Help! Classic Stingray 5 or Bongo 5 ?
- Thread starter Mats
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S
sitonmybass
I vote for the Sterling Silver Bongo 5 HH.
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I have to say that this must be one of the friendliest forums there is 
You have given me very much to think about, all your thoughts have
been very useful.
Jack maybe nailed it. Bongo with single H. For to get the stingray sound
but some more as well. But...the classic is still a beauty with it´s new neck.
Why do i have to decide myself?
You have given me very much to think about, all your thoughts have
been very useful.
Jack maybe nailed it. Bongo with single H. For to get the stingray sound
but some more as well. But...the classic is still a beauty with it´s new neck.
Why do i have to decide myself?
S
sitonmybass
Considering a Bongo 5 single H?
That's another good option.
That's another good option.
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In a couple of days i can buy a classic stingray 5, classic white, flame maple with rosewood board. They will phone me when it arrives in the local store. This will be hard to resist Even if i had a maple board in mind, i think rosewood will be nice too. Some say the tone is more aggressive or open with maple and sort of softer and round with rosewood, but this has to be very hard to tell i guess ? I will try it out and see, maybe phone the bank before i go there
Even if i had a maple board in mind, i think rosewood will be nice too. Some say the tone is more aggressive or open with maple and sort of softer and round with rosewood, but this has to be very hard to tell i guess ? I will try it out and see, maybe phone the bank before i go there
S
sitonmybass
The above descriptions are true. To me, the difference in tone is not hard to tell at all. I personally notice a big difference between the sound of maple fretboards and rosewood fretboards (I've had identical EBMM basses whose only difference was the fretboard wood.) I always preferred the rosewood ones.
It's easier to EQ a little "edge" into the sound of rosewood fretboard basses than to try to add natural warmth to a maple fretboard bass, at least in my experience.
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strummer
Enormous Member
Mats, I have 5 bongos but only one stingray
If you are ever in stockholm, gimme a shout and come play some tasty Bongos and Heinz
If you are ever in stockholm, gimme a shout and come play some tasty Bongos and Heinz
Yerf Dog
Active member
Different is good. That's why I went with a Bongo 5HH.
I TOTALLY agree with this. I also FEEL a big difference between Rosewood and Maple. People say that you "feel the frets not the wood" I say BS! I FEEL the board wood just as surely as I feel the neck itself. Close your eyes and play both and do an honest A/B and you will know what I mean...I prefer Maple if I want some nice percussive attack and need some punch and heft...Rosewood gives me a nice, round, warm tone. I prefer the feel of Rosewood but the sound of maple...A nice compromise is Morado or Honduran Rosewood which both seem to me to be nearly as percussive and punchy as maple.
Peace,
T
Today i got an email that said i could come and try out the classic stingray 5.
Very happy i phoned the bank to make sure i had enough money on my account
if i wanted to buy the bass after trying it out. When i came to the shop the guy
said he we had to unpack it because he just got it. I stod there watching him
unpack it and there..the black musicman case were. He opened the case and...
there were no 5-stringed stingray, no, it was a 4-banger. The guy in the
shop could not believe his eyes. He ran to phone the dealer, they said it had
been a mistake and the deliverytime on the 5-stringer would take a while longer.
So...no bass yet. Maybe it was ment to be...just to say i should buy a Bongo instead?
Very happy i phoned the bank to make sure i had enough money on my account
if i wanted to buy the bass after trying it out. When i came to the shop the guy
said he we had to unpack it because he just got it. I stod there watching him
unpack it and there..the black musicman case were. He opened the case and...
there were no 5-stringed stingray, no, it was a 4-banger. The guy in the
shop could not believe his eyes. He ran to phone the dealer, they said it had
been a mistake and the deliverytime on the 5-stringer would take a while longer.
So...no bass yet. Maybe it was ment to be...just to say i should buy a Bongo instead?
MrMusashi
Well-known member
my 2 øre here.. hehe.. local currency of course 
the hh bongo might not be your thing if you like slap. some find the space for doing their thing, uhm... lacking
the hh on the other hand will give you a lot more sound variety than the single h classic.
also to consider: 21 frets vs 24, laquered vs satin finished neck, 2 band eq vs 4 band eq
if you can take a trip and visit strummer, he will hook ya up with both kinds and you can make your mind up for yourself.
do notice that heinz the wonderbass is a bit different from the classics, has a history of traveling around the world, plays like a dream and is the ugliest bass mankind ever have seen
whatever you choose you will have a magnificent bass in your hands!
MrM
the hh bongo might not be your thing if you like slap. some find the space for doing their thing, uhm... lacking
the hh on the other hand will give you a lot more sound variety than the single h classic.
also to consider: 21 frets vs 24, laquered vs satin finished neck, 2 band eq vs 4 band eq
if you can take a trip and visit strummer, he will hook ya up with both kinds and you can make your mind up for yourself.
do notice that heinz the wonderbass is a bit different from the classics, has a history of traveling around the world, plays like a dream and is the ugliest bass mankind ever have seen
whatever you choose you will have a magnificent bass in your hands!
MrM
Today i found this one, a real beauty indeed
MUSIC MAN BONGO 5 HH STERLING SILVER Vy - Svensk International Cyberstore
If the classic stingray 5 will not show up in the store in a few days
i think i will go with this one instead.
MUSIC MAN BONGO 5 HH STERLING SILVER Vy - Svensk International Cyberstore
If the classic stingray 5 will not show up in the store in a few days
i think i will go with this one instead.
five7
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2008
- Messages
- 4,297
Today i found this one, a real beauty indeed
MUSIC MAN BONGO 5 HH STERLING SILVER Vy - Svensk International Cyberstore
If the classic stingray 5 will not show up in the store in a few days
i think i will go with this one instead.
That is a cool color!
MK Bass Weed
Well-known member
Wow...this is hard for you...especially when you choose one..you'll be looking at the other...then another. That's the way it goes.
I used to be one of those doofs that said "Yeah, you can get that Classic Ray 2 Band tone with the HH". Then I went and tried the 2 Band, and I thought, the 2 Band guys weren't full of crap, I was. It's a special beast all on it's own. Classic is classic. If you get a 2 pickup Bongo (I got one), know that the Pickup ain't in Ray position.
But enough of me - Get the Big Al 5 H
I used to be one of those doofs that said "Yeah, you can get that Classic Ray 2 Band tone with the HH". Then I went and tried the 2 Band, and I thought, the 2 Band guys weren't full of crap, I was. It's a special beast all on it's own. Classic is classic. If you get a 2 pickup Bongo (I got one), know that the Pickup ain't in Ray position.
But enough of me - Get the Big Al 5 H
TheAntMan
Well-known member
My vote would be the Bongo. It has a fantastic feel, plays smoothly and is lighter. The tonal options are awesome. My 25th and Bongo are becoming my main stays.
Good luck.
--Ant
Good luck.
--Ant
ZiggyB
Member
I went through a similar experience!
Mats, I am a Latvian-American LEFTY bass player living in South Florida. I went through the same kind of experience as you: I was torn between a Stingray 5 and a Bongo 5. I could not make up my mind, even after I was finally able to play both! Being lefty, I had a hard time finding an instrument. Lucky for me, I live not too far from Bass Central in Orlando, and they happened to have samples of each bass so I A/B'd them.
I eventually ordered a Bongo 5 HH lined fretless in Stealth Black w/ an ebony fretboard from Bass Central. I love my Bongo. It has a 4 band EQ that has amazing tonal variation.
The fretted Bongo is probably not the best bass for slap, in my humble opinion. If slap is what you mostly play, you may be happier with a Ray. I find the volume knob on the Bongo gets in my way. However, you can't beat the Bongo for it's cool factor! It is a well balanced instrument, and is one of MM's best kept secrets since not too many bass players are familiar with it.
My band loves the sound of it, and it get's noticed on stage. I like the HH Bongo, because to me the whole point of playing one is to be able to get all the tones out of it. I would have ordered the Piezo bridge also, but sadly it is not available on a lefty.
When I was making my decision, I brought along my 26 yr old daughter who is a professional classical clarinetist who listened to each instrument carefully as I played it. She voted for the Bongo as having the most interesting sound, and that no doubt influenced my decision... But truth be told, you can't make a bad decision here, as they are both excellent axes.
It really sucks if you can't play one. Maybe you should contact the guy in Stockholm who offered to let you play one of his? That would be a good solution to your problem, as I am guessing like me you don't have the cash to buy both. It's hard to find the uberbass that does it all, I am still looking!
Mats, I am a Latvian-American LEFTY bass player living in South Florida. I went through the same kind of experience as you: I was torn between a Stingray 5 and a Bongo 5. I could not make up my mind, even after I was finally able to play both! Being lefty, I had a hard time finding an instrument. Lucky for me, I live not too far from Bass Central in Orlando, and they happened to have samples of each bass so I A/B'd them.
I eventually ordered a Bongo 5 HH lined fretless in Stealth Black w/ an ebony fretboard from Bass Central. I love my Bongo. It has a 4 band EQ that has amazing tonal variation.
The fretted Bongo is probably not the best bass for slap, in my humble opinion. If slap is what you mostly play, you may be happier with a Ray. I find the volume knob on the Bongo gets in my way. However, you can't beat the Bongo for it's cool factor! It is a well balanced instrument, and is one of MM's best kept secrets since not too many bass players are familiar with it.
My band loves the sound of it, and it get's noticed on stage. I like the HH Bongo, because to me the whole point of playing one is to be able to get all the tones out of it. I would have ordered the Piezo bridge also, but sadly it is not available on a lefty.
When I was making my decision, I brought along my 26 yr old daughter who is a professional classical clarinetist who listened to each instrument carefully as I played it. She voted for the Bongo as having the most interesting sound, and that no doubt influenced my decision... But truth be told, you can't make a bad decision here, as they are both excellent axes.
It really sucks if you can't play one. Maybe you should contact the guy in Stockholm who offered to let you play one of his? That would be a good solution to your problem, as I am guessing like me you don't have the cash to buy both. It's hard to find the uberbass that does it all, I am still looking!
It really is a hard choice, but it seems that some of you says that bongo hh:s aren´t
that easy to slap, if slap is what you do now and then. I saw a video with Dave Marotta. He sure could slap a hh bongo, but it maybe takes more skills than i have. More space to slap with a classic 5 ofc, have thought about that, but not gotten the opinion that it would be that hard to slap a hh bongo.
that easy to slap, if slap is what you do now and then. I saw a video with Dave Marotta. He sure could slap a hh bongo, but it maybe takes more skills than i have. More space to slap with a classic 5 ofc, have thought about that, but not gotten the opinion that it would be that hard to slap a hh bongo.
garythenuke
Active member
I wouldn't let the fear of not being able to slap keep you from the Bongo. I can hardly slap my way out of a wet paper bag, but I can get by on a Bongo HH. You just have to practice and get your muscle memory down. I don't see how that's a bad thing.
I have no personal experience comparing the tone of the two instruments you are considering. I can only regurgitate what I've read, and that matches what everyone's already said.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
I have no personal experience comparing the tone of the two instruments you are considering. I can only regurgitate what I've read, and that matches what everyone's already said.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
