Members bassplayer7770 Posted July 31, 2005 Members Posted July 31, 2005 First, I stopped at Guitar Center, and, much to my surprise, they had some very nice used basses including an R Bass, Ken Smith, Sukop, and a Pedulla (they had a new one as well). I didn't try any of those because it would have required talking to GC Staff. However, I did have the opportunity to try out two Bongos (HH 4-string and HS 5-string) and a Spector Euro. I picked up the HH 4-string Bongo, and quickly noticed that I was getting some buzz. I checked the relief, and the strings were lying on the frets... I knew it didn't come like that from the factory, so I didn't want to draw too many conclusions from that bass. The HS 5-string Bongo was setup much better, and they really are pretty nice basses. Of course, being at GC, it really needed some TLC (cleaning, etc.). However, it was a nice bass certainly on par with the other Music Man products. Nice, tight B-string (and, yes, it was in tune). Good sounds in all positions and at all frequencies. The tone was clean (definitely reminds me of the tone I get with my Sterling). The Spector Euro was a very beautiful bass. It had a natural finish. It played quite well and definitely had the clean, clear EMG tone (not a bad thing IMO). Very nice bass. The amps I used weren't anything great. I used a Hartke head through a VX 1508 cab, then I moved on to an Ampeg BA115 combo (with built-in tuner).
Members james on bass Posted July 31, 2005 Members Posted July 31, 2005 Been a few years since I've played a Euro Spector, but I remember them being very nice as well.Haven't tried a Bongo yet. I've owned a couple MM's over the years, so I sure the Bongo's really kick ass. I just can't get past the looks.
Members bassplayer7770 Posted August 1, 2005 Author Members Posted August 1, 2005 I stopped by Sam Ash as well. They had some nice basses as well, but I didn't try anything out. They had a nice Peavey Cirrus 6-string and a few Pedullas.
Members bassman1956 Posted August 1, 2005 Members Posted August 1, 2005 Yeah, tried a Euro Spector 5-er in that translucent deep blue 2 weeks ago. I was duely impressed by everything! Except the EMG active electronics left me uninspired. Not bad, mind you. Just not what I would hope for. Very nice ax!
Members KeroseneTrewthe Posted August 1, 2005 Members Posted August 1, 2005 I was at my local GC today and played a few things. Played a Gallien Krueger 700RB head. Clean with some growl the more you push it. Sounded nice. Especially for the price. Played the Ibanez Artcore semi-hollow body bass again. I still would love to get that bass someday.
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 1, 2005 Members Posted August 1, 2005 I'd love to get my hands on a 6-string Peavey Cirrus. I played another Bongo this weekend, and it's just a REALLY comfy instrument. I don't need that single coil tho. I'm gonna try another dual humbucker again, as I remember being somewhat impressed with the sounds I got with it. However, I don't have a problem special ordering a single pickup Bongo. Mmm...teal w/abalone p/g...
Members bnyswonger Posted August 1, 2005 Members Posted August 1, 2005 My favorite Bongo pickup is the single coil. I'm not really an active guy, but the Bongo preamp is very, very good.
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 1, 2005 Members Posted August 1, 2005 Originally posted by bnyswonger My favorite Bongo pickup is the single coil. I'm not really an active guy, but the Bongo preamp is very, very good. I had high hopes for the single coil...maybe too high.
Members bassman1956 Posted August 1, 2005 Members Posted August 1, 2005 That's my greatest gas right now. Single coil Bongo 5, with piezo, in desert gold with the tortoise shell pickguard, maybe unlined fretless. Yumm!
Members bassplayer7770 Posted August 2, 2005 Author Members Posted August 2, 2005 On a side note, why is it that every control on every bass I tried was dimed when I picked it up? The Bongos would have been much nicer with some TLC. As I said, the 4-string needed a setup, and the 5-string could have used a good cleaning. Otherwise, I dug the basses. I'm looking forward to the upcoming dual pickup Stingray and Sterling models... KT, I would have loved trying out the basses on a GK rig, but I didn't feel like fussing with GC personnel (I wasn't serious about buying anything). They even had a used Aguilar GS410 in stock. Wonder if it was 4 ohms...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 2, 2005 Members Posted August 2, 2005 Originally posted by bassplayer7770 On a side note, why is it that every control on every bass I tried was dimed when I picked it up? No kidding!
Members bassman1956 Posted August 2, 2005 Members Posted August 2, 2005 Dimed? Maybe I'm just too old... please explain.
Members bassplayer7770 Posted August 2, 2005 Author Members Posted August 2, 2005 Originally posted by bassman1956 Dimed? Maybe I'm just too old... please explain. All the controls were set at '10'... Make more sense now?
Members bassman1956 Posted August 2, 2005 Members Posted August 2, 2005 Yeah. You know, that's what I though to begin with... D'oh!
Members Jugghaid Posted August 2, 2005 Members Posted August 2, 2005 Was the Spector a neck thru or bolt on?
Members bassplayer7770 Posted August 2, 2005 Author Members Posted August 2, 2005 Originally posted by Jugghaid Was the Spector a neck thru or bolt on? Neck-through.
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