Question Help - Bongo, Big Al or Reflex

[adouglas]

Ouch.

Duty can be avoided by wording the paperwork properly, though evidently it's a bit of a crapshoot.

The DHL cost is prohibitive, though. North of US$600 round trip by the time all is said and done, assuming no duty.

I might as well just fly to England!

 

[MadMatt]

Ouch.
Duty can be avoided by wording the paperwork properly, though evidently it's a bit of a crapshoot.

Hey adouglas, I did not know you repaired bass guitars. Make sure Fran takes his Big Al to customs and puts down a security deposit (which is VAT + duties) and gets the paperwork before he sends it to you for repairs. He will get the money back when he shows up with the same bass after you ship it back and no one will have too pay duties.

You can actually completely tell them the truth, the repair story is simply easier for the custom agent to understand. Its a "Standard" situation. The bass just needs to have a serial number.

Perfectly legal and safe.

-M@

 

[Grand Wazoo]

The problem for adouglas is not the customs, but rather the high cost quoted by DHL for it to be shipped there and back, and I have to agree it is quite unjustifyable.

 

[MadMatt]

The problem for adouglas is not the customs, but rather the high cost quoted by DHL for it to be shipped there and back, and I have to agree it is quite unjustifyable.

Let me guess... €288 Planet Remulak -> Secret lair... about $400 Secret lair -> Planet Remulak

I can tell you, even if you guys lived in normal places like Frankfurt or Washington it would not be cheaper

 

[drTStingray]

The DHL cost is prohibitive, though. North of US$600 round trip by the time all is said and done, assuming no duty.

I might as well just fly to England!

That's v expensive - probably a good thing really because if I were Fran I wouldn't lend my brand new bass to anyone - unless I had another brand new one just round the corner....................

In my quest to get my mind clearer on the pick up config issue (even though it was clearly HH - you guys have now got me thinking - SSS or maybe single H), A Douglas do you have a preference for any one of your Bongos which leads you to play it more than the others - from what I've read you play similar music to me. Thx.

 

[adouglas]

A Douglas do you have a preference for any one of your Bongos which leads you to play it more than the others - from what I've read you play similar music to me. Thx.

I play my H most because it's the lightest and these days it's all about gigging.

The Hp always gets played because it's fretless.

But to answer the question from a sound standpoint... no, I like them all. If they all weighed the same I'd have a really hard time choosing.

In fact, the next gig is a really low-impact one (one 90-minute set and they're providing the rig) so I'm just going to bring the HHp to give it some exercise.

 

[drTStingray]

I play my H most because it's the lightest and these days it's all about gigging.

The Hp always gets played because it's fretless.

But to answer the question from a sound standpoint... no, I like them all. If they all weighed the same I'd have a really hard time choosing.

In fact, the next gig is a really low-impact one (one 90-minute set and they're providing the rig) so I'm just going to bring the HHp to give it some exercise.

Thanks - that's useful to know. My HH Ray gets the same type of use as your HHp - used for occassional variety (if I was recording I'd use it a lot more) - that said I generally use only three settings on it, and probably only 2 most of the time, one of which is ...............bridge H soloed - it's just useful to have the variety available.

Hence my choice for either a Reflex/Bongo or Big Al is hard - I probably should choose the one with the most sound options to avoid wanting even more basses later.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

That's v expensive - probably a good thing really because if I were Fran I wouldn't lend my brand new bass to anyone

The fact is that all my basses are in brand new conditions, even the Bongo that I am sending to DTG, although I've bought it Jan 09, it is still as new, the Stingray 5 I just sold after nearly 10 years, for example, the bloke who bought it couldn't believe I owned it that long, and he was only too pleased to pay top dollar for it, if you see the pics in my signature slideshow you can tell it was a minter, and I do play them, gig them, I just like to look after them and am extra careful about handling them.
When I lend a bass I know that the person who is going to receive it, will look after it in the same way as I would if I was lent one of theirs, and that any damage to be fully rectified by the borrower.

Now there is an exception to this rule. The only bass I would never lend is the 25th 5HSS, mainly because a Bongo or a Big Al are still produced and can be replaced like for like but, the 25th is to me a sacred idol, and I wouldn't take any risks with it.

 

[shakinbacon]

My 2 cents

Variations in wood alone can make any of the instruments heavier than others.

Check several of the instruments at The Perfect Bass

They list weights for each actual instrument. You will see several cases of single pickup instruments weighing the same or more than the duals.

Perhaps the roasting of the necks will equalize this a bit

 

[bovinehost]

When I was trying to decide on the Big Al, Dargin said to me, "You already have a bunch of humbucker equipped basses. You should go with the SSS."

I think that was good advice and I'm just typing it here in order to torture you.

Jack

 

[drTStingray]

Dargin said to me, "You already have a bunch of humbucker equipped basses. You should go with the SSS."

Thanks for this Fran has told me that as well - I'm sort of leaning towards Reflex HSS at the moment - but Bongo leads the poll and Reflex is last..............

The fact is that all my basses are in brand new conditions

I know I've looked at the pictures - you must be pretty rare to have had an SR5 for 10 yrs without a headstock ding.

When I lend a bass I know that the person who is going to receive it, will look after it in the same way as I would if I was lent one of theirs, and that any damage to be fully rectified by the borrower

Too right mate - but what I was getting at was the GAS for a new bass doesn't go when you receive it - in my experience you have to play it whenever it's humanly possible for weeks and weeks after receipt as well - hence me saying I wouldn't lend my new Classic Ray - I would have instant withdrawal symptoms plus I've got the perfect gig to use it at coming up. I can't believe you'd lend your Big Al out - even to A Douglas

I'm off on holiday for a week but am staying within a 5 min drive of my favourite MM retailer's premises so I will try and persuade drMrsStingray that a minor detour is desirable for an hour or two and I'll try some of these basses out - sadly not a Reflex I suspect as I don't think any have arrived in UK yet.

 

[syciprider]

IMO, the Reflex is closest to a Stingray. Same neck size, almost the same number of frets.

I voted Reflex.

 

[TheAntMan]

Slight hijack.

I love my 25th (Reflex special) but there is one thing that the Bongo has that gives it an edge - IMO. It can blend the pickups by percentage. I was playing both my Bongo and 25th the other night and found that I was wanting to blend the tone/volume of the pickups on the 25th. The bass is an amazing instrument and I love the tones it can put out - that are not available on a Bongo That middle pickup is the bomb and that Humbucker is a must for me.

The Bongo just lets me balance the pickup blend which made a light bulb go off in my head while playing. What if the Reflex II had volume control for each pickup?!? Adjust the volume to get a blend effect by % of volume - now we are really getting crazy!!!

In the end, you can't go wrong, no matter whichever one you get, it will be awesome. Good luck.

--Ant

 

[drTStingray]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions - sounds like a Bongo is a must on its own - plus one of either Reflex or Big Al.

So possibly a Reflex 5HSS; and a Bongo with a gamechanger are my future choices.........

 

[Movielife]

Big Al 5 SSS!

Actually, maybe Reflex HSS.

That's the two I'm going to end up choosing between.

 

[Movielife]

Any closer to a decision yet.

 

[drTStingray]

Any closer to a decision yet.

No I'm not - I played a gig last night using my Classic Stingray - I'm still smiling from the sound I got slap sound is so good, and the finger style - it's become my only bass to play live.

I expect it will eventually be a Bongo - but I also like the look of the Reflex and fancy a 5 HSS (in white).

 

[Movielife]

Its a tough choice!

Im thinking, as my job is now secure, and my 30th is looming, a Big Al will be the biggest departure from a Ray for me, so I might go for that.

 

[drTStingray]

It sure is! I must say I'm warming to the Big Al - even lusting after Bovine's sunburst, GW's CAR one and Matt's blue one..................

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Well, by the description of the music you play, I would be inclined to say Big Al 5 SSS. It has a lot of traditional tones to it as well as the 4-band EQ, so you are sure to find sounds that you'll like.

Of the three you are considering, I don't think any one of them will be a bad option. Each of them have a unique shape and styling and versatile sounds, so go with whatever one feels and looks the best to you.