String tree on Bongo....

[Darth Tater]

Does anyone else find the string tree on the Bongo 4 rather useless? After tracking down an annoying rattle on the open A and D strings I found the source to be the strings rattling against the string tree. The tree does not provide any downforce on the strings, they are at least a quarter inch below the top of the tree and they are rattling against the sides of the tree.

Is it just mine? Does anyone elses tree actually push down on the strings?

 

[Motojunkie]

Mine appears to working just fine. It doesn't provide a lot of down force, but it certainly isn't going to rattle.....

 

[Darth Tater]

Here's how my strings go through the tree. It's not a problem or anything, I'm just curious why the tree is even there since the strings don't even touch it (except barely on the sides..just enough to rattle) and I'd just like to see if anyone else's tree actually pushes the strings down.

I just want to add that I'm not complaining at all here...this bass blows me away every time I play it, it's simply amazing how it does everything I want it to..it's like a part of me

 

[MingusBASS]

The String trees on both of my bongos work like they should. The A and D strings each are recieving a bit of downward tilt from the tree. Are those the strings that came with the bass? If not, did the buzz happen when you first got the bass?


Andrew

 

[Darth Tater]

Yep, factory strings and they've rattled (just those two strings) since day one. I'm not sure that those strings need more downforce, the tuner pegs keep them low as it is. However I might slap a shorter tree on there if I get a wild hair.

 

[Motojunkie]

That photo makes it seem as though either the string tree is too high, or your nut is cut extremely low. Here's some photos of mine. Please forgive the poor quality of the photos......

I hope this helps.....

 

[tkarter]

Many may consider this a crazy idea but I would just wind them so that the string wraps started at the bottom and moved up. That should get them tight on the tree.


tk

 

[Darth Tater]

I might try the winding thing but I don't think that would provide any more downforce than the tuners already give them and I can stop the rattle with no problem.

Motojunkie, yours looks just like mine. The difference is the strings. Your strings are much thicker than mine and they are not tapered at the end so there is more beef at the tree. Yet your strings are barely touching the top part so I guess the tree is just there to insure that there is some downforce if you use huge strings or funky winding and it's not needed under normal conditions since the posts are tapered.

 

[Motojunkie]

Good catch, I didn't notice the taper on your strings.

I can't give any empirical data on how much down force the string tree provides, but you can see that there's a distinct bend in the D string - it has less effect on the A string so it's harder to see there. From a common sense point of view, the fact that your strings aren't touching the top of the tree indicate (to me at least) that you have plenty of down force, and that the tree is not doing anything in this case - You might as well take the tree off and save it for when/if you decide to change your string brand/style.

 

[tkarter]

The bass I had to do the bottom to top winding did not get more break on the strings but it did in my opinion add some tension to the strings. Made them sound better than they did when they weren't touching the tree.

tk

 

[midopa]

The strings on my Bongo just barely touch the tree - they're straight up tangent to the thing.

 

[Darth Tater]

Thanks guys, I guess my Bongo is normal

 

[tkarter]

You could send it to me and if someone else would send one also I would know what is normal for a Bongo.


tk

 

[Darth Tater]

No problem dude, I'll send it to you so you can check out the string tree. Just paypal me a small deposit to help with the shipping and handling (hey my time is valuable)....say $1500...and I'll get it on the way

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

How you digging the TI EB-344's Motojunkie?

 

[JB1]

Just a tought....

Your neck relief all tickey-boo?

 

[Darth Tater]

Neck relief is purrrr-fect! Had to adjust it just a hair after the bass arrived (about 4 months ago) and it's still dead on perfect.

I think we've basically figured out that the strings do not need to touch the tree...it's just there for looks

 

[adouglas]

Neck relief is purrrr-fect! Had to adjust it just a hair after the bass arrived (about 4 months ago) and it's still dead on perfect.

OT, just out of curiosity....

Does the Bongo have anything like a neck adjuster screw, or did you do the loosen-the-bolts-and-insert-a-piece-of-card-stock routine?

 

[Motojunkie]

How you digging the TI EB-344's Motojunkie?

Just what the Dr ordered!

 

[Motojunkie]

OT, just out of curiosity....

Does the Bongo have anything like a neck adjuster screw, or did you do the loosen-the-bolts-and-insert-a-piece-of-card-stock routine?

For neck angle adjustments, shims are required. I haven't seen a need for it on mine though.