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FDP Forum / Fender Bass Guitars and Bass Amps / Does the Bongo Bass have any redeeming value?

Previous 20 Messages

DavePlaysBass
Contributing Member
***

CO

I wish I was a headlght on a N bnd train
Apr 28th, 2011 04:35 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Not an authority on Gibson basses, but from what I gather, the single pickups were more in the neck pup region. And then the sliding pickup still seems a little "north" of the sweet spot. I think Leo is the guy to credit with a 34" scale sweet spot configuration which is 3rd to the P and J in terms of popularity (at least I will throw that out and see if it sticks ;-) ).

barry.b

australia

Apr 29th, 2011 09:30 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"but from what I gather, the single [Gibson] pickups were more in the neck pup region"

I blame this for the copy-cating of the Tele bass mudbucker - both in a humbucker and location.

I wonder what that humbucker pickup would sound like somewhere else?

tkozal
Contributing Member

NYC

Apr 30th, 2011 08:52 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
got one several years ago new at GC for $900 on one of their sales. Needed a lot of work on the neck. But it plays and sounds GREAT

tbplayer

Mojo Bueno

Apr 30th, 2011 08:34 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"I blame this for the copy-cating of the Tele bass mudbucker - both in a humbucker and location.

I wonder what that humbucker pickup would sound like somewhere else?"

Talk about copy-cating, Seth Lover (pickup designer for Gibson) designed the Telecaster Bass "mudbucker" for Fender along with Telecaster and Starcaster guitar humbucking pickups.
(This message was last edited by tbplayer at 08:41 PM, Apr 30th, 2011)

LeonB
Contributing Member
***

North of Philly

Solid state = solid sound+light weight
Apr 30th, 2011 09:51 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Has anyone taken that in Fender lit the pickup positions of a J are described as middle and bridge?

The neatest bass that I have owned was '61 J with Gibson EB3 pickups in the Fender locations.

I hated parting with it, that bass sang, it could take your breath away with its resonance, the neck was a dream to play with the small frets, and it sounded so sweet.

With pickups as in real estate it really is location, location, location.

That said I still own the first bass I ever bought (with my fathers money) a Kalamazoo from Tippits House of Music in Nawlins. Its been through some changes over the years, but right now it sounds real nice with the pickup mounted about midway between the neck and bridge.

barry.b
Contributing Member
*

australia

Apr 30th, 2011 10:05 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"Has anyone taken that in Fender lit the pickup positions of a J are described as middle and bridge?"

that makes sense, since in the 60's Fender did a line in three pickup basses - the Bass VI

and although it's a short-scale 30"er, each p'up has it's own sound. Not forgetting the 6 different combinations possible.

@LeonB

have you still got a photo of that EB3? I've heard of those first year basses but never saw one. Having a humbucker not at the neck position - interesting, and different to the other EB3's.

+1 on "Location, Location, Location!"
some EB3 blurb

Riverside
Contributing Member
**

SoCal

Apr 30th, 2011 10:17 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I had one like the '72 in the pic on the left.

It didn't sound particularly special.

It was Walnut, and it was pretty.
(This message was last edited by Riverside at 10:18 PM, Apr 30th, 2011)

Fast Lane Pablo

USA

Apr 19th, 2012 09:22 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I saw a bunch of them being played last weekend at our local Music Fest. They sound good, are comfortable to play and have a lot of fans among bass players. My replacement in the band I was in just bought two of them, a five string fretless and (I think) a four string fretted.

Twangmeister
Contributing Member
*****

E NC

Top dog in a litter of mutts
Apr 19th, 2012 11:02 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Bongo basses look like a George Foreman grill with an attached bass neck to me but then I think that Fender achieved perfection with the early '90s Jazz Bass Plus series.

YMMV

Caca de Kick
Contributing Member
**

Seattle/Tacoma WA

Apr 19th, 2012 05:41 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
As a huge StingRay and Sabre fan, Bongos didn't catch me for a long time. Then I really sat down and tried a few, and I really like their sound, and they are growing on me. I'll eventually pick one up someday...probably used.

Todays standards, there have been much odder looking basses. Guild, anyone?

RS

USA

Apr 19th, 2012 09:11 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Ugly - eye of the beholder. Sound/playability - better to me than almost all stingrays and sterlings I've played/owned.

Iconoclast
Contributing Member
******

The bitter comes out

...batter on a stollen guitar!
Apr 19th, 2012 10:00 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
No.

Smuggit

UK - England

Apr 23rd, 2012 06:54 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I suppose MM will eventually copy Fender and produce a roadworn range. This will probably see the flat edges rounded into horns!

Previous 20 Messages

FDP Forum / Fender Bass Guitars and Bass Amps / Does the Bongo Bass have any redeeming value?

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