Help! Help me pick my bongo

[bnotegboom]

I'm currently trying to decide on what would be best for me in terms of HH or HHP in a 5 string Bongo. I play live constantly, and my sound is a heavy intense groove along the lines of prog rock, funk, and tripped out jam. Any input will help. I play out of an Eden WT800 coming out of an 18 with two 10s, but am also shopping around for cabinets. I know I'm going for the Bongo, but what are the main differences between the HH, and the HHP?

 

[adouglas]

It is difficult to describe in words.

I call it "adding a little Tabasco" to the sound. There is a DEFINITE difference, one that I like.

A lot.

I sometimes turn it off just to see what the diff is, and I always wind up adding a little bit back in. I tend to run about 30% piezo, but I always just set it by ear.

I find that, contrary to what you might read elsewhere, that if you go all-piezo with the selector it does NOT make the bass sound like an upright or acoustic bass. It sounds cool, but not acoustic.

I ordered the piezo because I had owned a fretless with a piezo bridge and I liked the sound. So I knew what to expect, more or less.

I'd have a hard time ordering it just on faith, though. It's an EXPENSIVE option.

 

[the unrepentant]

I'd see if you can try it somewhere first...

I'm sure if there's a fellow knucklehead with one in your area they wouldn't mind letting you have a go on theirs.

 

[bnotegboom]

Exactly how expensive is the Piezo option? I guess I didn't think it would be more than a couple hundred..... more?!

 

[adouglas]

Exactly how expensive is the Piezo option? I guess I didn't think it would be more than a couple hundred..... more?!

I'm sure the upcharge is different than it was when I bought mine. Best email a dealer to find out what it actually is.

 

[RobertB]

Good gosh, that's something I haven't even experimented with at all yet ... piezo. Heysoos Kreesta!!

 

[bdgotoh]

I had an HHP Bongo 4 and ended up letting it go. The piezos sounded fine and were easy to blend in but in the end the bass was just too complicated for me to get comfortable with. It had one master volume and 3 sets of stacked knobs for EQ and blend and piezo controls.

I didn't find any tones with the piezos that I had to have compared to a plain HH.

 

[PzoLover]

Oh, c'mon now

azz you can come to know for yerself in one quick decizion
any EBMM bass withut piezo, is like doing sex,
but, with a piezo is like making love, sweet,pure love
take the plunge
ATB
/PL

 

[ekb16b]

any EBMM bass withut piezo, is like doing sex,
but, with a piezo is like making love, sweet,pure love

so you're saying that no piezo is better because there's no commitment??

my advice, get an H for reasons mainly to do with simplicity

 

[jlepre]

I just ordered a Bongo 5 HH/P and it's out for delivery today. The piezo option cost me an extra $260. I have actually never heard the difference with this option. Why did I order it? Because the bass is an unlined fretless, and I was told it was a must have.

 

[RocketRalf]

Here's a good example of what the piezo does (on a sterling)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rNKuYuex1I]YouTube - 2001 Sterling H with piezo bridge[/ame]

 

[bnotegboom]

Thanks a lot. That video was a huge help! I have to say I'm going with the HH/P.

As for the H... It's not practical for me because I search for slightly different sounds with just about each song I play. I think the HH/P on a bongo is def. the way to go. Thanks everyone!

 

[MrMusashi]

dual pickups give you more variation. if that is what you need you should pick one of them hh or hs's

MrM

 

[adouglas]

That video is really excellent for graphically demonstrating what the piezo does. I was nodding along with it the whole time...YEAH, that's it!

Something to bear in mind about the Bongo HHp...with two great big humbuckers and a 24-fret neck, there's almost NO room for popping/slapping.

If you do that stuff very much you might want to go with an HSp or even that rarest of beasts, the Hp.

 

[Duarte]

That vid is great, now I really, really want a bongo Hp.

 

[MrMusashi]

ill have to disagree with you on the slap issue and dual hh's adouglas

there is room but you might have to adjust your technique to position the hand so it slips into that spot

MrM