Question Bongo question: H or HS Bongo for a blues/rock player who has a HH Bongo already?

[Deaj]

I know this has been done to death but I'm trying to arrange a trade or sale of one of my 4HH Bongo's (the White one - likely to draw more interest / bring more $$ than Egyptian Smoke and I like both equally) to get a different configuration. Having no experience with either the HS or the single H config on the Bongo's makes it tough to make a decision. I'm leaning towards the single H as I like the voicing the Stingray gets from the pickup placement. I'm also wondering if the HS will be different enough from the HH to make trading away the White Bongo worthwhile.

So my question for you Bongo players is: H or HS Bongo for a rock/blues player who already has a HH Bongo - and why?

Thanks!

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've never played a H, but I've owned two HH Bongos and a HS Bongo. My gut feeling on your question is the H.

 

[bdgotoh]

Definitely H. Awesome tone, super simple 3 band EQ.

The single H pickup is farther away from the bridge than the HS or HH bridge pickups.

The single H is sort of the P bass Bongo.

 

[bovinehost]

So my question for you Bongo players is: H or HS Bongo for a rock/blues player who already has a HH Bongo - and why?

It depends. Do you like to tweak a little? With my band, such as it is, I find I seldom go for a different tone than the one I start with. We pretty much begin with a fast shuffle, continue with fast shuffles and then generally end with, oh, let's say a fast shuffle. It ain't rocket science. So I find the single H to be dead simple to adjust and go with.

At home, I tend to play along with whatever is on my hard drive, which might be old Todd & Utopia or Norah Jones or - you name it. There tends to be more change in those tunes, so I find myself picking up the HS. Rockin' it? Bridge pickup. Mellow little jazzy tunes? Dial in some neck pickup.

I clearly love them both, but your gig might dictate what's better for you.

Jack

 

[oddjob]

All 3 have very differnt personalities. I have owned all 3 (currently only HH and Hs) and gravitate towards my H basses. Kind of what Jack said... I don't tweak too much once I start playing and I love the H tone. Love the HHs too but it is a different love - while it can destroy small cities the HH is a bit tame compared to the H (IMO) and the H cuts through any mix nicely. I guess you could call it a little furry - but in a good way.

The HS is an interesting beast. I love the S pup and it is sparkly clean. I was just never able to get it to fit "my live tone" - but that is me. It has a roundness to it the H and HH don't have and is a tad warmer.

Beauty of the Bongo is that it can, in all its configs, do a lot of things wonderfully. Going to an H or HS is a toss-up (get the H ) and I don't think you will regret either decission (get the H).

 

[Deaj]

Thanks for the input! I'll be looking for a single H. Anyone here have a Fretted Hp? Do you find the piezo pickup useful? Do the saddles affect the attack at all compared to the stock bridge/saddles? If it adds useful flexibility without any drawbacks then I'll want to consider H and Hp configs. Otherwise I'll narrow my search to just the single H Bongo's.

Thanks again!

 

[sitonmybass]

I like having a Bongo 5 HH and a Bongo 5 single H. Since you'll still have one HH, I say go for the single H.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I'm late to the thread, but I thought I'd throw in a dissenting opinion for the HS. I've played blues and rock with all three, and I think, for blues, the single H soloed works better than a single H Bongo. I'm just a big fan of the way the single coil slices through the mix--at least in a trio.

 

[MrMusashi]

h for balls
hs for versatility

get the piezo if you can spend the extra cash.. will give yet another dimmension to it

MrM

 

[lorino]

At home, I tend to play along with whatever is on my hard drive, which might be old Todd & Utopia or Norah Jones or - you name it.

Justin Bieber?

Oh, and I love my HS - but I'm not sophisticated tonally to provide anything but "I likes it" and the S makes a mighty fine thumb rest.

Cheers!

 

[bovinehost]

Justin Bieber?

Okay, okay - not that.

 

[adouglas]

I've got fretted Bongos in three flavors: HHp, an H and an HS.

Even though the HS is for sale in the FS thread (shameless plug, sweet bass, rare color) I'd have to say H.

Why? Because it's very different from your HH. Moreso than the HS is.

This is because, IMHO, pickup placement has more to do with the difference in tone than pickup type does. The HS has the same pickup placement as the HH. The H does not.

Whether or not that's a good thing depends on your tastes. As with all things, YMMV and probably will.

Put it this way: When I got my H I plugged it in and said "woah, that's different." When I got the HS I didn't notice such a dramatic difference.

Caveat: I don't have a lot of playing time on the HS, so my observations regarding it are more of the first-impression variety.

 

[Deaj]

I've got fretted Bongos in three flavors: HHp, an H and an HS.

Even though the HS is for sale in the FS thread (shameless plug, sweet bass, rare color) I'd have to say H.

Why? Because it's very different from your HH. Moreso than the HS is.

This is because, IMHO, pickup placement has more to do with the difference in tone than pickup type does. The HS has the same pickup placement as the HH. The H does not.

Whether or not that's a good thing depends on your tastes. As with all things, YMMV and probably will.

Put it this way: When I got my H I plugged it in and said "woah, that's different." When I got the HS I didn't notice such a dramatic difference.

Caveat: I don't have a lot of playing time on the HS, so my observations regarding it are more of the first-impression variety.

This is what I rather expect might happen if I were to go the HS route.

h for balls
hs for versatility

get the piezo if you can spend the extra cash.. will give yet another dimmension to it

MrM

I've never used a piezo pickup on a bass - I'm hoping to find a single H Bongo with a piezo for purchase or trade.

...and if anyone has a single H or Hp Bongo they'd like to trade for a White 4HH Bongo....

Thanks again everyone for the input so far! After doing a little reading through past threads involving single H Bongo's I'm looking forward to playing one of these!

 

[ivbenaplayin]

big +1 on the piezo!

 

[b-unit]

I sure love my single H Bongo. I have never really gone nuts over two pickup basses and the simplicity of the perfectly placed single H is one of the things that drew me to EBMM basses in the first place.

Even though the eq is simpler on the single H, it is very useable and can provide a lot of tonal variation. having said that, I love the tone of this bass with everything set flat.

 

[mmbassplayer]

Coming from the former owner of a Bongo 4HH and Bongo 5HSp (that one was white) and the current owner of a 4H i have to say the Bongo 4H has easily taken up my number 1 spot for basses. It only gets complements in any style of music i play (Rock, Metal, Blues and once Gospel). I agree with everyone else about the pickup placement. It makes the differance. As far as the piezo option that it up to you. I did not use it much when i had the 5HSp, but i have heard a few rave aout the Hp setup. I had thought about sending you a message about a trade for my 4H in Ice Blue but i don't think i will be giving it up anytime soon. JOSH