Please tell me if I'm crazy . . .

[Datta]

I have wanted a Bongo for a long time, though I love my Sterling H- I just need more variety (I know you know what I mean). I love the Bongo sound, feel, and action, but have always resisted because the neck pickup on the HH is in my way.

The other day I saw a brand-new Bongo HH piezo for a great price, and was looking at it, and realized I could adjust the neck pickup all the way down to the deck - which took it completely out of my way. Of course, that renders the neck pup nearly useless, so I had to put the balance all the way to the bridge pup. Blending the peizo with the bridge pickup, I was able to get a great variety of sounds! So I put it on layaway.

I'm not made of money like some of you guys out there with your 16 Bongos, 5 Sterlings and a token SR. I need a workable, kick-ass solution, and it appears like I found one, but I would like to hear what some of y'all have to say about my crazy idea.

Has anyone else tried this?
Does this sound feasible?

Thanks!

 

[Randracula]

I think with a little practice you could adjust your technique to accomodate the neck pickup while leaving it at the regular height.I don't think lowering that close to the the body would sound all that great.BTW, the HH Bongo is a monster.If you get it you definitely won't regret it.Just don't trade it it away like I did,you'll end up with a horrible case of Bongo GAS

 

[DTG]

buy it you wont be sorry!!

if you can get some nice sounds with the pu dropped then why not play it like that.however it really does not take too long to get used to the neck pu at normal height.i can slap just as bad on my bongo as any other bass i have!! it just makes me sound better !!

 

[DTG]

btw if your not crazy yet the bongo will help you get there

 

[silverburst]

I don't think any of us are made of money, it's just that our priorities are different...

 

[AnthonyD]

Go for it! The Bongo HHp has become my favorite and sure to become yours too...

Re: the neck pick-up - I am no slapper in public, but I do like to noodle in the privacy of my own room. I have found that the neck pick-up simply forces good technique.

There is ample room to pop between the pick-up and the neck, and by staying in that space you're consistently slapping right at the base of the neck.

 

[Big Poppa]

buy it and each week ever so slightly raise the front pickup until it works

 

[vcs700s]

I bought my first MM bass a year ago- a Sterling H. Since then I have bought a SUB 5 and just recently a Bongo 4HH.

I had to adjust a little to having the neck pickup, especially when I play with a pic, but I think you can leave it at the factory height and get use to it with a little practice.

Regarding the variety of sounds all I have to say is . . . Oh yeah!

The Bongo rocks!

 

[hankSRay]

Do whatever works for you, but really if you just have at it for a few days you'll get used to it.

 

[Frantic Slayer]

just an idea...single H with piezo? im not sure if its the same for bongos, but on my stingrays (both HH and HS) i dont find the neck pup to be in the way. if you do find that maybe the neck H is just out of your comfort zone, perhaps you could try the single coil, it will take up less room and you will still get a ton of tones.

edit:

oh yea, you are crazy!!!! your insane!!!!

just kidding...i just wanted to say that

 

[Ole Man Blues]

You need a Bongo..........

OMB

 

[buzzbass]

you could always do an H/S bongo. That would leave quite a bit more room in the slap zone

 

[Baird]

I think with a little practice you could adjust your technique to accomodate the neck pickup while leaving it at the regular height.

I thought the same but as a Jazz bass and single H SR player for over 20 years, why bother IMO? I realized that my solution was to buy a single H and sell my HH.

P.S. to all.... YES I KNOW DAVE LARUE AND TONY LEVIN CAN SLAP ON A HH...... GOOD FOR THEM!

 

[Datta]

just an idea...single H with piezo? im not sure if its the same for bongos, but on my stingrays (both HH and HS) i dont find the neck pup to be in the way. if you do find that maybe the neck H is just out of your comfort zone, perhaps you could try the single coil, it will take up less room and you will still get a ton of tones.

edit:

oh yea, you are crazy!!!! your insane!!!!

just kidding...i just wanted to say that

Thanks for the straightforwardness, Frantic. Crazy is definitely not a bad way to be. Well, I'm going to get it- it's already on hold. One way or another it will work out well for me. I greatly appreciate the advice.

 

[Datta]

you could always do an H/S bongo. That would leave quite a bit more room in the slap zone

Yes, that would be better, and the pup would be right in the G spot- I mean sweet spot, but the price on this is a lot lower than I've seen on any new Bongo.

They are clearing out all the Bongos in the store, and my timing is just perfect. Unfortunately, there isn't a H/S or H Bongo within 5 hours of me- I'd have to go to Portland or SF to try one out, and when I called, they were about $600 more.

Thanks

 

[Datta]

I don't think any of us are made of money, it's just that our priorities are different...

Of course! That was meant as a joke. I have a fortune in my equipment as well- though all my basses are very different.

 

[Datta]

Thanks for the responses, Guys

. . . I'm going for it! Either way it's going to work for me.

 

[RobertB]

I thought the same but as a Jazz bass and single H SR player for over 20 years, why bother IMO? I realized that my solution was to buy a single H and sell my HH.

P.S. to all.... YES I KNOW DAVE LARUE AND TONY LEVIN CAN SLAP ON A HH...... GOOD FOR THEM!

Baird, if you haven't done so already, you OWE it to yourself to check out an SR4 HH, man. It has alot more room in the slap zone than the Bongo4 HH (my right hand hasn't touched it yet, while slapping), and the tone is just insane ... all the settings sound great, but position 3 (all 4 coils) is the absolute shiz, especially for slap. The coolness of that slap tone cannot be overstated. I've discovered this just recently, being a single H guy for ... whatever, 14 or 15 years, I guess (can't remember exactly when I transitioned from guitar to bass).

Datta .... like others have said: either spend the 1.26 days it takes to get completely used to the neck H at normal height, or go H/P, man!!

 

[Frantic Slayer]

Thanks for the straightforwardness, Frantic. Crazy is definitely not a bad way to be. Well, I'm going to get it- it's already on hold. One way or another it will work out well for me. I greatly appreciate the advice.

anytime, glad i could help!

crazy is a great way to be! rock on man!