Single H Fretless 4... Bongo or Ray???

[b-unit]

Simple question. If the other factors are equal, ie: a single pup, fretless 4, what would you all recommend, an SR4 or a Bongo?

I already have a fretted SR4 and SR5, both single H and love them to death. But I looking to order a third lefty EBMM and am really torn if I should stick with the familiar Stingray or try a Bongo.

I love the simplicity of my Rays and usually play with the eq set flat. I'm not a big tweaker with eq. Would a fretless Bongo growl the way i expect a fretless ray would? is there something about one over the other that would sway me?

Let me have your opinions, fellow forum members!

 

[b-unit]

I should add, that I ask this question, because I have no way of trying out a lefty Bongo, so its hard to know which i would prefer.

 

[maddog]

Bongo.

 

[bovinehost]

No one should expect me to argue with a mad dog.

 

[b-unit]

Why do you prefer the Bongo over the SR4, Maddog?

By the way, your Bongo is freakin gorgeous!

 

[bdgotoh]

Definitely the Bongo, there's something special about that preamp and pickup that sounds perfect without frets! I got to play a 6 string Bongo fretless, then played Tom's 4 string fretless Bongo and had to order a 4 for myself.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Definately the StingRay, don't you guys remember Pino Palladino's growl?

 

[ronnyG]

How can anyone possibly tell you what you would prefer?

With that said..I tried a Bongo and was quite impressed. It growls, snarls..and plays pretty if you like...very versatile and I had no trouble figuring out the settings (took about a minute).
But...although I myself am a south paw, I play righty so if you can't find a lefty Bongo to try out, I have no further recommendation.

 

[silverburst]

I've been trying out a Sterling fretless, and like it.

 

[maddog]

Why do you prefer the Bongo over the SR4, Maddog?

I originally latched onto the Bongo model because:

1. The neck is somewhere between a Stingray and a Sterling. The Stingray was too chunky, the Sterling too thin, the Bongo, juuuussssst right. Call me Goldilocks.

2. I loved the look from the day of unveiling. The curves on it are gorgeous and there is nothing like it.

Nefertiti is my 4th Bongo and the one I won't let go of. I like the 3-band EQ over the 4 and the singleH over any other P/U configuration. It has that Stingray growly sound I was looking for in spades. To my ears, the 3-band has a more drastic change versus the 4-band in the mids. I play it with a rubber pick and still have the original strings on it after 2 years. The pick gives it a nice non-zingy attack so it sounds a bit similar to fretted fingerstyle. The old Super Slinkys give some thump like flats but still some zing in them to keep the growl. I've been itching to put some Slinky's on it I have around but keep resisting. Even thinking about going to some flats but until I find work, no money is going to be spent.

By the way, your Bongo is freakin gorgeous!

Thanks! Now if I could just play it as well as it looks.

 

[Psychicpet]

Bruce, c'mon, really.

'bout time you entered the elite ranks and got yourself a BONGO!!!
you deserve it.

Can almost guarantee you'll be one of the only cats around here if not the entire Western half of our fair nation to wield such a beast!


Bonnnnnnnnnnnnnnngoooooooooooooooooo

 

[adouglas]

Bongo Hp = fretless bliss.

Really.

Yes, it will growl massively. The powerful (both literally and figuratively) Bongo electronics and that neodymium pickup are capable of huge, aggressive tones if you want them.

The piezo adds an extra edge as well.

 

[T-bone]

Thanks! Now if I could just play it as well as it looks.

Don't let him fool you. He plays beautifully. Although on second thought, it could be Nefertiti.

As a "Stingray guy" with two LE's, I was blown away with Nefertiti. I played her one night during a practice and couldn't believe how easy she was. If that's the way all Bongo's sound and play, and if I were you, then I'd definitely consider a blank plank Bongo. This adds a whole new spectrum to your color palette.

tbone

 

[Duarte]

Bongo, I mean, I love my fretless Ray...but after trying a fretless bongo H...

I keep the Ray because it's got that massive bridge and beautiful grain and birdseye, but the bongo will growl as much as you want and have even more power behind it (and yes a piezo on fretless...mmmmmmm do it!)

 

[kylierider]

I'm still a Bongo virgin myself, having never ever played one. I would break the mold and try the Bongo just because you don't already have one. You may really like it. Everyone else seems to.

Thats what I want, a Single H fretless...But funds don't allow it so I'll just live threw everyone elses eyes. Maybe I'll get to pick one up really cheap when everone flips their current MM basses for funds to buy this new model. One can only hope

I am really enjoying my fretless 30th though...

 

[smallequestrian]

Bongo. Truthfully the first Musicman I ever played and what caused me to go on my Musicman oddysey was a Honeyburst Fretless Stingray at a Guitar Center. But once I discovered the Bongo my mind was set. The first bass I ever ordered for myself was a Single H Bongo and it was truly an awesome bass. I ended up selling that bass, and I miss it, but my reasons for doing so were sound then and I stand by that decision.

Now things have changed and I found myself with the opportunity to revisit the past.

I had this:

and now I have this coming:

 

[adouglas]

Excellent!

The SmallEQ gold Bongo passed through my hands briefly (to fill the void while I was waiting for my own 07 LE fretless Bongo) on its way to its current home at Casa Bovine.

It was (and is) a really, REALLY sweet bass. Light and amazing sounding.

Glad to see you're getting another!

 

[kylierider]

Yeah thats the bass I wanted!!

I remember when you were talking about selling that bass I said I was interested. But when you were ready to sell my wife was in the hospital with pregenancy complications and there was no way it could happen. That was a Hp correct?

Would have been my first Bongo and my first lined fretless. How cool would that have been.

 

[kylierider]

Where is it now?

 

[smallequestrian]

Member Syciprider has it now.