Bongo 4 or Stingray4?

[Melv]

I have used the search function before i decided to post this thread but couldnt find exactly wot i needed to know.

Its coming round to that time where i decide what musical gear im saving money up for and its gonna be a 4 string bass (ofcourse MM).

Im torn between a lava pearl Bongo with white ice PG, basically this one which im pretty sure sum1 owns here on this forum

or, a burnt apple Stingray (pictured one of Bovine' former basses) with maple neck. But im still not decided on the colour yet

Ive played a stingray and loved it a great deal. Ive yet to play a bongo as not many shops round my way have 1 in stock.

Just need a bit of help as i know some ppl will say play em both and ur'll know then what one to get but its not as easy to just walk in and find a bongo which i could play.

 

[bovinehost]

One thing about the burnt apple - I think it's discontinued, isn't it?

 

[TSanders]

One thing about the burnt apple - I think it's discontinued, isn't it?

Yes it is.

And that is my old Bongo. That finish looks so much better in real life.

 

[Melv]

And that is my old Bongo. That finish looks so much better in real life.

Sure is a beaut. After this ill be getting a Bongo 5 so is there a point of having a Bongo 4 & 5?.

I do like the plain white finish with black PG on stingray but just seems a bit to plain to me. The candy red with white perloid PG is nice too

 

[bovinehost]

After this ill be getting a Bongo 5 so is there a point of having a Bongo 4 & 5?

Well YEAH.

One has five strings and the other has four.

Plus, they could be different colors.

 

[Melv]

Plus, they could be different colors.

Ah well done, didnt think of that one

What PU would be best for slap play, HH or HS?

 

[rulyøngo]

Get the BONGO!!! I will get mine by next summer for sure!!!

 

[cgworkman]

Get both??

 

[Joshua]

In my somewhat limitted experience, I would say that the Stingray sounds like a Stingray, while the Bongo is more of a chameleon and can sound like many things, including a Bongo. All of it's tones are great too.

For me, there's just something about the Stingray tone...


at least for now...

 

[Melv]

Get both??

Care to fund me then

 

[Bubba Love]

I've read somewhere on this ol' forum that the Bongo's bridge pickup can give a pretty decent stingray impersonation. So my understanding is that with the Stingray, you get the classic stingray tone with 3 band EQ. With the bongo, you get a decent stingray tone, 4 band EQ, and that other pickup (single coil or HB) and all the tonal variety it provides. Let me tell you, those pickups are HOT, with a capital H. And this is to say nothing of that optional piezo....

Get the bongo. You'll thank us later.

 

[cgworkman]

Care to fund me then

You asked what to do..

 

[spectorbassguy]

Ah well done, didnt think of that one

What PU would be best for slap play, HH or HS?

Bov slapped a pig once.
Anyway if I had it to do over again I'd prefer the single H Bongo to either the HH or HS. That darn neck pup sometimes makes it tough for my clumsy lower 17 percentile fingers to slap cleanly. Currently my SR5 is my main bass.

 

[prickly_pete]

Bov slapped a pig once.
Anyway if I had it to do over again I'd prefer the single H Bongo to either the HH or HS. That darn neck pup sometimes makes it tough for my clumsy lower 17 percentile fingers to slap cleanly. Currently my SR5 is my main bass.

This is the one thing that has kept me from buying a bongo. If I get one I want a two pickup version -- for tonal reasons -- but I know that neck pickup is going to mess up my slapping technique. I wish the Bongo came in a 22 fret version, that allowed some room in between the neck pickup and the fretboard. Really, who uses 24 frets on a bass anyway

 

[Dees]

I'd get the Bongo, but that's because I already own a Stingray
A bongo with one humbucker wil probably be the most 'convenient' to slap I presume.

 

[johans]

I'd get the Bongo, but that's because I already own a Stingray
A bongo with one humbucker wil probably be the most 'convenient' to slap I presume.

err ... actually no ..

since a single H or single Sc pickups will sit on the closest part of the neck pickup in 2 pickups bongo .. so doesnt help even a lil bit for slapping convenience ..

 

[johans]

melv .. have you played both of them?

what MM basses do you have now?

a couple suggestions from me ..

if (you've never own an MM bass) .. get the Bongo
elseif (you've already own a stingray) .. get the Bongo
elseif (you're a collector) .. get the Ray - since its a discontinued finish ..
elseif (you've the funds) .. as other said .. get both ..
else .. dont get anything ..

 

[midopa]

Johans, you must throw a Try/Catch block in there, just to be safe!

 

[prickly_pete]

err ... actually no ..

since a single H or single Sc pickups will sit on the closest part of the neck pickup in 2 pickups bongo .. so doesnt help even a lil bit for slapping convenience ..

I think he was referring to a single pickup Bongo, in which case that would provide plenty of room:

http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/specs/instruments_bongo.html

 

[johans]

Johans, you must throw a Try/Catch block in there, just to be safe!

oh yeah

with some ... IOException ...