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Keep my Bongo or trade for a SR?

This is a discussion on Keep my Bongo or trade for a SR? within the Music Man Basses forums, part of the Gear Talk category; I bought a Bongo 4HH around Christmas and I love it, but when I bought it, I really wanted a ...

  1. #1
    Jornan's Avatar
    Jornan is offline Registered User Junior Member
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    Smile Keep my Bongo or trade for a SR?

    I bought a Bongo 4HH around Christmas and I love it, but when I bought it, I really wanted a StingRay, but because I got a good deal on a Bongo, I choose to buy it instead. Anyway, I still want a SR4, but I can't decide what to do. Keep the Bongo or trade it for a SR?

    How does they sound different? I got a Bongo 4 with two humbuckers now, but I am not sure if I should try to trade it for a SR with one or two humbuckers if I choose to trade. I want it for slapping, and I find it OK to slap on the Bongo, but it could have been more space between the neck humbucker and the neck. Is it more space on the SR since it has fewer frets? I find the sound with both humbuckers very good on the Bongo, and therefore I am afraid that I will "lose" some sound if I choose to trade for a SR with one humbucker.

    I know that the Bongo got a 4 band EQ and the SR has "only" a 3 band EQ, but I mostly change bass and treble, so I don't need two mid EQs. Anyone got a video or recording with the different sounds of a Bongo and SR?

    EBMM Bongo 4 HH
    EBMM JP6 w/piezo
    Yamaha RBX-JM2
    Behringer BXL-1800

  2. #2
    oli@bass's Avatar
    oli@bass is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Keep the Bongo and add the StingRay. I prefer the HH version because it has additional sounds that the single H cannot offer. The single H StingRay is a classic, and you can't go wrong with that either. I rarely slap, but I've found the neck pickup of the HH not being in the way when slapping. (is that proper English?!)
    Have bass. Will play.
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    bovinehost's Avatar
    bovinehost is offline Moderator Lord Bongo
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    Quote Originally Posted by oli@bass View Post
    I rarely slap, but I've found the neck pickup of the HH not being in the way when slapping. (is that proper English?!)
    I am always always always amazed at well you guys over there speak English.

    I salute you!

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    oli@bass's Avatar
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    Thank you Mylord Bongo!

    Writing in English works quite well, because I can think about the proper choice of words. It gets a lot worse when I try to talk (which isn't really a strenght of mine anyway, even in my native language).


    FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK... WE SALUTE YOU!
    (which BTW, was played on a single H 'Ray)
    Last edited by oli@bass; 02-22-2009 at 06:11 AM.
    Have bass. Will play.
    Looking for Sessions in Switzerland. Area: Züri/Winti/Rappi


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    Jornan's Avatar
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    I'd love to keep the Bongo and buy a 'Ray too, but I've just bought a car and got my drivers license, and the gas prices in Norway is quite horrible ... I'm going to work as much as I can, but I'm afraid that I still have to choose between a Bongo and a SR unless someone decides to give me a lot of money

    Is the bridge pickup placed at the same place on the HH version as on the single H?

    EBMM Bongo 4 HH
    EBMM JP6 w/piezo
    Yamaha RBX-JM2
    Behringer BXL-1800

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    Grand Wazoo is offline Banned
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    half of me would tell you to keep the Bongo and the other half would say, "Boy you don't know what you're missing" get yourself a pre 1990 StingRay with an Alnico pickup and prepare to feel that tone buttering your taste buds.

    Sorry bro but you'd have to get yourself a loan, and have both. There's no substitute for either.

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    Big Poppa's Avatar
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    Why pre 90? did we run out of moondust in 90? Most understand that the stuff has gotten better not worse. These arbitrary legends sometimes become fact...we did nothing different on dec 31 1990 than we did on Jan 1, 1991. The only thing I can tell you is that you had a better chance of getting birdseye which is purely cosmetic.

    Now to the posters question.....This isnt a tattoo...no painful laser surgery if you decide you should have kept your Bongo...Try the Ray and you can always go back.
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    TheAntMan's Avatar
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    Being someone who never gets rid of a bass, my recommendation is to save up to add the Ray to your collection. When I get a bass, it is cause I was grooving on the tone(s) I get from THAT bass. The Bongo and the Stingray generate different vibes and having both give you flexibility. That is why I am excited about the Big ALL and the 25th Anniv. basses, more options!

    All that being said. It is up to what you are looking for to achieve your musical expressions. If the Ray is the one and only then go for it. If you think you need to have some Bongo tones to get your message out then keep it or have both.

    Anyway, just my $0.02

    -- Ant
    The surest way to fail is not to try.

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    oli@bass's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CaptMoto View Post
    Sorry bro but you'd have to get yourself a loan, and have both. There's no substitute for either.
    There's a missing.

    I think it is really bad advise to get a loan for a bass!!!
    Have bass. Will play.
    Looking for Sessions in Switzerland. Area: Züri/Winti/Rappi


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    Holding down the bottom end for Redsteam

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    Jornan's Avatar
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    I think I'll have to try a SR tomorrow and see if I like it better than the Bongo. I have the money to buy a SR, but I need to have some money in case of unexpected expenses.

    But I hope someone can answer my question? Is the bridge pickup on the HH model placed at the same place as on the single H model?

    EBMM Bongo 4 HH
    EBMM JP6 w/piezo
    Yamaha RBX-JM2
    Behringer BXL-1800

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    MrMusashi's Avatar
    MrMusashi is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    on the bongo or on the sr?

    btw if you live in tromsø youre more than welcome to come try my basses

    MrM
    just put flats on the bongo!!
    just put roundwounds on your fretless!!

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    do NOT use cheap tools to adjust with. they might break and scrape up your pressious!
    also, if you are lucky enough to have a 100th namm sr4: the truss works the other way around on that one!

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    Grand Wazoo is offline Banned
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Poppa View Post
    Why pre 90? did we run out of moondust in 90? Most understand that the stuff has gotten better not worse. These arbitrary legends sometimes become fact...we did nothing different on dec 31 1990 than we did on Jan 1, 1991. The only thing I can tell you is that you had a better chance of getting birdseye which is purely cosmetic.

    Now to the posters question.....This isnt a tattoo...no painful laser surgery if you decide you should have kept your Bongo...Try the Ray and you can always go back.
    nothing to do with moondust Sir, I am referring to the alnico pickup which was changed with the ceramic one, a personal preference, is all.

    Which puts me wrong again because I know understand that the newer 08 onwards SR5 once again have the alnico pu's in them which is GRAND!!

    but yeah back on subject both basses must be owned to be appreciated. end of my opinion

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    Grand Wazoo is offline Banned
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jornan View Post
    I think I'll have to try a SR tomorrow and see if I like it better than the Bongo. I have the money to buy a SR, but I need to have some money in case of unexpected expenses.

    But I hope someone can answer my question? Is the bridge pickup on the HH model placed at the same place as on the single H model?

    I believe I've read it somewhere that the bridge pick is in the same spot and it's only on the bongo hh that they moved it to allow for the 24 frets.

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    Caca de Kick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CaptMoto
    I am referring to the alnico pickup which was changed with the ceramic one, a personal preference, is all.
    The pickups change back then was only done to the SR5....the SR4 (which is what the OP is asking about) has always and still only comes with the alnico pole pieces.
    -Mike

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    Big Poppa's Avatar
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    Thanks Mike........you saved me a post
    Two requests, please
    Please contact customer service prior to posting instrument issues
    Please don't PM me
    Thanks

    Please dont add me as a friend on facebook....my life is an open book here as it is.

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