the curves a little more after this one was made. I could be wrong, though.. it happens a lot.

Nobody commented about the absence of pickups on this proto?!

 

[adouglas]

A Douglas

No chance and the AL is much better looking...this thing barks

Understood...just wondering.

Barks, eh? Like Martini Olive Green?

I was glancing at Dargin's avatar Martini Green Bongo with the Black pickguard and said to myself, "That bass is really ugly"

THis bass would keep me awake at night barking

I agree, though, about that proto guitar. I don't like the proto Bongo shape.... Too circular, too chubby. The production Bongo is MUCH nicer. (BTW, was that evolution your doing, or refinement by the BMW folks? Or both?)

 

[Big Poppa]

me

 

[slukather]

I love the look of the Bongo guitar, put Luke's EMG's in it, and l'll buy it.

Scott.

 

[Smellybum]

There was a proto of one at the open house ... it was fun to play, actually!

I don't think the style suited a guitar - didn't fit as well as it did on a bass. BP made a point of saying how bass players were more apt to take a chance on a new style, whereas us six stringers were too set in our ways. Thus the Bongo bass only.

Here's SteveB with the proto:

It looks great - but I can't help thinking it's an axis that got left out in the sun!!!

 

[darren]

That's disappointing that it won't see the light of day. I think it looks pretty amazing. With a Bongo headstock and inlays (no inlays at all would be even cooler) and JP trem and piezo setup, it would rock my world.

I bought a JP7 because Parker can't/won't make a seven-string Fly. A Bongo 7 guitar would be so awesome. (Not that i have any regrets at all about my Petrucci... it's quite possibly the best guitar i've ever owned.)

 

[adouglas]

This is funny...I put a parallel thread over on the bass side (since not everyone crosses over) and the consensus there is pretty much neutral. But over here in the guitar forum it's thumbs-up.

I always thought that bass players were the conservative bunch, but BP says that it's the guitarists who are really set in their ways. I guess those folks aren't the ones responding to this thread.

Whatever. The Boss hath thpokeneth, and there ain't no way this one will get built.

 

[beej]

I know ... it's pretty funny actually!

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Photos and pictures are oftentimes 2 very different things. If I remember correctly, there was a collective gasp of shock and horror, along with some fainting from bass players when the first Bongo guitar prototype was shown at the Open House.

I, for one, am glad that it will remain only a prototype.

 

[adouglas]

But that's the thing....the Bongo bass prototype was very much the same shape, and not like the production version.

The prototypes of both are ugly IMHO.

I still believe that the production shape applied to a guitar would look great.

 

[Roubster]

Bongo Bass = Perfect

Bongo Guitar = Ugly

Weird shapes suck on guitars. Warlock guitars and all those pointy ugly ass shapes are disgusting, and should be banned, hahahaha. Except for the EBMM AL, which is pretty cool.

 

[ripley]

I give to you the example of the Parker guitar... its design is balanced, yes... but HORRIBLY uncomfortable (the right angle upper horn digging into my chest kills it for me)... yet more than a decade after its first surfacing at guitar shows it's STILL around despite what could be percieved as lackluster sales.

I'd toatlly buy a bongo guitar. and I SWEAR it would sell sell sell sell sell sell sell sell sell sell sell in the land of the rising sun. and the american audience would soon follow. the next bass I buy is going to absolutely be a bongo. nobody else really makes anything like it. I coulden't get to the open house, but given my bizarre sensabilities, I'm sure I would have FREAKED over the bongo prototype.