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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Stingray or Bongo

huber

huber

Well-known member
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
79
Location
San Fran, CA
I'm in a little bit of a predicament. I've never asked people on a message board what they think I should get. But I decided your opinion is needed

Right now, I have enough money for a used Stingray if that's what I want to go for. So I'm trying to decide if I should save up a little longer for a bongo, or just go ahead and go with the Stingray now.

Thanks for your help!
:)
 
I seriously think that you can't go wrong either way. At this time, MM and EB make the best basses for the buck on the market. The SR has a great tone and is very playable. It has a "classic" distinctive look and is VERY road worthy. The only knock I can think of is that it is very 1 dimentional compared to the Bongo's sonic output (I know that is overstating it a bit, but is the simplest way to get my idea across).

The Bongo on the other hand also has a distinctive look, but it almost has to grow on you, it also has a satin finished neck (I perfer a stripped down SR neck - nothing like naked wood!). The B5 is a little "end-neck heavy" and both are not as comfortable, IMO, as the SR. The road worthiness has yet to be tested - but then EB's customer service rocks! But then there is the matter of the extra pup. For me, that was the huge deciding factor. There is just so much more you can get at.

Another thing that is worth mentioning is that with the double pup Bongos, the spacing to the neck edge is rather small - making it harder for slapping (or it will make you a better player). But to counter that, the Bongo is a 24 fret neck as opposed to the SR (bass players are suppose to use those frets above 12??? Go figure:D - I was thinking of custom ordering a 2 string Bongo (B and E) with just 12 frets:p )

I have owned 2 SRs and sold them long ago - I loved them, wish I hadn't sold them, but now I am onto Bongoland (and I am happier for it).

In the end, it is your decission. Gather your info. Search these forums. If you can, go play them side by side. But whatever you do, think long term. Ask "is this a bass that I am going to be happy with" (there is nothing worse than buying a bass, and selling it a year or two later because it didn't fit your needs or expectations - trust me, I have done this several times).
 
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I agree with everything he said - but I still prefer the Stingray 4 or 5 over the Bongo.

:)
 
thats a very good opinon oddjob and one which i agree with, i was in a similar position. I ended up buying a sub instead (for £550 including case!) actually. I figured if I had a record deal I would buy bongo, but I knew i could get a really good sound from a stingray/SUB anyway. Incidentally i bought a black sub which look really sexy in the lights on a stage. I reckon a bongo would give versatility with youre sound but i like the fact that all our songs and a similiar bass sound as it give us a unique sound and I like to think people will reckognise you're sound more. I would seriously look at a sub i did and saved me then £400 which i could spend on a second bass or better amp, they sound jst like a stringray
 
Quote from MM Scarborough:
' SWR Head, Hartke cab, SUB bass, who needs women?! '

I like women..... :D
 
wow, thanks oddjob for the info

i'm going to the musicstore today so i'm gonna play the stingray, bongo and SUB and see which ones i like more. I've played them all, already, and i still can't decide
 
go for the sub, sound just like a stingray and look sexy in that matted colour. Blacks definatly my favourite. Incidentally what are the main diffs between the sub and stingray?
 
MM Scarborough said:
Incidentally what are the main diffs between the sub and stingray?
Click to expand...

The Sub is a "budget" version of the Stingray, in terms of finish, timbers and hardware. Clearly, the passive version is nothing like a Stingray, although I've heard decent reports about the active version.
 
Another thing to consider is that you can only get passive or 2 band EQ on the SR SUB and SUB 5. Sterling SUB offers 3 band EQ only.
 
I've played a lot of basses over the past 25+ years; everything from all Fenders, Ampeg Big Stud, Rick 4001, Ibanez (older models), Peavey RSB, Spectors (hence my name), Ken Smith, etc, etc, etc, and I must say that the tone I get from my Bongo 5 is by far the most variable and best that I've ever played. If I was limited to one bass it would be my Bongo 5. :cool: I really do love the tone I get from my fretless SR5; but when I get the chance to play a Bongo 5 fretless that may be replaced too.:p
 
MM Scarborough said:
go for the sub, sound just like a stingray and look sexy in that matted colour. Blacks definatly my favourite. Incidentally what are the main diffs between the sub and stingray?
Click to expand...

They sound really good, but they don't sound just like a stingray.

The active version is very similar, but doesn't have as much output or punch... different preamp, even compared with the two band stingray.

Differences include:

Poplar body compared with ash
Different preamp
Less expensive components
Less labour-intensive finish on both the body and neck.
Slab body compared with contoured
The pickguard.

Note: some earlier stingrays have poplar bodies. Pre-EB stingrays have slab bodies. The difference in the components as far as I can see it is largely cosmetic.
 
Well, i think the bongo is my favorite, so i think i'm gonna wait a little while longer.

The tone is just amazing, i blew the store away, and i kept it turned down pretty low. It feels great, and i think it looks pretty ****ing cool imo
:D
 
bovinehost said:
I try to stay out of these debates, but....you have chosen wisely.
Click to expand...

Even though we know you prefer Bongo's now, you probably have the most knowledge of anyone in this forum of the differences between the MM basses and should never hesitate to comment on these issues.
 
Congrats on whatever you eventually decide on... as far as I'm concerned, there isn't a wrong choice here... just different degrees of comfortability... as long as you're happy with it the rest of us are happy for you!
 
The bongo is ugly, and the Stingray is quite good lookin', but we all know, a Warwick, Tobias, or Spector beat all the basses in the world out of sight in the looks department!:p :D
 
Warwicks are the most godawful looking POS bass I've ever seen.

Okay, not really, but you see? What's the point in posting just to say "your bass is ugly"?
 
Nick said:
The bongo is ugly, and the Stingray is quite good lookin', but we all know, a Warwick, Tobias, or Spector beat all the basses in the world out of sight in the looks department!:p :D
Click to expand...

Maybe there should be just one design for a bass guitar. That way no one would be tempted to lord their opinion over others. I agree with Mark and Jack. If it's derogatory to spirit of
this forum, please just keep your opinion in check.

Larry
 
I aint saying the Stingray or Sterling are ugly, but I am just saying the bongo is............odd.VERY odd.And as for warwicks being ugly, hahaha they kick anything else's butt.
 
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