Bongo Questions: Pickup location and Piezo

[Spectre]

Looking to order Bongo #2.

Have my Dargie 5H, and would not trade for the world.
Looking for something different.

I know the single H pickup is in the sweet spot of the Bongo.
With the 5HS, is the H pickup in same position as a single H, or moved to location of an HH?

Second, never having the opportunity to play Piezo, what does Piezo do to the sound of the Bongo?
Wondering if it is an option I should order, or skip.

Expecting my color will be Tangerine Pearl. Now I have to figure out the pickup config.
Thanks for the advice and education.​

 

[bassmonkeee]

The H on the SH is in the same place as the HH Bongos. FYI--In case you weren't aware, the single coil is in the position closest to the neck of the two humbucker coils on an HH neck pickup, too.

I have piezos on all three of my Bongos, and I like what they bring to the sound. One of my favorite tones is the single coil paired with the piezos. It's simply a sound you can't get from any other Musicman bass. I like the bite of the soloed sc and the piezos help fill out the sound and add some air.

That said, if you are looking for a radical difference from the piezos, it's not going to be mind-alteringly different.

 

[JayDawg]

I can't answer for the HS configuration but I can about the piezo. I've had a Hp Bongo that I just sold a few days ago to fund my rosewood neck one and I still have my HHp Bongo. I absolutely love them. They add an entirely new dynamic to your bass. Tons for versatility that you can do too. I think it is well worth the additional upcharge.

 

[Spectre]

Thanks for the responses. Getting a good education.
BassM, I did not know the single coil aligned with closest neck coil of HH.

Including Jaydawg's input, I am going to add Piezo.

What about difference between HS and HH, sound character? Bongo's use blend knob between pickup configurations, so that makes things interesting.
In the best case, I would like to have played the different configurations. But, closest GC is an hour away, and they never have Bongo's. I appreciate the help in making my decision.
Thanks...

 

[Golem]

............
I have piezos on all three of my Bongos, and I like what they
bring to the sound. One of my favorite tones is the single coil
paired with the piezos. It's simply a sound you can't get from
any other Musicman bass. I like the bite of the soloed sc and
the piezos help fill out the sound and add some air.

That said, if you are looking for a radical difference from the
piezos, it's not going to be mind-alteringly different.

What B-Monk said .....

Except, well, I think mebbe SOME minds are more easily
altered than others. I find piezos to be mind-blowing, but
then my mind is a blank plank [FL-speak].

I agree, frets reduce the mind-altering power of piezos :-(

 

[Golem]

................

What about difference between HS and HH, sound
character? Bongo's use blend knob between pickup
configurations, so that makes things interesting.
...........

Since there is no coils switch, just the blend knob,
the HS is the only Boingo that can offer any sort of
SC tone at all. However, SC neck tone isn't like SC
bridge tone. Switch a bridge PU to SC and YOWZA.
Switch a neck PU to SC and ... uhmnn ... wellll ...
it's just not so yowza, wad I'm sane ?

Corolary to above rules of Yowza:
Switch a neck SC to a full humbugger and not a
whole lot happens that way either :-/

Upshot for me is that I've long wished my Boingo
HH was an HS ... but if wishes was horses, then
Carnegie Hall would host karioke, wad I'm sane ?

 

[Spectre]

My thanks to Bassmonkeee, Jaydawg, and Golem for the valuable info and insight.
Order placed:
Tangerine Pearl Bongo, HSp, Black Pearloid pickguard, Rosewood Neck.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Awesome choice!

 

[JayDawg]

Very nice!