HS Stringray vs. HS Bongo

[VenousPlatypus]

Hey guys, I'm trying to decide what to get for my first MM bass. I'm currently using an Ibanez SR700, but am looking to upgrade to either a stingray or a bongo. I like the HS setup, but i cant figure out what the difference in sound and playability is between the two.
Thanks,
Gage

 

[TheAntMan]

Welcome!

Each has their own personality and feel. Best option is to try each. Either one will make an awesome choice.

Good luck.

--Ant

 

[VenousPlatypus]

Thank you! But what i mean, is what is the difference in the setups? Such as, what does each pot do, does the switch on the stingray do the same thing as a pot on the bongo? Things like that, the fine pickings between each that make them different.

 

[Berger912]

Check out the Sterling HS too if you are coming from an Ibanez i think you might like the feel of a Sterling.

 

[Manfloozy]

The five way selector switch is very different from the pan knob on the Bongo. Plus the H pickup on the HS Bongo is moved slightly closer to the bridge, whereas it remains in the sweetspot on the Ray. Either will allow the bridge or neck pup to be soloed, but the in between is different. The pan knob on the Bongo allows for near limitless tone combinations.... But can be daunting to some.... It does have a center detant though.

The Ray HS will allow you to use a single coil in the bridge pup (I believe in combo with the neck S).... The Bongo does not have a coil tap per say so the bridge humbucker will always use both coils.

Lastly, the Bongo has a four band EQ the is crazy powerful, the Ray has the standard 3-band.

One point to consider outside of tone is the neck. The Ray neck is unfinished while the Bongos neck is finished.

Both are awesome basses and determination of how these various qualities add up is 100% subjective. Check them both out if you can!

 

[VenousPlatypus]

haha well ive decided im going to get both.. (eventually) but the one im going to start with is the question now..

 

[phatduckk]

the "Diagram & schematics" links in the bottom right of
bongo-4 | basses | instruments
and
stingray | basses | instruments
will give u a wiring diagram that lets you know what the switches and knobs all do.

the bongo & stingray will have an EBMM quality to their ton but the bongo's gonna get u more output w/ the 18v preamp.

another thing to consider (which is why u should play tjem if u can) is the neck shapes are different. the SR4 will have a slightly bigger neck.

and as was mentioned above you should give the Sterling a look to. its closer to the SR4 but w/ a alightly more aggressive tone. also has a smaller (and i think) more comfortable neck

 

[stomaraka]

haha well ive decided im going to get both.. (eventually) but the one im going to start with is the question now..

to keep it simple, i'd go with bongo.

i have both, but the ray i bust out only for special occasions. Everyday practice, bongo. I bought H/S since it was the only one available, and found it to be incredibly versatile (which is NOT, and i repeat: NOT code for "nothing special"). Not many people dig the shape, but slap it, pop it, and they'll all want to touch it.

As for the neck shape, that's something that takes a couple of days of getting used to, whichever bass you've played before. As a friend of mine said to me when i first got mine, it has to LET you play IT.

 

[VenousPlatypus]

yes. yes i will. haha. but to find an HS bongo is hard to do! does anyone have a website or anything that u can get one? i found MusicMan Bongo Basses but i am unsure as of yet of whether or not it is reliable. thanks guys :}

 

[bovinehost]

Bass Central is good.

DuBaldo Music is good.

If you're looking for a used one, there's a For Sale thread up top.

 

[funkymofo]

I had the same dilemma.

I chose to go for the Stingray first, as the EQ is less powerful and only a 3 band my reasoning was I'd be better off fiddling with that for a while until I got to grips with it then go the whole hog and get a Bongo.

It doesn't matter though I don't think...you'll most likely love them both.

 

[five7]

I had the same dilemma.

I chose to go for the Stingray first, as the EQ is less powerful and only a 3 band my reasoning was I'd be better off fiddling with that for a while until I got to grips with it then go the whole hog and get a Bongo.

It doesn't matter though I don't think...you'll most likely love them both.

The "whole hog", yes go for it.

 

[phatduckk]

It doesn't matter though I don't think...you'll most likely love them both.

na, the EQ's main diff is the bongo has both a high-mid and low-mid control whereas the SR has a "normal" mid

the bongo's pretty simple to get used to. just EQ and a pickup pan knob

 

[VenousPlatypus]

Is the SR HS active? i cant find a good picture of the back..

 

[adouglas]

Yes. Active, like all current MM basses.

(Note that the Reflex, 25th and Big Al have a passive switch, but not the SR. They're still active basses, though.)

If memory serves, there was a passive SUB, but SUBs are no longer made.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[phatduckk]

Yes. Active, like all current MM basses.

(Note that the Reflex, 25th and Big Al have a passive switch, but not the SR. They're still active basses, though.)

If memory serves, there was a passive SUB, but SUBs are no longer made.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

yup. everything's active and a few basses have a passive switch (reflex/25th, big al)

 

[VenousPlatypus]

well im asking this with a hopeful tone haha, im an active bass player by far as i am very into dave larue and mark kings style of play. thanks again guys ^_- all i need to do now is pool together a little bit more money and the HS bongo will me MINE!

 

[oli@bass]

If you want to get both anyway, I'd consider the HH for the StingRay. The neck H alone is a phantastic sound, and the H+H combined is definitely fatter than the H+S combined. If you can, try out the different models.

 

[VenousPlatypus]

you see, i WANT to try out all the different setups, but since no stores near me (that i know of) have anything other than the SR H, i have to rely on videos and sounds from people playing it to decide..

 

[syciprider]

Try the Big AL SSS if you could. It's like the Bongo evolved. I was convinced that my Bongo sounded the best among my EBs until I put flats on my AL yesterday.