Bongo HH vs. HS ..?

[quadrogong]

I own the HH model and love it, I love both pu's together for my basic sound,I solo the bridge pu occasionally for solos,and sometimes for more articulation,I'll go slightly offcenter,towards the bridge pu..
but basically, I use both pu's for the bulk of my playing.
I'm considering another Bongo,an HS model,
will I get some new tones?

for those of you who have owned both,
what did you think?..can u feel a real difference?

 

[Aussie Mark]

Yes, you'll get a new tone - the S in the neck position is not as huge in sound as the H is, it has more bite. (Don't you love technical terminology). That said, if you like the HH pickups blended together as your current basic sound, you may be disappointed in the HS. It's a somewhat tamer and more eloquent beast than the HH. The HH has more going for it for rock and blues in my opinion. My take on the HS is that it's a good all rounder that excels at pop and lighter stuff, but if you want to make your drummer and guitarist change their underpants, the HH does that and more. I suggest you try before you buy, at a decent volume, rather than take a twat's word for it.

 

[quadrogong]

thank you..sort of what I suspected,nicely explained, thanks.

 

[bassmonkey]

Aussie Mark is spot on in his assessment.

 

[Powman]

but if you want to make your drummer and guitarist change their underpants, the HH does that and more.

This is one of the best quotes I have ever read. Too funny, my Aussie mate!

 

[strummer]

Spot on from AussieMark, and that's why I like the HH

 

[Eggman]

Seems that "Aussie Mark is spot on" is the winning phrase in this thread. I have had and sold a few HS Bongos. Still have an HSp 5 string - that's the only way I would have an HS is with the piezo bridge - helps add the missing something.

 

[GreyDad]

Aussie Mark is spot on - there I said it too - although I don't know why he's a twat

HH or H seems to give lots of grunt to keep the attention of drummers (based on a series of carefully controlled experiments conducted on my own tame skin basher) although I am still cautiously optimistic I will find some combination of knob settings on the 5HSp that will fire his neurones.

Nearly always need some piezo to get a bit of "bite" on the HS I think, although for quieter stuff and solo noodling it's less important and the bass sounds really good on its own - just doesn't quite cut through full on rock like the H or HH.

Bongo 5ers play like a dream, very different animal to the 4's it seems to me.

 

[kompressaur]

I slightly preferred my old 4HS to 4HH. Loved the single coil,seemed more variety in the tones using the pan control. maybe the HS being a white one had something to do with it as well.
no complaints with the HH though,great bass
Komp

 

[Duarte]

Having played all combos but owning an HS, I have to say HS is my favorite. It is snappier, funkier, and clearer. The Highs are suberb, and the lows subsonic...much like the other configurations (all have subsonic lows) but with a nasal, bright edge. I would say if you're into slapping and ultra-funky finger work...HS is for you. At least it works for me.

 

[bassmonkey]

Interesting, Duarte. I don't like the slap tone on the HS. H is great, but HH slap tone is monster.

 

[AnthonyD]

Both are winners...

I have both (and both with the piezo bridge)...

Aussie Mark is spot on - there I said it too.

Now, the HSp is a bit more refined; the HHp a bit more aggressive. I play them both full-on 50/50/50 (both pick-ups and the piezo bridge). After playing the HHp almost exclusively for over a year, I just rediscovered my HSp and plan to use it a bit more often.

I don't find them to be dramatically different at 50/50/50 (I am generally easy to please and I don't sweat every little sonic nuance - there is a difference, just not huge to me at 50/50/50). Panning between the pick-ups, though, each has a whole unique variety of tones distinct from one another. And the single coil is very sweet.

From a personal standpoint I like the edginess of the HHp - a bit more growly for me. It fits my style and my attitude.

From a versatility standpoint, if I had to choose only one, I'd go with the HSp - I think it has the capacity to do more from a tonal perspective... I just don't need "more" at this point.