Single pu Bongo... Will I like it as much as my 4HH?

[Quadrogong1111]

I tend to use my Bongo HH exclusively these days,for shows,at least..
I like a full,traditional tone..lots of sustain,

for my basic sound..
I keep the pan balanced between the 2 pu's evenly,
roll off a tiny bit of highs..add a bit of bottom.
I'm in love with the tone,the HH feels smooth as silk to me.

btw, I rarely get bright or poppy tones,I sort of thrive on sustain and big,full,traditional rock tones..

How does the single pu Bongo compare tonally?
can I get the same round,full,sustainy sweetness with the single pu ?
or different animal?

is it closer to a stingray?(which sounds louder,more aggressive and just more "active" to me)
or very similar to my HH?
I know this stuff is really subjective,but I'm just dying for some input,since I've never played one.

 

[slucas]

The H is not going to be round like the HH, but it is going to kick it's butt.
If you like thunder under you the H is where it's at. It is more agressive than a ray and or a bongo HH. Single pickup definition and a raw crude beast man, an untamable beast

 

[oddjob]

like my HH LOVE my H. It is a very different beast. Has a bit more sizzle and the fundamentals ring much more clearly (IMO). Just beacaus eit is a single pup and a 3 band, don't let it fool you... there is still a ton of tone shaping in there.

So will you like it as much? That is a matter of personal opinion, but I love mine.

 

[MingusBASS]

I'm not a huge fan of the single H, so if you can try it out, do so.

 

[bovinehost]

The single pickup Bongo is also known as "The Secret Weapon".

When I play the dual pickup Bongos, I fiddle a bit here and there because I think, "I can turn the blend knob!" I'm not overly dangerous with such things, but it does introduce another thing to consider when I'm playing.

When I play the single pickup Bongo, I think, "Okay, that's good" and then I concentrate on the girls at the table off to the left.

I mean, I concentrate on playing well and hitting the harmonies and posture and being nice to old ladies.

Yeah, that's it.

Jack

 

[markbass99]

I'm getting my first single H Bongo when the DD2's arrive. This one will be a little more complex than usual due to the piezo and 4 band EQ. I can't wait to see what the differences are, I'm expecting to see more of a difference than between the HH and HS.

 

[TheAntMan]

I've tried the Bongo 4H and it has warm, round, solid punch. Love my 4HH but if I get the chance I will definitely get a 4H. Actually considering one at a local music store that is the last Bongo in the house and they are dropping the price very close to my 'I gotta get it' range.

-- Ant

 

[five7]

bovinehost makes a very good point!

 

[Eggman]

I have a single H - 2007 LE Blue Dawn for sale - check the For Sale thread. I am a multiple pick bass guy. I have tried single H Sterlings, Rays and Bongos. Tone is fine - I just find my arm likes to position my hand at the neck pickup. Too many years playing Jazz basses at the forward pickup, I guess.

 

[Basscake]

Tone is fine - I just find my arm likes to position my hand at the neck pickup. Too many years playing Jazz basses at the forward pickup, I guess.

Have you ever thought of a thumbrest?

Ok it might look a bit like a roofrack on top of a Ferarri but it would certainly do the trick.

 

[Eggman]

I tried a temporary thumb rest on the Bongo - just not right for me.

 

[Old_Guy]

The H is not going to be round like the HH, but it is going to kick it's butt.
If you like thunder under you the H is where it's at. It is more agressive than a ray and or a bongo HH. Single pickup definition and a raw crude beast man, an untamable beast

Still trying to figure this out as I get ready to go to a Bongo 5 - So I'll repeat the question, but here's what I play; forum tell me?
- It's a DANCE (Wedding, Corporate) band; 4 horns, full rythym section, couple of vocalists.
- We run all the way from Temptations, 4 Tops, James Brown, Etta James (ballads), Blues Bros, Huey Lewis & News, Donna Summer, Wild Cherry...if you can't dance to it, we don't play it.
- Also, we only stop between sets - eg, hit the last "C" in "Diggin on James Brown," immediately slide to "A" and start "Brick House," ... for an hour at a whack. So there's not a lot of time to dork around,which is why I'm using the Bongo 4 for all this stuff now, it does it all. But since everything seems to be in B or E flat, I've capitulated and decided to go for a 5.

So for those kind of tunes...would the single H be too aggressive sounding? (Already know I need the piezo to cop the upright sounds in the traditional ballads)

 

[oddjob]

I don't think it would be too aggressive (I can round off my H pretty well)... I would, IMO for what you are doing, go with an HSP instead. I love the H. I swear by the H. But it sounds like you have a "sound" already in mind and I think an HSP would make you the happiest.

 

[Old_Guy]

Thanks for the input. I do have a 4 HS; and really like that sound.
Oddly...and I don't really "think" it's the "S" - but when I stand too close to the new MoMark with the treble cranked up..I get feedback. Doesn't happen with the LMII or Mesa, so "I dunno." Figured the HH would be a little smoother...

 

[oddjob]

smoother????? oh no... the HH is more aggressive than the HS and I dare say a bit bolder (again, IMO) - the hs is more refined and clearer on the top end with a nice bit of thump... the hh is, for lack of better terms, more ballsy and unrefinded (a truely great rock sound though)

 

[strummer]

So for those kind of tunes...would the single H be too aggressive sounding? (Already know I need the piezo to cop the upright sounds in the traditional ballads)

No the single H will be fine indeed. To me, the main difference between the HH and the H is that with the blend knob in center position you get a sound that feels a little compressed, tight and very focused. The single H is more open.
Honestly, when I gig I don't care which of the Bongos I play, I just grab one

 

[MingusBASS]

I mean this with all the respect in the world, but don't listen to these guys. Get the HH.

 

[bovinehost]

I mean this with all the respect in the world, but don't listen to these guys. Get the HH.

Well, I've got an HH or two around the house and I really don't think it would be a mistake, exactly, to get one of those. At the risk of repeating myself, I'd say this. (Old Guy has read this already.)

The piezo option is a good choice for ballads. I don't think it sounds much like an upright - what does? - but it does, for lack of a better term, "add some air" to the tone, perfect for mellow singer stuff.

With a dual pickup plus piezos, you end up with a knob farm. They're everywhere. I had fun with mine at home, but I'd take it out to play and think, "What the hell did I just turn?" Something to consider. Some people are good with knobs. I'm not one of them.

Single H plus piezos is workable. I don't think you give up much by going that way. Sure, the neck 'bucker can add some oomph, but so can the bass knob. Basses are like weapons - I want mine to work all the time and not break or do something unusual when I'm in the middle of something "interesting". IE, "I thought that WAS the safety" or "How did my clip end up in the sand?" And so on.

I like the dual pickup basses, I really do. I'll play one this weekend, but once you add piezos, hoo, too many blend knobs for me! This is not so much an observation on the bass but on my inability to remember what knob does what and when. Also, how.

Jack

 

[shakinbacon]

Well, I've got an HH or two around the house and I really don't think it would be a mistake, exactly, to get one of those. At the risk of repeating myself, I'd say this. (Old Guy has read this already.)

The piezo option is a good choice for ballads. I don't think it sounds much like an upright - what does? - but it does, for lack of a better term, "add some air" to the tone, perfect for mellow singer stuff.

With a dual pickup plus piezos, you end up with a knob farm. They're everywhere. I had fun with mine at home, but I'd take it out to play and think, "What the hell did I just turn?" Something to consider. Some people are good with knobs. I'm not one of them.

Single H plus piezos is workable. I don't think you give up much by going that way. Sure, the neck 'bucker can add some oomph, but so can the bass knob. Basses are like weapons - I want mine to work all the time and not break or do something unusual when I'm in the middle of something "interesting". IE, "I thought that WAS the safety" or "How did my clip end up in the sand?" And so on.

I like the dual pickup basses, I really do. I'll play one this weekend, but once you add piezos, hoo, too many blend knobs for me! This is not so much an observation on the bass but on my inability to remember what knob does what and when. Also, how.

Jack

heh heh heh, he said "knob farm"

I agree with Bovine regarding the piezo adding "air" and not sounding like an upright.

I also agree that the knobs are daunting. However, I found the eq on the Bongo daunting period. It has taken me a while to get a feel for what the knobs do. I think the key, as BP told me early on, is to start flat and make minor tweaks. With the piezo I would add that you can start with 100% mag and dial from their to add "air" and "cut" to your sound. It is very different than just adding treble IME.

I didn't think I would like the piezo option, but I am really glad I got it with the dual HH. I especially like to dial in some piezo when I'm playing with flatwound strings (which may be a permanent thing now) in HH or neck H mode.

For piezo only, boosting the bass and treble by 50% sounds very cool to me. As far from an upright as can be, but deep, airy and different.

Anyone know how to use the piezo to get an upright tone on the Bongo? I usually just use my upright

 

[Old_Guy]

Anyone know how to use the piezo to get an upright tone on the Bongo? I usually just use my upright

No clue, though I was able to horse around with a Sterling 5Hp last night, personal instrument of a local store owner pal of mine. True that it doesn't do upright as well an, well, an upright, but it adds some "woody" tone.
I started out on an upright decades ago, but I just don't have time in this band's format to switch instruments - probably barely have time to spin a knob from "mag" over to "piezo." Thanks for all the suggestions!