What's The Difference?

[BigStrings]

What's the difference between a Sterling and a single pickup Bongo? The difference in looks is pretty obvious and having played a double humbucker Bongo in a music store, I know they both play a little different, but equally nice. I'm wondering about the difference in sound/tone. It looks to me that the Bongo pickup is a little closer to the neck compared to the Sterling, just by eyeballing it anyway. If that's the case, does the Bongo have a little richer/rounder bass tone? I would love to have them both side by side for some intense study. Any of you guys have these two and compared them as to sound?
I loved playing the double humbucker Bongo by the way and realize that it would most definitely have a heavier, rounder, richer bass tone, but I have played a number of basses with a strong bottom and have never been able to come through with as clean and well defined a sound/tone as with my Sterling.
And then there is that double pickup, single coil/double coil configuration Bongo that I don't have a clue as to sound/tone but so far doesn't seem to be as popular as the other two.

 

[Figjam]

Bongos pickup is closer to neck... Bongo has 4 band preamp, whereas sterling has 3. Sterling has the 3 way pickup coil selecter switch..sterling has smaller neck/body and is made out of different materials...many differences.

 

[TSanders]

Bongos pickup is closer to neck... Bongo has 4 band preamp, whereas sterling has 3.

The Single H Bongos actually have a 3 band pre-amp (single H w/ piezo have the 4 band though). The pickup is closer to the neck than a Sterling yeilding a tone that rounder on the top and bottom, but also more present in the mids than the Sterling. The Sinlge H Bongo still uses the 18 volt pre-amp though, so its a pretty different sounding bass than the Sterling, and even the other Bongos.

 

[BigStrings]

The single H Bongos are the ones that I'm really interested in but can only seem to find double H Bongos in most music stores.

Figjam - are you sure that the Sterling neck is smaller? The first thing that struck me when I played a double H in a music store was thinking that the neck was smaller than my Sterling but possibly a hair thicker.

Which Bongo is more popular, single H, double H or single coil/double coil?

 

[dlloyd]

The single H Bongos are the ones that I'm really interested in but can only seem to find double H Bongos in most music stores.

Figjam - are you sure that the Sterling neck is smaller? The first thing that struck me when I played a double H in a music store was thinking that the neck was smaller than my Sterling but possibly a hair thicker.

Bongos have the string spacing of a stingray, which is wider than that of a sterling. I can't say anything about the neck profile.

 

[bassmonkeee]

The Single H Bongos actually have a 3 band pre-amp (single H w/ piezo have the 4 band though). The pickup is closer to the neck than a Sterling yeilding a tone that rounder on the top and bottom, but also more present in the mids than the Sterling. The Sinlge H Bongo still uses the 18 volt pre-amp though, so its a pretty different sounding bass than the Sterling, and even the other Bongos.

The pickups are also made of different materials with different magnets.

 

[barkatozz]

The pre-amp in a Bongo is much more involved as well.

 

[Figjam]

The single H Bongos are the ones that I'm really interested in but can only seem to find double H Bongos in most music stores.

Figjam - are you sure that the Sterling neck is smaller? The first thing that struck me when I played a double H in a music store was thinking that the neck was smaller than my Sterling but possibly a hair thicker.

Which Bongo is more popular, single H, double H or single coil/double coil?

Most people say that the Bongo is between a Stingray and a Sterling, but that could just be all rubbish. Guess ya gotta bust out the ruler It also depends if youre talking in terms of nut width or thickness. You canget the nut width from EB site.

 

[element]

Most people say that the Bongo is between a Stingray and a Sterling, but that could just be all rubbish. Guess ya gotta bust out the ruler It also depends if youre talking in terms of nut width or thickness. You canget the nut width from EB site.

I know i'll probably sound a bit stupid asking, but where exactly is the nut?

 

[SteveB]

I know i'll probably sound a bit stupid asking, but where exactly is the nut?

The nut is the piece below the 1st fret with the slots that your strings pass through. When I say 'below' I mean as you move your fretting hand toward the headstock of the instrument. The only stupid questions are the ones never asked!

 

[element]

So that bit of plastic yeah? I thought it was that but then I thought surely not, a nut, which doesnt look anything at all like a nut. Thanks for that though.