Single H choice: Bongo or Big Al?

[muggsy]

Last week I ordered a Big Al 4H with the roasted neck package, after spending the past year or so jonesing for a single H Bongo 4. I thought hard about the Bongo but decided that the mahogany body on the Big Al (like my 30th SR4) and the extra buttons (active/passive and series/parallel) on the preamp made it a better choice for me. I especially love the idea of a passive option. I know the roasted neck Bongos will look awesome, and some recent Bongo-love threads like cyoungnashville's on his new Bongo 6 have me second-guessing my decision.

Part of the problem is that I've never actually seen a Big Al in the flesh. I used to own a stealth Bongo 4HH so that's more of a known quantity. I really don't want to change my order, I just need some validation. Tell me why I made the right choice. Please?

And since I know somebody's gonna suggest it, no, I can't order both.

 

[Duarte]

Poppa himself said that the Al is their best single H. You made the right decision!

 

[danny-79]

I still haven't cured my Bongo GAS as of yet so I'm a bit tunnel visioned in that respect.
But a Big Al 4 single H with the full roasted package ...... yeah, you have made the right decision,

 

[cellkirk74]

I was in the same struggle, but with 5ers. I decided to go for the Big Al for the same reasons and because I like the ergonomics of the Big Al a lot.

You did the right thing...

 

[TGL]

Why?

Okay--I've only just begun playing the EBMM's(--Sterling 4 HS---Sting Ray 4HH) so forgive my ignorance if any exhists but ---can you tell me why you would not want a two pickup bass? Is it the cost factor? Or does a one pickup bass sound better than the two ? I'm used to other style basses where there are limitations on some when only one pickup is involved. I have played a few single pickup MM's at GC when I bought my Sterling. I noticed the two pick up MM's had more fidelity and function. Am I way off bass here?

 

[Laredo]

Oh Boy..................

If you all you want is re-assurance, the Big Al is a great Bass. If you are looking to confuse yourself more, just start a thread like this!!

Being a Bass-Aholic, is a lot like being an Alcoholic................Your question is kind of like, which is better, Jim Beam or Jack Daniels??

I personally like the Bongo, but that certainly does not mean you will not like the Big Al more. If you are anything like many of the forum members, you will probably have owned both some day!!

 

[MadMatt]

I was in the same struggle, but with 5ers. I decided to go for the Big Al for the same reasons and because I like the ergonomics of the Big Al a lot.

You did the right thing...

+1

I like Bongo's but the "Jetsons" look of the Big Al really does it for me.

I think it looks like something completely different without looking like it is trying to look like something different. Did that make sense?

-M@

 

[oli@bass]

can you tell me why you would not want a two pickup bass?

There are a couple of things to consider:

• the Big Al is only available as triple S or single H, both with 4EQ preamp
• on the Bongo, the single bridge H is at a different position than on the HS or HH, and it comes with a 3EQ preamp whereas the HS and HH come with a 4EQ.
• on the StingRay and Sterling the single bridge H has staggered pole pieces, whereas the HH or HS have flat pole pieces, thus they are different pickups, which for sure do have some tiny differences in sound.
• on the Reflex, the single bridge H is at the same position as the HH, but on the HSS the bridge H is placed closer to the bridge. That might be the only bass where bridge H is identical in the single and dual configuration.

And then there are the different woods used on each of these instruments. Maybe that explains all the ongoing dilemma a bit

Sometimes it's just about simplicity. There's something so direct about a single H classic 'Ray with a 2 band EQ.


@muggsy: If you like the Big Al, go for the Big Al... I'm sure it will look gorgeus with that finish, and there's probably no other chance to get a Big Al with a poly finished neck than this one...

 

[cellkirk74]

Okay--I've only just begun playing the EBMM's(--Sterling 4 HS---Sting Ray 4HH) so forgive my ignorance if any exhists but ---can you tell me why you would not want a two pickup bass? Is it the cost factor? Or does a one pickup bass sound better than the two ?

Well, because most of us do already have one or two basses with more than one pickup (see sig below).

And because I think this particular finish just looks better with a one Pickup Bass.

 

[adouglas]

Okay--I've only just begun playing the EBMM's(--Sterling 4 HS---Sting Ray 4HH) so forgive my ignorance if any exhists but ---can you tell me why you would not want a two pickup bass? Is it the cost factor? Or does a one pickup bass sound better than the two ? I'm used to other style basses where there are limitations on some when only one pickup is involved. I have played a few single pickup MM's at GC when I bought my Sterling. I noticed the two pick up MM's had more fidelity and function. Am I way off bass here?

IMHO approaching this from the viewpoint of "limitations" is misleading. I do own both a dual-pickup bass and a single-pickup bass. One is the full boat... four-band EQ, piezo, the works. The other is as simple as a Bongo gets.

Neither one is limited in any way. They are different, that's all.

I get sounds and character out of the H that the HHp cannot match. Do does the lack of a second (and third, counting the piezo) pickup or the extra band of EQ pose a "limitation?" No.

By the same token, I can get sounds and character from the HHp that the H cannot match.

Right now I'm using the H to gig almost exclusively, but that's really just because it's lighter, not because of any considerations about sound.

 

[adouglas]

Nobody on the planet loves Bongos more than I do (except Jack, but he's, well, Jack).

I want a Big Al 5.

Does that say something? Perhaps, but it's not that the Al is better than the Bongo. I don't think it is. It's different.

This is one of those happy situations where there is no wrong answer. Ginger or Mary Ann? How you answer on any given day might change.

 

[TGL]

Thanks for the good answers guys. I'm kind of like my own Grandpa on this. Questions, Questions, answers, answers. I probubly drive the guys in my band nuts!! HA! Now that's funny.

 

[muggsy]

Okay--I've only just begun playing the EBMM's(--Sterling 4 HS---Sting Ray 4HH) so forgive my ignorance if any exhists but ---can you tell me why you would not want a two pickup bass? Is it the cost factor? Or does a one pickup bass sound better than the two ? I'm used to other style basses where there are limitations on some when only one pickup is involved. I have played a few single pickup MM's at GC when I bought my Sterling. I noticed the two pick up MM's had more fidelity and function. Am I way off bass here?

For me it's a matter of simplicity. I had a Bongo HH, but the additional choices created by the second pickup made me think too much. I prefer a "point and shoot" kind of bass, so the single H works for me. For some people, on certain basses, the neck pickup can get in the way when they slap, but I don't slap so that's not an issue. I just don't need the extra tonal flexibility provided by the second pickup. Between the blend knob and the EQ, I could twist myself in knots getting different sounds and trying to decide which one I liked best, and then the sound that kills when I'm practicing by myself might not work in a band setting. Too many choices.

Thanks to everyone for the support on my Big Al decision. I'm sure I'd be happy either way, but I'm not second-guessing anymore. Now I just need to sit back and relax until late November.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Having owned a Bongo 4H, a Bongo 5H, and a Big Al 5H, I can safely say that I prefer the Big Al for that configuration.

The combination of the preamp and the ceramic humbucker of the Big Al is certainly more versatile. Passive series is the current favorite, but the current favorite keeps changing, too.

That said, the Bongo 4H that I owned for a while was a monster of a bass that would still be here if I had any room for another 4 string. I wouldn't trade my two current Bongos for anything. 6+ years and going strong for both of them.

You already know you like the neck profile because of the fretless Sterling that has outlived a lot of other basses because it is a magic bass. And, the Big Al body shape is extremely comfortable on a strap. The body is smaller than I expected from pictures.

And, I think the Big Al will work better for your biannual punk gigs.

Still coming to Atlanta in a couple of weeks? We can hit Guitar Center so you can check out the Big Al they currently have in stock if you want.

 

[muggsy]

Yeah, I'll be there at the end of the month. I probably should have hit GC during my June visit, since I was staying right up the street, but I'll have more time this trip. Do you still have the fretless Big Al 5H? Playing an unlined fretless with an extra string would likely convince me never to do that again, but I could at least get a feel for the body shape.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Yeah, I'll be there at the end of the month. I probably should have hit GC during my June visit, since I was staying right up the street, but I'll have more time this trip. Do you still have the fretless Big Al 5H? Playing an unlined fretless with an extra string would likely convince me never to do that again, but I could at least get a feel for the body shape.

Yup. I've still got it. After putting the EB Group IIIs on it, it's not going anywhere any time soon.

 

[TGL]

2 pickups

The big thing I think of or thought of when I asked "why not two pickups?" is that--there is a sweet spot when combining two pick ups where the bass "takes off". More punch and ring and if you really dig in you get that honkin' growl that I just live for. You get it with a Jazz bass. You get it with My Sterling and my Sting Ray. Wow-- I like it when I say "my" Sterling and "my" Sting Ray. I'm still in "Ernie Shock".

Anyway that's the two pickup thing for an old Geez bass player like me.

 

[muggsy]

Of course, there's a sweet spot with the single H basses too. And it's a lot easier to find.

 

[TGL]

the sweet

And where might that be ? Or how do I get it from my bridge pickup on my Sterling or Stingray? An EQ sweet setting. I'm all eyes.

 

[bassmonkeee]

And where might that be ? Or how do I get it from my bridge pickup on my Sterling or Stingray? An EQ sweet setting. I'm all eyes.

With the additional magnets in the neck pickup pulling on the strings, you don't. It resides in the realm we call "Mojoland."