Questions about Bongo Specs...

[Da5id]

Hello all, I'm new here, been lurking for about a week, reading up on the Bongo.

But after all my reading, I still have a quetsion or two...

Can anyone tell me the exact string spacing on the Bongo 5 and the Bongo 4? I'm hoping to purchase one of the two soon, but I haven't had a chance to play a Bongo 5 yet, and I'm having a hard time deciding between the two. I'll have to go up to Portland (I live in Eugene, OR) to play one at Apple Music, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to work that in, so hopefully someone can help me out with actual measurements! I'm just a little wary of the 5 for slapping (which I love to do on my own, and while I don't use it all that much in a band context, there are a few tunes where it's inescapable) as I've found that overly-close string spacing makes it really hard for me to slap cleanly.

Also, I have heard that the Bongos are battery hogs. Not from a credible source, mind you, just somewhere online (maybe a harmonycentral review, I don't remember) and I was hoping someone can tell me their current consumption? Or their battery life time?

Also, does anyone know what the wait will be for getting ahold of one of the Stealth Black Bongos? I really like the looks of those, especially the black hardware (I just don't like chrome...) and the Stealth Black would go really nicely with my wardrobe

Thanks!

 

[MingusBASS]

I don't know the measurements but I have no trouble slapping on my Bongo 5 HH. If anything it will make your technique tighter. As far as the battery issue, the Bongo treats batteries like any other active bass I've owned and I haven't noticed any shortage in battery life. The same people who say it's a "battery hog" are most likely the people who aren't smart enough to unplug their cable so it doesn't drain the batteries. It also depends on how much you play. If you change batteries every 3 months you should be fine. For most people they will last longer.

I just ordered a Buttercream Bongo and It will be 3 to 4 months before I get it so I wouldn't expect the stealth Bongos to show up in shops before then.

Andrew

 

[bassmonkeee]

I agree with pretty much everything Andrew posted. I use my Bongos every day for at least an hour each, and play gigs that last over 3 hours. I've changed my batteries once since I got my fretted back in February of 2004, and I have yet to change my batteries in my fretless, which I've had since the beginning of September. And, I've even got piezios running off of them, too.

I usually change my bass batteries when I change the batteries in my smoke detectors--about every 6 months. But, I also keep a couple of spares in my gigbag. It takes all of 2 minutes to change batteries, so it's not a big deal to begin with.

I also have no problem slapping on my HHP Bongo 5.

 

[Psychicpet]

yes and yes. slapping will get tighter and not so sloppy and as far as the batteries, I too use my Bongo 5HH everyday and gig alot and have only just changed batteries in it because I wanted to, not because they were dead and I've had the bass since July!

 

[Da5id]

Well, I suppose that addresses all of my concerns! Thanks for the info, people!

Hopefully soon I shall join the ranks of happy Bongo owners!

 

[KEVL]

I find slapping on the Bongo 5 tight. HOWEVER, I'm not a slapper by any stretch of the imagination. I can slap a very simple line and that's about it.

I think the person above who said it will make your technique better is correct.

Besides the fact that the HH pickup setup pounds the sound out of your amp, and the Bongo in general sounds just fantastic.

Just think how easy it will be to slap on a Fender after you get good at it on a Bongo.