Bongo Dilemna

[dmarotta]

For me the Bongo has become my "Go To " bass mainly because of the versatility of the preamp. I love the sound of the Stingray but if I only bring one bass to a gig...it will be the Bongo.I can get get pretty close to the sounds of a Stingray and a Sterling while always being able to come back to the Bongo's incredible sound.In a perfect world , we would all own basses with the many pickup configurations that MM has available.
You mention that the Bongo sounds like a preamp with strings. What amp rig are you using and are the eq settings relatively flat? Try a fresh set of strings and subtract some high end if it is too bright.I do a fair amount of recording with a Bongo HH 5 with no eq at the board and find that this bass has the ability to be very warm sounding or get that Stingray bite depending upon how you eq it.
Flatrounds are a viable alternative and you should explore that avenue before you make any decisions.

 

[xring]

For me the Bongo has become my "Go To " bass mainly because of the versatility of the preamp. I love the sound of the Stingray but if I only bring one bass to a gig...it will be the Bongo.I can get get pretty close to the sounds of a Stingray and a Sterling while always being able to come back to the Bongo's incredible sound.In a perfect world , we would all own basses with the many pickup configurations that MM has available.
You mention that the Bongo sounds like a preamp with strings. What amp rig are you using and are the eq settings relatively flat? Try a fresh set of strings and subtract some high end if it is too bright.I do a fair amount of recording with a Bongo HH 5 with no eq at the board and find that this bass has the ability to be very warm sounding or get that Stingray bite depending upon how you eq it.
Flatrounds are a viable alternative and you should explore that avenue before you make any decisions.

I've only played the Bongo through my "B" rig: Kustomgroove 1200 (power section only) pushed by Sans Amp RBI, Maxcom compressor / sonic maximizer. EQ: Slight boost on bass and mids, treble cut slightly. Bass EQ is usually a boost on low & high mids. Lows boosted to suit depending on tune. Cabinet is an Aggie GS212 with horn barely on.
I'm not actively pursuing a trade at the moment, but if I saw the right SR5, I'm still pretty sure I'd offer it up. I haven't tried the flats yet on it. Current string still have plenty left in them.

 

[tkarter]

xring that bongo doesn't need all that ahead of it. It needs very little behind it too IMHO to be the best bass ever built.

The bongo is one of the sweetest basses ever recorded even by a mediocre bass player such as I.


tk

 

[bovinehost]

For me the Bongo has become my "Go To " bass mainly because of the versatility of the preamp. I love the sound of the Stingray but if I only bring one bass to a gig...it will be the Bongo.I can get get pretty close to the sounds of a Stingray and a Sterling while always being able to come back to the Bongo's incredible sound.In a perfect world , we would all own basses with the many pickup configurations that MM has available.
You mention that the Bongo sounds like a preamp with strings. What amp rig are you using and are the eq settings relatively flat? Try a fresh set of strings and subtract some high end if it is too bright.I do a fair amount of recording with a Bongo HH 5 with no eq at the board and find that this bass has the ability to be very warm sounding or get that Stingray bite depending upon how you eq it.
Flatrounds are a viable alternative and you should explore that avenue before you make any decisions.

Listen to Dave, boys - listen to Dave.

Jack

 

[strummer]

Strings do make a huge difference, and just as Oli said on a certain bass they can mean the difference between "ok" and "amazing".
I tride flats on my HH Bongo, and while it was very interesting musically, and while it made wonderful noises, it was not the sound for me. I've tried a lot of different strings on the Bongos, and the ones the bases ship with are, to me, perfect.

My SR5 has the same strings, but it is an altogether different animal. I really appreciate it, too, but for me Bongo is the sound of bass.

 

[tegzsa]

Yup, strings make a difference.

I put 0.50's on my Bongo HHP5...

...BOOOOM! Oh no, there goes Tokyo!

 

[Randracula]

Here's some personality for you.......
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLyV5JLvxM0"]YouTube - Ernie Ball - Stan Sargeant Plays A Bongo[/ame]

Bet you want to keep it now....


(Wish I still had my Bongo)

 

[Deaj]

I have two Bongos, same config. One has flats, one not. Flats sound better IMO.

I also have two 4 H/H Bongo's - one each with flats and rounds. I dig both equally for different reasons, different tones.