The Bongo Defense

[bovinehost]

I endure some ribbing over my Bongos (not here, of course), and about the coolest response I've seen yet came not from me, but from a guy who doesn't even play Bongos or MM basses. I've edited it just a bit, but had to share:

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"....I just don't get all this anti-Bongo slagging. What's the BFD with people constantly ridiculing them? They sound good. At worst, they look slightly odd. So what?

The pickguard shape is strange, but all MM pickguards are strange. The headstock and horns are different, but there are a lot worse out there.

Compared to a Gibson Explorer or anything ever made by B. C. Rich, the Bongo is a model of normalcy. Compared to all the hideous deformed "hump basses" so popular on certain other forums, a Bongo is positively beautiful.

And at least Sterling Ball isn't likely to start putting rotted wood burl tops on his basses and proclaiming them beautiful."


But wait! There was even a follow-up!

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"I don't care for the looks myself, but sometimes the constant piling on gets old.

Yet guys display their latest "singlecut" monstrosities with grotesque spalted buckeye burl tops and fancy inlays and people just drool over it and get very offended if anyone doesn't like it.

If I stepped in and said "your bass looks like a rotted log that had a queer eye makeover", wonder what kind of response I'd get?"

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If this guy were any closer, I'd buy him dinner.

 

[Bassplyr]

This guy is right on! Who is he?

 

[flywheel]

this man raises several good points in this thread

 

[tkarter]

There are honest folks every where some times it takes a while to find one. Some times it don't as when you come here.

tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

This guy is right on! Who is he?

Dave W - the moderator of the Gibson and Rickenbacker forums at the Dudepit

 

[armybass]

If I stepped in and said "your bass looks like a rotted log that had a queer eye makeover", wonder what kind of response I'd get?"

LOL....that is good stuff

 

[crazybass888]

Its all true. Compared to some of the "boutique" basses out there, the Bongo isn't that far off the mark. Some people are just afraid of whats different. Always have been, always will be.

 

[Morrow]

I thought the Bongos were odd when they first came out. Now that I've had the time to digest the look they have become a classic shape.

 

[nismaniac]

I thought the Bongos were odd when they first came out. Now that I've had the time to digest the look they have become a classic shape.

This is the same way I feel. The first time I saw a picture of the Bongo was in a review in BP magazine. This was before I bought my SR5, so I wasn't quite the enthusist I am now. I thought "what were they thinking" etc. I thought they should do a modern interpretation of the Sabre or something. As time went on I grew to like the design more and more. I haven't had the chance to play one yet but I am sold on the design. If it plays half as good as my SR5, I don't see why I wouldn't own one in the future.

I'm really liking the idea of a clear pickguard on the bongos. I think it lets the body shape "speak more". Sometimes I get the feeling that the pickguard crowds the body.

 

[Bassjones42]

I have to admit that even though I love my SR5 more than any other bass I have ever owned I am constantly intrigued by the Bongos that I see and hear about. I have played a Bongo fiver and it felt and sounded familiar in some ways and at the same time it was unlike anything I have played before so I left the store pondering what it would be like to get a Bongo. I think it's only a matter of time before I own Bongo fiver. I believe the Bongo is a small glimpse of the future of bass guitars. I'm guessing that most people who knock them have never even touched a Bongo, because we all know that once you play one you want one.

Cheers,
Bassjones
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/bassjones.htm

 

[cgworkman]

Some people go on and on about how weird something, or someone, looks. Some people should flat out buy a mirror and look in it.

We're so quick these days to look at someone's "creation" and start ripping on it. It's not about what's ugly or not - but about what suits your preference.

If you were on the main design team for The Bongo and were ripped about the Bongo's appearance - I'm sure it would hurt your little feelings. But, f*ck no, if it's not us or ours we don't care.

I see people playing dildo-resembling Warwicks, and I don't get all worked up about it. Because I flat out don't care!!

The point of this rant is... Well, actually, I'm not really sure. Just give the Bongo bashing a rest!

 

[bassmonkeee]

The bottom line is that if one bass met everyone's needs, we'd all be playing blonde single coil Precision Basses with one piece maple necks and a black pickguard.


If someone wants to discount the Bongo based on looks, that's their prerogative . No one said that everyone has to like it. I know the gool folk at Ernie Ball didn't look at the final Bongo design and say, "Finally! A bass for the teeming masses!" I'm not terribly worried about anyone's feelings getting hurt--they are adults, and knew there were traditionalists who would never wrap their head around the concept simply because it is "different."

Just like Fieldy is open to scorn and ridicule for no good reason, I think a lot of the Bongo bashing is simply a pack mentality of piling on. I mean--are two flat horns really that much different than two rounded horns? Is the headstock really that more radical than anything from Kramer, G&L, Ibanez, BC Rich, etc?

I played a blues gig with a guitar player who owns Atlanta Vintage Guitars. I asked him what he thought about the Bongo, and he said, "Who cares how it looks because it sounds f-ing amazing." Now, if a guy who makes his living selling traditional vintage instruments and hasn't cleaned his guitar since 1963 because of the inherent mojo of the dust can see past the appearance, I'm certainly not going to care about what any overcritical bass players have to say. The last time I checked, I wasn't getting a lot of gigs from bass players.

 

[cgworkman]

The last time I checked, I wasn't getting a lot of gigs from bass players.

Bravo!

 

[Mobay45]

I like the seasonal Halloween reference to the folks at EB, but the spelling should be ghoul.

 

[Mobay45]

Here's the bottom line.

If anyone who bought a Bongo cared what anyone else thought about the way it looks, they might never have bought one. If you're smart enough to realize how amazing they sound and base your opinion mostly on that, then you made a good decision. These instruments have taken a lot of flack over their appearance and the materials they are made of. Any good bass player should know that neither of those are reasons to discount playing a bass. Close your eyes and play it. If you like how it sounds, don't worry what anyone else thinks. Look at all the years I didn't play a Stingray because I was too closed minded about their appearance. I'm glad I finally woke up and I'm sure there are others that will be kicking themselves in the a$$ for not trying a Bongo sooner than later. I don't have one yet, but I will eventually get a Bongo.

 

[mike not fat]

I must be one of the rare person who loved the Bongo look at first sight. I've read more negative opinions about it than positive ones.

Must be a question of taste (luckily not everyone have the same), but i think that the look is also used by some people as a pretext, to discredit the instument because they can't afford to buy it, or regret to spend more money then the price of a Bongo to get something that sounds bader.

Most important thing is not how the instrument looks.

What's important is the pleasure you have to play it, and that depends on many criterions : the way it sounds, the comfort, the way it looks (no one loves to play an instrument he finds really odd)...
If you have pleasure to play, and give people pleasure by playing with your band, no matter what's the price, the color or the brand of your bass.

Considering all that, if you find the Bongo is for you, go on and buy one, you'll sure be right ! If you dont love it, respect Bongo owner's choice.

MNF

 

[Morrow]

The bottom line is that if one bass met everyone's needs, we'd all be playing blonde single coil Precision Basses with one piece maple necks and a black pickguard.
.....uh bassmonkeee....you just happen to be describing one of my favourite instruments. I have a 51 re-issue and it sounds deadly. Leo got it right the first time.

 

[flywheel]

.....uh bassmonkeee....you just happen to be describing one of my favourite instruments. I have a 51 re-issue and it sounds deadly. Leo got it right the first time.

That's exactly what he's saying though...it was a great instrument but sooner or later people want something a bit different.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've just bought one, and I still think Bongos are uglyass, but what sold me has been reading first hand reviews about the sound and build quality from people who don't BS about that kind of thing.

 

[bassmonkeee]

.....uh bassmonkeee....you just happen to be describing one of my favourite instruments. I have a 51 re-issue and it sounds deadly. Leo got it right the first time.

I love 'em, too. But, it isn't exactly a 5 string H/H/P Bongo, now is it?