bongo vs. ray

[pj4553]

ok i know this has probably been asked a 1000 times but ima do it anyway...
i have 2 stingrays a 4 and a 5 and i absolutely love them both but im kinda getting a crush on abongo. i was thinking of maybe swaping the SR5 for a bongo 4. is there a big difference in the waythey sound and play?

 

[asianjeff]

best way to answer that question is hit up a guitar center where you can try them out. You can take other people's word for it, but it is you who will be playing the guitar...

 

[AnthonyD]

Your hands, your ears... Go Hold 'em and you'll know.




Hurry, before the mind-control crew gets here...

 

[adouglas]

Too late.

Jack sent us. We're here to help. What may we do for you, Komrade?

Bongos are good. Yes. They are. You agree, do you not?

I SEE IT! I SEE THE FUTURE! IT IS SHAPED LIKE A...TOILET SEAT!!!!

We are Bongo. Your bass preferences are irrelevant. They will be absorbed and adapted to service us.

 

[spencer]

Bongo sounds more aggressive to me..

 

[Dr Stankface]

I got my Ray 5 way before I got my Bongo. The Bongo I had was pretty cool though.




Notice I said HAD. Look which bass has multiplied.

 

[tkarter]

I came from the SR5 to the Bongo 5. The Bongo took a bit of getting used to from what I had already.

That said it is worth it totally.

I play a bongo now or don't play.

tk

 

[adouglas]

I got my Ray 5 way before I got my Bongo. The Bongo I had was pretty cool though.

Notice I said HAD. Look which bass has multiplied.

I came from the SR5 to the Bongo 5. The Bongo took a bit of getting used to from what I had already.

That said it is worth it totally.

I play a bongo now or don't play.

Well, there you have it in a nutshell.

The answer to the Bongo vs. SR debate is........


Yes.

 

[mammoth]

did somebody say BOOOOOOOOOOOOONGOOOOOOOO!

 

[saxnbass]

I think the best way to put it is that the SR5 has a 9V 3-band EQ with a coil selection switch (H model) for series/single coil/parallel, and pickup selection through various coils on each with the HS and HH models. The Bongo, on the other hand, is an 18V 4-band EQ with a pan selection for pickups (HH and HS); the single H is a 3-Band EQ, but still 18V. Also, the pickups are different. Bongo has neodymium rods and the SR5 (if memory recalls correctly) has alnico rods.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[bassmonkey]

the SR5 (if memory recalls correctly) has alnico rods.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Alnico on older models, ceramic on the newer ones. Not sure when ceramic was introduced though.

 

[saxnbass]

Thanks for that. I was under the impression they were still using Alnico due to the fact the 20th Anni is going to have them, AFAIK. What do the SR4s and Sterlings have? (slight de-rail, sorry). I did notice he has an SR4 though.


OP, why trade the SR5 for a Bongo 4, when you have an SR4. Why not trade SR4 for Bongo 4 or SR5 for Bongo 5? I'm just curious about that.

 

[russjm]

I only just paid for the Stingray, got my bank balance back to normal, and now I have severe GAS for a Bongo 5, god help me.

A couple of friends of mine have them, one has a black stealth 4, and it blows his Ricks out of the water, massive range of tones, pretty much all you need in one bass. My other friend has a 4 and a 5. The 4 is gloss black and the 5 is dark blue, both of them are stunning. The 5 in particular is a dream to play, it almost plays itself, and the tones are incredible, and now I want one.

 

[Aussie Mark]

one has a black stealth 4, and it blows his Ricks out of the water.

C'mon, that's an unfair matchup. Bongo v Rick is like Tyson in his prime v Billy Crystal.

 

[russjm]

Ha ha, very true.

 

[Big Poppa]

cicly tyson?

I can play anyone I want and I play the single H bongo because Im not smart enough for the two h....Id have to be a friggin genius to play a hhp!

 

[AnthonyD]

See? Don't say I didn't warn you...

FWIW, I was a die-hard Sterling (bass) fan. The Sterling neck is perfect.

That being said, a bass is not built on neck alone, and my Bongo assimilation took place over a year or two - ultimately reeling me in. It is unique, distinctive and agressive in appearance, it has a pre-amp and tone to die for, 24 fret neck and piezos available in all configurations.

Yes, Bongo is the future of bass guitar... Here right now!








BTW: I am still a die-hard Sterling (the Man) fan! And the "Single H" (w/piezo) is next on my list - check my sig!

 

[TTG]

I actually went to GC today after a Dr appt and played about 10 different basses. I was really surprised that I didn't see a Bongo 4 at first...Then it was there, hidden on the back wall...It played so nice and looked great! It's black on black and I really want it. I got home and have been trying to talk my wife into letting me find a way to get it. I can't complain, she has been very supportive of me getting the stingray and the sub sterling in the last month and half.

I will be keeping the ray and sterling but I am now positive that I will be adding a bongo to the collection soon!

As far as the "vs" for this thread, I would have to say it's up to the player if you have to choose.....my suggestion, choose both!

 

[strummer]

You already know what you want, but I want to say this anyway: I was going to get a SR5 in Forida, but seeing a Bongo for the first time, I just asked if it was more expensive than the SR5, beaver said It was slightly cheaper, so i paid and never looked back. That's right, i bought it on looks alone, and a smart move it was too

Damn, the Bongo is the most exciting bass ever!

 

[bovinehost]

Damn, the Bongo is the most exciting bass ever!

You know, it sure seems that way to me sometimes, but I'm sure my view isn't universally accepted.