Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups BlackWhite Pearloid Pickguard

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

I own 4 of these basses, all in different pickup configurations. 4H, 4Hp, 4HH and 4HHp. This bass was made in connection with BMW and the code name for it was Bongo thus the name. Originally designed to be the next step in musical instruments like the Fender Precision was in the 50's. These basses are the most versatile I have ever owned! Good for every kind of music and in any setting from live to the studio. Some key advice though. Because this bass is so versatile, it has very hot pickups! Don't max all of the knobs out. Start at 50% and make slight adjustments to the sound you want from there. I also prefer to set my eq on my amp completely flat to allow the bass to give it's true tones. This bass was a labor of love by Sterling Ball and I am so grateful that he made this bass and wasn't afraid to go againt the tradition of everything else!

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

Again, from a playability perspective it is an exceptional bass perhaps the best I have ever played. Tone quality and variety is absolutely superb. It is an imensely flexibility bass that can fit exceptionally well into any music genre. An amazing instrument that I would buy again 1,000 times.
For the past 15 years I have played almost exclusively my '72 Fender Jazz. I have played and owned Ricks, a Spector, an Alembic, a Warwick, and an Ibanez so I have some basis for comparison. I had never played an instrument I enjoyed as much as I enjoy my Fender...until I picked up my Bongo. The neck is so fast I had to slow myself down, it is much faster than my Fender and as fast as my Alembic Epic V.

I can get a sound with the big bottom end I love in my Fender but I also have the ability to make it trebily or make flat, in short the on-board EQ gives my a very wide variety of tone choices.

I have a 4HH and I have no problems with muddy-ness or getting lost in a mix when I take it live. If anything I have pull myself back out of the mix a bit to prevent it from overwhelming the other instruments.
No issues with the quality, it seems like a well-built robust instument as would be expected from Musicman. I have used it and played out with it for almost a year with no issues, haven't even needed to change out batteries.
I bought mine used, so the value was fantastic

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

I have been researching basses for a while, and i was determined to go with a musicman. the only problem was that i was torn between this and the stingray, and i knew the only way to decide was to play them both. The main differences are that the bongo has a 4 band eq against the stingrays 3 band, a pick up blend switch instead of the stingrays blade switching (on the HH), and the bongo had a higher out put. I plugged in the bongo with the ez on the amp flat and the volume at half, and it blew me away. it was LOUD. it picked up two hand tapping as well or better than regular finger style. on other basses ive tried, i had to turn up the vol to max to get the tapping to be heard. I plugged in the stingray and it was quiet compared to this (but the battery was probably dying). The only downside ive found is the slap sound just isnt there.After all my research and debating, I'm going with the stingray, but thats not to say anything bad about the bongo. if I had the extra cash i'd by both in a heart beat. But i personally prefer the stingray feel.

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

I don't think I could be happier with a four string bass. I've played about every configuration that MM offers on both Stingrays and Sterlings (5 and 4 stringers) and had settled on a Stingray with maple neck and fingerboard with piezo on the bridge. Then I walked into the local shop and saw this oddity hanging on the wall. I picked it up and instantly loved the fat warm tone I got playing with the controls flat split between both Humbuckers, and talk about punch! I can literally make this bass sound like anything I want. I've played top end Warwicks, Modulus, Tobias, and this bass beats them all for tone. I bought my stingray and also added a whole arsenal of bass sounds that the Stingray can't recreate. It can sound HUGE or it can be the most articulate instrument you've ever played (of course I owe a lot of that to meticulous setup) I know it looks funny, but give it a chance. At half the price of a Modulus or Warwick; I couldn't be more pleased. I've been playing on this four string for five years now and I want to get a matching five string to keep it company.

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

This bass is phenomenal! The features are great, 4 band EQ works wonders. Musicman quality and sound. You can't go wrong with this thing.

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

Plays like an absolute dream. I love the look of it, although it may turn some off. The full EQ is a godsend and all of the other features are great. I cannot stress enough however, it plays absolutely AMAZING. Super fast neck, and with the workmanship of MM/EB, you know you are getting a solid instrument. It has the classic MM tone, but it is also very versatile.

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

I just bought one this weekend and WOW!!! I have always been a Stingray fan because of how punchy they sound. I got a deal on this bass. I sounds like the Singray, then I can change pickup blend and get a P-Bass or Warwick sound. Truthfully I set the blend in the middle and the EQ on the bass and my Eden preamp flat and it sounds better than anything I have ever heard. Did I mention WOW!!!

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

Just order a new old stock 2006 LE Black and Gold version of this bass... It has the HS configuration. Anyway, I'm not a huge fan of the looks of his bass but its sound is incredible

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

This bass is amazing. I've owned it for around six months now and I can confirm all the good things said about it. I'll add that it sits comfortably when worn with a strap, the workmanship is first rate, and EB/MM stand by their gear--they're responsive and friendly.

Comments about Music Man Bongo 4-String Bass with 2 Humbucker Pickups:

Love this thing. Cool shape, sick tones, awesome feel. Sooo much fun to play and I scored a lefty directly from Music Man.