Problems with my bongo

[ric1312]

My 4 string bongo bass is having reoccuring problems. It was going out, so I took it to my guy. The battery box was the problem. The connectors to the batteries kept getting bent back and not making connnection. Brought it in twice. We decided to reverse it's position to take weight off of the connectors. It kept doing it though. Although all I had to do was take the batteries out and put them back in and it would work again.

Well yesterday it went out and won't come back. I was wondering if anyone else had problems with bongos going out or the battery box? And how did you deal with it?

Both repair guys mentioned that the the battery box with the fold out slots was an awful design choice.

 

[maddog]

Haven't had a problem with the battery compartment yet.

Try giving customer service a call: 1-800-543-2255

they are top rate and may be of some help in solving the problem.

 

[silverburst]

Seriously, EB customer service people are the greatest around. I have had nothing but the greatest dealings with them...

 

[ric1312]

Ya, I called when it initially happened. And they sent me another battery box. But the second one did it too, with standard duracells. I think I may just have my guy take out the battery box and convert it to a standard clip on battery.

This is really getting on my nerves. It happened twice playing out, luckily i was able to put the batteries out then in and it went on. Once it was from just being shipped to a gig. and once when I just stomped my foot down.

Poor design choice with the battery box. shame, everything else is perfect.

But, what really makes me mad is that my $300 dollar cheap ibanez has never had a problem. But, my bongo which has an awesome sound can't be counted on.

I'm not even sure it it is the battery box this time, but I'll bet it is. I just wanted to know how many others had this problem and if there was an easy fix.

 

[Dargin]

be gentle when you put the batteries in. Most likely all you have to do is bend the tongs that power the battery up slightly.

 

[StingRayzor]

Yeah, if you are too aggressive, use the wrong brand of battery (they can vary slightly in dimension), or are just not plain careful, you can actually disconnect the wires from the terminals. Uhhh, yeah, speaking from prior experience on this one...Call customer service.

 

[nashman]

be gentle when you put the batteries in. Most likely all you have to do is bend the tongs that power the battery up slightly.

Could Rick put something behind the tongs ... e.g. cardboard ... to stop them from bending back and therefore hold the battery more securely?

 

[Big Poppa]

The guys who are criticizing our designs must have some pedigree.Especially if they wanted to reverse the box.....Try a little tenderness> This is not a design flaw.....

 

[Oldtoe]

Never ever had that problem. Dragged one Bongo all over Prague and I wouldn't have wanted any other bass. My #1 4HH is a paragon of dependability.

 

[robobass13]

I have 5 mm basses with the same batt box, and have never had a problem, not to beat you or your guy up, but I think it's a case of user error, I have installed the same batt. box in two other basses and those also have not had any problems.

 

[StingRayzor]

Just to clarify, I don't think my comments were a criticism of design as much as a mention of potential causes of user error. Is there anything on a bass, no matter how well designed, that can't be f'ed up by a user not being careful?

 

[silverburst]

I have 6 stingrays with the same box and always use Duracells. No problems to date...

 

[ras1983]

the only problem i have with my bongo is that i can't seem to put it down...

 

[StingRayzor]

I must try a Bongo. I am probably one of the few around here who has not.

 

[ric1312]

The guys who are criticizing our designs must have some pedigree.Especially if they wanted to reverse the box.....Try a little tenderness> This is not a design flaw.....

I guess I just have a lemon then. I was gentle, it's not like a jammed them in there. Like I said the same thing happened to the second battery box.

Kind of a bummer it's the second bass I ever bought. I decided on it after trying every bass in my GC and knowing the tone of the bongo was great the first note I played.

Ya the guys who work on my bass have been doing it for years and do tech for national acts. So, they know what they are talking about.

Sure the battery box is convienant, but if the battery connections can be made to bend to the point where they don't connect, just by the battery simply being in there, then this is not a dependable design. This happened to me with two seperate battery boxs. I'm not trying to start an argument it's just some people are acting like I'm being rough on my bass, which is not the case. I treat it with kid gloves, I love the bass.

I'm gettting very frustrated with this bass, though. I've got enough to deal with playing out and worrying about sound ect... without having to find that my best bass isn't going to work because the battery box connectors decided to bend on the way to a gig.

 

[bdgotoh]

Have you or your tech looked all through all of the wiring yet? If it's happening with two different battery boxes it's much less likely to be the battery box. Those things have been super dependable on all of my Bongos (and Sterlings and Stingrays). Maybe the wiring to the battery box or from the battery box to the preamp is loose and disconnects with movement, like when you stomp your foot.

I had that problem on an Alembic and it drove me crazy until I found the piece of wire that was the problem. I had to wiggle all of the wires while it was plugged in before I was able to locate it, it looked normal to the eye.

Rest assured it's far from normal for an EB bass and should be very simple to fix once you locate the problem. Good luck.

 

[PocketGroove82]

ooh ooh ooh. "Try a little tenderness" AWESOME Etta James tune!
Nice reference BP!

 

[jamesattard]

even my SR does the same.. I put a piece of paper behind the battery to seal the connection

 

[Aussie Mark]

because the battery box connectors decided to bend on the way to a gig.

Excuse my French, but that's complete BS. With the battery in the compartment and the battery box closed, there is no way known that the battery connectors can possibly bend. Got a live one here.

 

[strummer]

I've got enough to deal with playing out and worrying about sound ect... without having to find that my best bass isn't going to work because the battery box connectors decided to bend on the way to a gig.

Tell you what, a lot of us here use Bongos for playing out, some quite a lot. But there has never ever been any complaints about the battery itself bending the connectors while secured inside the box. Check the design yourself and decide if what you are claiming looks even possible.
I have actually dismantled a battery box, and even if I repeatedly bang the connectors with a heavy hammer they always flex back enough to make contact.

I seriously think you need to check the connections, and also that the batteries (even though you are using the specified model/make) aren't a bit too big. It happens you know.