- Thread starter Chris C
- Start date
Darth Tater
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
- Messages
- 131
I say don't hesitate, get that Bongo!
http://www.chuckamuck.com/guitars/basses/
Listen to the middle clip under the Bongo.
http://www.chuckamuck.com/guitars/basses/
Listen to the middle clip under the Bongo.
I take it you're not located in an area where you can go and try a Bongo out for yourself? Chances are that just playing the thing and hearing its own sound will be enough to push you over the edge and snag one, whether or not it has the J-bass sound.
That said, you may be able to get the tone you want by soloing the bridge PU and boosting treble and mids slightly. But I don't think you can make a direct comparison in the tones. Doesn't do justice to the sound of the Bongo to say it resembles a J.
Cheers,
That said, you may be able to get the tone you want by soloing the bridge PU and boosting treble and mids slightly. But I don't think you can make a direct comparison in the tones. Doesn't do justice to the sound of the Bongo to say it resembles a J.
Cheers,
Hutton
Well-known member
If you really want a J Bass bridge pup sound then it seems logical to buy a J bass. Why torture yourself thinking whether or not a Bongo will give you the same tone. However, why not try a Bongo and you may be so happy with the sound that you'll forget all about a J Bass.
Collection
Well, actually, what I'm in the process of doing is thinning down my herd. I want to have just a few versitile basses rather than a bunch of specialty sound basses. I do love J-basses, but the problem is... they frequently get lost in the mix. But, I would really miss that low-mid punch of the soloed bridge PU. If I can get close to that on a Bongo, I'd be happy.
As much as I love my Sterling, I can't quite get that sound... close, but not quite. I was thinking that the extra EQ options on the Bongo and the slightly different PU placement might be close enough to satisfy me.
Well, actually, what I'm in the process of doing is thinning down my herd. I want to have just a few versitile basses rather than a bunch of specialty sound basses. I do love J-basses, but the problem is... they frequently get lost in the mix. But, I would really miss that low-mid punch of the soloed bridge PU. If I can get close to that on a Bongo, I'd be happy.
As much as I love my Sterling, I can't quite get that sound... close, but not quite. I was thinking that the extra EQ options on the Bongo and the slightly different PU placement might be close enough to satisfy me.
bassmonkeee
Well-known member
Chris C said:
I can easily get a soloed J pickup sound out of my Bongos. With a low-mid and high-mid boost and a slight low cut, the soloed bridge pickup can get the sound you are looking for. I've got flats on my fretted Bongo, but I'll try and record a quick sample this evening so you can hear for yourself.
bovinehost
Administrator
I think there is a snarly, midrange-heavy tone in the bridge pickup of the Bongo.
I wouldn't go so far as to call it a "Jazz" sound, but that TYPE of sound is certainly there.
Jack
I wouldn't go so far as to call it a "Jazz" sound, but that TYPE of sound is certainly there.
Jack
ras1983
Well-known member
solo bridge pup, cut bass slightly, boost low mid and high mid considerably. hey presto, j bass bride pup, albeit with the bongo's ferocious low end. the closer you play to the bridge, the more nasally the tone from the bridge H will get.
the neck pup can get a good P approximation also. just turn up the bass and low mid, turn down the high mid and treble. solo the neck pup. it sounds VERY similiar to a p, with that loose bottom and low-mid growl that p's have.
blend HH pups 50/50, leave everything flat to begin with. a small portion of your wall will crack, and you will forget the j bass tone you want so badly. NOW the fun begins
the neck pup can get a good P approximation also. just turn up the bass and low mid, turn down the high mid and treble. solo the neck pup. it sounds VERY similiar to a p, with that loose bottom and low-mid growl that p's have.
blend HH pups 50/50, leave everything flat to begin with. a small portion of your wall will crack, and you will forget the j bass tone you want so badly. NOW the fun begins
bassmonkeee
Well-known member
ras1983 said:solo bridge pup, cut bass slightly, boost low mid and high mid considerably. hey presto, j bass bride pup, albeit with the bongo's ferocious low end. the closer you play to the bridge, the more nasally the tone from the bridge H will get.
the neck pup can get a good P approximation also. just turn up the bass and low mid, turn down the high mid and treble. solo the neck pup. it sounds VERY similiar to a p, with that loose bottom and low-mid growl that p's have.
blend HH pups 50/50, leave everything flat to begin with. a small portion of your wall will crack, and you will forget the j bass tone you want so badly. NOW the fun begins
Bravo! Well put! Although, I do have to say that I don't often use both of the pickups at the same time. But, I'm using piezos, too. But, I agree with the general gist of your post.
drgroovenstein
Well-known member
Darth Tater said:
Yo, are those played with a pick?
One of my favorite things about the Bongo, aside from the thunder I can get rolling in the neck H - is the fact that i can get a really Jaco like sound. I drop the bass (not the Bongo, the tone control) a little, crank the low mids and the treble - and I'm pretty sure I roll off the high mids altogether. If that's the only thing holding you back I say go for it. I don't think you'll be dissapointed.
And I disagree with the advice of if you want t J sound, go for a jazz bass. If you want a Jaco sound you can get that and so much more with a Bongo. If you get a jazz you might get the Jaco sound but you're also stuck with a fender then.
And I disagree with the advice of if you want t J sound, go for a jazz bass. If you want a Jaco sound you can get that and so much more with a Bongo. If you get a jazz you might get the Jaco sound but you're also stuck with a fender then.
Big Poppa
Well-known member
thats my boy Joe Nerve! Joe whats shakin? I think we might be due for some of your photographic art to wake things up...
strummer
Enormous Member
Joe Nerve said:One of my favorite things about the Bongo, aside from the thunder I can get rolling in the neck H - is the fact that i can get a really Jaco like sound. I drop the bass (not the Bongo, the tone control) a little, crank the low mids and the treble - and I'm pretty sure I roll off the high mids altogether. If that's the only thing holding you back I say go for it. I don't think you'll be dissapointed.
And I disagree with the advice of if you want t J sound, go for a jazz bass. If you want a Jaco sound you can get that and so much more with a Bongo. If you get a jazz you might get the Jaco sound but you're also stuck with a fender then.
A big +1!
I just tried the above setting, and then fooled my brother who's a huge jaco fan. Didn't have to roll the hi mids all the way down, though.
Hutton
Well-known member
Joe Nerve said:One of my favorite things about the Bongo, aside from the thunder I can get rolling in the neck H - is the fact that i can get a really Jaco like sound. I drop the bass (not the Bongo, the tone control) a little, crank the low mids and the treble - and I'm pretty sure I roll off the high mids altogether. If that's the only thing holding you back I say go for it. I don't think you'll be dissapointed.
And I disagree with the advice of if you want t J sound, go for a jazz bass. If you want a Jaco sound you can get that and so much more with a Bongo. If you get a jazz you might get the Jaco sound but you're also stuck with a fender then.
I don't think a Jaco sound was what was being sought. It was the punchy solo bridge pickup sound that was in question. If the Bongo gives that sound that's great. I play a ray as well as a Jazz and can't get a solo bridge pup sound from my ray. But I don't worry about that because my ray is my main squeeze and gives me plenty of what I need. If I want a jazz sound I can have that as well and don't really feel that I am 'stuck' with my jazz.
Hutton said:
I just said that cuz I have a huge resentment against fender about a piece of crap that I bought from them for over $1000 a few years back. I know there's lots of Fender fans out there - hence the smiley in my first post.
As per Poppa's request - my Bongo with my other calendar girl...
I know - I can do better than that. Maybe later I'll post something nice in it's very own thread.
adouglas
Well-known member
Joe Nerve said:As per Poppa's request - my Bongo with my other calendar girl...
I know - I can do better than that. Maybe later I'll post something nice in it's very own thread.
The cropping of this photo is driving me nuts.
smallequestrian
Well-known member
Joe Nerve said:
I just realized that I have never eq'd my fretless like that before, I am going to have to try that when I get home from the office.
