StingRay HH or Bongo HS

[jaxbassplayer]

Hey, I'm ready to purchase one right now. Which bass do you think is better for fingerstyle rock?

Thanks!

 

[maddog]

you seem to be overlooking the Bongo H.

 

[Duarte]

Bongo HS.

It's my favorite bass, ever.

 

[MK Bass Weed]

I own both.

BONGO HS

There is 'something' about he HS I'm trying to pin down, as I just got it and can't really put it in intelligent words yet.

 

[Mogee]

Sterling HH.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I vote for an HH. Either model, but definitely HH.

 

[oli@bass]

Choose the one that sounds and plays good to you!


That said, I'm a fan of the StingRay HH and prefer a toggle switch over pickup blend in live situations but never played a Bongo (they're virtually nonexistent in my country) and probably never will because I dislike finished necks.

 

[danny-79]

One of each, of all!!!

 

[RaginRog]

I LOOOOOOVE my Stingray HH. And...I play finger style rock. It's like have 3 basses in one(because I absolutely love 3 of the switch settings).

Soloing the bridge pickup, then having a single coil from each pickup...it's great.

I wouldn't overlook a Sterling HS. I just picked one up, and the single coil soloed is amazing. Gives a nice-almost p bass like- fat/throaty tone.

I played a bongo the other day...I just didn't care for the finished neck...I prefer a smooth unfinished neck.BUT....if you see my new thread....I bought it after a 2nd demo. The neck is still smooth, I just had to clean it. I've also seen several used Bongos for sale that have paint chips missing on the neck, so I'll have to be careful.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've owned both, and I prefer the HH for rock.

 

[Spanky(Andy)]

Sabre HH <----just cos I can say that

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Hey Jax..this is helping right?

 

[Powman]

Sterling HH.

Yeah, I agree. The Sterling has an awesome tone for rock. And I use finger style.

 

[ivbenaplayin]

just gotta try 'em before you buy 'em...

 

[jaxbassplayer]

Hey Jax..this is helping right?

No, not really.

 

[MK Bass Weed]

As I said.

I own and use both the Stingray 4 HH.

and the Bongo 4 HS.

For me, for fingerstyle, the Bongo HS works better for me. Putting in the 'IMHO disclaimer' here.

Here's why:

That big MM pickup on the Bongo is closer to the bridge. To my ears, not a Classic Ray sound, but a Souped up version, 'best of the best' kind of bridge pickup sound you hear when you play Wayyy back at the bridge. Hey, lets' call it "The Bongo Sound".

The Single coil near the neck really smooths and balances that bridge pickup out, giving you an open, very musical and mixworthy tone. This is just using the Pickup Pan knob. The EQ is the freakin' icing on a very tasty bass cake. Favoring or soloing either pickup is like having TWO basses in one. It's that wide in tonal range

It does it in a different way than the HH does. I just prefer the Bongo HS, only because I LOVE 'classic two pickup basses', and this thing covers the sonic footprint of what I cut my teeth on in the best possible way.

Now about the fingers.

I'm a mainly a pick player for a few reasons.

I'm lefty but play righty and my right hand has NEVER been strong enough or clean enough to do fast runs, therefore, reason one for the pick.

Reason 2 for the pick. I like it. Who's gonna call Paul Mac or Chris Squire a wimp for using a pick? Okay. I really dig the pick, rounds, knarly rock sound

Reason 3. It's the only way I'm going to hear 'my tone', through the gangle and jangle of guitars I play with.

However. I have found, with the Bongo HS, I CAN get a great tone, with my lame fingers, without cranking the hell out of the mids. That's pretty cool.

I can do some of this with fingers on the Ray4 HH, however, the Bongo, for me, makes my job just a little bit easier. Besides, I have an excuse to string the Ray up with Flats now!

If this helps, the thing that has been holding me back for so long was none of the tone considerations, or the look, but number of frets. I was freaked that my 21-22 fret orientation would have me grabbing wrong notes, as the Bongo sports the 24 fret real estate. So far no problems.

Strapping on the Bongo? Feels like home. One of the most comfortable basses. It is funny, the shape is different, but playing it feels very familiar. Go figure.

My Ray4 HH still gets alot of play on stage and studio. I love the Ray and I want that sound in my tool box. The Bongo gave me yet another valuable option and it's big fun.

Hope this helps

 

[cellkirk74]

I just took my Sr HH for two hours of playing yesterday and it is great and has such a classic feel to it. I do not have a bongo yet, but I think one should have both...

 

[jaxbassplayer]

As I said.

I own and use both the Stingray 4 HH.

and the Bongo 4 HS.

For me, for fingerstyle, the Bongo HS works better for me. Putting in the 'IMHO disclaimer' here.

Here's why:

That big MM pickup on the Bongo is closer to the bridge. To my ears, not a Classic Ray sound, but a Souped up version, 'best of the best' kind of bridge pickup sound you hear when you play Wayyy back at the bridge. Hey, lets' call it "The Bongo Sound".

The Single coil near the neck really smooths and balances that bridge pickup out, giving you an open, very musical and mixworthy tone. This is just using the Pickup Pan knob. The EQ is the freakin' icing on a very tasty bass cake. Favoring or soloing either pickup is like having TWO basses in one. It's that wide in tonal range

It does it in a different way than the HH does. I just prefer the Bongo HS, only because I LOVE 'classic two pickup basses', and this thing covers the sonic footprint of what I cut my teeth on in the best possible way.

Now about the fingers.

I'm a mainly a pick player for a few reasons.

I'm lefty but play righty and my right hand has NEVER been strong enough or clean enough to do fast runs, therefore, reason one for the pick.

Reason 2 for the pick. I like it. Who's gonna call Paul Mac or Chris Squire a wimp for using a pick? Okay. I really dig the pick, rounds, knarly rock sound

Reason 3. It's the only way I'm going to hear 'my tone', through the gangle and jangle of guitars I play with.

However. I have found, with the Bongo HS, I CAN get a great tone, with my lame fingers, without cranking the hell out of the mids. That's pretty cool.

I can do some of this with fingers on the Ray4 HH, however, the Bongo, for me, makes my job just a little bit easier. Besides, I have an excuse to string the Ray up with Flats now!

If this helps, the thing that has been holding me back for so long was none of the tone considerations, or the look, but number of frets. I was freaked that my 21-22 fret orientation would have me grabbing wrong notes, as the Bongo sports the 24 fret real estate. So far no problems.

Strapping on the Bongo? Feels like home. One of the most comfortable basses. It is funny, the shape is different, but playing it feels very familiar. Go figure.

My Ray4 HH still gets alot of play on stage and studio. I love the Ray and I want that sound in my tool box. The Bongo gave me yet another valuable option and it's big fun.

Hope this helps

Thanks for posting MK!

At this point I have decided that the Bongo seems to be more of what I am looking for (with fingerstyle rock playing).

Now I am looking for a Bongo HS. It's too bad the new MM online store doesn't have a Bongo 4 HS, as I would have bought it today!

 

[Manfloozy]

There are other fine online retailers such as www.theperfectbass.com, Welcome to DuBaldo Music Center! and Bass Central that may indeed have what you are looking for in stock.

 

[Manfloozy]

Don't forget Musician's Friend | Your Online Music Instrument & Pro Audio Store | Best Prices, Great Service or Guitars, Musical Instruments, and Musical Equipment from Guitar Center too. There are more on the dealers page as well.