The 20th SR5 is just mean

[mynan]

My 20th has been on the wall for a while since I got my Bongo....

...and even though I'm in love with the Bongo and will definitely keep it as my main player, I started thinking that it was a shame for the 20th to just be hanging there on the wall looking gorgeous...so I brought it to a little gig last night and I was blown away. The Bongo has it beat with low-end clarity, but I was thrilled by the punchy brilliance of the 20th...absolutely amazing...it kicked my teeth in...

 

[Dr Stankface]

The SR5 is where it's at.

 

[RocketRalf]

Maybe a 20thSR5 HH could give you both bass clarity and brilliance? just wondering...

 

[mynan]

Maybe a 20thSR5 HH could give you both bass clarity and brilliance? just wondering...

I don't know...I had a regular SR5 HH and it didn't sound anything close to the Bongo in that regard.

 

[Dr Stankface]

The Bongo does definitely have more low end than anything else i've ever played. Although, it can be a bit too excessive. The reason I offed my Bongo is because I didn't find that sort of low end very usable.

I still like Bongos.

 

[timmy5strings]

The SR5 is where it's at.

I'm on the same page

 

[Rick]

I'm on the same page

Me too. Here's mine

 

[freddy]

Agreed...here's mine (see tiny avatar on the left)

oops sorry folks...this thread is about mean 20th's

 

[jlepre]

Maybe a 20thSR5 HH could give you both bass clarity and brilliance? just wondering...

+1

I really love the tone and overall edge I get from my 20th HH, but I'm an HH lover.

 

[mynan]

+1

I really love the tone and overall edge I get from my 20th HH, but I'm an HH lover.

I also mostly prefer the HH for overall tone, but we were talking about Bongo low-end clarity and even a 20th HH isn't going to touch it.

 

[jlepre]

I also mostly prefer the HH for overall tone, but we were talking about Bongo low-end clarity and even a 20th HH isn't going to touch it.

You got me there, but it's a little unfair (18V vs 9V)

 

[mynan]

You got me there, but it's a little unfair (18V vs 9V)

Maybe, but aside from the low-end (and back to the original subject), the 20th has a lot to offer that I haven't found yet in my Bongo. It has a super-aggressive "woody" tone that just makes me want to dig in more the more I play it. It's a brilliant combination of tone-woods and electronics, whereas on the Bongo it seems like the incredible electronics are what's shining through.

 

[jlepre]

I couldn't have said it better myself. I have a Bongo 5 on order and I jnust bought my kid a Stealth.

 

[WillPlay4Food]

This was my lunch date yesterday and amazingly enough, is my lunch date for today.

Apologies for the blurriness in this pic, both were taken with my crappy cellphone cam.

[edit]
The difference in sound between my 20thSR5 and Bongo 4HH are readily apparent to me, but both give sounds that I enjoy hearing. I can get grindy or smooth from both basses, there's just different levels of aggression with my Bongo being much more agro by default.

 

[Big Poppa]

I suggest that people who bought the 20th hang on to them. We really didnt sell that many and they are very very special basses.

I can tell you the difference that I hear and feel and feel is a big part of playing....THe bongo brought sonic clarity and definition to the bass like hadnt been seen or heard before It is like a really really natural top of the like digital versus the ceramic and alnico have beautiful tome and a little less definition kind of like a great analog set up....I dont know if it is a softer blend between the strings or what....

 

[bovinehost]

I took my 20th SR5 out for a nice 4 hour stroll last night, playing with some guys gearing up for some corporate gigs.

(Imagine me playing "Saturday in the Park" and....well, I'm not going to say it because TKarter will laugh.)

Low volume rehearsals with adults! Yippee! I can still hear!

And even the stodgy keyboard player commented on that bass.

 

[tkarter]

I am laughing Jack.

tk

 

[WillPlay4Food]

I suggest that people who bought the 20th hang on to them. We really didnt sell that many and they are very very special basses.

Mine isn't going anywhere!

My Bongo 4HH & 20th SR5 are lifers for me. If I could find a 2007 LE Bongo 5 HHp I could be convinced to add it to my collection, but the two EBMM basses I currently own will be with me until I die.

 

[strummer]

I'm a very happy camper playing the 20th, my only problem is the unfamiliarity with the single pick up, ie where the hell do I put my thumb

My opinions regarding the 20th vs the Bongo is that in comparison the 20th is subtle and refined, whereas the Bongo is more of a fist where it hurts.

And the looks are just awesome!

The 20th is the perfect companion to my Bongos, yes indeed!

Now, Big Poppa, any chance you might tell us how many were made? I know generally you don't but we have the numbers for the Dargie Delight and the 30th SR4, so I thought why not ask?