ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Well after much searching i finally got the one i wanted, a a Bongo 4HS Stealth. I think it looks fantastic, i can't believe how much i've changed my opinion on these since hearing one. If someone would have told me 6 months ago that i'd buy one, i would have assumed they'd been smoking crack! Brilliant service from the store in Holland where i got it from, prompt replies to any enquiries and very helpful. I ordered it Tuesday lunchtime and it arrived at 8.30 this morning, brilliantly packed! Slight downside for me is it could do with a set up, the action is too low so a bit buzzy. I like it fairly low but i also like the ability to dig in and change the tone, it's just too low for that at the moment. Bit of a bugger as the tech i use can't have it in until next week and i'm gigging Saturday. I know some of you guys will tut at me and say it's really simple, but i've only just bought an old bass to practice set-ups etc on so have never really done it before, and seeing as this is all new and shiny (well all new and matte black!) i think i'll let someone who knows what they are doing sort it out. I'm just not confident in taking tools to my brand new bass just yet. Unless of course some friendly BC'er wants to earn himself some beer money, I've got some left in the pot as the price on this was unbelievably good! So, here it is, with its new partner in crime, i look at this bass and rig together and i'm one very happy man! [attachment=156931:007.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 If it's buzzy all over the neck the saddles are probably a little too low for your playing style and raising them is simple (just do it say half a turn at a time until the fret buzz goes away). Checking intonation is again simple with a good tuner; tune the open string, then check the fretted note at the 12th, if the 12th is sharp the saddle needs to come back a little, if flat then the saddle needs to move forwards. I like to check the tuning higher up too until I have it pretty much perfect. And happy new bass day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizontalste Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Nice little set up you have there, I reckon it'll sound immense. Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burno70 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Nearly bought one of these a few years ago but couldn't quite pursuade myself to go through with it - not 100% sold on the looks - don't mind it, just don't love it. The tone however, really is incredible. Powerful and extremely versatile. If I won the lottery I would definately get one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1394100625' post='2387854'] Nice little set up you have there, I reckon it'll sound immense. Congrats [/quote] Thanks, that's pretty much it for me now. I wanted a set-up that wasn't a complete pain to load back into the house at 2am on a sunday morning so bought the Barefaced, now with the versatility of the Bongo and the RH750 i think i've pretty much got everything i need soundwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1394099308' post='2387833'] If it's buzzy all over the neck the saddles are probably a little too low for your playing style and raising them is simple (just do it say half a turn at a time until the fret buzz goes away). Checking intonation is again simple with a good tuner; tune the open string, then check the fretted note at the 12th, if the 12th is sharp the saddle needs to come back a little, if flat then the saddle needs to move forwards. I like to check the tuning higher up too until I have it pretty much perfect. And happy new bass day! [/quote] I know i should man up and do it but i can't bring myself to do it! I think i'll get this done by someone who knows what they're doing and keep practicing on my cheapo so that i'm confident to do it in the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 (edited) [quote name='burno70' timestamp='1394100752' post='2387856'] Nearly bought one of these a few years ago but couldn't quite pursuade myself to go through with it - not 100% sold on the looks - don't mind it, just don't love it. The tone however, really is incredible. Powerful and extremely versatile. If I won the lottery I would definately get one! [/quote] I'll be perfectly honest, when i first saw one i thought it was hideous. Then i listened to a comparison video without looking at the basses and noted which sound i liked each time, watched it back and it was the Bongo every time. That got me looking at them, and the more i saw the Stealth model the more it grew on me! Edited March 6, 2014 by ern500evo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I love setting up instruments! I was probably a luthier in a previous existence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1394101542' post='2387874'] I love setting up instruments! I was probably a luthier in a previous existence [/quote] I would like to get into it, i bought an OLP bass to practice on and play about with. Give it time i might grow a pair and just do it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Probably one of the best sounding basses on the planet. I have really grown to love the style of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Good job i got it for an excellent price, in all the excitement of NBD i've just ordered a comfort strapp in short, thinking i wear my bass just above my waist (see avatar). Looked at the measurements (after i ordered!!) and thought "that doesn't sound very long", set the strap off my Warwick to the same length, and the bass is just under my chin, i think even Mark King would need it longer! Oh well, second hand Comfort strapp anybody?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nodd Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Welcome to the enlightened level of Bongo Nirvana! 18V of Donner und Blitzen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='Nodd' timestamp='1394113029' post='2388038'] Welcome to the enlightened level of Bongo Nirvana! 18V of Donner und Blitzen [/quote] Thanks man, I've been just playing about at home with it, so not really loud but have to say it sounds great. Really versatile, can't wait to get out and hear it in the band mix at the weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Congrats on the new bass! Really not sold on the looks, however the sound and playability is superb, best of Musicman for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 (edited) [quote name='ern500evo' timestamp='1394101396' post='2387872'] I know i should man up and do it but i can't bring myself to do it! I think i'll get this done by someone who knows what they're doing and keep practicing on my cheapo so that i'm confident to do it in the future! [/quote] It looks lovely (like the Knight Rider bass rig!) You couldn't believe that in 6 months you'd be buying one... In 6 months you won't believe that you were scared to do a set-up on it!! (And wonder why you waste money paying someone for a set-up when it's so easy!) Edited March 6, 2014 by skej21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='skej21' timestamp='1394114623' post='2388065'] It looks lovely (like the Knight Rider bass rig!) You couldn't believe that in 6 months you'd be buying one... In 6 months you won't believe that you were scared to do a set-up on it!! (And wonder why you waste money paying someone for a set-up when it's so easy!) [/quote] Well i did it! i got the tools needed together, sat down and watched a series of 4 short videos by John Carruthers and went for it!! Did the truss rod first, and immediately the buzz started disappearing,. Then followed his instructions and did saddles, checked intonation etc. Only thing i didn't have to do was the height at the nut, which i'm rather glad about because he might have looked confident filing away at a brand new bass but i wouldn't have been! Still going to keep practicing it on my OLP though, but both HowieBass and yourself are correct, i did sit there after thinking "Well that wasn't as bad as i thought"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='Kev' timestamp='1394114015' post='2388052'] Congrats on the new bass! Really not sold on the looks, however the sound and playability is superb, best of Musicman for sure [/quote] I know what you mean about the looks Kev, it took a while for me to be convinced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 (edited) [quote name='ern500evo' timestamp='1394115315' post='2388077'] Well i did it! i got the tools needed together, sat down and watched a series of 4 short videos by John Carruthers and went for it!! Did the truss rod first, and immediately the buzz started disappearing,. Then followed his instructions and did saddles, checked intonation etc. Only thing i didn't have to do was the height at the nut, which i'm rather glad about because he might have looked confident filing away at a brand new bass but i wouldn't have been! Still going to keep practicing it on my OLP though, but both HowieBass and yourself are correct, i did sit there after thinking "Well that wasn't as bad as i thought"! [/quote] Edited March 6, 2014 by skej21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Excellent purchase. I think the Bongo's looks match it's sound, and I am a big fan of both. Definitely one of the best ultra modern-sounding basses at any price, including very expensive boutique examples, and the Bongo has the advantage of looking and sounding unique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Congratulations, very cool bass! I personally really like the design of the Bongo...it's different - no bad thing in this retrospective era of the unfashionably mundane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 (edited) [quote name='ern500evo' timestamp='1394115315' post='2388077'] Well i did it! i got the tools needed together, sat down and watched a series of 4 short videos by John Carruthers and went for it!! Did the truss rod first, and immediately the buzz started disappearing,. Then followed his instructions and did saddles, checked intonation etc. Only thing i didn't have to do was the height at the nut, which i'm rather glad about because he might have looked confident filing away at a brand new bass but i wouldn't have been! Still going to keep practicing it on my OLP though, but both HowieBass and yourself are correct, i did sit there after thinking "Well that wasn't as bad as i thought"! [/quote] *High fives you* Edited March 6, 2014 by HowieBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='ern500evo' timestamp='1394115315' post='2388077'] Well i did it! i got the tools needed together, sat down and watched a series of 4 short videos by John Carruthers and went for it!! Did the truss rod first, and immediately the buzz started disappearing,. Then followed his instructions and did saddles, checked intonation etc. Only thing i didn't have to do was the height at the nut, which i'm rather glad about because he might have looked confident filing away at a brand new bass but i wouldn't have been! Still going to keep practicing it on my OLP though, but both HowieBass and yourself are correct, i did sit there after thinking "Well that wasn't as bad as i thought"! [/quote] Well done to you for doing that, I was going to suggest you let it acclimatise for a day or 2 before you touched anything - but Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Is it brand new? Sorry I should have read more carefully. If so, just a minor truss rod tweak will sort out buzz. Musicman/S&T setups are the best in the business IMO, so keep it all as it is apart from the truss rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Thanks guys, it did just need a minor tweak of the truss rod to sort the buzz. The rest really was just checking stuff as I watched the videos, which by the way are very good. I had to do it, it would've been too painful to leave it at home for saturdays gig! The more I play it the more I like it, and I know I'm biased but I think the stealth black finish looks pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 ... and you've learned how to have fun setting up a bass to be just right for your playing style - given chance I'd probably be doing stuff like that every day LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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