Bongo SC/H Five or SR5 HH?

[DR. Cheese]

I slipped out of the Music man fold but now I want back in. I am thinking of two basses, a SC/H Bongo five that I can get for less with a trade in or a SR5 HH that is somewhat more. I love both basses. Prefer the looks of the SR5, but I think Bongos look cool. I love the SR5 sound, but i do love the versatility of the Bongo. Finally, I love that the Bongo is cheaper. I play "urban gospel" for a church and I jam alot of funk, r&b, rock, and smooth jazz/fusion. My other bass will be a Lakland Skyline 55-02. Which Music Man should I get?

[azzy_wazzy]

I slipped out of the Music man fold but now I want back in. I am thinking of two basses, a SC/H Bongo five that I can get for less with a trade in or a SR5 HH that is somewhat more. I love both basses. Prefer the looks of the SR5, but I think Bongos look cool. I love the SR5 sound, but i do love the versatility of the Bongo. Finally, I love that the Bongo is cheaper. I play "urban gospel" for a church and I jam alot of funk, r&b, rock, and smooth jazz/fusion. My other bass will be a Lakland Skyline 55-02. Which Music Man should I get?

Based on the responses people gave me, I'll say a Bongo

NO doubt they all will too

[strummer]

I slipped out of the Music man fold but now I want back in. I am thinking of two basses, a SC/H Bongo five that I can get for $800 with a trade in or a SR5 HH that is about $1,400. I love both basses. Prefer the looks of the SR5, but I think Bongos look cool. I love the SR5 sound, but i do love the versatility of the Bongo. Finally, I love that the Bongo is about $600 cheaper. I play "urban gospel" for a church and I jam alot of funk, r&b, rock, and smooth jazz/fusion. My other bass will be a Lakland Skyline 55-02. Which Music Man should I get?

Hey, man!
It's simple, really: One Bongo 5 HSC, one SR5 HH and NO L*kland.
There, I solved your problem

[ExLurker]

I've had an SR5 in the past and like you don't currently have an MM. I've been having the same deliberations over the last 6 weeks. I tried the HH SR's last month whilst in the states. However, I tried a Bongo 5HH last week and the versatility of that bass and that pre-amp is just great. I ordered the Bongo which I'm hoping I'll get today.

My vote - Bongo, but its got to be right for you, only you can decide.

[Psycho Ward]

Sort of a tough choice, both are so damn cool! But I have a H/S Bongo 5 and I've become a big fan of EBMM's single coil pup. That pickup is killer, it's hard to put into words. I have several basses with several different single coil pickups and the EBMM blows them all away.


Good luck with your choice, you can't wrong with any of the Balls, IMHO.

[bovinehost]

Welcome back, good Doctor.

I edited your post a bit to remove the prices (not supposed to quote discount prices on the forum in accordance with EBMM regulation 142.12 revA). Thanks in advance for not being all weird about it.

My standard response:

SR5 with dual pickups or a Bongo? How can you make a mistake?

And then I'm required by law to remind you that you should eventually get both.

Cheers and keep us informed.

Jack

[DR. Cheese]

I apologize for mentioning prices. i gues I should have just said I could get a great deal on a Bongo. Right now, I'm leaning towards the Bongo simply because of finances, although that new SR5 HH brings the Stingray into several new dimensions of sound, plus it is one of the best looking basses I have ever seen in my life!

[Figjam]

Im partial to the SR5 design.

[adouglas]

Jack sent us. We're here to help you make up your mind.

[Randracula]

I say forget about which model and pick the color you like best

[MCBTunes]

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of the bongo single coil.

I'm assuming you've played both... and seeing as you said you loved the stingray tone... I think you know which you want. Versatility is a nice thing in the long run I think you'll pick maybe a couple tones you like and stick ith them... the new HH's are very versatile.

Set them flat, play with the switch, play with the blend... and see which tone you like most. Also keep an eye out for which feels more comfortablke in your hand.

Mike

[DR. Cheese]

It will be the SR5 HH. I love the sound and the looks!

[Oldtoe]

You'll probably need both.

Having said that, if those were my only two choices; I'd have to say SR5 HH since the Bongo single-coil is not my favorite EBMM sound. I must also admit to having a self-confessed opinion of minimal value.

[Figjam]

It will be the SR5 HH. I love the sound and the looks!

woot

[bovinehost]

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of the bongo single coil.

Heresy! He's a witch! Burn him!

Gather round, kiddies, let old Mister Jack tell you a story.

Okay, not really, but I had a Bongo HSC 4 banger that I just couldn't warm up to. This would have been a couple of years ago, maybe. I was under the evil influence of the dual humbuckers at the time, of course, but I just never got around to taking that bass out to play in a live situation. I sent it to Bob Nyswonger, who used it for a while in various ways, then it ended up sold or traded or something, I'm sure.

Cut to late last year. I'm talked into a Bongo 5 HSC by none other than the ever-fabulous Dargin. Why not? I get the bass, it's sure pretty, but that single coil has me underwhelmed.

Then I start to play it at rehearsal - with the band. Hmmm. Clearly there are things I didn't realize when I was dicking around by myself or playing along to Flatt and Scruggs or King Crimson.

The beauty of that single coil really and truly becomes evident when you strap that sucker on with a loud, silly, raucous band of marauding musicians. You really have to play it with a band to understand what it will really do.

A very short time ago, I never imagined that I'd be sitting around, talking about the beauty of an EBMM single coil pickup. (There was no such thing.)

But Dudley re-designed the thing, Dargin talked me into it and I have to tell you, it will do things that I hadn't imagined.

Here endeth the rambling.

BTW, Dr Cheese, I salute your choice and would never try to convince you that you should go the other way. But I was NOT an early fan of the single coil, and so now I feel like I have to say something.

Okay, HERE endeth the rambling, but this time I mean it.

Jack