Changing a Bongo 5HH into a HSC?

[Rapsak]

I bought a Candy Apple Red Bongo HH 5'er in the summer thru ebay.

The bass is great, but I somehow wish I'd bought a HSC instead, figuring it has a higher treble response.

My question is: Is it possible to "convert" it either by 1) buying a single coil p.u (do Ernie Ball sell these as replacements?) + a new pickguard, or 2) Do any of you guys know whether the Bongo humbuckers have a coil tap, so that a rewiring could do the trick?

Of corse I could try to make an exchange if somebody's interested, but the geography speaks against this! ( I'm in Europe, and to my knowlegde there's scarcely a bongo to be found, in Denmark, anyway)

Thanks

 

[shamus63]

I bought a Candy Apple Red Bongo HH 5'er in the summer thru ebay.

The bass is great, but I somehow wish I'd bought a HSC instead, figuring it has a higher treble response.

My question is: Is it possible to "convert" it either by 1) buying a single coil p.u (do Ernie Ball sell these as replacements?) + a new pickguard, or 2) Do any of you guys know whether the Bongo humbuckers have a coil tap, so that a rewiring could do the trick?

Of corse I could try to make an exchange if somebody's interested, but the geography speaks against this! ( I'm in Europe, and to my knowlegde there's scarcely a bongo to be found, in Denmark, anyway)

Thanks

My thinking is that if you have a dual-pickup bass, most of your high-end is going to come from the bridge pickup anyway.

While the single-coil neck p/u does have more definition than a humbucker in the same position, all you're really doing is brightening the neck tone...that's fine if that is what you're really trying to accomplish.

Also, most 5-string basses are *typically* mellower-sounding than 4-strings, so that may figure into the "lack of treble" you're experiencing.

BTW, how old are the strings? Dead strings also figure into lack of high-end/tone.

 

[0557]

I wouldn't recommend altering the bass, you might have difficulty trying to sell it later on. Although I don't see me selling my HSC anytime soon.
Your better off saving and buying another one from Jack.
I think there is a conspiracy by Sterling to get all of us to buy all the models.
I mean the genius of the configurations is mind boggling.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Also, most 5-string basses are *typically* mellower-sounding than 4-strings, so that may figure into the "lack of treble" you're experiencing.

Um....huh?

I'll take "Things I've never heard/experienced/read about in 20 years of playing for $1000, Alex."

 

[shamus63]

Um....huh?

I'll take "Things I've never heard/experienced/read about in 20 years of playing for $1000, Alex."

So...how should I word that for you to understand it?

 

[Freddy-G.]

Welcome to the forum Rapsak. I'm really surprised that you say you need more treble. My HH has TONS of treble. Before modifying your bass, I would look into other solutions. Are you using stainless steel strings? They tend to sound brighter than nickel. If you're using a cab with 15" speakers, then they won't reproduce higher frequencies as well as smaller speakers. Try using a cab with a horn and 10" speakers.

EBMM does not sell their pickups separately. But if you try the other options mentioned, you shouldn't need to make any mods to your Bongo. Hope you find this helpful.

 

[shamus63]

Just for the record, my comment on 5-string basses 'typically' having a mellower sound than 4-strings is based on what I've either owned (400+ basses in 27 yrs; 4 and 5-string; fretted and fretless) or at least tried out at different stores.

These are characteristics that I've personally found, with a variety of amps/strings/mixes.

However, this is not gospel.

 

[Bill]

I certainly don't know about all 4- & 5-string basses, but based on the 2 'Rays that I own (one 4 & one 5), the 5-string is very much the mellower of the 2.

 

[smallequestrian]

Of course the SR and the SR5 have a few differences that cause them to sound different. Bongo wise though, between the 4 and the 5 strings I have played, they seem to be pretty consistent sound wise. I think it is because there is fundamentally very little difference between the two.

I would change strings before I ever thought about routing a bass though.

 

[Moondog]

I certainly don't know about all 4- & 5-string basses, but based on the 2 'Rays that I own (one 4 & one 5), the 5-string is very much the mellower of the 2.

Could be the Nanos on there Bill

I've owned various 4's and 5's and do not
find one brighter/mellower than the other
using same strings/gauges. But who know's,
maybe the larger mass/wider neck has
something to do with it?

My smaller Sterling is brighter than my Rays
but that also has a maple board . . . didn't
want to open that old debate . .

 

[Moondog]

Rapsak,
In my opinion, you should keep the HH -
it is a great configuration. TO repeat what's
already been said, if you want higher treble
response, roll off the neckH or try different
strings (SS). What strikes me is that you
haven't played the HSC yet - I would definetly
go out of my way to try one 1st to see if
that's what you're after before selling/trading
your HH. Don't screw with the HH

 

[Rapsak]

Thank you all for your replies!
Let's talk "treble response": Of course there's a lot of treble in the Bongo HH, but in an "active" way. I perceive it as lower, freq-wise, than a passive jazz bass (which, in large terms, gets its tremendous treble snap from the neck p.u!). Yeah, you may think I'm bonkers, but listen closely, and you might notice that the treble sizzle of a hi-tech, pre-amped H such as the bongo, doesn't go near the stratospheric highs of a passive single coil.
This is, of course, only my subjective opinion!

So, no pickup from Ernie Ball, hmmm....


Gotta unscrew the pickup, when I get back to work and check for coil taps!

 

[shamus63]

I would change strings before I ever thought about routing a bass though.

+1.

 

[bassmonkeee]

So...how should I word that for you to understand it?

Never said I didn't understand your words, smartass. I simply said that I had never heard the idea that adding an extra string to a bass reduced the treble response, let alone to the point that it was considered "typical."

Can you hear the difference between batteries like Eric Johnson, too?

 

[arrowheadguitar]

I've got both Bongo 4HSC and 5HSC and they're strung with D'Addarios (with the EADG strings being the same gauge on both)

with everything set flat and pickup blend in the middle, the 4 is noticably brighter than the 5.

I assumed it was to do with the extra material in neck, headstock and bridge, plus the pickups magnetic field being different due the change in shape.


P.

 

[shamus63]

maybe the larger mass/wider neck has
something to do with it?

That thought had also crossed my mind.

 

[Disquieter]

My bongo 5 has a smoother sound than all the bongo 4's i've tried, it also has a different feel, almost looser sort of kinda...


they all rock anyway.

 

[shamus63]

Never said I didn't understand your words, smartass. I simply said that I had never heard the idea that adding an extra string to a bass reduced the treble response, let alone to the point that it was considered "typical."

Can you hear the difference between batteries like Eric Johnson, too?

I figured a smartass answer is something you could understand...given your initial response.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I assumed it was to do with the extra material in neck, headstock and bridge, plus the pickups magnetic field being different due the change in shape.


P.

This makes sense. I can follow that a heavier instrument (wider body, etc), or one with more mass will have a distinctly different tone than another bass with similar attributes in other areas. I had just never heard it reduced to number of strings before.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I figured a smartass answer is something you could understand...given your initial response.

You don't know me very well, do ya?