Paul_C
Well-known member
I've owned 4 Bongos, and gigged them all - never had a problem with any of the batteries yet, so whatever your particular problem is, it's quite unusual.
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adouglas
Well-known member
The box isn't even an EBMM part. It's a standard piece, used on many basses.
I've had three basses with them, and have never, ever, once, had any problem at all.
Actually I think they're a great invention. The stupid battery clip/snap on style always had ridiculously skinny wires on the contact strip, with no mechanical attachment...just solder. And this is on something that you have to physically manipulate every time you change a battery. Those fail on a routine basis!
Not to mention the fact that you have to unscrew an access plate to get at the blasted battery. Lost screws, stripped holes....bleah. Give me that nifty little pop-up hatch every time.
IIRC there was some talk a while back about the shape of the female battery terminal (can't remember if that's + or - on a 9V). The cup is formed by a hexagonal crimp of the terminal. I think someone said that on certain batteries you might need to rotate that a bit to get the battery to seat all the way. Could this be the source of the difficulty you're having?
I've had three basses with them, and have never, ever, once, had any problem at all.
Actually I think they're a great invention. The stupid battery clip/snap on style always had ridiculously skinny wires on the contact strip, with no mechanical attachment...just solder. And this is on something that you have to physically manipulate every time you change a battery. Those fail on a routine basis!
Not to mention the fact that you have to unscrew an access plate to get at the blasted battery. Lost screws, stripped holes....bleah. Give me that nifty little pop-up hatch every time.
IIRC there was some talk a while back about the shape of the female battery terminal (can't remember if that's + or - on a 9V). The cup is formed by a hexagonal crimp of the terminal. I think someone said that on certain batteries you might need to rotate that a bit to get the battery to seat all the way. Could this be the source of the difficulty you're having?
I recently purchased an SR4 from eBay that arrived dead. Upon inspection, I discovered that the tongs/connectors where bent and not making contact, and the wires' soldering was about to break.
A simple repair.
Convenient for quick battery changes, but the battery box design is not as fool-proof, maintenance-free, and secure as the more common snap-in connectors.
A simple repair.
Convenient for quick battery changes, but the battery box design is not as fool-proof, maintenance-free, and secure as the more common snap-in connectors.
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bassmonkeee
Well-known member
Hmmmm.....Lots of Bongo owners, myself included, who have owned multiple instruments with the same battery box without any problems in years. You've managed to destroy two in less than a month, and you still think it's a design flaw?
Why are you being so rude? You act like it's a personal attack or something. It happened to me on a few occasions where I played the bass and it was fine, I put it in it's gig bag, take it out at gig or at practice and it won't play unless I take out the batteries and put them back in again.
What possible motivation could i have to be making this story up, "a live one."
I'm glad you and many others have multiple bongos without a hint of this problem, then I won't feel bad about buying my next two are three.
Just because it didn't happen to yours doesn't mean it's not happening to mine.
Jeeze quit acting like a fanboy. I just came here for help.
From my experience, yes. Because I treated the instrument very gently. It did not happen over a just a month though, it took several months for both to fail.
For all I know it is a connector to the battery box and not the box it'self. In fact I hope it is.
I susspect I just got a lemon. I have no idea the bass was sitting around at GC before I bought it, it could well have been sitting for quite some time and handled roughly.
mmmmmmmmmm, maybe I did just put new duracells in there. Btw I am ric from the bose forum. Thank you for actually trying to help with a usefull solution and not scolding me for daring to say that my bongo failed and perhaps part of the design is not the best idea.
Call customer service and ship it to them. They'll fix it, and make it bright and shiny again, too. I speak from experience.
Plus, I apologize if we seem reactionary. More than once, there have been issues with an actual mental heath case singling out this forum on which to inflict his malaise. It unfortunately ended up having to be resolved through legal action.
The absolute best way to solve your problem and do it the right way is to send the bass to Ernie Ball.
Plus, I apologize if we seem reactionary. More than once, there have been issues with an actual mental heath case singling out this forum on which to inflict his malaise. It unfortunately ended up having to be resolved through legal action.
The absolute best way to solve your problem and do it the right way is to send the bass to Ernie Ball.
adouglas
Well-known member
It's a tough crowd around here. You're going to need to grow some thick skin. Trust me on this one. I know first-hand. My own little observation from a year ago got well beyond the dead-horse-beating stage and was on its way to the carcass-picking stage before the heat let up.
'kay, so let's be positive here: Explain to us exactly what the mechanism for this bending is. Got a theory why your experience doesn't coincide with anyone else's?
If something is happening to your battery box, there is a reason for it. If it's happening only to your battery box and to nobody else's, then the chances of it being a systematic or design problem are about the same as the chances of me growing four inches (in height, dammit! Get yer mind out of the gutter!).
Which leaves, what? Either a really bizarre coincidence of defective parts or something on the user side. Occam's Razor says to check the user first.
Far be it from me to think that anyone isn't reporting their experiences accurately, but here are always at least three versions of the truth: Yours, mine and what really happened. All are equally "true," but none of them ever match.
strummer
Enormous Member
adouglas
Well-known member
Check the sig...what's the statute of limitations on this, anyway? Somewhere in the vicinity of "never?"
strummer
Enormous Member
Check the sig...what's the statute of limitations on this, anyway? Somewhere in the vicinity of "never?"
Lol, I'm in that same illustrious club too, but as the gentleman I am I let you have all the heat
Seriously, good call on the connector twist thingy, hope that's the problem. Although I cannot say I have seen a battery that needed it, I too have heard about it.
Big Poppa
Well-known member
THis is why the forum is not hte place to go...please go to customer service and let us diagnose and fix the problem.....You will get negaive feedback if you categorcally say that the battery box is a design flaw....
Dargin
Ernie Ball Customer Service
Did you try and bend the tongs up yet? If that didn't work please give CS a call at (866)-823-2255 and we'll get your bass in working order.
I have been "lurking" around here for almost four years and I only post once in a blue moon.
I know the forum is not a third-party, independent forum, and it is owned and moderated by the company, but, man!, are we supposed to only discuss the positive aspects of EB/MM and leave the negative things for behind-the-scenes e-mails between users and customer service?
I thought forums were created for users to exchange their experiences, good or bad, and to exchange information (good or bad) between each other.
We know that contacting CS will solve most issues, but sometimes users want to get a third-party opinion. It works like that for instruments, for cars, and for everything else in the world.
Might as well close this forum to new users and just exchange pictures of your Bongos amongst yourselves.
I'm going back to "lurking" mode.
This changes the tone from "can I please get some help" to "this thing sucks and I want it fixed."
'Cause, you know, trite is always the first, best option.
In this case, sir, the problem is an uncommon and transient one. A problem with a farily new bass (I guess) in which case contacting EB customer service should be the course of action. They are a model of what service after the sale should be. Are we done now?
Big Poppa
Well-known member
Kako You are missing the point.....This is about the best way to fix someones problem. I actually pay several people to quickly and professionally make problems go away. If the public chooses to get remedies like playing with a straight neck, or on another thread today where guys were given the absolutely wrong fix. Contrary to your post the standard battey clip was the MOST unreliable solution and our biggest warranty problem before going o the battery box. Im sorry if you want to lurk and throw stones becaaue we dont agree, but we actually have a fair bit of history and experience with these basses and retrofitting your bass to the two cheesy wires and the transistor clip is not a good solution. Most problems with the battery box are with the wrong sized battery or people using way too much force when replacing their battery.
YOu will notice in my signature that problems should be directed to customer service.... If thats too much to ask Im sorry
BP, I'm not throwing stones, I'm just confused about the protocol of the forum.
Maybe there should be a specific sticky for new users that states: "Please contact customer service prior to posting a problem with your instrument....," because new or casual users won't see that until they come across one of your posts (and see your signature), so they are subjected to get stones thrown at them for posting such questions.
I love my Sterling, by the way.
Maybe there should be a specific sticky for new users that states: "Please contact customer service prior to posting a problem with your instrument....," because new or casual users won't see that until they come across one of your posts (and see your signature), so they are subjected to get stones thrown at them for posting such questions.
I love my Sterling, by the way.
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Caca de Kick
Well-known member
I'm gald someone finally said it, 'cause I was about to too.
I couldn't believe how many guys came out with guns a blazin' tearing into that guy with no help...and he already called them before.
For all he knew, it could have been a common solution that all he had to do was take a minute to ask. If it isn't common and no one knows, then dig further...but be slammed? Come on!
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