Stingray or Bongo?

[Mic]

I'm ready to buy a MM. Before I drive a great distance to play and compare the Stingray 4 and the Bongo 4, I would like all the info and ammo on the two. Tell it all. If you've played both or not I still appreciate all opinions. I play for fun. I play all flavors. I play loud. My favorites type would be alternative and hard blues. Which bass would you buy?

 

[Scrozzy]

I'd just go for a Stingray. I'm sure Bongos are great to play and sound good, but looking like something out of Miyamoto's Nintendo stable, I just wouldn't touch one.

 

[Mic]

Very good point taken Scrozzy. You lean more traditional or you don't like the new. I seem to always go with the old too. It's comfortable I think. I'm curious though. Is the playability and sound of the Bongo that much more to boldly go into the new. What about one of you factory service reps? Have you played both? Has anybody played a Bongo?

 

[Derek]

Guys,

The bongo is forthcoming. You will start to see these in the stores late summer/early fall if production is on track. The Bongo sound is different yet still familar. It still has that Musicman punch and also very smooth especially when you blend between the two humbucking pickups. The cosmetics are radically different and of course some guys may not accept it ,but it definitely can grow on you. For all you guys who love the Stingray's as is great. If you feel you want to explore some new options in look and sound then check out the Bongo. One key feature about the Bongo pickup(s) is it utilizes neo-dymium(hi- energy magnets) technology. The pickup(s) are hotter than the regular Stingray. The body is made out of Basswood which will differ from ash in tonality. The neck feels slightly slimmer in your hands yet still very comfortable. Instead of the normal oil and wax finish on the back of the neck the Bongo's is painted to match the body.

Derek

 

[Scrozzy]

Any plans to put the Bongo's electronics into a Stringray body? That way you could get the better and more versatile tone of the Bongo without a curious and eager feeling to slap on a fake moustache and wear dungarees.

Mic: I do like some newer and contemporary basses, I myself own an Ibanez ergodyne, but there's contemporary-cool, and there's contemporary-silly. The Bongo still hasn't won my heart, hopefully Derek is right, and when I actually see it in action I'll change my mind. But so far it's a big no-no for me.

But a Stingray with 2 of the Bongo's humbuckers would be fantastic.

 

[Scrozzy]

Okies, I've just sat here for the last 5 or 10 minutes and stared aimlessly at the Bongo pictures to see if they'd grow on me.

Stuff I didn't like:

I don't really like rosewood fretboards. It's not a specific problem with Bongos, it's just guitars and basses in general. A maple option would be nice.

Patterned pick guards. Ick! I've always hated toirtoise shell/abalone. I like the ones on the SUB though, they look pretty smart. But whoever thought a pattern that resembles vomit mixed with blood looks cool needs their head tested. Obviously a few of you will disagree with me on this one, but for peeps that don't, I think we'd all appreciate some nicer alernatives. Mirror ones are cool ...

I really liked the metal plate under the controls on the Stringray, too bad Bongos don't have one, but it doesn't bother me that much.

Painting the neck is iffy. It works well in practice with a painted headstock (IMHO), but I'd still really like an all maple neck, headstock and fretboard option so badly.

The body shape. Haha. No, just no.

Stuff I liked:

Pickups. This thing probably will sound like nothing else. Will you guys ever post sound samples that we can listen to like on G&L's web site? (It is OK to mention those guys, right? )

I didn't like the headstock when I first saw it. It's kinda grown on me now though. Mebby because it works well relative to the body shape, but I can sorta visualise it working well with a plain ol' Stingray too.

The fact you didn't revert to an SR5 pickguard shape with the 5-string models. Although it looks less symmetrical than a Stringray's, or am I imagining that? It looks wonky on one side like with a Sterling.

Anyways, rant over. All that way just my opinion, and is subject to change, if like Derek said and it grows on me. But I doubt it ... What are everyone else's thoughts, does anyone really like the look yet?

 

[Kennyhoe]

i guess it's just one of those things that if you like it, go for it, but if you don't, then stick w/ a stingray or a sterling

 

[Spike]

Price

Does anyone actually know how much a bong is going for in Autralian dollars because no music shops in aust are retailing them how would i go aboput buying one

Thanx

 

[Scrozzy]

If I was going to buy a bong, one of the last places I'd look would be a music shop ...

 

[Spike]

then where would be the best place to buy one for the least amount of money. Considering that i know someone who works in a music shop and can get a 25% dicount on all bases.

 

[Masamax]

What exactly is the main sound difference between the SR and Bongo?