Question Bongo 5 HS Piezo

[Movielife]

Hi all!

I currently have a Tang Pearl Bongo 5 HH on order, and after playing more and more 5 string EBMM's I am very happy with the ergonomics, etc.

I have been speaking to the store about picking up another Bongo asap, before the UK prices jump up a bit due to the ecomony, etc.

I started to think, what do I REALLY want? I mean, there is no point getting another 5 HH...is there?

So, I started thinking about other options. Definitely a 5 HS....I love the HS option.

Then, I thought, well if this is going to be a long wait custom order, why not save and go for a piezo? I've been listening to the piezo demo's on youtube (mainly Rays/Sterlings) and I LOVE the tone...really nice!

So I'm now thinking, Bongo 5 HS, Sky Blue, White Plate, Piezo!

Hmmm...

 

[jlepre]

I had a Bongo HHp for a little while. I did like the piezo, but found that it hurt the resale value, as it cost over $300. If you really like the option, and plan to keep the bass, then I would go for it. If you're a little hesitant, which it sounds like you MIGHt be, I would just get the HS. Just my opinion.

 

[tunaman4u2]

I'm with Jlepre here, it will add maybe $100 in value used & cost you $300 BUT its cool to have man... I liked it a lot & aside from the color Id still have it

GO FOR IT !

 

[jlepre]

IT won't even add $100 if the option means nothing to the next potential owner. I found that out the hard way.

 

[Movielife]

Well, I wouldn't be looking to sell anyway. If you sell the right way, and wait it out, and sell on here for instance, people 'get it'...but I know what you mean.

I've just never had a Piezo bass and I'd like one!

 

[stu42]

Are you looking for a bass that would be a backup for your Bongo HH or are you looking for something that's a change, or different, from your HH?

The tone of the Bongo HS and HH are quite similar - which might be a good thing depending on what you want. A common way to describe it is that the HS is a slightly more refined or tamed version of the HH.

So, adding the piezo would give you something you don't have now. Or go with Bongo 5Hp - THAT would be different.

Sorry...I think everyone knows by now that I'm the Bongo H fanboi. Can't help it!!

 

[Movielife]

Are you looking for a bass that would be a backup for your Bongo HH or are you looking for something that's a change, or different, from your HH?

The tone of the Bongo HS and HH are quite similar - which might be a good thing depending on what you want. A common way to describe it is that the HS is a slightly more refined or tamed version of the HH.

So, adding the piezo would give you something you don't have now. Or go with Bongo 5Hp - THAT would be different.

Sorry...I think everyone knows by now that I'm the Bongo H fanboi. Can't help it!!

Not sure...definitely don't need another HH (unless one comes up at a good price) but I really like the single coil tone at the neck, and having that nice blend with a piezo would set it apart from the incoming HH.

A new job means for once I can enjoy my cash more and get basses!

 

[bassmonkeee]

I own three Bongos, and all three have piezos. Both of my fretted basses are 5SHp configs (fretless is HHp). Of all the various pickup configs I've owned--Stingray H, Bongo H, Bongo HHp, Bongo SHp, Reflex HH, Big Al H, and Big Al SSS, the SHp is my favorite.

I don't buy basses to sell them. I happily paid the price for the 5SHp Dargie Bongo when I found it. The neck pickup + piezo tone you describe is exactly what I like about it. With either flats or rounds, it works for what I do. For the last 6 months (out of 27 years of playing), I've been using a pick almost exclusively at gigs. Neck pickup+piezos+4band+picks through a tube preamp? The best.

That's how I mainly use them, anyway.

The piezos add something to the sound that works great in my band. They add a lot of warmth and thickness to the tone with the treble slightly rolled off. The guitar player has a Robert Cray-ish tone so the bass fills a lot of space sonically. If I were playing in a Rolling Stones tribute band, or something with a really loud drummer, I don't know how much would come through.




That said, I will own another Bongo 4H before I die. One of the few I regret letting get away....

 

[Movielife]

I own three Bongos, and all three have piezos. Both of my fretted basses are 5SHp configs (fretless is HHp). Of all the various pickup configs I've owned--Stingray H, Bongo H, Bongo HHp, Bongo SHp, Reflex HH, Big Al H, and Big Al SSS, the SHp is my favorite.

I don't buy basses to sell them. I happily paid the price for the 5SHp Dargie Bongo when I found it. The neck pickup + piezo tone you describe is exactly what I like about it. With either flats or rounds, it works for what I do. For

Sounds exactly what I'm after!

 

[bassmonkeee]

Once I can find my interface, I'll try and record some samples. No promises.

 

[JayDawg]

I have a Bongo 4 Hp and a PDN 4 HHp being built right now. I love the piezo option. I also have a Bongo 4 H and 4 HH and love the extra versatility of the piezo option. I could care elss about the re-sale value because I am getting my monies worth out if the extra stuff that I can do but I also don't even plan on selling any of my Bongos. I say go for it and get the piezo option. I haven't played a Bongo with the HS or HSp configuration yet but I'm sure I would also like them just as much.

 

[drTStingray]

Once I can find my interface, I'll try and record some samples. No promises.

He's already heard an HHp recorded with the p up high! But give him some more - you can only add to Gareth's GAS!!

 

[Movielife]

More more more !

 

[Rebos]

I just got a BONGO 5 HSP Bk and I love it. Many tonal options. Just a killer bass(DARTH BONGO)here's som pix

 

[Movielife]

I ended up with the HS instead of HSP. Love it...but I'd like to try a Piezo Musicman soon.

 

[Golem]

I had a Bongo HHp for a little while. I did like the piezo, but found
that it hurt the resale value, as it cost over $300. If you really like
the option, and plan to keep the bass, then I would go for it. ......

I sorta agree with that, except for the choice of the word "hurt".
It doesn't actually subtract from the value, the way a non-EBMM
EQ-pre would. But the piezo option just doesn't maintain much
of its up-front cost on its own. IOW, you buy a $1600 MM bass
[nonpiezo] and its worth $1000 down the road. If that bass had
the $300 piezo option on it [up-front cost is now $1900], down
the road that bass will fetch $1000 to $1100.

On occasion, SR and Sterling piezo basses may sell slower cuz
the 5 knobs make them 'different', but will still fetch the price
of their nonpiezo siblings [or SLIGHTLY more ... ] With Boingos
there is no really obvious visual difference as the three stack
knobs just blend in visually. Even if it were more obvious, the
Boingo buyer isn't slowed down by something thaz 'different',
cuz otherwise, the entire look of the Boingo would put him off !


------------------------------------------------------------


Anywho, here in The Colonies, where MMs are not at all rare,
as a buyer of used MMs, and as an adherent of piezos, acoarst
I benefit from the fact that on a USED bass, piezos are free, or
almost free

I'm not in a position to tell most prospective piezo buyers WHY
they might dig piezos, cuz my reason is all about fretlessness.
BUT !! I did have a fretted piezo SR4 for a while and it was one
of the two best sounding fretted basses I've ever owned. If so,
why would I part with that one ? Well, really I didn't. I can get
it back anytime. I still own it but it's wearing a FL neck lately,
with its original fretted neck still on hand.