I have Bongo fever and need help.

[coastie72]

Let me say first that I love my 25th HH 5, and I don't plan on putting it in storage. I bought it without ever seeing or hearing it and now I am soon to do the same thing with a Bongo. The question I have is probably very individual, but I would like to hear your opinions and or advice.
I don't know whether to go 5 HH again or 5 HS How much tone difference is there between them and explain if you can. I don't think I care about the piezio as I would assume that would mainly add more brilliance and I get all that I need with the 25th. So I am waiting to read your thoughts before I place my order. Thanks

 

[T Alan]

Sorry I can't help, but I'll just say that my Bongo HS is quite different from my Stingrays, yet still have a quality of feel & tone that's clearly MusicMan. Paradox? Yes.

 

[mmbassplayer]

Coastie... next time you head down to Charleston send me a message. I have a Bongo 4Hp fretless at the house now and will have the Roasted Maple 4H in Nov. I am sure Mike from Ye Olde would like another order from you. JOSH

 

[nashman]

Just based on what I have read here, suggest 5 H or HS. Piezo - maybe - I understand it's more of a must have on a fretless.

 

[kamakazee]

The reason I chose the HH model is because the neck humbucker sounds dramatically different from the bridge. The HS sounds good in its own right, but the HH gives you more of a tonal variety. I love the aggressive MusicMan sound of the bridge humbucker, but when I need to tone it down and play mellow I dial in mostly neck humbucker tone. The neck humbucker also has loads of bass response, but remains clear and no mud at all.

Oh and as far as the HS model, I found it to be a nice tone as well, just not what I wanted to go for. Obviously, the single has less bottom end than the humbucker. The single has a little more bite than the hum. It also sounds better slapping, but I'm primarily a fingerstyle guy. I've played the Bongo 5 and 6 in almost every configuration on the same gear in the same room on the same day (at The Perfect Bass) and was able to compare very well.

 

[MadMatt]

I would like to hear your opinions and or advice.

I'v been there and went thought the same exact process. After thinking "Bongo Bongo Bongo" for a while, discussions with a few forum members brought me to my decision to go for a BA 5 SSS. It compliments the 25th HH perfectly an I do not regret it. See signature Too be honest... and I'm ashamed to say this too loud... but I like playing it better than my 25th. This my be a honeymoon thing but I find it a much more comfortable bass to play and it sounds really, really, really good.

I'm a Big Al believer now.

-M@

 

[coastie72]

Coastie... next time you head down to Charleston send me a message. I have a Bongo 4Hp fretless at the house now and will have the Roasted Maple 4H in Nov. I am sure Mike from Ye Olde would like another order from you. JOSH

Yea I'm supposed to get a call from Mike today. Thanks for the invite but everytime I'm down that way it's always a rush for some reason.

 

[coastie72]

The reason I chose the HH model is because the neck humbucker sounds dramatically different from the bridge. The HS sounds good in its own right, but the HH gives you more of a tonal variety. I love the aggressive MusicMan sound of the bridge humbucker, but when I need to tone it down and play mellow I dial in mostly neck humbucker tone. The neck humbucker also has loads of bass response, but remains clear and no mud at all.

Oh and as far as the HS model, I found it to be a nice tone as well, just not what I wanted to go for. Obviously, the single has less bottom end than the humbucker. The single has a little more bite than the hum. It also sounds better slapping, but I'm primarily a fingerstyle guy. I've played the Bongo 5 and 6 in almost every configuration on the same gear in the same room on the same day (at The Perfect Bass) and was able to compare very well.

I really appreciate your feedback, I was already leaning HH and probably will go that way. I too play almost only fingerstyle and I was wondering about the bottom on the single. Thanks much.
Thanks to all that has responded, hopefully I will pull the trigger shortly.
I know that the Big Al is a fine bass as all EBMM's are. It just doesn't appeal to me in style.

 

[keko]

Bongos are great basses, I'm still dreaming about one!

I have HS Music Man (SL), soon will have HH (on order RX), but still considering one Bongo with piezo in the future!
For next year I'm planning to take one Classic SR 5, so maybe 2012. will be my Bongo-Year?

If You are more finger style player like You said, why don't consider Bongo Hp, ...You'll get sweetspot H killer neo Humbacker, plus piezo (acoustic) tone and the 4 band EQ is included on that model!
I'd go for that one (well, I think so)!

 

[Powman]

the HH gives you more of a tonal variety. I love the aggressive MusicMan sound of the bridge humbucker, but when I need to tone it down and play mellow I dial in mostly neck humbucker tone. The neck humbucker also has loads of bass response, but remains clear and no mud at all.

Perfectly described.

 

[Big Poppa]

BOngo Fever is a good thing

 

[Grand Wazoo]

BOngo Fever is a good thing

Yip, it's an incurable condition. I lent mine and already going cold turkey

 

[OldSchool Noob]

I really appreciate your feedback, I was already leaning HH and probably will go that way. I too play almost only fingerstyle and I was wondering about the bottom on the single. Thanks much.
Thanks to all that has responded, hopefully I will pull the trigger shortly.
I know that the Big Al is a fine bass as all EBMM's are. It just doesn't appeal to me in style.

The HH is a great choice. The bass has so much tonal flexibility that it could be my only bass, no problem.

If you like the styling (which I do and which you seem to as well), you can't go wrong with it.

 

[five7]

Get one of each! I have an HH and would love to try out an HP.

 

[rizzo9247]

HH for fingerstyle love. True statement.

 

[coastie72]

BOngo Fever is a good thing

You should know BP you started it

 

[ZiggyDude]

I actually was asking the same question not to long ago (The Talk Me Out of Another Bongo thread) and can say that I was happily surprised at the differences between the Bongo HH and HS.

I find that I get more variation out of the HS. It also gets me a deeper tone. The HH gets more of the "Bongo Boink" while the HS can get a lot of boink but also lends to some more traditional sounds.

Now - I run both pickups at once and just do slight panning off center. Mostly finger style and some pick. Classic Rock and new/old Alternative.

I really enjoy both basses and use both at gigs. When listening to recordings (I record every gig) I can tell which bass it is.

If I could only take one Bongo, it would be the HS. Though the HH would get the knod on occasion just for fun.

 

[coastie72]

I actually was asking the same question not to long ago (The Talk Me Out of Another Bongo thread) and can say that I was happily surprised at the differences between the Bongo HH and HS.

I find that I get more variation out of the HS. It also gets me a deeper tone. The HH gets more of the "Bongo Boink" while the HS can get a lot of boink but also lends to some more traditional sounds.

Now - I run both pickups at once and just do slight panning off center. Mostly finger style and some pick. Classic Rock and new/old Alternative.

I really enjoy both basses and use both at gigs. When listening to recordings (I record every gig) I can tell which bass it is.

If I could only take one Bongo, it would be the HS. Though the HH would get the knod on occasion just for fun.

Thanks Ziggy Dude!!! I'm probably gonna just flip a coin, I already have a beast in my 25th 5HH so a different configuration might be a good thing?

 

[kamakazee]

Now - I run both pickups at once and just do slight panning off center. Mostly finger style and some pick. Classic Rock and new/old Alternative.

I guess that means I'll have to get an HS model too. I've been thinking about another Bongo, but a 5 string this time. Either HS or H

 

[keko]

Thanks Ziggy Dude!!! I'm probably gonna just flip a coin, I already have a beast in my 25th 5HH so a different configuration might be a good thing?

Yeah, but don't forget one important technical thing:

Bongos have pickup balance pot instead of switching, so with multi pickup Bongos You'll have more linear and precise choice of mixing between pickups and tone...etc.
(that goes for Hp model too, it have balance pot for mixing between H and piezo)

I mean Bongos are so fun for playing and tunning the tone...etc., ...I really must have one, once!