Bongo for a Thumb

[chronicfreeze]

Here's the deal, I use to own a HH Stingray, got some serious GAS, then sold it. I now have a Warwick Thumb 5 BO, I like it (don't love it), but it's heavy and I'm getting tired of waxing it.

I now have the opportunity to trade for a Bongo 5 Stealth HH, but I can't find a dealer anywhere in my area to try one out. Can someone help me out with what to expect, in terms of tone, durabilty, neck comfort, etc...

 

[ekb16b]

wen i read the title i thought u meant u were willing to trade your thumb for a bongo,
well im willing to trade my left thumb for a stealth bongo.. any takers?

 

[SentientEntity]

I've got a Stealth 4HH Bongo so I can't judge the 5th string.
But I love this bass.
Tone: Stunning, it's tone brings tears to my eyes. It has an unconventional way of working the pickups though in that you don't switch them on or off, you blend them. This takes some getting used too. Also the 6 nobs are overwhelming at first. But it's not a drawback, it just gives you more power.
Neck comfort: great, the sterling's neck and my previous bass neck was smaller but I had no problem adjusting to the bongo. If you felt comfortable on the stingray the bongo won't pose any problems.
Durability: euhm what do you mean? It's a musicman. This is one solid instrument.
Looks: I like the stealth edition. All black, can't go wrong with that.

 

[sandman@midlife]

I bought my Bongo without playing one and had your same concerns. Its the best (music) move I've ever made. I also went with a 5 string, having been a 4 stringer, it is very versatile. The tone? Boy are you in for a treat!
Don't think you can go wrong on this one

 

[adouglas]

Do it immediately. You will not be sorry.

If you're not completely satisfied, Jack will give you your money back.

 

[Straight UP]

Bongo 5

I have to say go for the Bongo 5..
I bought mine with out playing one first..
You could say I had some second thoughts..
BUT when I got that Bongo in my hands it was like I had always had it..Like an old friend...It is just awsome..
Tone, everything you are ever going to need or want and then some..
So put your second thoughts aside and go for the Bongo 5 you will not regret the move..

 

[PocketGroove82]

thumb necks feel like unsanded rotten 4x4s in comparison.

 

[Double Agent]

First of all, Stealths are AWESOME!!!

Second, its a Music Man. The tone is definately from the Stingray family and it can be just as nasty (in a good way) as a Ray. But it can also be tweaked to sound smoother than any Ray out there if you want, though it will stilll have that "Music Man" sound. Its very responsive to your attack and I can often change tones drastically without messing with the EQ and just changing my hand position and playing more or less aggressively.

Its a very comfortable bass to play for long periods of time, far better than your Warwick in that regard. Lots of folks make a big deal about the painted neck, but its nothing...feels like any other EBMM neck. I would expect it to be a lot more refined than your Warwick, but still with more than enough attitude when you need it. It will NOT sound like your Warwick though, but it doesn't sound like your madly in love with the Warwick sound anyways. I would do it.

 

[Chris C]

It sounds like you can live without the Thumb bass sound. If not, then you'd better keep the Thumb. I have one because when I want that sound, nothing else can do it very well.

OTOH, you will find the Bongo to be far more versitile, it will feel better, have many more incredible sounds (rather than just one basic sound), and play better. As someone said above, the neck will feel better (although I wouldn't exactly call a $4100 Thumb NT bass a rotten 4x4). The bongo has a much faster, sleeker neck. I don't like to bash basses made by other companies--I like Thumb basses--but I will say that given the choice of having only one of the two, I would choose the Bongo (or Stingray or Sterling... or even SUB) over the Warwick Thumb bass any time (Keep in mind I do like the Thumb a lot). Luckily, I don't have to choose just one...

Oh, and you certainly won't get the neck-dive like your Thumb--the Bongo is very ergonomic...

 

[Aussie Mark]

I wouldn't exactly call a $4100 Thumb NT bass a rotten 4x4

A Humvee is expensive and not exactly a great driving experience.

 

[Chris C]

A Humvee is expensive and not exactly a great driving experience.

True... but if you listen to Stuart Zender's sound on early Jamiroquai work, or much of Andrew Levy's work with The Brand New Heavies, you may understand the draw of the "Warwick" sound. They get some great tones out of those rotting timbers. OTOH... I don't know how hard of a time they had playing their instruments either... Seemed to work, though. Mine feels fine--just a different neck profile for sure. Different strokes...

Of course, as a disclaimer, I'm a huge fan of the Stingray tone--more so than any other stereotypical "sound." Louis Johnson comes to mind. Bernard Edwards. Flea (on the early stuff). And a bunch of great 70's funk cats.

 

[bovinehost]

I've heard a Warwick or two that sounded great.

What always killed it for me was ergonomics.

Anyway, let's not get overly flamey on other brands.

Can someone help me out with what to expect, in terms of tone, durabilty, neck comfort, etc...

Tone. You're going to like it, I think. Others have pointed out how growly it can be and yet you can tame it down for blues and the like. Nothing but money in that tone.

Durability. My first Bongo is from 2003 and still looks great.

Neck Comfort. Oh, having tried a few Warwicks, I believe you might be in for a treat.

Etc. Dead sexy.

Jack

 

[MingusBASS]

I really think you'll dig the hell out the Bongo 5. It's hard for me to be unbiased, but as someone who has owned a Thumb NT quite a few years ago I can say I much prefer the feel, sound and looks of the Bongo 5.

 

[Chris C]

Neck Comfort. Oh, having tried a few Warwicks, I believe you might be in for a treat.

Jack

Absolutely. I would put EBMM necks up against any that I've played. I've never felt a "bad" neck from Musicman. And gear whores like myself have owned/played an untold number of basses/guitars. I've always felt right at home on Sterlings/Stingrays/Bongos.

 

[chronicfreeze]

Wow! Thank you all for the very insightful comments and suggestions.

I think I'm going to go for it (+$ from the trader) seeing as I paid around $2100 and new Bongo 5's go for about $1500. Around $250; does that sound fair?

I will make sure to post pics as soon as I get my mits on it. Thanks again!

 

[tkarter]

I got my Bongo 5 H without every playing one.

It is my numero uno all the way.

tk

 

[PocketGroove82]

True... but if you listen to Stuart Zender's sound on early Jamiroquai work, or much of Andrew Levy's work with The Brand New Heavies, you may understand the draw of the "Warwick" sound.

in those early albums zender drenched his basses with enormous amounts of digital effects from his Boss ME-8B. So, if you can distinguish a warwick underneath, then kudos.
Andrew Levy plays EBMMs too.

 

[Chris C]

Andrew Levy plays EBMMs too.

Yes, he played a Stingray on many of the early Brand New Heavies cuts. He also uses/used a Warwick 5 (I think its a Streamer or a variation of that). The last couple of years he's been using a F*n*er J-bass (sunburst--looks like a mid seventies). I saw them in concert a couple of months ago. He only used the J-bass. Man! is he a good player...

 

[PocketGroove82]

yeah chris, I hate to say it here but I love the looks of those crazy big block inlaid 70's J's, never played one though, cause when you ask to pull something like that off the wall the store guys watch you like a hawk, bug the crap outta you, and won't give you 5 minutes of peace with the bass...to really try to connect with it.

Funny story though, It was actually a Brand New Heavies add in BassPlayer (circa 1997) that got me craving a honeyburst SR4 w/ mirror pickguard. Andrew is standing there with that exact bass (which i went out and bought within a few months) looking so badass. Check my pics if ya care to see it.
After 10 years it's still in great condition, although the frets have been through a lot and sooner or later it's going back to poppa for new ones.


whoops! did someone say hijack?

 

[Chris C]

yeah chris, I hate to say it here but I love the looks of those crazy big block inlaid 70's J's, never played one though, cause when you ask to pull something like that off the wall the store guys watch you like a hawk, bug the crap outta you, and won't give you 5 minutes of peace with the bass...to really try to connect with it.

Funny story though, It was actually a Brand New Heavies add in BassPlayer (circa 1997) that got me craving a honeyburst SR4 w/ mirror pickguard. Andrew is standing there with that exact bass (which i went out and bought within a few months) looking so badass. Check my pics if ya care to see it.
After 10 years it's still in great condition, although the frets have been through a lot and sooner or later it's going back to poppa for new ones.


whoops! did someone say hijack?

Very nice looking 'Rays! The 5 HH looks like a head turner, too.

I wish Andrew would play his Stingrays more these days. That funky UK acid jazz just begs for the Stingray sound...