I have a Sterling 4H .. should I trade it for a Bongo 4H?

[aLaoTatto]

Throughout these past few years, I was able to own different music man basses.. right now, I have a Reflex 4H, a Reflex 5H and a Sterling 4H.. but I've had a 91 Stingray 4 and a newer HH 4 string 'ray.

I have recently joined a new band and been using primarily my Reflex 4, but thats just because I really don't seem to get along with the smaller body size of the Sterling. Plus, my sterling has a maple board, and I really think a rosewood board would be a great improvement in sound for what I'm aiming now.

With that in mind, and the specific sound of this band, I have been thinking about getting a 4HH ray again.. I think the extra H will help a ton with it's increased versatility and I really enjoy the sound of the 2 inner coils on pos. #3(I think). But, meanwhile, I was offered a Bongo 4H with a rosewood board for my Sterling, and I have been debating whether I should go for it or stick with the Sterling and try to find that 4HH ray.

What should I do?! A part of me keeps telling me to just forget about the whole thing, sell the Sterling, pocket the cash for now and just play the Reflex4 .. but a new bass day is always a good day haha

Thanks!

 

[sanderhermans]

If i where you i would keep the sterling. They are awesome and you might appreciate it more as time passes. Also a ray hh is really nice. Pos 2 is great. Outer single coils kicks some serious jazz bass butt
But hey thats just me. Im sure some bongoloids will tell you to grab it while you can.

 

[tunaman4u2]

A Sterling H doesn't have a Smooth round back in the mix tone if thats what you want. You'll always be fighting the Sterling if thats your tonal goal. The Sterling HH can get smooth especially with rosewood, still not as Smooth as the Bongo but I'll take a Sterling HH over a Bongo HH every day (I have both)

 

[five7]

If you haven't owned a bongo, why not. You can always pickup another sterling or a ray. The bongo 4H is probably worth more than the sterling unless it is beat up. Plus, I have heard many things about the magicness of the 4H.

 

[Golem]

........................................
................ been thinking about getting a 4HH ray again.. I think the
extra H will help a ton with it's increased versatility and I really enjoy
the sound of the 2 inner coils .........................

Be aware that you never divide the coils on a Boingo ... H nor HH.

`

 

[vates]

I'd go with a Bongo if that's the tone you're after. My personal favorite.

 

[sanderhermans]

If you haven't owned a bongo, why not. You can always pickup another sterling or a ray. The bongo 4H is probably worth more than the sterling unless it is beat up. Plus, I have heard many things about the magicness of the 4H.

Prices new and used here in europe are lower for bongo than sr or sl

 

[bovinehost]

There is no wrong answer to this question.

 

[Meypelnek]

I'd keep the Sterling, since to my taste it is more versatile than the Bongo H (whilst the latter has better ergonomics). But that's just my very own preference.
One word on maple board vs. rosewood, since it was mentioned above: I have had a lot of EBMMs and compared them thourough: I did not recognize much of a difference between maple/rosewood boards on a maple neck. Again, just my perception ...

 

[aLaoTatto]

well ... I've been giving some more thought on this matter .. and I think I've broken through some of these dilemmas I had:

maple X rosewood board - like people mentioned before.. zero to none difference.. I guess the feel differs a little..but the rest is entirely psychological and for looks.. something deep in my mind says that I prefer rosewood and I guess that's that. I'm in peace with this haha

the sterling is definitely more versatile, and thats whats keeping me from just getting that bongo and be done with it.. too bad this is a H model and not an HH.. this would make my decision much, much easier! I'm not a huge fan of the whole "balance" pot concept... I like the option of selecting different coils with a 3 or 5 way switch a whole lot better.

thing is.. I live in Brazil... and the majority of people here play "pagode" and "sertanejo" .. which can be called, in a way, our pop music.. it is what dominates the radio and yadayadayada..(a little more and I will be turning this into a runt thread haha) ... anyways.. and, it seems, that these people who play this type of music, only go for 5 and 6 string basses...and only a certain type, too.. for instance, 5 String Fender Deluxe Jazzes and Yamaha TRBs are king down here... specially that john patitucci model..any of those are great for selling/trading/reselling... anything else with 5 or 6 string comes after, and then 4 stringers... and in the Music Man universe, only Stingrays are widely known.. so it hasn't been easy trying to sell my Sterling, and either will the Bongo, if it comes to that... I've been having a lot of work lately, just explaining that my bass isn't a Sterling Ray by Music Man, but a Music Man Sterling... and even then, some people don't seem to get it, or lose interest after that haha.. lotsa naiveté down here when it comes to things people don't know or know little about.

but yea.. in a little twist of events.. I might be able to get my HH ray back by trading in the bongo with the person who has it now! this has gotten me a little excited and lets see how that goes!

thanks for all the helpful information, guys!

cheers!

 

[tunaman4u2]

The difference between a maple Sterling & a rosewood sterling is IMMENSE. Other basses not as much.

 

[vates]

As with all other basses. There's even difference between different kinds of rosewood...

 

[aLaoTatto]

As with all other basses. There's even difference between different kinds of rosewood...

I don't argue with this.. and I am pretty sure there is a difference.. but, for what I play and the sound I always go after, I really don't have to be that specific... so I usually go with what I said on my previous reply..

but yeah.. little update on how things went... I kept my sterling ... bongo guy wanted my bass + money and I was not going to have any of that.. so I told him to go away hehe... A dude did offer me a WW Thumb BO 4 string .. but he also wanted more money... so I'm keeping the sterling for the time being!

Thinking about putting on some d'addario half'rounds on it too!

cheers!

 

[five7]

put a set of cobalts on it

 

[aLaoTatto]

put a set of cobalts on it

I have regular cobalt slinkys on it at the moment! but it's about that time to change them already... wish I could get the cobalt flatwounds... but we still don't have those here in Brazil..

 

[danny-79]

I'm going to say a Rosewood Bongo 4H all day long

 

[vates]

That's what I'd say too. But the OP already made his move. And as said above "you can't really go wrong in this case"

 

[Golem]

I have regular cobalt slinkys on it at the moment!
but it's about that time to change them already
... ......... ... .. ....

Thaz crazeeeee ....., Cobalts have
only been around for about a year !

`

 

[aLaoTatto]

Thaz crazeeeee ....., Cobalts have
only been around for about a year !

`

I'm talking about the cobalt rounds! not the flats!
I haven't been able to get me a set of flats yet because of Brazil

 

[MrMusashi]

yeah.. still something about export for the cobalt flats

nothing here in norway either

as for sterling vs bongo i have no idea because i have never played a sterling. but like jack said, there is no wrong outcome no matter which way you do it

MrM