I think a EBMM Bongo 5HH may be my next bass! (Bongo Owners Chime in!)

[madbassplaya]

I joined the forum a while back when I had a Stingray 5 (actually 2), but I foolishly sold them. I always heard they were one trick pony's and ended up getting rid of them. I have been through a lot of basses since I've gotten rid of my Rays and I've decided that my next bass will be a EBMM. Probably a bongo. I posted this thread on Talkbass and thought it would be appropriate here as well.

I have always really dug the look of a Stingray 5 and thought EBMM quality was amazing and here lately I've been getting into the look of the Bongo. A friend of mine has the 6 string version and it seems very solid.

I also really like what I hear coming from guys playing bongo's like Dave LaRue: YouTube - ‪Dave LaRue demos the KORG Pandora PX5D at NAMM '08‬‏

I'd love to hear some Bongo owners chime in on what they like about the bass and what they dislike etc...

 

[cellkirk74]

As I already stated somewhere else: Do it!

 

[rizzo9247]

After 40 or so basses I found the Bongo. All is good in my life.

 

[madbassplaya]

After 40 or so basses I found the Bongo. All is good in my life.

I am at a similar point. I feel like I've pretty much owned or played them all. I shouldn't have gotten rid of my Rays. Nothing has matched them in quality or feel. I've had Fender, Warwick, G&L, Ibanez (Prestige), Schecters, Peavey Cirrus, and I just sent back a custom Carvin I ordered. NOTHING has been as good as a EBMM.

 

[tunaman4u2]

For those with Bongos with Piezos vs not... what does it add? Any negatives to having a Piezo?

 

[adouglas]

After 40 or so basses I found the Bongo. All is good in my life.

Only took me 13, but it was a long time... 23 years or something like that.

 

[adouglas]

For those with Bongos with Piezos vs not... what does it add? Any negatives to having a Piezo?

The only downside to the piezo is cost. It adds a bit of Tabasco to the sound... an additional dimension that isn't EQ or the kind of variation you get from selecting magnetic pickups.

It's hard to get specific about what it does. Think about a delicious dish that tastes great. Then you add some seasoning to it and it's even better. How do you describe what the seasoning did in words? It's different... and it's good... and.... um.....

It does NOT make the bass sound like an acoustic or upright.

What do I like about the Bongo? Ergonomics that are beyond belief. Cool styling (I like things that are different... playing yet another J would bore the heck out of me). Amazing neck. Thermonuclear tone.

Those are the Bongo-specific things. EBMMs also have fantastic build quality and incredible finishes.

I've been playing nothing but Bongos for about six years now. I've got a Big Al on order, so the chain will be twisted a bit, but never broken.

 

[J Romano]

70% mag, 30% piezo = nirvana

 

[bassmonkeee]

Yeah, I've sold every Bongo I owned that didn't have piezos, but have kept the two that have them. These are also the first two Bongos I owned, so take that for what it's worth.

I tend to favor the neck pickup and about a 60/40 split of mag/piezo.

 

[madbassplaya]

For all you bongo owners out there. I'm trying to decide between the single H and the HH config. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Movielife]

Same as myself here, Im thinking of taking the plunge!

 

[adouglas]

For all you bongo owners out there. I'm trying to decide between the single H and the HH config. What are your thoughts on this?

I have both and they are quite different.

The H is point and shoot. Always a good usable tone. Great for playing live because it's very simple.
The HH has a greater ability to shape the sound in interesting ways.

One tastes great, and the other is less filling.

You can't really get one to sound exactly like the other.

 

[laneline]

adouglas pretty much nails the comparison, I like the HH for obvious tonal reasons and really dig both pups on together.
Here's a visual of a couple Bass Central basses if that helps with the decision process.

 

[keko]

I think I'd go for a Bongo 5 Hp!

My final choice!

 

[MrMusashi]

well bongos are quite alive.. when doing pinch harmonics i experience that the sr4 require more precision in pinch point placement. the bongo seems more.. uhm forgiving, as long as you are close it will vibrate

i have both a h and a hh. i prefer the h, but the hh has alot more sound variations and also does that fat neck sound that the single h cant do

no matter which one you choose you will have a magnificent bass!
lightweight, resonant, powerful, open and warm!

what you should go for depends on your needs.. pick the h for simplicity and signature eb pickup placement, pick the hh for most variations in sound.

MrM

 

[madbassplaya]

For me a Piezo isn't really an option right now. I just don't have much use for one. I'm really leaning towards the HH. I want both, but I'll probably get the HH first.

I can see myself owning several Music Mans in the future.

 

[tunaman4u2]

My Bongo deal fell through so you better watch your back on deals
I love my Sterling HH but I need a 5 & why not a Bongo?

 

[stu42]

Regarding the H vs HH. Sterling Ball (AKA Big Poppa/BP, EBMM owner and big cheese) prefers the Bongo Single H. I discovered BP knows his stuff (understatement)!!

The Single H is quite different than the HH. Yes, you can dial in a lot more variations of tones on the HH and HS compared to the Single H but the Single H is just magic in my opinion. So much power and clarity and it just sits in the mix so well.

Important to note is the Humbucker on the Single H is in the classic EBMM "Sweet spot" whereas the bridge humbucker on the HH and HS is closer to the bridge and therefore, on the HH and HS models, when you dial the blend control all the way to the bridge it will not sound like the Bongo Single H.

I guess, for me, an important question to ask yourself is "Are you looking for a traditional EBMM tone or something different?" The Bongo Single H will give you a tone that's very much along the lines of a traditional SR or Sterling tone...albeit one with enormous punch, clarity and richness!! Whereas, the Bongo HH and HS will take you to quite different territory - although still very cool and it has its own unique character.

In the end...you may need to buy one of each!! But, IMO, if you can only have one I vote for Single H.

 

[tunaman4u2]

For me in a church project I need to be able to tame her down a bit so its Bongo HH for me.

 

[madbassplaya]

In the end...you may need to buy one of each!! But, IMO, if you can only have one I vote for Single H.

Bingo! I really do want to buy both. I would also love to have a SR5 as well.

For me in a church project I need to be able to tame her down a bit so its Bongo HH for me.

The majority of my playing is church related. Although I like both, the HH is probably what I'll get first.