Bongo Pickup question

[azzy_wazzy]

Right - now you've all subliminally brainwashed me into buying a Bongo I have a few choices I need to make.

The colour is already decided (DG with White Ice pickguard so I can name it Treacle after the cat in my avatar who I miss terribly!), but I have a question about the pickups etc.

I'm having real difficulty trying to decide which PU configuration will suit me the best, and give the greatest versatility. I know the Bongo is very versatile already, but out of HH, HS or H, which gives the greatest range? I'm not fussed about a piezo yet, I think that would just confuse the issue for me too much. The music we (try) to play is a bit varied, and ranges from the Beatles, Rolling Stones to Oasis, Green Day, Razorlight, White Stripes, The Strokes, Coldplay etc (we are children of Britpop!).

Opinions would be very welcome! Once I've got that sorted I then need to look into the whole rounds vs flats issue which confuses me greatly... with a 6 stringer of a hubby I must look here for advice...

OKay - I'll be quiet now except for one last question - does the Bongo come with a hardcase? Or if it doesn't, can I buy an official one?

Thanks a lot everyone!

 

[Jazzbassman23]

Bongos currently ordered come w/a case. Some dealers may have some new/old Bongos on hand that didn't come w/a case, but they should be $75-100 cheaper. As to pickup configuration, I'm not a single coil kind of guy. My MIA Jazz has gotten little play since I saw the light and now only play EBMM basses. I went with the HH configuration, so that's my vote.

 

[arrowheadguitar]

Right - now you've all subliminally brainwashed me into buying a Bongo I have a few choices I need to make.

The colour is already decided (DG with White Ice pickguard so I can name it Treacle after the cat in my avatar who I miss terribly!), but I have a question about the pickups etc.

I'm having real difficulty trying to decide which PU configuration will suit me the best, and give the greatest versatility. I know the Bongo is very versatile already, but out of HH, HS or H, which gives the greatest range? I'm not fussed about a piezo yet, I think that would just confuse the issue for me too much. The music we (try) to play is a bit varied, and ranges from the Beatles, Rolling Stones to Oasis, Green Day, Razorlight, White Stripes, The Strokes, Coldplay etc (we are children of Britpop!).

Opinions would be very welcome! Once I've got that sorted I then need to look into the whole rounds vs flats issue which confuses me greatly... with a 6 stringer of a hubby I must look here for advice...

OKay - I'll be quiet now except for one last question - does the Bongo come with a hardcase? Or if it doesn't, can I buy an official one?

Thanks a lot everyone!

I'm in Northampton and have a Bongo 4HS (and a 5HS) if you want to pop over and try one sometime.

If I manage to sell a '78 Precision I have then I'm after either a single pickup Bongo 4 or a 4HH. If I can shift the Bongo 5 then I may well complete the set



Paul.

 

[0557]

HSC bongo for me, smoother than the HH, stiill growls, but I love all of them

 

[bassmonkeee]

I prefer my SC/H 5 to my H/H 5. It has a lot more variety in it, I think.

I usually use the neck pickup soloed (with some piezo added). By bumping the low mids, cutting the bass, and using a pick I can get a pretty good hofner-esqe tone. By rolling off a bit of highs, and bumping the bass I can get a great PBass tone.

Of course, once you have one, you'll eventually want all three. So, it's really just the details you have to work out....

 

[shamus63]

Mine's an HSC...love the tonal range it provides!

But...I'm also going to pick up an H (also in DG)...the pickup is positioned further from the bridge than the double p/u config's; right in the 'sweet spot'.

 

[prickly_pete]

Mine's an HSC...love the tonal range it provides!

But...I'm also going to pickup an H (also in DG)...the pickup is positioned further from the bridge than the double p/u config's; right in the 'sweet spot'.

The H is the one I'm interested in. It looks like the PU is closer to the neck than a Stingray.

Does anybody have any sound clips of the Single H Bongo?

 

[shamus63]

The H is the one I'm interested in. It looks like the PU is closer to the neck than a Stingray.

Does anybody have any sound clips of the Single H Bongo?

If you don't mind a rough mix, go to the Open House links that Pete D. provided; we were (mostly) using BP's single-H for the jam.

 

[prickly_pete]

If you don't mind a rough mix, go to the Open House links that Pete D. provided; we were (mostly) using BP's single-H for the jam.

Cool, thanks!

 

[shamus63]

Cool, thanks!

No problem.

 

[oddjob]

I am currently playing country and classic rock and the H is awesome. I have both the 4H, 4HH and 5HH and spend 95% of my time with the H. THe tone is simle yet versatile. I can't explain it, but it has an "oommphf" (for lack of a better word) and clarity that the HH doesn't have - the H is a guy with a bassball bat in a china shop - very damaging but he can be very selective - the HH is a bull in that same shop, no elaboration necessary. It is different enough that I am compemplating trading my 5HH for a 5H.

While I am playing country now.. I was playing alt metal and pop too and the H was the bass of choice in those situtations as well.

As always it is a matter of taste.

 

[smallequestrian]

I prefer my H, but thats because its my fretless. I am a superfan though of my HH strung with TI flats, I feel like I can get any tone I want out of that bad boy.

 

[Motojunkie]

If you pop, the HH doesn't leave a lot of room between the neck pickup and the end of the neck to fit your fingers in there. You can do it, you just have to be pretty precise. I'm sure that a pro level popper would have no problems with it.

Tonewise, I love them all. I have settled on the HH for myself, but would love to have one of each.

 

[xring]

I much prefer the H / SC as opposed to the H/H. It's got the growl when needed, yet it can sparkle better than the H/H IMO.
I'm looking for a single H to add to the stable, along with a fretless. There's no hope once you commit.

 

[sir funkytown]

I am a pro player that slaps quite a bit and I had to lower the front pickup to make slapping the bongo comfortable.Normaly I wouldn't do that, but the Bongo is so freakin' loud it had the happy result of making the bass easier to use with amps.Lowering the front single pickup to about half the height of the Hummer in the back cut a lot of the angry growl, and made the bass a little smoother(I have no problem with angry growl...but , i play in an ABBA tribute showband...funky and focused is more what I need on that gig).I would love a version of the Bongo with that front pickup slanted back a little on the treble side, just a bit...like 10 degrees.
I am seriously considering taking Mr Bongo to the shop and getting it done.

 

[strummer]

Me, I like the HH.
No eq, both pick ups on full and it is by far the rudest bass in the world.

/Bongoloid #684

 

[Mobay45]

Me, I like the HH.
No eq, both pick ups on full and it is by far the rudest bass in the world.

/Bongoloid #684

That's exactly the way I play mine. The pickup and EQ knobs all in the center detent.

 

[Motojunkie]

Me too. It's great to know that you have all that great tone with tons of EQ available if you need it.

 

[Golem]

Dual humbers is my fav bass PU config. I notice this is not true of the bass world in general. So, I'd guess that most bassers would not want the "Ultimate Dual Humber" sound. As a seeker after the ultimate dual humber sound for a few years now, I'd say I've found it in the 5HH. YMMV. Not responsible for articles lost or stolen. If you want dessert, eat your veggies.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Dual humbers is my fav bass PU config. I notice this is not true of the bass world in general. So, I'd guess that most bassers would not want the "Ultimate Dual Humber" sound.

I'm a tad fond of dual buckers too. I currently own 5 basses with double hummers, and I run them all with both pups on full, just like my Bongo HH. I've mainly played in 3 piece bands, so a big fat bottom end is my responsibility.