What strings do you use on your Bongo 5HH?

[woody357]

I'm looking for a string that has a fat bottom, will clear highs, not harsh highs. The EB that cam on my bongo sound fine, but I put them on my other bass and have Dr Lo Beams SS on my Bongo. They sound fine, but I don't like the tension. I love the way the strings that cam on the bass felt, but they really didn't have the balls, i was looking for. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[Duarte]

but they really didn't have the balls

Shall I? No, I wont...

Many bongo owners here swear by flatwounds, Group III's if I am correct?

 

[woody357]

Shall I? No, I wont...

Many bongo owners here swear by flatwounds, Group III's if I am correct?

I don't like flats, I thought about trying the EBs again, because I really didn't know how to get the sounds I wanted when I first got the bass., but I also wanted to hear what others were using who use this bass. The Bongo is it's own beast and what works on other basses may not sound as on on her. I was a big Ken Smith fan as far as strings go I have not gone there yet, not with this bass.

 

[MingusBASS]

As you are aware, Ernie Ball makes strings, so it wouldn't be appropriate to talk about competing brands on a forum paid for by EBMM.

 

[woody357]

As you are aware, Ernie Ball makes strings, so it wouldn't be appropriate to talk about competing brands on a forum paid for by EBMM.

Your point is well taken, but this is the best place to get the answers I'm looking for, we both know that most people change their strings to something other than what came on it. If EB has a string that gives me the sound I'm looking for I'm buying them, trust me I don't have to, or want to pay the crazy prices I see for strings, and EB strings are not priced bad, so the question still stands.

 

[Duarte]

As you are aware, Ernie Ball makes strings, so it wouldn't be appropriate to talk about competing brands on a forum paid for by EBMM.

I'm sure it's happened before with no problems, hasn't it? We'll have to wait and see.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Well I have played 5 string basses of many many brands for the last 17 years or so... the bad news is that if I am handed a 4 strings bass I don't know how to play it anymore as I would always struggle looking for the low B. Having said that I have tried more strings sets than you can imagine, don't like flats myself so for the last 8 years I have only ever used Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 5 set 2836, 45/65/80/100/130, I don't say this because I am in a EBMM forum I really mean that to me they are unbeatable.

 

[MingusBASS]

I'm sure it's happened before with no problems, hasn't it? We'll have to wait and see.

There have been problems. This isn't our house, so don't piss on BP's carpet if you know what I mean.


p.s. I use Regular and Super Slinkys with my Music Man instruments.

 

[sloshep]

Not that other strings won't work fine on a Bongo, but what strings do think EBMM was using when they designed it.

 

[Duarte]

I use ernie's on all my basses. True.

 

[phat5]

I too have tried numerous types of strings on the Bongo and yes, flats sound fabulous on this bass. But for now I'm in the nickel round wound mode. Power Slinkys are the schnitz!

 

[strummer]

I'm looking for a string that has a fat bottom, will clear highs, not harsh highs. The EB that cam on my bongo sound fine, but I put them on my other bass and have Dr Lo Beams SS on my Bongo. They sound fine, but I don't like the tension. I love the way the strings that cam on the bass felt, but they really didn't have the balls, i was looking for. I'm open to suggestions.

The strings didn't have the balls? You have a Bongo 5 HH and the strings didn't have the balls?????

I think you'll find that a lot of ppl actually use the exact same kind of strings that came with the bass, simply because they're well balanced, sound great and are relatively inexpensive.

And no matter what string you may put on a Bongo 5 HH, missing balls won't be a problem.

 

[woody357]

The strings didn't have the balls? You have a Bongo 5 HH and the strings didn't have the balls?????

I think you'll find that a lot of ppl actually use the exact same kind of strings that came with the bass, simply because they're well balanced, sound great and are relatively inexpensive.

And no matter what string you may put on a Bongo 5 HH, missing balls won't be a problem.

Did you read my post after that one? I stated that that I really did not know how to get my sound when I first got the bass, and was thinking about going back to the EB strings. I am not knocking the strings, I put them on my other bass and love the way they feel and sound on it, I now know how to get what I want out of my Bongo, and don't see a reason not to go back to the EBs, I just wanted to know what others were using and what they think works best for them. It really comes down to personnal taste, but this is a heck of a bass, and it does what other basses I've had don't come close to doing, and i want to get the most out of it.

 

[EBMM7181]

I'm with the Wazoo, Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Bass 5 on my SR5

 

[strummer]

Did you read my post after that one? I stated that that I really did not know how to get my sound when I first got the bass, and was thinking about going back to the EB strings. I am not knocking the strings, I put them on my other bass and love the way they feel and sound on it, I now know how to get what I want out of my Bongo, and don't see a reason not to go back to the EBs, I just wanted to know what others were using and what they think works best for them. It really comes down to personnal taste, but this is a heck of a bass, and it does what other basses I've had don't come close to doing, and i want to get the most out of it.

Fair enough, didn't see that one

And you'll get everything out of the Bongo 5 HH with regular slinkys, trust me I've tried just about every string there is
Ok, so maybe you want to keep a set of flats for what you can't get with rounds, but then you don't like flats so I think regular slinkys will do you fine

 

[bovinehost]

The thing is....as has been mentioned.....Ernie Ball makes the strings that make the whole world sing, and these threads almost always wander off into other types of strings, which is a fine subject for an open forum but not so much for a manufacturer's forum, especially when that manufacturer makes, well, strings.

I hate to actually moderate anything, but let's go ahead and say that the OP probably already has enough info to at least begin to make good decisions.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Jack