Question What if....

[Grand Wazoo]

.. someone is not entirely keen on the shape of the Bongo basses but loves the sound from the HH pickups confiiguration and it's electronic circuitry, can EBMM build a custom order SR5 with the same components as the Bog-o ?

or even a Sterling? oh and one more question, are we ever going to see a SingRay 6?

Many thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[Kristopher]

What's the saying from around here? "A custom shop is for when your regular product sucks"?

Sadly, there is no EB custom shop. You can, however, buy both of the basses in question and make your Frankenstein.

 

[koogie2k]

Funny...I love the bongo for the looks and especially the sound. But, I do see life through a different prism I guess.

Anywho...no custom shop. So, the answer would be no. But, as Kristopher said, buy both and build your master piece. That would be the only way.

 

[RobertB]

Looks? Sheeeeee ... how do ya like them apples?

 

[ekb16b]

simple solution, blindfold yourself

 

[maddog]

Not sure that building a frankenstein's monster will get you what you want.

On the HH, the bridge pickup on the Bongo is in a different position versus the SR. Bongo uses Basswood, SR uses Alder or ash. Tone and resonance is going to change.

Let the looks grow on you. It isn't really ugly, just different.

 

[A.J.]

Don't forget that the bongo utilizes an 18 volt preamp... so the battery box houses 2 9 volt batteries. You'd have to do some routing to fit that battery box in a Stingray5 or Sterling5. maddog is correct in that the pickup position and tone woods would make a difference as well. I recommend shifting with the paradigm and embracing the bongo as a whole...

RobertB, that is such a sharp bass. Good call on the pickguard!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

....Let the looks grow on you. It isn't really ugly, just different.

I didn't say it's ugly, and I do hope it might grow on me in the future, but for the time being I have set my mind on getting a SR5 HH first.

But here is the problem, I would want the new SR5 HH in a Seafoam green colour with maple neck & f/board, no pickguard, in other words I want to replicate the exact style as my PRS 4 in this pic.

 

[mynan]

But here is the problem, I would want the new SR5 HH in a Seafoam green colour with maple neck & f/board, no pickguard, in other words I want to replicate the exact style as my PRS 4 in this pic.

It's not a problem...if you really want it, buy an SR5 HH and have it refinished.


*Oops...forgot about the SR5 preamp being mounted to the pickguard. Better make it a Sterling5.

 

[the unrepentant]

Aye, and FYI, the control pots are spaced differently on the bongo than they are on the stingray.... that's making my project slightly more interesting!

 

[oli@bass]

Looks? Sheeeeee ... how do ya like them apples?

Just when I thought I was safe you sneak in that pic again....

 

[RobertB]

RobertB, that is such a sharp bass. Good call on the pickguard!

Thanks A.J., that has some weight, coming from a guy who sees what you see everyday.

 

[maddog]

I didn't say it's ugly, and I do hope it might grow on me in the future, but for the time being I have set my mind on getting a SR5 HH first.

I stand corrected and apologize.

I do hope it grows on you.

There are custom refinishers out there. Might be worth the extra bucks to get the finish you want.

If you do get it done, I want to see pictures.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I stand corrected and apologize.

I do hope it grows on you.

There are custom refinishers out there. Might be worth the extra bucks to get the finish you want.

If you do get it done, I want to see pictures.

Hey pal!! absolutely no need to apologise, here! Give us a brotherly hug!! I am cool as a penguin's bum me, don't worry about it.

I think I might just get a natural i.e. no paint body SR5 HH and have it resprayed in seafoam green, however... my mind never stops wondering and as I was driving home from work I have had this funky idea:

I have recently bought a replacement pick up (S.Duncan) for my existing single p/u SR5 and I thought to myself, what if (again).... I know some kick ass luthiers here in London, why don't I fit the new pickup as an additional pickup rather than a swap and turn my single H SR5 into an HH? all they need to do is route a hole in the body under the pickguard, and cut the p/guard to fit the new pick up.

The only thing I am now baffled with is how to have the new additional pickup wired?

I could....


a) fit a strat type 5 positions switch and have the 2 pickups wired as follows:

• posiiton 1 closer to the bdge = full bridge humbucker
• position 2 both inside single coils from bridge p/up & neck p/up in series
• position 3 both humbuckers
• position 4 both inside coils from bridge p/up & neck p/up in parallel
• position 5 full neck humbucker

Any suggestions?

And this next question is for the EBMM brains, am I crazy? (I just like mods, you should see my bikes) Can i do this with the existing pream from the SR5?

Thank you all again
I hope no one is going to lose their patience with me, I just like to modifiy things, thats all, not a crime

 

[mynan]

The only thing I am now baffled with is how to have the new additional pickup wired?

I could....


a) fit a strat type 5 positions switch and have the 2 pickups wired as follows:

• posiiton 1 closer to the bdge = full bridge humbucker
• position 2 both inside single coils from bridge p/up & neck p/up in series
• position 3 both humbuckers
• position 4 both inside coils from bridge p/up & neck p/up in parallel
• position 5 full neck humbucker

Any suggestions?

And this next question is for the EBMM brains, am I crazy? (I just like mods, you should see my bikes) Can i do this with the existing pream from the SR5?

Thank you all again
I hope no one is going to lose their patience with me, I just like to modifiy things, thats all, not a crime

I thought BP said that there were problems getting both series and parallel settings on the dual-pickup basses with the 5-way switch.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I thought BP said that there were problems getting both series and parallel settings on the dual-pickup basses with the 5-way switch.

Well I hope BP would be able to read this and shed some light, I'd really be interested to learn what the options are with the wiring possibilities.

Thanks

 

[Big Poppa]

Im reading this but sorry but we really dont give recommendations for modifications...it can get out of hand and we have to fix it eventually

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Im reading this but sorry but we really dont give recommendations for modifications...it can get out of hand and we have to fix it eventually

Thank you Mr. Sterling Ball, I live in London, England. A long way away from your SLO factory.

I don't plan for you to fix it in case things go wrong.

Many thanks.

ok I will add that I was not being sarcastic to the company owner, I was just saying that my intention is to take the bass to a professional repairman, with your valid wiring suggestion and by no means I would be contemplating bothering you guys with the aftermark, no matter good or bad, of course after all, its my bass and even I understand that any modification would void any warranty.

 

[bovinehost]

Thank you Mr. Sterling Ball, I live in London, England. A long way away from your SLO factory.

I doubt I am going to either come and give you my bass expecting you to fix it, or ship it to you just for a pick up to be wired in.

Many thanks.

You'd be surprised, I imagine, at how often the above actually happens. Or tries to happen.

It's the proverbial slippery slope. One step and.......

I can see you didn't like the answer and my sarcasm detector is pretty good. You got a decent answer from the company owner and I'd suggest you fix your post to remove the BS.

Take this as good advice, that's what I'd do. I've been around a long time.

Jack

 

[bovinehost]

And being a nice guy if not particularly happy right now, if you fix your post, I'll remove my response.

A do-over, if you will.