Help! Bongo indecision

[ErlendDL]

*DISCLAIMER*: Long post... May cause sleepiness.


Right people, the Bongo has claimed yet another victim!


I can't resist the GAS any longer. Everywhere I look it's Bongo this, Bongo that.

I've managed to sell my Sterling to free up both cash and space.

My only remaining problem is "what to get?"


I'm absolutely positive that I wan't a 5-string. After some time having both 4's and 5's, I've come to the conclution that I need that low B-string. That's partly why I sold my Sterling 4 (yet somehow, I prefer 4 strings on my fretless. At least for now...).

But which pickup config should I get?

The styles of music I play include hymns, jazz, big band music, fusion, rock, metal... So, quite diverse...

Ideally I should get both, but I can only get one at this time.

So maybe I should get a HH, for the range of tones it can provide? On the other hand, I have a non EBMM HH that I really like, and that one's a definitive stayer. I only gas for 2 brands of basses. EBMM is one, and my current HH 5-string is the of the other brand.

So maybe I should get the 5H instead? I think this is the third time I post this, but the tone in this video is incredible. At least I think so.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhVH8K-Eo0U]YouTube - Guitar Center Sessions: Steve Morse & Steve Lukather "Little Wing" [Part 2][/ame]

Everytime I watch that clip, I think "5H". But then I think that it might not be versatile enough. Then I think "I've already got a HH". And then I watch the clip again. It goes on, and on, and on, and on... So HELP me...

The HS isn't really in the race, but I've put it in the poll anyway, in case you wanna convince me.

For those of you who were gonna answer "go and try both", I can't... My local dealers have 2 Stingrays. One each. And that's it...

Ideally I should get both, but I can only get one at this time. So it's really a question of which one to get first. The other one would have to wait another 3-5 years...

I would appreciate any help you can give.


Edit: The Sterling was my "point and shoot rock machine". Maybe it makes sense to replace it with another rock machine? Single H?

 

[rizzo9247]

Please see my thread below; I hope it is somewhat helpful, but YMMV

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/45988-dueling-bongos.html

 

[oddjob]

Not versitle??? Not the case. All 3 have different tones that the others can not touch but each has a TON of tones even/especially the H. The H is more disposed to hand position tone than the others. Also, don't let the 3 band fool you... it is just as powerful as the 4 band (ands is less likely to screw up the mids ). While it isn't as refined as the HH or HS (which is very smooth) it has an aggressiveness that the others can't match.

They are all great basses. Search some on the differences between them (we have hammered that subject into the ground around here ) and decide for yourself but don't get fooled by the "more is better" theory on pick ups because in this case it isn't true.

 

[ErlendDL]

Please see my thread below; I hope it is somewhat helpful, but YMMV

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/45988-dueling-bongos.html

I'd forgotten about that thread...

The guy who likened it to his Sterling kinda helps.

And the engineer stating it sounded better than your Stingray.

That pushes me towards a single H. I like the tone of my fretless Ray better than the Sterling.

I considered swapping the Sterling for a fretted Ray, but I wanted the B, and I don't like the 5-string Stingray pickguard, so I decided on a Bongo.

If I'm not mistaken, hasn't the single H Bongo been described as a Stingray on steroids?

 

[ErlendDL]

Not versitle??? Not the case. All 3 have different tones that the others can not touch but each has a TON of tones even/especially the H. The H is more disposed to hand position tone than the others. Also, don't let the 3 band fool you... it is just as powerful as the 4 band (ands is less likely to screw up the mids ). While it isn't as refined as the HH or HS (which is very smooth) it has an aggressiveness that the others can't match.

They are all great basses. Search some on the differences between them (we have hammered that subject into the ground around here ) and decide for yourself but don't get fooled by the "more is better" theory on pick ups because in this case it isn't true.

Reading this, I'm leaning even more towards an H.

I hate EQ-ing... Just using hand positioning is much more convenient.

I have both the bass preamp and my amp EQ set flat 95% of the time, so this is good news.

 

[ivbenaplayin]

you might want to consider adding the Piezo option... the tonal versatility Bongo 5 HHp is absolutely INSANE!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

you might want to consider adding the Piezo option... the tonal versatility Bongo 5 HHp is absolutely INSANE!

 

[ivbenaplayin]

Aww shucks, I feel special now...

Glad to know you had a great time and a safe holiday GW!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

It was great, exilirating and mad at some point, a boat approached us wanting to sell us drugs, hand granades, uzi's, I tell you for a few seconds it became a lil' uncomfortable and scary... I just politely said no thanks skipper, I got 'em already... (I pretended of course ) and outrun them, pheew!!.

 

[ivbenaplayin]

It was great, exilirating and mad at some point, a boat approached us wanting to sell us drugs, hand granades, uzi's, I tell you for a few seconds it became a lil' uncomfortable and scary... I just politely said no thanks skipper, I got 'em already... (I pretended of course ) and outrun them, pheew!!.

 

[OldSchool Noob]

you might want to consider adding the Piezo option... the tonal versatility Bongo 5 HHp is absolutely INSANE!

This -- for the win.

 

[ivbenaplayin]

It was great, exilirating and mad at some point, a boat approached us wanting to sell us drugs, hand granades, uzi's, I tell you for a few seconds it became a lil' uncomfortable and scary... I just politely said no thanks skipper, I got 'em already... (I pretended of course ) and outrun them, pheew!!.

GW, you're lucky you didn't get hijacked (like this thread just did...)

 

[adouglas]

If you get a Bongo HH your existing other brand HH had better start worrying.

Just sayin'.

I have HHp and H.

HHp gives me the most versatility.

H gives me a great tone every time -- point and shoot, like the man said.

You won't go wrong with either.

Given the wide variety of styles you play, I'm thinking HH.

 

[guenter]

I have HHp and H.

HHp gives me the most versatility.

Because of the piezo? Or would a "simple" HH (w/o piezo) also be more versatile than a H?

@all Bongo 5 players:
I think what we need is a nice set of sound examples (Bongo 5 HH, HS, H) that can be compared against each other. Recorded by one guy and always the same song. Just like the StingRay examples oli@bass provided.

Any volunteers?

 

[adouglas]

Because of the piezo? Or would a "simple" HH (w/o piezo) also be more versatile than a H?

I dunno... I've never turned the piezo off...

Seriously, I'd say HH, even without piezo, is capable of a wider variety of tone than the H , but the H just KILLS every time. It's always right.

 

[MrMusashi]

where in norway do you live erlend?
you are more than welcome to drop by me to test both the h and hh

MrM

 

[oddjob]

Seriously, I'd say HH, even without piezo, is capable of a wider variety of tone than the H

Strongly disagree. Different, yeap. Wider variety, nope. Just a lot of differences. 3-band and hand positions are your friend. I play motown to country to metal with the H without any problems - move the hand and bump the eq a bit... and with the 3 band it is much easier and faster to dial in.

 

[danny-79]

I'm a similar situation my self, Bongo GAS is getting worse so i am seriously considering parting with my beloved LE Stingray to fund the Bongo.
(i say that now but really don't want to have to part with the Stingray, if i sell it i no i will end up regretting it so going to hang on to it for as long as i can).
All i no at this stage is its got to be a five banger, and got my hart set on a fully loaded HH with Piezo !!!

 

[danny-79]

Going to spend some time with it now
Then log back in an debate taking this post down ??????
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...music-man-basses-sale-no-comments-please.html

(it will be removed for me anyway after a few days so .... indecision.... i hear you bruv !!! )

 

[ErlendDL]

you might want to consider adding the Piezo option... the tonal versatility Bongo 5 HHp is absolutely INSANE!

The piezo would make the price a bit too steep, unless I find a used one.

GW, you're lucky you didn't get hijacked (like this thread just did...)

Bloody pirates...

HHp gives me the most versatility.

H gives me a great tone every time -- point and shoot, like the man said.

You won't go wrong with either.

Given the wide variety of styles you play, I'm thinking HH.

The more I ponder this, the more I'm drawn to the "point and shoot"-ness of the H. I've stopped worrying about the versatility. I do have my other HH.

but the H just KILLS every time. It's always right.

This is great.

where in norway do you live erlend?
you are more than welcome to drop by me to test both the h and hh

MrM

Google Maps seier du er i Tromsø, eg er på Sotra utanfor Bergen. Det blir nok litt langt å reise...

Takk for tilbudet uansett!


My choice is also limited by what I can find within budget in Europe.

I've been looking at a few, and I've found a Sapphire Black 5H over here. It's about $2000, which is about $500 off (Europe, remember...).

That one's really tempting me. It's quite a bargain for a European.