I've decided to get a Reflex 5HH !!

[tunaman4u2]

I came to a realization today, that all my wallowing in self pity about never getting a Reflex 4 with a Sterling neck is fruitless. Its not going to happen...

The Big Al has a similar electronics package & the Sterling H HS & HH cover a lot of ground too. I'm just going to have to accept it... They NEVER made a Bongo with a Sterling neck! A Reflex aint coming either!

but lately I've been playing my 5 string Bongo a lot more... and its great but my dream is a Reflex. Since a 5er is transitioning to be my main bass, I may just make the leap. I was always hesitant to dump the money into a backup instrument but lets make the 5er my go to bass and I can't think of any bass better than the Reflex HH 5. (I'm not a fan of the HSS or the Big Al)

Now I'll be waiting in the weeds for one to pop up... Id love to try one too if anybody has a Reflex HH 5 in the Boston area

Bongo vs Reflex HH chatter is VERY welcome !!

 

[bovinehost]

Bongo vs Reflex HH chatter is VERY welcome

There is no "versus". There is the Bongo and then there is the Reflex. Both do these THINGS. Slightly different THINGS.

I am of course first and always Lord Bongo.

This carries with it a certain responsibility. I look at it this way: "When in doubt, play a Bongo."

But when I'm feeling playful and adventurous and really want to scare myself, I play the Reflex.

So there is no "versus".

It's just, 'How are you feeling today?'

Good luck out there.

 

[jlepre]

I want Keko's. That is the exact configuration I have been wanting, even before he got his.

 

[KevinM]

Gotta go with Lord Bongo on this. I have both. The 25th/Reflex sits in the mix very well. The Bongo takes it over.
The biggest difference I've noticed is the tone of the Bongo is deeper. The church I play in is a little small and the rest of the band likes the Reflex better because of how well it blends in to the mix.

 

[keko]

Good choice bro!!!

Welcome to the addiction and the new world of Musicman, ...which is still pure Musicman of course!

My suggestion is just to consider rosewood fret board 'cause more simple maintenance and no need to worry about maple board dirty spots!
Just' sayin'!

Anyway, ...maple looks sweeter and got the mojo, ...Your choice!

By the way, ...I think that reflex in gold finish looks awesome too, especially with those new tuning machines!

 

[tunaman4u2]

Thanks for the replies guys but let me REPHRASE...

Bongo vs Reflex for VERSATILITY ?????

I'm in a cover band and have to nail a lot of tones... I'm MUCH better at getting various tones with my Sterling HH than my Bongo HH & I imagine that the Reflex HH would be similarly more versatile

I may just need more time with the Bongo however. I must admit that I'm a big fan of where the bridge humbucker is placed in the Sterling\Reflex vs the Bongo. The ability to go parallel\series, single coils & passive also has to add to more versatility right?

But yes the Bongo does rock & if was in an original band with my own signature sound, I'd probably just stand pat with the Bongo, its great. I also play the Bongo at church & its awesome, very powerful

 

[keko]

Well, ...it's hard to tell from my point of view about that "vs" story, 'cause I play my reflex non-stop as my main "working horse" bass, ...but at the other side I just tried a few Bongos in the store, ...never played a Bongo at live gig!

So, ...any "vs" ...blah, blah... from my perspective would be just a theory!

Only what I can say is, that reflex 5 HH is real professional heavy duty tool for "all terrain" with kind of luxury touch, ...something like top loaded Range Rover SUV in the car world, ...you can use it for a date with a beautiful girl in a fancy part of town, ...or You can use it at the country side in the mud and dust!

I'm finishing, ...reflex 5 HH will do the job in the studio (passive mode), in live performance (active, quick coils switching and EQ adjusting), ...in church, in small venues, ...at big concerts, ...just pick an event, ...no one can stop it, ...all what's left is about You to play it in a good will!

I'm sure You're getting my point?

 

[five7]

tunaman4u2, go for it and then you can let the rest of us know how it compares to the bongo. Which pu configuration are you thinking about?

 

[jlepre]

I've decided to get a Reflex 5HH !!

 

[five7]

great choice!

 

[tunaman4u2]

I was NOT a fan of the HSS,
1) No parallel vs series
2) Humbucker too close to the bridge like the Bongo

I'd certainly take a Bongo HH vs a Reflex HSS

The HH is just a beast, I'll be looking, probably for a long time,

I was caught off guard by the Federal Reserve announcing permanent money printing & thus margin crushing, sale reducing job eliminating inflation so I may have to rethink my finances as costs are about to explode.

 

[tunaman4u2]

I dunno man,
The more I use my Bongo in a rock setting which I NEVER did for an extended time, the more I realize how awesome it is (And I define awesome as versatile)

Sure the Reflex would be more versatile but I should be able to get a LOT if not all of my cover song tones nailed

 

[MK Bass Weed]

The versatility of Le Bongo lies within the Knobs....This has been stated to a fault. You really can get a billion sounds out of a Bongo..they all work. It does require sitting with one, alone and experimenting and discovering how to use the beast.

I myself being raised on classic passive basses needed my mindset switched.

Having the RAY HH, I love the Switches. I wouldn't put one above the other. Like dating Cindy Crawford and Halle Berry at the same time. You analogy may vary.

 

[tunaman4u2]

So true my man

I still want a Reflex 5HH dont get me wrong but the Bongo HH will do just fine in the meantime!

FYI

TRIED A GAMECHANGER TODAY !!!!

Shocked to see it on the wall! Loved the tone, the electronics are not for me, I'll take a regular reflex any day of the week over it.

 

[tunaman4u2]

Well, I just purged my J bass, unexpectedly. Put her up for sale at a price I couldn't refuse & its gone. In the end the Sterling HH was just better, versatile, separate volume & pickup controls with EQ, just flat out better.

Now I'm down to two basses, the Sterling HH 4 & a Bongo HH5. I was debating getting a "backup" 4 & 5 but now I'm just going to get a really good 3rd bass & be done with it. Likely the Reflex HH5

I'm just imagining that single bridge H in the sweet spot with a 4 band EQ & a series parallel switch... pretty awesome

 

[keko]

QUESTION???

IS THE 25th ANNY STINGRAY CERAMIC PICKUPS JUST LIKE THE REFLEX HH NOW??

There's no 25th Stingray!

I believe You're talkin' about EBMM 25th Anniversary bass?

If so, ...answer is yes, ...those are the same basses in basic construction, except 25th got fancy top, dots, finish...etc.

 

[tunaman4u2]

Sterling vs Bongo test

AC|DC You shook me all night long: Winner- Bongo, smoother deeper powerful, nicer lower to upper mids
Journey Dont Stop believing: Winner- Sterling, more cut, matched the original tone better

IF I had my Shuttlemax 9.2 hooked up I'm sure I would have gotten closer to the tone but the bottom line still remains that I feel more confident in nailing tones with my Sterling HH although I like the Bongos tone a bit more.

The Reflex HH would be awesome for versatility sake but I have a feeling the tone of the Bongo would be more my speed.

RESULT: Bongo HH is STAYING, decision made, it will NOT be trade bait for the Reflex HH. I"ll have to fund that separately by NOT buying a backup 4 string & just go with the 3 EBMMs vs the normal 4 I like to carry, 2 4s & 2 5s. To hell with other brands

 

[KevinM]

You'll like the Reflex HH. The sounds that come from it are phenomenal. It has the clearest low B of all my 5ers. Even Lord Bongo has been using his a lot.
Just to throw a little confusion into the mix, last Saturday I played at a church men's breakfast using my Bongo in a 2 piece alongside an acoustic guitar. The sounds that came out of it were amazing. They are both doing an excellent job.

 

[tunaman4u2]

Sealing the deal on this Reflex HH5 right now from BassControl

https://plus.google.com/photos/106558046308177936302/albums/5575153534535263697

It will do until they match or exceed this current honey roasted run! Which may be hard so maybe I"ll have this a few years!

 

[Movielife]

YES! That is STILL totally amazing. Well done.