Prediction/speculation: Bongo guitar?

[adouglas]

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?

 

[bassmonkeee]

You must have missed the pictures of the prototype.

 

[adouglas]

Bet it was green.

 

[beej]

Nope

 

[phatduckk]

Nope

he he

 

[adouglas]

Thank 'ee, beej.

The pic is dark, but it looks like there's no magnetic pickup or knobs. Was that a non-working design study, or did it have a piezo in it?

 

[beej]

Can't remember 100%, but I bleeb it was just a body style proto, so no electronics.

Pretty cool to play, though.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

Better pic but I don't remember any details...I mean, it is a guitar...who cares??

 

[Motojunkie]

I'm thinking that the body would need significant down-sizing to look good as a guitar. I'm sure that a variant could be made to perfection. I'd love to see it.

On the other hand - guitarists are much more finicky about new instruments that are outside the box, so IMO it may not go over too well.

 

[AnthonyD]

Unlike bass players?

 

[oddjob]

Most of the guitar players at OH hated the proto and said nothing could be done to save it. The Bongo Bass proto was almost as bulbous but turned out alright, I am sure, with some effort, the guitar version could have as well - but Moto is right about guitar players liking things "normal" - the Albert Lee is stretching it for some of them (I happen to love it), a Bongo Guitar would really push that.

 

[AnthonyD]

Agreed...

Personally, I am not a fan of the "here's the guitar version and here's the bass version" sales line-up, ala Gibson.

 

[adouglas]

Hm...I posted the same question over in the guitar forum (on the premise that there are those there who don't visit here and vice versa).

The responses to the pic of the prototype over there are very positive, while the responses here are lukewarm. Go figure.

 

[oddjob]

It was kind of strange at the OH. People liked it or hated it. The guys sitting across the table from me kept saying that they are glad it didn't see the light of day. I think part of that is the fact that the Bongo is still pretty "new" compared to the 50-60 year history of some designs and it is taking some getting use to.

I, personally love to see EBMM pushing the design world forward. The P-Bass is great, as is the Jazz - but been there done that (every one has). The Bongo was a great step forward (and might have even been bigger if some of the protos' design features made the final) and that is what it is all about (how many times can you reinvent the wheel... I don't know but I bet some one at Fndr does).

 

[oddjob]

Agreed...

Personally, I am not a fan of the "here's the guitar version and here's the bass version" sales line-up, ala Gibson.

Yes!!!! I think the bass stands on its own... after all we don't have a bass Albert do we (and don't need one - love the guitars but that is the point... it's a guitar)

 

[adouglas]

It was kind of strange at the OH. People liked it or hated it.

Actually I don't like the prototype Bongo shapes at all. Too circular, too chubby. Also, solid-body guitars just look wrong without pickups, somehow.

I really like the final iteration of the Bongo, and I think that the aesthetic would translate to a guitar very well.

I bet that if the guitar version at the OH were more like the bass we have today, with a pickguard and a less circular shape, it would have been better received.

Regarding having guitars and parallel basses....well, we've got the Silhouette guitar and the SR5 already. BP explicitly said in the GC videos that the SR5 styling was picked up from the Silhouette. Nobody's complaining, right?

The AL also goes against the conventional wisdom of "guitarists are too conservative to think outside the box." That's one weird looking instrument right there.

 

[Big Poppa]

it isnt even close to a possiblity

 

[Motojunkie]

The AL also goes against the conventional wisdom of "guitarists are too conservative to think outside the box." That's one weird looking instrument right there.

Although I like the AL, I'm willing to bet that it's not the best selling guitar by a long shot. So, Albert Lee (and BP & Dudley) was willing to go outside the box in the design for his signature guitar, but the buying public isn't going for it (in a large scale).

 

[syciprider]

I like the way it looks. It could use a little less real estate though.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

it isnt even close to a possiblity

What isn't??? You getting a "chubby"??