HELP - Bongo vs. Stingray

[Bongohead]

Ahem ... as this is my first post, i will introduce myself. My name is Jonathan, and im from Australia. As has probabally been discussed earlier bass guitars are expensive in Australia, and i have just saved up enough to buy a STINGRAY 5!!!! HOORAY!

but after surfing this forum for a few months now, and after extensive research i think i want a BONGO. (dibbs to Bovine's site)

Could you guys help me out, and tell me the pros and cons of both instruments? im really confused, as my brother (who also plays bass) says i should get the stingray, as it is a classic, with the classic tone. Several revies i have read say that the bongo is musicmans "latest and greatest" instrument. can the bongo get heaps of different sounds? can the stingray get different sounds as well ? im confused, with 3000 in my bank...and im dying for my new bass ...

Cheers fellas ...

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

A newbie (and Aussie )!

I can only vouch for the 'Rays. Bovie will be along soon and, no doubt, can give you all the info you need to make an informed decission.

Welcome.

 

[bovinehost]

Welcome, Jonathan.

Sorry to have made your life more difficult, heh heh. The bad news is that there are no "cons" to either a Stingray 5 OR a Bongo, in my humble opinion.

I have owned many Stingray 5s and it is somewhat troubling that I don't have one now, but I'll get another one sooner or later - I always do. At least I still have a nice Stingray 4. The SR5 is a great bass, and you just can't go wrong if you buy one. Very versatile basses, and you can get many different tones with the three way switch, string changes, hand positioning, type of amplifier/cabs, etc.

I do prefer the Bongo, obviously, but I keep in mind that this is all personal preference. If you don't mind standing out a bit, as people do tend to gawk and stare at Bongos, then the Bongo is a good choice, too. Like the Stingray 5, it's extremely versatile and capable of all kinds of music; the added value is that you can get different pickup configurations, and those double humbuckers can really kick you right in the teeth. I'm waiting on a single coil-humbucker model right now, and will of course offer a full report on the differences.

Everyone is going to have their own opinion, but mine is....

Stingray Good.

Bongo More Good.

Good luck!

Jack