Picked up an Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo 5 HH/p Fretless in Egyptian Smoke....on the cheh-eep due to minor flaws.












Case is cracked a bit.



Typical headstock bump

DO IT! You need an active fretless HH fiver.

HAIL, yes! I'd get it if it weren't going in the wrong direction.

BTW - you're a minor flaw.

ohh...sweet.


So, uh, how cheap is cheap?

Congrats! I think theye are kind of funny looking but I like that color. Definately one of the better looking bongo basses I've ever seen. How's she play and sound?

Not the first time I heard that....today.


Pmed



I was definitely one of the nay-sayers of the Bongo, but I actually really dig it in person. It's one of the best sounding/feeling basses I've played; and as soon as I figure out what all these knobs do, I'll be able to give more specifics

I hated the Bongo at first but it's grown on me. So where'd you find it? Not that I'm gonna bird dog you or anything, I'm just....curious.

This was on Musiciansfriend's Scratch n' Dent list for what seemed like forever. It was bought, then subsequently sold back to MF. That's where I came in

Edit: the body is a lot smaller than the pictures indicate, it fit's rather nicely standing or sitting.

That's hideous. I hope it sounds good and plays well.
How many basses are you up to now?

I know that the Musicman Sterling was named after Ernie Ball's son, Sterling Ball.

Does he have another son named Bongo?

I heard the Sterlings were not that good. Bongo must be liked more, just uglier. Daddy is playing favorites!

I had a Sterling bass for a while (a Fretless). It was a great bass. I sold it when I got my Wendler.

Opinions are like.....well you know. That is just what I heard or read somewhere. Maybe something about the electronics being sketchy. I don't know, I tend to not give a rats behind about random peoples opinions. If I like it, I like it. This forum is a little different than someones opinion or review on guitard centers website.

A fretless 5 string Musicman is nothing to be ashamed of, whatsoever. Enjoy it, Rizz. I know that I love mine.

I remember in one of my earliest posts here that I mentioned I wanted a Bongo. I've been struggling to regain credibility ever since.

Enjoy your new fish!

In celebration of your new avi, I have only one word for you...

KINNNNNKyyyyy....

Congrats I like that colour Egypt Smoke....nice.

Nice catch Anthony. The Bongo has started to grow on me as well and the main thing is how it sounds anyway. Looking forward to a further review.

I hope you love it. Some aspects of that bass look ghastly, in my opinion. But looks and my opinion mean very little. I think if the paint was a different color, I could overlook other things. Truly trivial damage.
Play your a** off and have a good time with it.

i could never get comfortable with the HH sound, but there's no denying the comfort of playing a bongo.

the name comes from its design. ernie ball hired some BMW designers to do a test design, and the project was named BONGO. it stuck.

robb.

The more I play it the more I like it. Construction is superb and the sound, well, it definitely can do it all. I am indifferent on the color, and I may flip it for a fretted 5 in the future. I know these are not stocked in many stores, but if you can get your hands on one, you will definitely be impressed.

After fiddling around, knob configurations works as follows (I think):

First knob: Volume
2nd stacked: top - Piezo blend; bottom - bridge/neck pu balance
3rd stacked: top - treble cut/boost; bottom - high mids cut/boost
4th stacked: top - Low mid cut/boost; bottom - bass cut/boost

My favorite position so far is the bridge pickup soloed with a little high mid boost, piezo full on, everything else flat.

you can always paint it yourself. Go wild and use the current finish as a canvas to design upon. Or you can go the punk route and cover it with stickers. How about black gaffer tape?

If the sound and playability are there that's all that matters, even if it is fugly.

That "Egyptian Smoke" looks better in person. In the photos it kinda looks like primer.

Never cared for the looks of a Bongo bass, but if it float yo' boat, more power to ya.

Egyptian Smoke is neither loud, nor fast. Nor does it allow you to play like Jeremy C. What good is it, then?

Peace.
--s-uu

Valid points. Bass is officially on the selling block.

Tell me you're kidding, you just bought the thing! YOu won't get what you paid, and you won't get another one like it for the same price.

Sarcasm FTW...

I kid, I kid, but I probably can get more than I paid...and I like how you called it a thing


80% sarcasm, 17% truth, 3% parsley

I used thing because I forgot the name of the whatchamcallit.