Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I had the opportunity to try one of these out, 5 stringer...dual humbuckers, active electronics..it is a tone MONSTER!!!! If you get the chance, check one out. They're really odd looking, granted but they sound huge.

I agree with odd looks on the Bongo's Scott...not sure if I like the look or not, but from what I've heard from others like You they've got a killer sound.

I saw one at the Bass Cellar in London...I should have tried it out.

I've seen those before. I believe they sound awesome, but I still can't get past the looks. I know they are trying to go for a non-traditional "Space Aged" look (or whatever you think that look should be called), but I still favor the original Musicman look. Call me a traditionalist or whatever, but I wouldn't want to have a bass that was someone's great idea of "what looks great", when 10 years from now I can't give it away because the look was a flop.

If the sound is there, I for one don't care what it looks like. Just my opinion though

I think the Bongo is what a product designer thinks a bass should look like.

Unfortunately, product designers doing musical instruments is like product designers doing cars. Seldom works out in the long run. Truth it, there is always a small market for radical innovation, but unless innovative features or function are paired with innovative looks which call attention to the feature or function side of things, the product will flop.

I (product designer but musician, too) think that the Bongo is a really nicely-sculptured object. But I predict less-than-stellar sales because, despite all the nonsense about musicians being wackos and crazies, we are generally a conservative bunch when it comes to what we play. The Bongo doesn't feel friendly like a 4000 series or a PB or JB.

Leo Fender and Roger Rossmeisl were both radicals when it came to appearance (at least initially), but the performance of the instrument carried the day and allowed them to carry on and prosper. Now their creations are considered "Classics".