• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

slucas

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
500
Location
IL
I noticed in looking at pics of ABDouglas bongo and the Namm pics of BP and Ritchie Darling with a Sterling that the headstock on the Sterling seemed more vibant and matching to the body. Is this my imagination, the lighting, or are the headstocks finished differently? I have a bongo on order and I found a dealer with a Sterling HS in stock I am insanely considering ordering as well (I am a sick man). Could anyone please comment? Thanks:)
 

adouglas

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
5,592
Location
On the tail end of the bell curve in Connecticut
The entire Bongo neck and headstock is satin finished. That's true of all Bongos.

With use, the back of the neck does wear smooth and glossy. This is a good way to tell if a Bongo has been played a lot. For example, my fretted Bongo (DOB 9/2005, played regularly) now has a gloss on the back of the neck. The SmallEQ fretless bongo, even though it's older, is still satin. That means it's seen less use.

For the BD, the headstock and neck is a blue burst, but it is not sparkly. This makes sense, because you'd have to have some sort of clearcoat for a sparkle finish.

It looks really good. It'll also look good once it wears down to a gloss.
 

slucas

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
500
Location
IL
Thanks AB, that clears the Bongo side up. As far as the Sterling though, it looks as if it may have a clearcoat sparkle headstock in the Namm pics. Can anyone comment on the Sterling? Thanks again:)
 

PeteDuBaldo

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Messages
10,202
Location
Central Connecticut (Manchester) USA
The sparkles are in the paint itself... If you look super close at the paint on the Bongo neck & headstock you can see the same texture as on the body - the only difference is the satin finish. The sparkles are still there, see?

DSCN0087.jpg
 

bassmonkeee

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 25, 2004
Messages
4,628
Location
Decatur, GA
The entire Bongo neck and headstock is satin finished. That's true of all Bongos.

With use, the back of the neck does wear smooth and glossy. This is a good way to tell if a Bongo has been played a lot. For example, my fretted Bongo (DOB 9/2005, played regularly) now has a gloss on the back of the neck. The SmallEQ fretless bongo, even though it's older, is still satin. That means it's seen less use.

For the BD, the headstock and neck is a blue burst, but it is not sparkly. This makes sense, because you'd have to have some sort of clearcoat for a sparkle finish.

It looks really good. It'll also look good once it wears down to a gloss.

There is a clearcoat on the Bongo neck. It's just a satin clearcoat instead of gloss.
 
Top Bottom