I want a custom order Bongo

[Powman]

I am contemplating getting a "custom" ordered Bongo. I already have a Sterling with maple and single H. Love it, but want more now...
4 String.
Rosewood Neck.
Either Blue Pearl or Saphire Black.
Not sure yet what pickup combo but either the dual H or Single Humbucker and single coil.
Maybe the Piezo pickup.

Questions.
1. How does one go about getting this. Do you order directly from MM or through your local guitar store?
2. Should I get the Piezo? What's that sound like?
3. Whats better...2 Humbuckers or one humbucker and a single coil?

 

[Laredo]

Me Too!..............

The best thing to do is get a working relationship with a good local EBMM, or a good on-line EBMM dealer. There are some more Music Man "friendly" ones out there...............These stores will help you get the Bongo with the options you want.

As far as pickups, it is all personal preference..............Unfortunately, someone's recommendation in a forum, may not be to your tastes. See if you can play one first? I myself have never needed, or wanted the Piezo option................On the other hand, I have all the pick-up configurations, but really like the Single H the best. As another forum member put it, "The Single H Bongo is a Secret Weapon"!

 

[Aussie Mark]

1. All orders are placed through EBMM dealers.
2. search the forum
3. search the forum

 

[maddog]

Questions.
1. How does one go about getting this. Do you order directly from MM or through your local guitar store?

Order thru your local EBMM dealer or contact one of the fine dealers that frequent the forum (The Perfect Bass, Bass Central, DuBaldo, etc.)

2. Should I get the Piezo? What's that sound like?

Yes and no. If you got the money to spend, go for it. If you are getting a double pickup model and therefore getting the 4 band eq, go for it. Otherwise, not worth it. It is a nice option that offers extra flavoring but I didn't find it worth it. It sounds as close as an electric is going to get to an upright, thumpy with bite.

3. Whats better...2 Humbuckers or one humbucker and a single coil?

Depends on you. I much prefer the single H w/ 3-band eq out of any of the pickup configs. After that, probably the single coil/H because of the nice clean tone out of the single coil. Others much prefer the HH due to its radioactive breath. Best to find them and try them or just be ready to accept whichever you order. You can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[keko]

The only Bongo I tried was HSp 5 model, and I was delighted with magnetic pickups and powerful preamp, but didn't find much from piezo!

My best experience was when balanced 80% H & 20% S pickups!

But You should try it by Yourself for sure, every person is different, that's why there are so many models on the market, right?

 

[Powman]

On the other hand, I have all the pick-up configurations, but really like the Single H the best. As another forum member put it, "The Single H Bongo is a Secret Weapon"!

Interesting...This is also what I have on my Sterling...

I am looking for lots of versatility...I want this bass to have lots of tonal options.

 

[Powman]

The only Bongo I tried was HSp 5 model, and I was delighted with magnetic pickups and powerful preamp, but didn't find much from piezo!

My best experience was when balanced 80% H & 20% S pickups!

But You should try it by Yourself for sure, every person is different, that's why there are so many models on the market, right?

There seems to be consistent opinion so far and that is the Single H seems to be the preferred, followed by the single H and single coil. The latter is what I am leaning towards...

Interesting commnets about the Piezo...I definitely need to find one first to try. I am intrigued by it because I would love to have a thumpy upright tone for certain songs...But I dont want to spend too much on an option that I would not use very often. I need to try it.

 

[adouglas]

If by "rosewood neck" you mean the solid rosewood BFR, you're too late. The ordering window for those closed many months ago. If you mean a rosewood fingerboard, then that's the standard.

Don't put too much stock in a small number of responses. That can mislead you. The consensus among those who have responded so far is a preference for the H, but that does not mean it's the consensus among all Bongo owners.

I have both a 5 HHp and a 5H, and they both have their strengths. you won't go wrong with either of them. Right now my go-to bass is the 5H, but that's only because the music I'm playing these days doesn't need the tonal variety or subtlety provided by the HHp. And the H is lighter, which matters at 2 am on gig night. I'm 50, and I don't have the stamina I once did.

If I had to own only one of the two, it'd be the HHp because it's more versatile. The H always produces a good, solid usable tone, but it can't do all that the HHp can.

When I play the HHp, I always have the piezo on, usually anywhere from 25 to 50 percent.

So there you have it... a completely contrary take to some of the other posts.

A law of the Internet is that if a thread goes on long enough you'll get every possible opinion, which pretty much leaves you right where you started.

 

[Powman]

Thanks adouglas...

Just proves I need to try these out. I will start bugging the boys at Long and McQuade to get some more EBMM basses in. Then I can try them.

But one more question for you sir...I have not heard the Piezo pickup yet. Is it like a woody sound? Lets say you were doing a classic song like "Moondance" or "Stand by Me". Would the piezo really shine on these kind of songs?

 

[steve f]

I find the piezo adds a percusive "thump" to the sound. There is also something audible at the high end, almost a white noise type thing that's hard to describe. I really like the piezo option on a fretless, that's where it shines. On a fretted bass, I personally wouldn't spend the extra $$ for it.
Check out this clip -
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rNKuYuex1I"]YouTube- 2001 Sterling H with piezo bridge[/ame]

 

[adouglas]

It wood -- er, would -- but be aware that a piezo-equipped electric bass will never sound like an acoustic bass. The assumption among many who have never played with a piezo is that it somehow magically transforms the instrument, and that's not true.

Yes, it does sense vibrations acoustically instead of electromagnetically, but there's a lot more that goes into the sound of an acoustic bass than simply picking up the vibrations acoustically... the hollow body, the shape and size, the vibration patterns, etc. So it's just not the same.

Put another way, the "woody" sound you're probably talking about doesn't come from the pickup. It comes from the physical instrument.

If you play your piezo bass the same way you play your electric bass, the differences won't stand out all that much (as in, it's not night and day... there will be a difference, but it's just a change in the character of the tone).

But if you shift your technique by, for example, plucking way up over the fretboard with the fleshy part of your fingers, you can get some pretty cool sounds that make the piezo pretty darned interesting.

As somebody else said, it's not for everyone. If you're a straightforward meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, the subtlety might be wasted on you. But if you're the kind of guy who pays a lot of attention to the fine points of tone and enjoy the breadth of the tonal palette that multiple pickups piezo and a four-band EQ gives you, it's a wonderful tool.

 

[Big Poppa]

Powman here is where you get into touble asking the addicted for advice. Maybe as Adouglas warned...dont make a decision based on who respons to your thread.

THe two H Bongo is the most popular by a wide margin. Period.
The single h is the smallest seller.

The two h or Hs are really sonic machines with a lot of control and eq...make sure that you really want that. I love it but I use the single H (thats why they unofficially call it the BIg Poppa BOngo) If you opt for the single h and want the four band preamp that the two pickup models have then you have to get a piezo...the three band is point and shoot and simple and the pickup is in the stingray and sterling sweet apot. The two pickup ones are so powerful and versitile

 

[DaddyFlip]

I purchased the HH Bongo because I thought I would spend all my time at the neck pickup, trying to get a P-bass sound. After getting on the forum, I tried using just the bridge pickup to see what the MusicMan "sound" was all about. While it was not a perfect apples to apples comparision because the single H pickup is in a 'sweeter spot', I found I didn't like that either. What I do like is the HH 'dented or slightly panned toward the neck. I keep the EQ 'dented or the treble and high mid slightly or completely down. These are my settings and the rest takes care of itself.

I think you should select your bass based on what feels good then looks good TO YOU. Or, you can select based on what looks good then feels good TO YOU. If 'tonal option' really becomes that important and you have a change of heart, buy another one or trade or get an EQ.

PS. I play finger style near the neck and I like having a pickup in that position on which to rest my thumb- another looks/feels good TO YOU consideration.

 

[Mogee]

If you can afford it, whatever config you go for, I would suggest getting the piezo. YOu can always not use it if you don't like it, but it may come in handy on certain songs.

 

[Bloodfist]

Powman, there's a dealer down here at Ye ol' Music named Mike. One of the best people to work with period. If you want I can get you his number, and he will ship to you. I went in recently to get a price on something EBMM related, that can be kinda hard to find, he made a phone call and gave me a price within 5 minutes.

 

[spencer]

I am finally going to admit.... There is no such thing as a wrong ernieball..

You honestly need one of each

I have owned..
Stingray
Sterling
Stingray and Bongo HH
Sterling H/S
Big Al

There is something special about each one.

Stingray is just pure classic, its got the sweet spot no extras just an eq

Sterling was a bit more agressive in series mode and parallel is a little smoother but its single H still has that classic ernieball tone.

The Sterling H/S is great. It can do the parallel H sound, it can do a better and fuller than jazz bass sound, basicly a mix of ernieball and a jazz, then it can do a pretty good semi mid scooped jazz sound, and finally it has a killer p bass or should I say pbass killer soloed neck pickup that I didn't discover untill a week before I sold it.

Bongo HH just has balls pure and simple.. Heavy thick fat huge sound. In my opinion I cant get a classic ernieball tone from it, due to the bridge pickup location, its still great just id say its in a different class.

And finally the Big Al with 3 single coils. Believe it or not the 1 & 2 coils in series does give me that classic ernieball tone, don't know how it just does.. The rest are very different and I find the coil 2 & 3 are its p bass killer. With the options on this bass it is amazing!

I didn't like HH's for a while mainly due to looks, but as always I changed my mind. I would take ANYTHING ..... and everything... from ernieball there is no wrong choice..

Alright, im still not the biggest fan of the Bongos design, BUT I did recently play their Single H and I absoultely love it.. I couldn't choose between a HH and a H bongo there both great.

 

[spencer]

By the way, call the perfect bass 866 751 3220, ask to speak with brandt, he is the erniball expert over there, tell him what your looking for see what they have in stock and on the way and get a couple quotes. Don't forget it mention that your from the ERNIEBALL fourms.

 

[Powman]

By the way, call the perfect bass 866 751 3220, ask to speak with brandt, he is the erniball expert over there, tell him what your looking for see what they have in stock and on the way and get a couple quotes. Don't forget it mention that your from the ERNIEBALL fourms.

I will do that! Do they ship to the Great White North? (aka Canada).

 

[Powman]

I find the piezo adds a percusive "thump" to the sound. There is also something audible at the high end, almost a white noise type thing that's hard to describe. I really like the piezo option on a fretless, that's where it shines. On a fretted bass, I personally wouldn't spend the extra $$ for it.
]

Great video clip, thanks!

Last night the only EB with a Piezo was on a fretless Ray. And yes it did sound cool on the fretless. And no, it did not sound like an upright which is what I thought it would do. And I think I will save my shekels and not get the Piezo.

 

[Powman]

It wood -- er, would -- but be aware that a piezo-equipped electric bass will never sound like an acoustic bass. The assumption among many who have never played with a piezo is that it somehow magically transforms the instrument, and that's not true.

Yes, it does sense vibrations acoustically instead of electromagnetically, but there's a lot more that goes into the sound of an acoustic bass than simply picking up the vibrations acoustically... the hollow body, the shape and size, the vibration patterns, etc. So it's just not the same.

Put another way, the "woody" sound you're probably talking about doesn't come from the pickup. It comes from the physical instrument.

If you play your piezo bass the same way you play your electric bass, the differences won't stand out all that much (as in, it's not night and day... there will be a difference, but it's just a change in the character of the tone).

But if you shift your technique by, for example, plucking way up over the fretboard with the fleshy part of your fingers, you can get some pretty cool sounds that make the piezo pretty darned interesting.

As somebody else said, it's not for everyone. If you're a straightforward meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, the subtlety might be wasted on you. But if you're the kind of guy who pays a lot of attention to the fine points of tone and enjoy the breadth of the tonal palette that multiple pickups piezo and a four-band EQ gives you, it's a wonderful tool.

Well written post, thanks!

As I wrote in the previous post, I think I will pass on the Piezo.

I played about 6 different Ball's last night. I think there is good reason I picked the Sterling with one H the first time around...I really like the one H configuration and the simplicity of a three position switch.

I may just do that again with the Bongo.