The time has come to part ways with an absolute workhorse of a bass. This Music Man Bongo 5 has been my main gigging and recording weapon for the last 11 years. It has played hundreds of shows around the world and been tracked on dozens of albums, proving itself in virtually every musical situation imaginable!

if you want a bass with serious mojo, a jaw-dropping preamp, and a story to tell, keep reading.

The Specs & History

• Model: Music Man Bongo 5

• Year: 2004-2006 (Early era Bongo!)

• Finish: Carbon Blue Pearl

• Frets: 24 (Incredibly useful for upper-register work)

• Versatility: This bass does it all. The onboard preamp is insane.I’ve personally used it on everything from Rock, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Progressive metal, Country– even on some classical stuff. Obviously Dream Theater tunes sound incredible on this thing - you can absolutely fly around it!

Fun bit of trivia: This bass once belonged to legendary songwriter/producer Guy Chambers (I bought it off one of his old engineers). I have no idea what records it may have been used on, but it certainly has the mojo of a hit-maker.

Upgrades & Modifications

I’ve made a couple of practical upgrades to make it a modern performer:

• Hipshot Bass Xtender: Fitted to the B-string to drop it effortlessly down to Drop A. (I don't recall the exact Music Man-specific Hipshot model number, but it works flawlessly. The original official Music Man tuner is included in the sale).

• Backup Output: The original barrel jack was replaced, and I had a heavy-duty safety one put on the back.. It’s never needed to be used. The original metal backplate is also included if you want to revert it.

Condition & Important Info

• Condition: Naturally road-worn from a decade of heavy touring and studio work. Players' condition, but structurally flawless and plays like a dream.

• Case: Please note, no case is included in the sale.

Price & Logistics

• Price: Sensible offers welcomed.

• Location: Collection from Bristol.

• I am open to meeting up within a reasonable driving distance of Bristol.

Check additional links in my YouTube video to hear it in action, or visit for more examples!

Don't miss out on a Bongo with actual soul and history.

Drop me a message with any questions or offers!