To Bongo Or not to Bongo

[basstoad]

Hello to all,
From what I have seen, it looks like the Bongo 4 string appears to be the lightest of the three basses EB offers. I have a Stingray at present, but considering a Bongo. Unfortunately, none of the music stores around me carry a Bongo for me to check out.

Right now, a bass that is lite, and easy to play while sitting down are of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, I am going to be undergoing a third left shoulder surgery. Without going in depth, things will be permanently altered. I'm not sure I will ever be able to stand up and play again. If I'm lucky, I may play standing up at some time in the distant future. So, having a lite bass will become even more important.

Any thoughts would be welcomed. Thanks for your time.

T.O.

 

[Holdsg]

some people, not me, have had issues with the lower "horn" of the bongo (more like a stub than a horn, digging into their legs while seated. again, not been my experience, but I don't have fat legs (did I just say that?).

yes, bongos are on average lighter than stingrays, mostly due to the basswood vs. ash.
sterlings, usually, are just a tad lighter than stingrays because of the smaller body shape.
big als can be light too, overall less wood, I think, than sterlings or stingrays, and are very easy to play seated or standing.
light versions of all of them are out there, but you gotta look for them.

 

[tunaman4u2]

Absolutely

 

[JayDawg]

I have 3 Bongo's with a fourth currently being built. They are great basses and my main go to ones as well. Also very light too. If you get a new one, you will also have the new light weight tuners. With them, I can tell a big difference in weight on the head stock of the bass. It is noticeably lighter. If you really want to go lightweight, you can also go with a Bongo 4H. It's a rare beast but a monster.

 

[stu42]

I think light weight is basically a luck of the draw kind of thing. Of the EBMM basses I've had (Bongo 5HS, Sterling 5H, Bongo 5H, Big Al 5SSS) they've all weighed in at 10lbs on my bathroom scale.

Apparently, according the Bongo history page, Basswood was chosen for the Bongo not only for its tone but because it is typically lighter weight than Ash which was significant because the electronics package on the Bongo is relatively heavy.

So, given that, as JayDawg says, the Bongo 4H would be your lightest EBMM bass (theoretically) since it has fewer pickups and potentially lighter wood. But you never know so if you need light weight then I'd recommend to make sure you verify the weight before you buy.

That makes me wonder though....since Bongo pickups use Neodymium magnets, which are known to be light weight, why would the Bongo electronics be heavy? Hmmm...

 

[Holdsg]

because of the extra "guts" that control that awesome 4-band EQ (not to mention the flux capacitor, shhhhh, there are newbies around).

 

[five7]

My bongo 5 HH weighs a little over 8 lbs. Does not dig into my leg while setting. Probably the most comfortable bass I have ever owned. Love it bigtime!

 

[OldManMusic]

I saw a fellow forumite play live who used a traditional back support belt that had a little additional strap that hooked on the body of the bass that helped support the weight go his Bongo 5.

I had fusion surgery last year on my lower back and sat at gigs for a few months while I recovered. I used a Bongo at every one of them. No issues with the lower horn on my leg.

Besides, the tone of a Bongo will make you feel better than any pain meds the doctors will give you. Good luck.

 

[epitaph04]

You always Bongo. No matter what.

 

[iamcatwarrior]

You must Bongo. You can't afford not to Bongo.

I got my first one three years ago. It replaced my other instruments as my main stage bass in one show. After that, I moved up to 6-string and bought two more in subsequent years.

 

[keko]

I'm still waiting for a first sign of possible 10th Anniversary Bongo?

 

[iamcatwarrior]

I'm still waiting for a first sign of possible 10th Anniversary Bongo?

If and when there is, I'm sure the response will be overwhelming.

And I'm going to do everything in my power to get one or five of them....

 

[Big Poppa]

Bongo's are a cult. Bongo's were my revenge. The Bongo means that you don't mind being a little different and that sound and ergonomics are more important that vanilla.

 

[drTStingray]

Bongo's are a cult. Bongo's were my revenge. The Bongo means that you don't mind being a little different and that sound and ergonomics are more important that vanilla.

Sums it up! I would major +1 on ergonomics - they are the most ergonomic bass I've ever played - play great sitting down also - only surpassed IMHO by the Big Al when sitting down - probably because of the more pointy lower horn shape sitting well.

 

[keko]

If and when there is, I'm sure the response will be overwhelming.

And I'm going to do everything in my power to get one or five of them....

+1

Ohh Lord, ...somebody, ..anybody, ...just give us a sign and I'm ordering one!

 

[iamcatwarrior]

Bongo's are a cult. Bongo's were my revenge. The Bongo means that you don't mind being a little different and that sound and ergonomics are more important that vanilla.

I still think it'd be fun if EBMM did a limited edition runs of that Uncle Sam-like picture of you saying, "I want you to buy a Bongo." (I'll take seven, size L.)

I've been playing them live for a few years now and people tell me they love the tone and the look. I get a lot of people asking more questions about my bass than about the songs we play.

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Just got my Single H Bongo PDN

I 'get' the Single H Bongo Thing.

Can't explain it...have to try it...when you do, like I did, you'll 'get it'...it's all that and a bag of chips...photos comin'

 

[cellkirk74]

pics?

 

[basstoad]

Thanks to everyone so far. I really appreciate the input. As far as the look of the Bongo, I've always thought it was pretty cool. No problem there.

 

[Runnerman]

In real life, everybody loves the look of the Bongo. Last w/e two fests....got rave comments about the Bongo at both of them. We were staging to go on next on Sunday and the sound tech walked right past my two guitar players Les Paul/Ibanez/Telecaster/SG right to my stand and looked a the Bongo....said, "You got the good stuff." And then there is the sound....