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TSanders

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Jun 9, 2004
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Columbus, GA
Long"ish" story.

Ive had my rolls burgundy H/SC Bongo for oh maybe two weeks now. Great sounding bass, and it feels much lighter than the 9.2 pounds that it weighs. Put a set of flats on it, and it grunts like crazy. Such a versatile bass.

All that said, other than one gig, and one studio session the day after I got it, Ive not played it much at all.

I always start off my gigs with my SR5, and just cant seem to put it down. By playing the Bongo, Id be able to change up my live tone a bit more (although Im not in the "stingray is a one trick pony camp"), but it just always turns out that at the end of the gig or session, my SR5 got all the time.

Am I crazy? The Bongo is a smokin smokin bass. Why am I having such a hard time giving it some use?

Are there any others who have owned a StingRay 4/5/Sterling and a Bongo, and still found yourself playing the StingRay 4/5/Sterling?

Just trying to make some sense of this.
 

maddog

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Try giving it time. The SR5 is comfortable. The Rolls is alien. Of course you're going to gravitate to the comfortable. Just like bicycles. I'm a big cycling freak. Owned a Moots hardtail for several years now. Just bought a full suspension rig last friday. First ride on it was Sunday. The first half-hour went like this: "This bike just ain't right. It rides OK but something isn't right. Looks like I'll be selling this on ebay..." By the last half hour of the ride: "My back isn't killin' me. I could ride for another hour or so."

Give it time. Realize it has its place. My hardtail is for races, commuting and smooth course rides. My FS is for all day adventure rides. Probably won't be usin' the FS everyday but it will git used as need be.

Or ignore all this, sell it and get another SR5. :D
 

barkatozz

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Aug 13, 2004
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Gloucester, New Jersey
I do the same thing except I have 4 Sterlings & a Bongo. I seem to lean towards the Sterlings all the time. On a 3 set night, if I bring the Bongo, I tend to use the Bongo for one set. I take it with me occasionally for one set nights though. I feel more comfortable playing a Sterling.
 

Freddy-G.

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Apr 1, 2005
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Duluth, Georgia
maddog said:
Owned a Moots hardtail for several years now. Just bought a full suspension rig last friday.

Aluminum or titanium? A Smoothie? Great bikes those Moots.

I ride a Tomac Revolver and a Fisher 29er.

Travis, I agree with Maddog. Give the Bongo some time. It's a totally different animal.
 
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TSanders

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Columbus, GA
Im still not sure where to go from here.

Im one of the few who has owned a Dual H, Single H, and H/SC.

Everytime, I go back the StingRay 4/5.

Maybe Im just a StingRay guy. Thought that before, but the fear of not having a Bongo is sometimes overwhelming.
 

scottbass71

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Apr 7, 2003
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Melbourne, Australia
Travis I agree with you I have the same problem as well, I guess the only reason is I have had my Ray for 11 years and I am use to it.
Like the other guys said treat it as a different animal - like me just play them all when you practice but when you play live play what is comfortable for you
scott
 

SteveB

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Sep 3, 2004
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Pittsburgh, PA
I was a little apprehensive when I bought my Petrucci 6-string. I had been playing Ib@nez necks for decades.

It took a few weeks of intentionally neglecting my other guitars before I was 100% comfortable with the guitar. And now I wouldn't trade it for the world.. I've only got one Ib@nez left, and I'd sell it in a minute if I weren't too lazy to advertise.
 

maddog

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Freddy-G. said:
Aluminum or titanium? A Smoothie? Great bikes those Moots.

I ride a Tomac Revolver and a Fisher 29er.

Travis, I agree with Maddog. Give the Bongo some time. It's a totally different animal.

Got a Litespeed Niota Al. The price was way too good to give up. Per EBMM policy I won't post it here. ;)

How you like the 29er? Starting to see more guys on them out here in the desert. Probably won't ever get one due to being 5'6". Just too unwieldy.

Tom

Edit: Time to hijack this thread so Travis will get distracted and not sell that really cool Rolls he owns. :D
 
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bassmonkeee

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Apr 25, 2004
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Decatur, GA
There is no harm in prefering the Stingray to a Bongo. If EB had intended for the Bongo to replace the Stingray and Sterling--they'd have stopped selling the other models. :eek:

It's safe to say that you've given the Bongos a fair shot. If they aren't for you, it's no biggie. It doesn't make you a mental defective, or anything. You just prefer the other bass more.
 

shamus63

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Aug 8, 2005
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4,018
Location
San Mateo, CA
I've owned all three (4 Rays, 2 Sterlings, and now a B4).

The Ray's neck radius just feels too fat for me now, and the Sterling is too small a bass for me (I'm 5'9").

I probably won't be mixing bass models (other than p/up configs) at this point, just so that I don't have to make a transition during a gig.
 

Psycho Ward

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Feb 28, 2005
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Elk Creek, VA and Murrells Inlet, SC
I'm torn between the two, I love the SR4 and the SR5, both necks feel better than all the other F@*@er clones and reals. I look forward to getting to know the Bongo neck. There is a Sterling lefty on eBay that I'm holding a gun to my head to keep me from bidding... :eek:
 

maddog

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Psycho Ward said:
I'm torn between the two, I love the SR4 and the SR5, both necks feel better than all the other F@*@er clones and reals. I look forward to getting to know the Bongo neck. There is a Sterling lefty on eBay that I'm holding a gun to my head to keep me from bidding... :eek:

Put the gun down and step away. Things are gonna start looking up soon. No reason to do anything drastic. BP is gonna start shipping the lefty Bongo's real soon. Don't you worry....
 

Moondog

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Jan 15, 2004
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Red Bank, NJ
Your not alone, the Bongo didn't last long with me.
I traded it for Disquieter's fretless LE Ray4 after a
couple months.
 

bdgotoh

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Feb 2, 2005
Messages
970
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Pacific NW
I'm in the same boat, I've had three Bongos now and none of them stayed. Recently bought my 3rd Stingray and have an HH Sterling on order. Bongos are great basses but just not my thing.
 

tkarter

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Jun 22, 2004
Messages
5,921
Location
Kansas
Never played a bongo but I understand entirely the SR5 love.
These folks here have almost talked me into ordering a Bongo but I gig and smile when it is done and think I am going to get me another SR5 just to prove they all do that.


Hell Jack got all the best bongos already and there is no competing with him

come to think of it he has one famed SR5 too.

I don't know what I am trying to say.

Oh yeah I do.

What is wrong with some serious SR5 love around here?

tk
 

strummer

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Aug 28, 2005
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Safe European Home, Stockholm, Sweden
ebmuscmanlvr83 said:
Long"ish" story.

Ive had my rolls burgundy H/SC Bongo for oh maybe two weeks now. Great sounding bass, and it feels much lighter than the 9.2 pounds that it weighs. Put a set of flats on it, and it grunts like crazy. Such a versatile bass.

All that said, other than one gig, and one studio session the day after I got it, Ive not played it much at all.

I always start off my gigs with my SR5, and just cant seem to put it down. By playing the Bongo, Id be able to change up my live tone a bit more (although Im not in the "stingray is a one trick pony camp"), but it just always turns out that at the end of the gig or session, my SR5 got all the time.

Am I crazy? The Bongo is a smokin smokin bass. Why am I having such a hard time giving it some use?

Are there any others who have owned a StingRay 4/5/Sterling and a Bongo, and still found yourself playing the StingRay 4/5/Sterling?

Just trying to make some sense of this.

The Bongo is just a novelty item, and it won't stand the test of time. So you are right in playing the SR.

But, but, why do I own two bongos and no SR?

Oh no, Strummer is novelty guy, not real :p

Seriously, I would think that a Bongo fiver would turn you, and if that's not the case you are just one to like the SR better. And then, then your path to a more flexible live tone is a dual-PU SR5.
 
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