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drTStingray
Well-known member
Mine doesn't really do it, but it gets towards that direction with the bridge pick up soloed, and the EQ flat (or mids cut a bit).
I guess as a Ray has an ash body, and the Bongo has basswood, the resonance and underlying tone is different - I often think my Bongo has the underlying tone of a very good P bass, but with a properly engineered and sorted electronics/hardware package, and that EBMM mojo sprinkled on.
I guess as a Ray has an ash body, and the Bongo has basswood, the resonance and underlying tone is different - I often think my Bongo has the underlying tone of a very good P bass, but with a properly engineered and sorted electronics/hardware package, and that EBMM mojo sprinkled on.
oli@bass
Well-known member
Nothing sounds like a 'Ray except a 'Ray... deep trebly growl sounds like want to have a Classic with the 2-band EQ for good measure ;-)
rizzo9247
Well-known member
I own both, each have their own mojo going on.
MrMusashi
Well-known member
we are not here to prevent gas.. that is injected as soon as you sign up on this board 
MrM
ps: used sr4's go for just little more than peanuts these days. you could pick up a black, maple, black beauty for around 800$
did the gas get any better?
MrM
ps: used sr4's go for just little more than peanuts these days. you could pick up a black, maple, black beauty for around 800$
did the gas get any better?
oddjob
Well-known member
Single H Bongo is a bit closer than the HH but as stated before it is its own beast. A Ray is a Ray and a Bongo a Bongo.
we are not here to prevent gas.. that is injected as soon as you sign up on this board
MrM
ps: used sr4's go for just little more than peanuts these days. you could pick up a black, maple, black beauty for around 800$
did the gas get any better?
I'm going to try out a Classic 5H and a Ray 5H tomorrow. I assume the Classic will have a better growl. I'm after the growl.
trunkshope6
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2009
- Messages
- 85
honestly bro the only reason i sold my bongo ,and the previous owner sold it to me was that i could not get that single h stingray sizzle and bite, came real close ,but the positioning of the pickup gives it more of a jazz bass growl, rather than that sweet spot sound sizzle and thump
But the bongo i feel was the ultimate verstatile bass definately has its place in the bass worl for sure, just couldnt afford to keep two musicmans playing punk rock and only using the 4 band eq at home.
But the bongo i feel was the ultimate verstatile bass definately has its place in the bass worl for sure, just couldnt afford to keep two musicmans playing punk rock and only using the 4 band eq at home.
Yeah, there's a squeal of a growl but its just not enough. It's a little better when I turn down the bass and mids, leaving the treble boosted but then its not deep enough.
I totally agree. The Bongo is the ultimate versatile bass (excluding the Gamechanger) and can generate a better tone than most other basses but there are just some that are too unique, like the single H Ray (or a Ric cough cough).
Also, I'm lurking around the Internet to see if anyone's selling a pre-EB Ray.
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oli@bass
Well-known member
Every once in a while, somebody get's a little looney and does that indeed. However, you could probably keep your Bongo and get a used Classic for the price of a great condition pre-EB SR.
bovinehost
Administrator
Funny, I'm always picking up a Stingray and asking myself how to get a Bongo sound out of it. I can't deal when I can't get a Bongo sound.
Listen, a Bongo doesn't sound like a Stingray and there are really sound engineering reasons why it doesn't. Just about everything about the basses is different. But - big 'but' there - what I call the "Family Tone" is in there. You know with both that you're playing a Music Man.
And - this is BIG - what Stingray sound are we talking about? Pino? Flea? Tony Levin? ME? Louis Johnson? ALERT: this is a rhetorical question. Do not answer it, because we'll all have a slightly different idea about what Stingray tone IS.
See what I mean there?
Listen, a Bongo doesn't sound like a Stingray and there are really sound engineering reasons why it doesn't. Just about everything about the basses is different. But - big 'but' there - what I call the "Family Tone" is in there. You know with both that you're playing a Music Man.
And - this is BIG - what Stingray sound are we talking about? Pino? Flea? Tony Levin? ME? Louis Johnson? ALERT: this is a rhetorical question. Do not answer it, because we'll all have a slightly different idea about what Stingray tone IS.
See what I mean there?
drTStingray
Well-known member
Bovinehost makes a great point here - we do all perceive these tones differently.
To answer the question directly, IMO the Classic gives more sustain (and has some other cool features) - but the sound difference, to me, is only really noticeable on long notes. The regular 2 band 'Ray has the same electronics and construction so should sound about the same, in the same hands. The 3 band has a different EQ which gives more flexibility by greater control of the mid range frequencies.
Knowing that you're on a budget, a regular used 2 or 3 band 'Ray should be cheaper than a Classic or an LE version - better still, a Sterling by MM Ray 34 or a used Sub 'Ray - and all should give roughly what you got from a Classic, soundwise.
To answer the question directly, IMO the Classic gives more sustain (and has some other cool features) - but the sound difference, to me, is only really noticeable on long notes. The regular 2 band 'Ray has the same electronics and construction so should sound about the same, in the same hands. The 3 band has a different EQ which gives more flexibility by greater control of the mid range frequencies.
Knowing that you're on a budget, a regular used 2 or 3 band 'Ray should be cheaper than a Classic or an LE version - better still, a Sterling by MM Ray 34 or a used Sub 'Ray - and all should give roughly what you got from a Classic, soundwise.
mynan
Well-known member
Before you sell your Bongo, make sure you aren't making a "grass is greener" decision. When I had my Bongo and SR5, I would alternate every few months and each time I would fall in love all over again. I can't say that either of them sounded better, just different, and those subtle differences were refreshing. Just make sure that you aren't going to miss what your Bongo has to offer.
Amen to that.
bovinehost
Administrator
There you go. Keep the Bongo. Buy a Stingray.
Then, when things settle down, it's Big Al Time!
Then, when things settle down, it's Big Al Time!
