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Bob Loblaw

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Jan 14, 2007
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So I wanna buy a fretless. I've narrowed it down to 2 choices. Either a single H sterling w/piezo or a single H bongo without piezo. I looked at a fretless stingray w/piezo as well but I don't yet own a sterling. Although I do already own a bongo but that's beside the point:D. Point is I don't yet own a fretless, I've played a few, just never owned one. Any input would be helpful. Thanks
 

Bob Loblaw

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I've heard that a lot on this board. But I've also heard that the small eq bongos have like the greatest fretless sound ever.
 

tkarter

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I've heard that a lot on this board. But I've also heard that the small eq bongos have like the greatest fretless sound ever.

It did to my ears. :D

I haven't been around forever though so I can't really say ever. :)

tk
 

adouglas

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Tough choice. I assume that you're talking about basses you can go out and buy today, as opposed to ordering one. Because if you were to order one, I'd recommend going for the H bongo with piezo. I've got an 07 LE configured that way on order, and it's going to be great.

Piezos are a really, really good thing for fretless.

Let your ears be the judge.
 
Last edited:

AnthonyD

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I've heard that a lot on this board. But I've also heard that the small eq bongos have like the greatest fretless sound ever.

Ha! Funny... :)

The "Small EQ Bongo" is an Hp (piezo)...

"Small EQ" -> short for Small Equestrian -> Forum member and former owner of said Bongo. :)

See here!
 

PocketGroove82

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Welcome to the forum , Bob!
If you are already comfortable with the feel of your bongo, then I think a bongo fretless would be a very natural transition for you. I've played rays for 10 years, so I went with a fretless ray. I went unlined cause of the look, but it is a little more tricky at first
 

bassgod0dmw

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Feb 7, 2007
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I'd go with the Bongo personally...piezo as well. I just got me a fretless SR4...it's my favorite...right next to my fretted SR4!!! :)
 

bovinehost

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is small eq the 3 band eq on the single pup Bongo? if not what is it? ....excuse my ignorance....

Komp

I can see where the confusion comes from, but the "Small EQ" Bongo is just one bass, until recently owned by Paul aka SmallEquestrian.

It was just easier to call him SmallEQ and then....well, you see how things went south.

Here is the actual bass.

mgbongoG.jpg


Jack
 

adouglas

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is small eq the 3 band eq on the single pup Bongo? if not what is it? ....excuse my ignorance....

Komp

Hp Bongos are different from H Bongos in the preamp department. They've got a four-band preamp like the dual-magnetic pickup Bongos instead of the three-band of the non-piezo H Bongos.

The photo shows this....if it were a straight H Bongo with no piezo, would be four solid knobs laid out like any other 3-band EBMM single-pickup bass instead of the stacked knobs you see in the picture.

On the Hp Bongo, the knob closest to the headstock is volume, next one down is magnetic/piezo blend, then lo mid/hi mid, then bass/treble. The HH and HS Bongos have the same four-band EQ, but the blend knob is the balance between the neck and bridge magnetic pickups.

HHp and HSp Bongos have a stacked knob in place of the pickup blend knob...one of the knobs in the stack is the blend between the two magnetic pickups, while the other is the mix between magnetic pickups and piezo.

Even with seven knobs, it's so logically laid out that I never ever get confused.
 
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