• Ernie Ball
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  • Sterling by MusicMan
Short Scale StingRay

StingRay HH or Bongo HS

StingRay HH or Bongo HS

  • StingRay HH

    Votes: 18 43.9%

  • Bongo HS

    Votes: 23 56.1%
  • Total voters
    41
jefft54

jefft54

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Joined
Feb 20, 2008
Messages
70
Location
Santa Clarita
This one. This one. This one.

1001081mm_bongo4hs_f25002_lg.jpg
 
RaginRog

RaginRog

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Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
1,005
Location
Just south of Baltimore, Md
cellkirk74 said:
I just took my Sr HH for two hours of playing yesterday and it is great and has such a classic feel to it. I do not have a bongo yet, but I think one should have both...
Click to expand...

Yeah....your right. It's like f----r fans.... have to own a p and a j bass.

We, however must own a Stingray & Bongo....or Bongo & Sterling, or Sterling & Stingray...:D
 
RaginRog

RaginRog

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Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
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Location
Just south of Baltimore, Md
MK Bass Weed said:
As I said.

I own and use both the Stingray 4 HH.

and the Bongo 4 HS.

For me, for fingerstyle, the Bongo HS works better for me. Putting in the 'IMHO disclaimer' here.

Here's why:

That big MM pickup on the Bongo is closer to the bridge. To my ears, not a Classic Ray sound, but a Souped up version, 'best of the best' kind of bridge pickup sound you hear when you play Wayyy back at the bridge. Hey, lets' call it "The Bongo Sound".

The Single coil near the neck really smooths and balances that bridge pickup out, giving you an open, very musical and mixworthy tone. This is just using the Pickup Pan knob. The EQ is the freakin' icing on a very tasty bass cake. Favoring or soloing either pickup is like having TWO basses in one. It's that wide in tonal range

It does it in a different way than the HH does. I just prefer the Bongo HS, only because I LOVE 'classic two pickup basses', and this thing covers the sonic footprint of what I cut my teeth on in the best possible way.

Now about the fingers.

I'm a mainly a pick player for a few reasons.

I'm lefty but play righty and my right hand has NEVER been strong enough or clean enough to do fast runs, therefore, reason one for the pick.

Reason 2 for the pick. I like it. Who's gonna call Paul Mac or Chris Squire a wimp for using a pick? Okay. I really dig the pick, rounds, knarly rock sound

Reason 3. It's the only way I'm going to hear 'my tone', through the gangle and jangle of guitars I play with.

However. I have found, with the Bongo HS, I CAN get a great tone, with my lame fingers, without cranking the hell out of the mids. That's pretty cool.

I can do some of this with fingers on the Ray4 HH, however, the Bongo, for me, makes my job just a little bit easier. Besides, I have an excuse to string the Ray up with Flats now!

If this helps, the thing that has been holding me back for so long was none of the tone considerations, or the look, but number of frets. I was freaked that my 21-22 fret orientation would have me grabbing wrong notes, as the Bongo sports the 24 fret real estate. So far no problems.

Strapping on the Bongo? Feels like home. One of the most comfortable basses. It is funny, the shape is different, but playing it feels very familiar. Go figure.

My Ray4 HH still gets alot of play on stage and studio. I love the Ray and I want that sound in my tool box. The Bongo gave me yet another valuable option and it's big fun.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

I just picked up my first Bongo, after swearing I never would...hope I have the same experience you did.
 
MK Bass Weed

MK Bass Weed

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Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
829
Location
New York and Philadelphia
RaginRog said:
I just picked up my first Bongo, after swearing I never would...hope I have the same experience you did.
Click to expand...

I hope so too. You'll want to play more that's for damn sure. I haven't done the requisite "I drank the koolaid" Bongo post yet..as I haven't been able to put into words yet how cool it is without sounding like a dufus..that's coming though.

I'll say this, all I've been doing so far is having fun with JUST the BLEND knob,
haven't really got into moving the knobs on the EQ Yet.

Cheers,
MK
 
jaxbassplayer

jaxbassplayer

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Joined
Jul 9, 2006
Messages
84
Location
Reno, Nevada
Well after finally getting to play some Bongos I like the HH way better than the HS, so I just bought this one (from the MM online store).

Music Man


I should have it by next week!

Thanks to all the people on here who pointed me in the direction of the Bongo!

:D
 
Manfloozy

Manfloozy

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
1,047
Location
Naples, FL
Very nice, congrats! And I see a compromise... HH but in a Bongo :D

You'll be a very happy boy no doubt. Have a great weekend.
 
RaginRog

RaginRog

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
1,005
Location
Just south of Baltimore, Md
jaxbassplayer said:
Well after finally getting to play some Bongos I like the HH way better than the HS, so I just bought this one (from the MM online store).

Music Man


I should have it by next week!

Thanks to all the people on here who pointed me in the direction of the Bongo!

:D
Click to expand...

Congrats Jax. I pointed you in the direction of a Stingray HH....BUT...I just picked up my first Bongo a couple of days after I initially replied. Personally, I think you would have loved either bass.

-Rog
 
RaginRog

RaginRog

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
1,005
Location
Just south of Baltimore, Md
MK Bass Weed said:
I'll say this, all I've been doing so far is having fun with JUST the BLEND knob,
haven't really got into moving the knobs on the EQ Yet.

Cheers,
MK
Click to expand...

lol...only the Blend knob huh??

I LOOOOVE having a low mid knob....I've been playing with the Low Mids, and the Lows....That, and I stand in front of the mirror, and say to myself, "Damn, that bass looks good on you." haha:D
 
MK Bass Weed

MK Bass Weed

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
829
Location
New York and Philadelphia
RaginRog said:
lol...only the Blend knob huh??

I LOOOOVE having a low mid knob....I've been playing with the Low Mids, and the Lows....That, and I stand in front of the mirror, and say to myself, "Damn, that bass looks good on you." haha:D
Click to expand...

I'm working those now.

Yes, that Low Mid knob. And da Bass Knob..

That'd be the sauce.

I don't touch the Treble...1. I've got major hearing loss, If I HEAR the high end..I'm shearing off peoples eyebrows in the front.
 
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