👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
Bongo 2026 Collection

Flats On A Honey Roasted Bongo

KevinM

KevinM

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Messages
841
Location
SoCal
We laid down our bottom tracks for our next cd last night and today.
I had tried cobalts on my Honey Roasted Bongo but didn't like the way they matched with the roasted neck and Pau Ferro fret board.
Today I strung it up with some flats and it made them sing like nobody's business.
Some of the songs were better fit for the Reflex in active mode but several of them begged to be filled with Bongo tones.
Talk about smooooth power.
 
Cobalts were off in which way... too aggressive?
I find my Bongo is pretty aggressive & was thinking of putting flats on it... UNTIL I got the Reflex... thats now my surprisingly smooth bass... and I leave the Bongo aggressive
 
Cobalts are a little brighter than regular slinkys. I have cobalts on my Bongo5HS and they sound good. The roasted neck and Pau Ferro fretboard make this bongo brighter than the HS. Adding cobalts to it made it even brighter but it works excellent for flats. The HHp has the power to drive the flats over the top. I also have cobalts on my Reflex.
 
Thats VERY helpful... I'll get Cobalts next as I need a bit more top end than what I have on em now although the new setup & strings make this MUCH better

Appreciate it very much man
 
I'm finding my Sterling 4H a little thin and bright sounding with rounds at the moment. Maybe I should give flats a try? I want good fundamentals and a tight punchy sound but don't want a zingy top end. Out of interest my Sterling was made in May 02, does that mean it's got a ceramic pick up? Thanks, Bob
 
You guys are making me LMAO... your PDNs are bright clanky & thin & my BFR Roasted Reflex is warm, round & bassy as hell.

I'll give you some warmth & you give me some zing & clank? Deal?
 
Cobalts or Hybrid Steels... which ones are brighter with less low end in your opinion guys? I'm looking TOTAL opposite of flats & may trade a set of Flats with yall if you want for the brightest around
 
tunaman4u2 said:
Cobalts or Hybrid Steels... which ones are brighter with less low end in your opinion guys? I'm looking TOTAL opposite of flats & may trade a set of Flats with yall if you want for the brightest around
Click to expand...

I've never used the hybrids so I don't have a comparison for you. Have you checked out EB's Ernie Ball | Tone Universe ?

I think the Cobalts may be what you're looking for and must be tried on your Reflex. They have a good balanced output from string to string and the low B is really smooth.
 
tbonesullivan said:
Just a quick question: have you noticed any more brightness than usual from the harder SS fretwire?
Click to expand...

I didn't even think about that. I don't know what effect the ss frets have on the tone. Maybe somebody will chime on who has that info.

I used my HR(Honey Roasted) Bongo for church yesterday. The thing is nuclear with flats on it. I used to test that I had sound coming out by lightly plucking a string while muting it with my fingers. With this Bongo it makes too much noise and can be heard in the background by more than just me. When I tap my finger on the Hog body I can feel it resonating in the neck. This is my kind of bass.
 
Nice!!!

I ask mainly out of curiosity. SS frets are relatively new for most makers, though they have been around for years. They just recently seem to have been achieving popularity, but the main reason for the popularity is the longevity and ability to stand up to hard playing due to the harder alloy. They also don't corrode, but that seems to be a secondary concern. They do have softer alloys of SS that are actually close to N/S in hardness, but they would wear almost as fast.

Biggest thing is that like with nut material, bridge material, etc, you're going to get some level of tonal difference from using a harder or softer material. Many players say it doesn't matter, but I know that Roger Sadowsky has been quite vocal in his dislike of SS fretwire. Some also feel it doesn't "mate" with the strings as well due to the difference in hardness.

There is also of course the gold-colored EVO fretwire which some are using now, which seems to be between N/S and SS in hardness.
 
tunaman4u2 said:
Cobalts or Hybrid Steels... which ones are brighter with less low end in your opinion guys? I'm looking TOTAL opposite of flats & may trade a set of Flats with yall if you want for the brightest around
Click to expand...

I've never played Hybrid Steels but I can tell you that the Cobalts have more/bigger/deeper bottom end than the regular Slinkys so if you don't want bottom end then probably you don't want Cobalts. To me, Cobalts have similar bottom-end thump as flats do but with zing (or, as I call it, "ping") on top. The top end zing is a little different than Slinky rounds - kind of like Slinky's on steroids. I personally love them. Also, I think the Cobalts are highly recommended for anyone playing Slap.
 
Thanks Stu... I looks like I'm going Steels to get some aggression while others are Flats to get some warmth

Funny how things work out sometimes

Good luck guys, report back with your experiments!
 
I agree that Cobalts can produce thump when you need them. I needed some thump last night rehearsing for our annual bluegrass gig. Used the Classic Sterling with Cobalts. Fit in well once I totally turned off the treble!
 
this is on a Classic Sterling, and its bluegrass, so you don't want/need sizzle.
Only time I do that setting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Neck Rest
Back
Top