problems with the bongo

[sir funkytown]

I love the bongo....don't get me wrong.But there are a couple of things that I find a little annoying about it.
1:the front pickup(if you got a two pickup model)is too close to the neck...it makes it quite tricky for slapping.(i had to lower the pickups quite a bit)
2:the out put on the pickups is waaay higher than any other bass I have played ,requiring radical adjustments to the amp to avoid clpping.
3:...no number 3 yet.

on the other hand ...the tone in the Bongo smokes!!

 

[clanner]

not to sound liek a smart ***, but have you tried adjusting the onboard eq a little? turning everything a little flat and/or turning down the volume? just a suggestion from a non bongo owning bongo lover.

also, did you try the bass out in the store, slapping aswell? tried other pup configs.

 

[barkatozz]

I love the bongo....don't get me wrong.But there are a couple of things that I find a little annoying about it.
1:the front pickup(if you got a two pickup model)is too close to the neck...it makes it quite tricky for slapping.(i had to lower the pickups quite a bit)
2:the out put on the pickups is waaay higher than any other bass I have played ,requiring radical adjustments to the amp to avoid clpping.
3:...no number 3 yet.

on the other hand ...the tone in the Bongo smokes!!

A) I had to lower my neck p/u the right amount so I could pluck there(was my gripe when I first played one......BUT I got used to it quickly & don't pop/slap that much)
B) it isn't that much louder than my other basses & I just turn the volume down on the bass a little

 

[bassmonkeee]

Welcome to the forum. You'll find lots of knowledgeable people here on the subject of MM basses.

That said, I'm not willing to sacrifice the sound I get from the neck pickup soloed because you aren't able to do something exactly the same way you could do it another bass. I can slap just fine on a 2 pickup Bongo and so can a lot of other people. What makes you think it's the bass's fault? Continue to practice, and you'll find that slapping on a Bongo is no more difficult than slapping on any other bass--it just doesn't allow for sloppy, or imprecise, technique.

Second, I have no problem with the volume of the Bongo in relation to my other basses. In fact, my Sadowsky has a hotter output than either of my Bongos. My amp is nothing magical, either, and no problems with it being overloaded.

This makes me think you are putting all of the Bongo controls on 10, which is a good way to overload your amp input and have to radically change your amp controls to compensate.

Try starting with the controls on the Bongo flat. If it seems too quiet at that point turn up your master volume a little bit. The fun is exploring how the 4 bands of EQ interact with each other. I still find new flavors in my Bongos every time I sit down to play.

 

[MingusBASS]

Ok 2 things...

1. Add another bassist to the list of 2 Humbucker Bongo slappers. Sure at first I had to adjust my technique a tad but now since I've adjusted the pickup height to how I want it, it's no problem at all. And let me tell ya, It's worth the effort. The Bongo has an awesome slap sound.

2. There's a reason most amps have 2 inputs or a switch/button for hotter basses. Use it. If you already do it shouldn't be that much of a change from bass to bass. The Bongo is pretty Hot but EBMM figures the average Joe can handle it. Besides...if I change basses I usually change settings on my amp anyways. A P bass is not gonna get the same Eq as a bongo when I play it.

Now go play your bongo

Andrew

 

[Freddy-G.]

Welcome to the forum. You'll find lots of knowledgeable people here on the subject of MM basses.

Well said, Andrew and Jason. Problems with the Bongo? I don't think so.

 

[bassmonkeee]

A P bass is not gonna get the same Eq as a bongo when I play it.

Heh--they do at my house.

 

[MingusBASS]

I don't even own a P bass...haha I was just using it as an example. The point is...The Bongo shoudln't be causing havoc in your setup!

Andrew

 

[mike not fat]

1. Add another bassist to the list of 2 Humbucker Bongo slappers.

+ 1. I really don't have any problems with the neck humbucker when slapping. It's not what I do most, but I regularily do. I did'n lower the pu (this could affect the sound of it), but I got more precise in the way I'm poping, and that's also good for the way you slap/pop. Just practice and you'll forget that neck pu.

Use the active entry of your amp if there's one. And play with the eq of the bass and amp : you can get fabullous sounds out of them !

MNF

 

[Darth Tater]

I had to adjust my neck pickup also, but mainly because it was waaay to close to the strings. Lowered it down, all is good.

Not sure what kind of amp you're using (what kind of amp are you using?!?!) but the output of the Bongo is definitely not too hot for my Carvin...which of course has input gain adjustments. But on the other hand I've also got basses with hotter output than the Bongo that don't cause a problem, so your problem sounds amp/setup related. Not Bongo related.

 

[sir funkytown]

thanks for all the suggestions...

...and also thanks for all the smug, condesending comments(it's so easy to say stuff on the internet that you wouldn't say face to face).I use an old style of slapping (like Larry Graham)that needs a fair bit of clearance for the popping hand.When i called the Ernie Ball hotline and asked them about the volume and slap clearance issue guess what they told me to do, thats right ,lower the pickups.The only slap player that seems to be using the bongo is Gail Anne Dorsy from David Bowies band, and I have an e-mail from her saying that she mostly uses her Sterling...although ,like me, she loves the Bongo as well.The bongo that she has is the single humbucker model....no front pickup.
I use the GT-6B, it doesn't have an active/passive switch or inputs(it doesn't have a ground lift on the XLR direct outs either....but don't get me started on that)The bongo clips the hell out of the amp simulations, so I turned them off and just run the pedals 3 band EQ and a little compression...problem solved.I run the volume on the Bongo(and all my basses) full out, and the EQ flat.That way, I can controll all the tone issues from the pedal.I can't be trying to remember the exact positions for 7 knobs on a bass in the middle of a corporate show.All that being said...I love the Bongo...amazing tone, great feeling neck, fab electronics....it's just not perfect.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Sir Funky town


how about just not perfect for me.

I agree that the defenders of the Bongo might jump on newbies. they mean well.

there are quite a few slap players playing the Bongo. Dave La Rue comes to mind.

There is absolutely no reason with our preamp to have the volume all the way up especially if you don't have to different inputs on your amp. Just try to break that habit and I think that it will work a little better for you.

Thanks for the support and sorry you got roughed up. You also might be a little testy without Hockey. Almo is one of my best friends.

Big Poppa

 

[AnthonyD]

*sigh*

 

[AnthonyD]

...Thanks for the support and sorry you got roughed up. You also might be a little testy without Hockey...

I just re-read the thread... And double-checked Sir Funky's location...

Hysterical!

 

[sir funkytown]

I tell ya....couldn't give a rats ass about hockey.Who is Almo?.

 

[bassmonkeee]

...and also thanks for all the smug, condesending comments(it's so easy to say stuff on the internet that you wouldn't say face to face).I use an old style of slapping (like Larry Graham)that needs a fair bit of clearance for the popping hand.When i called the Ernie Ball hotline and asked them about the volume and slap clearance issue guess what they told me to do, thats right ,lower the pickups.The only slap player that seems to be using the bongo is Gail Anne Dorsy from David Bowies band, and I have an e-mail from her saying that she mostly uses her Sterling...although ,like me, she loves the Bongo as well.The bongo that she has is the single humbucker model....no front pickup.
I use the GT-6B, it doesn't have an active/passive switch or inputs(it doesn't have a ground lift on the XLR direct outs either....but don't get me started on that)The bongo clips the hell out of the amp simulations, so I turned them off and just run the pedals 3 band EQ and a little compression...problem solved.I run the volume on the Bongo(and all my basses) full out, and the EQ flat.That way, I can controll all the tone issues from the pedal.I can't be trying to remember the exact positions for 7 knobs on a bass in the middle of a corporate show.All that being said...I love the Bongo...amazing tone, great feeling neck, fab electronics....it's just not perfect.

Lighten up, Francis.

 

[Freddy-G.]

Here's a cool shot of Gail Ann Dorsey and her Sterling. I believe this is one of her album covers.

 

[Freddy-G.]

Lighten up, Francis.

Who's your big toe?

 

[MingusBASS]

That's a stringray son!

Andrew

 

[Freddy-G.]

That's a stringray son!

Andrew

How silly of me. Of course it's a StingRay. Saw her play with Bowie. What a cool show that was.