Tell Me About the Bongo Bass

[Paul in Colorado]

We just had our annual Fort Collins Music Experiment and I saw quite a few of these around. My replacement in Tuatha has two. One's a five string and the other is fretless with lines on the 'board. Of course I didn't think to ask him about them...

[robert spencer]

Hi Paul. I can`t tell you anything about it personally but have a link to the Ernie Ball site that has some facts figures and user recomendations:

http://www.music-man.com/instruments...s/bongo-4.html
The horns & headstock all look choped off to me as far as style is concerned but I get the impression that it is a USA quality instrument.

Take care. Bob

[Immo]

There are those who love the design of this bass and there are those, who hate it, but one thing is certain - you can't walk past through it without consequences. I heard it's good. Very versatile, very powerful, MM at its prime.
In Poland bass players call Bongo a "toilet seat". But then we saw one which was yellow with black pickguard and even the bigger "haters" agreed: it looked cool!

[Martinp]

They play well, they sound great, but I'm afraid it's "urgly"

[Paul in Colorado]

Thanks, guys. I don't think that they're ugly, just different.

[Dave W]

The looks don't bother me at all, and they sound great to my ears. I'll never buy one, though, because I prefer slab-bodied basses. A forearm contour is bad enough but tolerable. That fully contoured Bongo top kills the appeal for me.

Plenty of fans at the MM forums.

[TechJunky]

I owned a Bongo 5HH which I just traded a bit over a month ago or so. They are great basses. The neck profile was very comfortable and easy to play, and it balanced great standing up. Sitting down it wasn't my favorite (the edges of the bass taper, so it was a bit of a pressure point wherever it was sitting, and it didn't balance well in seated position). The best way I can describe the tone: a versatile punch in the face. You could definitely get a lot of sounds out of it (two humbuckers with a 4-band eq), and it's an 18v preamp so it always seemed to carry a lot of weight behind whatever you played. I loved it. Only reason I ditched it was a.) I get bored and tend to not hang on to instruments very long and b.) while the versatility is great, I tend to prefer specific sounds and I could never quite dial in what I personally wanted (could get close, but not exact) so I moved on. Someday I wouldn't mind owning another, and I'll gladly recommend it to anyone who's looking for one...though I will say, as with all instruments, I also recommend trying one out first.

[flathead]

I owned a Bongo 5HH for almost 5 years....nice bass, versatile live and in the studio. Mine was only 9.5 lbs but it was slightly uncomfortable on my left shoulder; not because of the weight, but because of the position of my shoulder. I traded it for a heavier Sterling 5HH, and it feels a bit more comfy for me. Why? There's about 3+ inches from the back of the Bongo bridge to the strap pin, where as the Sterling bridge backs right up to the strap pin. Just enough of a diff for my left wrist and shoulder. The Sterling is a better fit for me.

[brookdalebill]

Johnny A's great bass player uses one.
+1 for thinkin' it looks cool!