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leond

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
63
Location
Uxbridge, MA USA
I recently posted a WTB looking for a tobacco burst Bongo. In reality, I was looking for a honey burst Bongo. The error was because I didn't realize there are two different burst Bongos. :eek:

Which leads to my question, what are the tone differences between a Bongo with basswood vs mahogany vs alder?

Thanks,
Leon
 

muggsy

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Joined
Nov 19, 2004
Messages
787
Location
Alexandria, VA
I used to own a stealth Bongo HH that was basswood w/rosewood board, and now I own a neptune blue HSp with mahogany body and maple board. Different sounding basses, but in terms of effect on sound with active electronics, I'd say the pickups and preamp are most important, fretboard and body wood to a much lesser extent.
 

leond

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
63
Location
Uxbridge, MA USA
Thanks for the confirmation. I know some basses have very transparent electronics where every bit of wood matters. I noticed with the different Stingrays I've played, the tones seems to be more alike than different with different woods.
 

Golem

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2005
Messages
2,277
Location
My Place
Had/owned/played early 90’s StingRays made of
ash(natural), alder(transred), poplar(blueburst),
the all differed only in nuances.

So true .... I put my mahogany Ray up for sale
when I acquired a much less expensive verrrry
similar bass, a poplar S.U.B.

Can I detect any difference ? I can sometimes
sorta kinda convince myself of a subtle tonal
difference ... a difference no greater than I can
find between supposedly identical twin basses.
[Got a few matched pairs on hand].

The biggest tonal differences between similar ...
even vaguely similar ... basses, IMNSHO, tends
to be down to STRINGS ! Gets you some cobalt
strings and quit dizzying your brain about wood !
 
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