Bongo H, HS or HH

[OldManMusic]

I'm looking at purchasing a Bongo but can't find one in the local stores. I don't usually buy NIB. I still like hearing and feeling the bass before plunking down the cash.

So I'd like some opinions - if I'm buying without playing first, can you post some descriptions between the tonal qualities of the Bongo H, HS and HH models? I have an SR4 H and an SR5 HH.

 

[maddog]

a search will bring up tons.

single H is more like an SR than the others.

HH is big and raw.

The SC in the SC/H gives a nice clean tone.

 

[Eggman]

PM sent

 

[adouglas]

First off, no matter which combo you go for you're going to be happy with it. This is not just fanboyism...almost everyone raves about their Bongo, and very few people are dissatisfied. Those who sell it sometimes realize their mistake and rejoin the Collective at a later date.

So worry not about making the "wrong" choice.

Only you know what you're looking for, and descriptions of tone are all subjective anyway. This is of course useless to you, but it's true.

I will say that while the HHp I've got has huge tonal possibilities, I almost never move the magnetic pickup blend away from the center. It just sounds better that way.

If I were to do it all over again, I'd get an HSp. I like the voicing of the single coil at the neck, and there's a little bit more room for percussive finger work. I've never been one to go crazy slapping and popping, but I'm in a band that plays funk now.

 

[strummer]

Adouglas says HSp, Sterling Ball himself says single H, me I am totally in love with the HH, but I like the HS a lot too.
All in all, you can't go wrong with a Bongo, so just pick a nice color and you'll be fine!

 

[timmy5strings]

Pick any configuration as long as its a Stealth Bongo

 

[Aussie Mark]

I first bought a HH and loved it. Next I bought a HS and love it too. I've never tried a H but I bet I'd love that as well. There's your answer.

 

[LoEnd]

pick any configuration as long as its a stealth bongo :d

+1

 

[syciprider]

I like the simplicity of the single H. For me it's plug and play and for the bandmates its similarity to the familiar song of the Stingray helps them get over the initial shock of seeing a Bongo.

 

[Alvabass]

My vote goes for HHP. I think that piezos are awesome, even on a fretted Bongo.

(Another excuse to post my favorite pic)

 

[and lombardini]

I'd like to add a question to this 3d...

Would someone who owns the 3 beasts please edit a pic with a little sign where the "octave harmonic" is (the virtual 36 fret)...

it seems that the pickup placement is different in the 2 pu model and I'd like to understand visually where they are.

more...is the H model in the very same position as a stingray/sterling? the bongo pu looks slighly away from the bridge.

thank you!

andrea

sterling4

 

[Alvabass]

can you post some descriptions between the tonal qualities of the Bongo H, HS and HH models?

I've always loved this post from Bovinehost (A.K.A. Lord Bongo):

The dual humbucker model Bongo will:

- shave your cat while you're asleep.

- if left to its own devices, destroy large Japanese cities and fight giant, flying, fire-breathing turtles.

- insult retired people.

The single coil/humbucker model will:

- style your girlfriend's hair.

- talk large Japanese cities into destroying themselves.

- convince annoying retired people to move to Idaho.

As far as I can recall, he had not played the Bongo H at the time, so that's why he didn't comment on it (Please correct me if I'm wrong, Jack).

 

[Duarte]

You'll be very pleasantly suprised with the single H. Everything that is great about the stingray, but greater.

 

[strummer]

I'd like to add a question to this 3d...

Would someone who owns the 3 beasts please edit a pic with a little sign where the "octave harmonic" is (the virtual 36 fret)...

it seems that the pickup placement is different in the 2 pu model and I'd like to understand visually where they are.

more...is the H model in the very same position as a stingray/sterling? the bongo pu looks slighly away from the bridge.

thank you!

andrea

sterling4

The single H models have the pick up in the same position as the stingray, whereas the HS and HH models have the bridge pickup closer to the bridge.
(the SR and Sterling HH/HS models have the bridge pickup in the same spot as the ingle H's though, just to clarify)

 

[mathewsanchez]

Single H is best!

 

[Old_Guy]

Hs.

 

[Jimmyb]

I have a Bongo HSP and I love it!

(I'm not even a bass player on the whole)

 

[WillPlay4Food]

I love my Bongo 4HH, but I haven't taken the time to play any different kind of Bongo.

 

[AnthonyD]

HHp... Gotta be HHp...

 

[Deaj]

I've played the H, HS, and HH configurations and I'd be happy with any of them. That said my favorite is the HH w/ the 4-band EQ. I own two 4HH Bongo's - one with flats and one with round wounds - and I can dial in any sound I want between the two without ever touching the amp. The HS would be my second choice followed closelly by the H. I do prefer the added sonic flexibility offered with a neck pickup and blend control.

You can't lose whichever way you go. The Bongo's are amazing instruments!