Bongo 5 strings, what is the best choice for the pickups

[Elricko]

Bongo 5 strings, what is the best choice for the pickups.
What is your choice and why?

1- Single humbucking

2- Dual humbucking

3- Double Dual humbucking

4- Dual humbucking/single humbucking

5- Dual humbucking/single humbucking/piezo

6- Double Dual humbucking/piezo


Richard

 

[Sheppardslegion]

Mine has 2 humbuckers and it works fine for me. Sorry, I have no experience with the other PU configurations.

Shepp

 

[nicjimbass]

I'm gonna vote #6 as the Bongo on it's way to me is that config. The last Bongo I had was HH and it was great as well. I'm sure most here would argue that a Bongo with any configuration is better than, well, pretty much anything else.

 

[Psycho Ward]

I doesn't matter just pick which one you want to get first...

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Double H and Piezo and the world is your oyster........

 

[strummer]

!

I doesn't matter just pick which one you want to get first...

dis da truf!

 

[adouglas]

Your terminology is confusing, (double dual humbucking???)

Here are the choices, using accepted terms:

H
HS
HH

Each of the above with piezo is indicated by a small p, e.g. HHp

I've got an HHp, an H and a fretless Hp.

The HHp has tremendous tonal capabilities. HUGE range. It is also the heaviest Bongo you can get (not that it's THAT heavy, but it's noticeable). It has the most complex controls, so if you're the kind of guy who gets lost with too many knobs, consider that. It also has very, very little room for popping/slapping, if you're into that kind of thing.

The H is very, very light (under 9 lbs for my 5 string) and lots of room for pop/slap. The controls are as simple as it gets and it's easy to get a good tone. Great for gigging because of all of that. I do feel I lose some subtleties of tone, but then when it's long past midnight and the bar is full of drunken revelers who are jumping up and down listening to what you're doing, the fine points of tone really don't matter all that much. The H has its own unique character because of the pickup placement.

The piezo adds a very nice extra dimension to the sound, which I think of a being like a little Tabasco sauce. But it's an EXPENSIVE option. I love it. I also believe that it's essential for fretless.

All in all, I like all three for different reasons. I'd kind of like to get hold of an HSp, because I love the tonal range of my HHp but my current band requires a little bit of pop/slap and I'd like the extra room. It's a minor thing...and doesn't warrant another expensive bass.

 

[AtomicPunk]

I have the Bongo 5HH, and I'll tell you what, it is awesome. Every combination of sounds you could ever want. Can't go wrong either way.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Your terminology is confusing, (double dual humbucking???)

Here are the choices, using accepted terms:

H
HS
HH

Each of the above with piezo is indicated by a small p, e.g. HHp

I've got an HHp, an H and a fretless Hp.

The HHp has tremendous tonal capabilities. HUGE range. It is also the heaviest Bongo you can get (not that it's THAT heavy, but it's noticeable). It has the most complex controls, so if you're the kind of guy who gets lost with too many knobs, consider that. It also has very, very little room for popping/slapping, if you're into that kind of thing.

The H is very, very light (under 9 lbs for my 5 string) and lots of room for pop/slap. The controls are as simple as it gets and it's easy to get a good tone. Great for gigging because of all of that. I do feel I lose some subtleties of tone, but then when it's long past midnight and the bar is full of drunken revelers who are jumping up and down listening to what you're doing, the fine points of tone really don't matter all that much. The H has its own unique character because of the pickup placement.

The piezo adds a very nice extra dimension to the sound, which I think of a being like a little Tabasco sauce. But it's an EXPENSIVE option. I love it. I also believe that it's essential for fretless.

All in all, I like all three for different reasons. I'd kind of like to get hold of an HSp, because I love the tonal range of my HHp but my current band requires a little bit of pop/slap and I'd like the extra room. It's a minor thing...and doesn't warrant another expensive bass.

"Well done" adogulas, that was a very neat write up, the only point I am not in agreement with is when you say

"It also has very, very little room for popping/slapping, if you're into that kind of thing"

I guess that is your personal experience but to others it makes no difference where the p/ups are laid out and slapping is not an issue, I am not alone check out Ed Friedland slapping on a HH StingRay here with no problem whatsoever:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ULm6_Y-fU]YouTube - Bass Guitar Magazine -Sneak Preview SR5 20th Anniversary[/ame]

 

[bovinehost]

And, as we all know...............

Ed's a monster.

 

[tkarter]

The Bongo single H is the best of the bunch. 4, 5 or 6 strings.

IMHO

tk

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Yes, I like this thread.

There's a fine chap on YouTube that does a whole lot of Mini Lessons using the Single H Bongo and the Tone is very cool... I've read about the 'point and shoot' advantages of the Single H...and I think, Damn, do I HAVE to buy two Bongos? But what I've read, depending on your Bongo, the difference between the glory of the One PU is tasty in it's own way as Two Pickups is twice the fun...

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Yes, I like this thread.

~~~~~~

...depending on your Bongo, the difference between the glory of the One PU is tasty in it's own way as Two Pickups is twice the fun...

Add a Piezo to that double H combo and you get all the colours of the rainbow outta one bass

 

[adouglas]

I am not alone check out Ed Friedland slapping on a HH StingRay here with no problem whatsoever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ULm6_Y-fU

I must point out here that the SR does not have 24 frets, therefore there's considerably more room between the neck pickup and the end of the fretboard than there is on an HH Bongo.

It's not impossible to get your finger in there on the Bongo, certainly...but you need to be pretty accurate to do it.

 

[adouglas]

And, as we all know...............
Ed's a monster.

All the cool guys have shaved heads.....


right, koogs?

 

[HeavyDuty]

the bongo single h is the best of the bunch. 4, 5 or 6 strings.

Imho

tk

+1

 

[ggunn]

I have a Bongo 5 HHp, and it's a great bass, though in retrospect I kinda wish I'd gone for the HSp, to get that single coil sound in the neck position.

 

[nicjimbass]

I have a Bongo 5 HHp, and it's a great bass, though in retrospect I kinda wish I'd gone for the HSp, to get that single coil sound in the neck position.

I just got an HHp, and I find it extremely versatile. I'm playing in a cover band and it hits a home run with probably 95% of the set list so far (mainly modern rock/alternative stuff).

 

[tiffles]

BAAAHHH HAAA HAAAA HAAAA!!! that must have been the best photo from that whole week

ps. i love my double humbucker with piezo. it can blow things up

And, as we all know...............



Ed's a monster.

 

[ZiggyDude]

I just got a Bongo 5 HH in the Desert Gold. My first MM bass too.

The dual pup configuration gets a 4 band EQ - the single pup is a 3 band. So, I would suggest the dual pups.

I just wish that they had coil taps so I could go from humbucker to single coil sounds - and mix n match.