Question Piezo equipped bass

[Movielife]

Over the past few days, I've realised just how interesting the piezo tone is.

I barely see any piezo equipped EBMM basses in the UK, so its tough to try one out.

I would however, like to own one.

Which model of bass would be best for the piezo tone? Which basses are available with it?

I gather than you can't get it on the Reflex 4/5, Bongo 6, Big Al 4/5 and Sterling 5?

Which basses and which pickup configurations allow for it?

Thanks

 

[melvin7822]

As far as configurations go, piezo is only available on the single humbucker StingRay, StingRay 5, and Sterling, and any pickup configuration on the Bongo and Bongo 5.

I don't think any one bass configuration is best, but I definitely see more Bongos pop up with piezo. In the past I've owned both a Bongo 5 HHp and a fretless Bongo 5 Hp. Bass Central has also said that the Bongo HHp configuration was the most popular as far as piezo configurations were concerned. Overall, I feel piezo is more interesting when you experiment with string choices as you're capturing the pure mechanical vibration of the string.

 

[pete bass]

I have played a lot of gigs with the pick up blend knob on my Stingray SR4 HP (Sourced from the UK) backed all the way off to Piezo only and got a smooth warm tone...a bit like a mix between an acoustic and a P bass with eq set flat on one of my amps a TC electronic BG250, Ideal if the gig demands a less aggressive tone like C&W or Folk or even better all types of Jazz !! I also have an SR5H which is a great bass but i wish now i had held out for an SR5 HP

 

[Ray Salamon]

My fretless Bongo 5 HSp shows up sometime today... it's on the FedEx truck "Out for Delivery". Can't wait for it to be in my hands .
Previously, I had a Bongo 5 HHp that I enjoy immensely, but sold it for a BFR Bongo 5 HH.

My assumption and experience has been that piezos really come to life on fretless basses. They work well on fretted of course, and I liked the option on my 5HH with it. Eventually, I hope I can get a Bongo 6 with piezo... but I'm not holding my breath on that becoming a reality. I'll probably order or buy a 5 HHp fretted again at some point, but for now, with my 6HS and 5HSp fretless, and a Sterling 5 HH sitting in backup, I think I'm set on basses for a long, long time.

 

[Golem]

`

I use 5 Ray/Sterling types with piezo plus a lone Boingo,
the 4Hp. On ALL of the Ray/Sterling types I tend toward
100% piezo, or nearly 100%. The Boingo I run 50/50 to
about 70% piezo. There's some kinda magic happens in
that range ... like the two systems are "greater than the
sum of the parts". I've not encountered that effect with
the Ray/Sterling types ... not to say that nothing really
useful happens by blending on the latter, but the Boingo
goes someplace far more special when blended. BTW all
these are FL. I did have one fretted SR4Hp. It was one
of the three best sounding, and most versatile, fretted
basses I've ever had. But, that still didn't stop me from
swapping its neck off for an FL [cuz I still have the other
two "bests"].

 

[Movielife]

General consensus seems to be (not just on this topic) that a Bongo works VERY well with the piezo.

I will probably go fretted. But, a 4HP sounds like a good plan!

 

[Ray Salamon]

Love my new fretless. The piezo option is just sick - makes some interesting blends and sounds very cool solo'd as well.

 

[JayDawg]

I have a Bongo 4HHp and love it. Also had a Bongo 4 Hp but sold it to fund my Rosewood neck Bongo being built right now. Loved it though too. I have played Sterlings with piezos and they are also nice but I am a suckers for a Bongo with a piezo in it.