which bongo pickup configuration

[lexlagoon]

Hi Peeps.

I am thinking of buying a Bongo (maybe 4 or 5 string). It's almost impossible for me to actually try one before I buy it.

Given that, what advice do people have about how to choose between the various pickup configurations?

Cheers

 

[PocketGroove82]

oh man, they are all awesome.
there is a recent bongo pickup thread that illustrates the difference between the H and the HH. But really you can't go wrong with any of them.
anything else I try to say is just gonna be subjective, so I'll give you some objective advice.
If you want to slap, the H has more room.
If you want a larger tonal range, well HS/HH is the way to go.
Hope that helps, and welcome!

 

[GassieBall]

What type of music do you play? Since I try to play a lot of different genres, I like the double pickup stuff and my Bongo HH has lots of versatility.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Here's a thread I started with quite a few samples of the H and HH. Everything is flat, but you can't discount the 3-band of the H and the 4-band of the HH.

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...bongo-study-sound-aka-mp3-samples-inside.html

I was going to record some single coil samples with my fretless Bongo, but the tread died so I didn't bother since no one really seemed interested.

 

[silverburst]

I've only seen Bongo HH's at my local shops. Been looking for a single H to try out just to see what they play and sound like.

 

[lexlagoon]

Hi

Thanks very much for the replies.

I want to be a jack of all trades and master of all so I guess it sounds like I should go for the HH.

Should I worry about pocketgroove82s comment on the H having more room to slap though as I do want to do some of that too and don't want to be hampered?

Thanks

 

[Hutton]

Welcome to the forum! Sorry to be an old git but are you sure you wish to buy a bongo before you've had one in your hands? There are many here who would say go ahead and buy it is the best bass ever to be created and you can't possibly go wrong. That may well be the case as far as you are concerned. However, there are times when we set out to buy a particular bass and end up with another which suits us better. The way we find that out is by trying them. If you end with the bongo good luck to you it is a great bass!

 

[lexlagoon]

Thanks Hutton.

Yes of course you've got an excellant point, but firstly I live in the UK and secondly I'm lefthanded. I've just heard from the distributors that there is 1 (ONE!) 5 string lefthanded Bongo in the whole country. Which I am now trying to track down.

 

[Hutton]

Fair enough. Go for it my man! And remember, we demand pics when the beast is in your possession.

 

[azzy_wazzy]

Thanks Hutton.

Yes of course you've got an excellant point, but firstly I live in the UK and secondly I'm lefthanded. I've just heard from the distributors that there is 1 (ONE!) 5 string lefthanded Bongo in the whole country. Which I am now trying to track down.

Woo good luck mate! Whereabouts on the island are you?

Hope you manage to find it - HH is the tonally the most versatile - and H is favoured for it's simplicity. Either way you'll love it!!!

Can't wait to see some pics

 

[strummer]

Thanks Hutton.

Yes of course you've got an excellant point, but firstly I live in the UK and secondly I'm lefthanded. I've just heard from the distributors that there is 1 (ONE!) 5 string lefthanded Bongo in the whole country. Which I am now trying to track down.

Well, if there is only one I bet it's a dual pup. Just buy it and don't look back. That's what i did two years ago, and I'm happy enough

 

[MingusBASS]

You can't go wrong but if I could only have one...I'd get a dual pickup.

 

[lexlagoon]

Thanks azzy wazzy.

I live in Kent. I don't know how things are up North but it's pretty grim trying to get hold of any lefthanded basses in the South.

I've tracked it down now. Now I've just got to pay for it (GULP!)

 

[azzy_wazzy]

Thanks azzy wazzy.

I live in Kent. I don't know how things are up North but it's pretty grim trying to get hold of any lefthanded basses in the South.

I've tracked it down now. Now I've just got to pay for it (GULP!)

Dunno if I'd call myself up north - am equidistant between Norwich and London if you draw lines west and north Well, we're north compared to you I guess!

I've not seen any LH basses up here - having said that trying to find a bass of any sort, esp a MM is tricky round here - either have to go down to London, or up to Birmingham or Leeds - at least!

Glad you managed to hunt one down - once you have completed the acquisition would love to see pics What colour is this one? Or did I miss that further up the thread?

 

[SentientEntity]

Got an HH myself and am perfectly happy with it.
Bought it because I wanted access to lots of sounds and boy did I get them.

2 pickups 4 band eq => a beast unleashed

 

[lexlagoon]

Well Azzy, it's a Teal Perl, a colour that I'm not too keen on really. It makes me wonder how important things like colour and image are. Not half as important as sound and playability I guess.

Sorry I thouht you came from up North by the way!

 

[azzy_wazzy]

Hey no problem! My geography is rubbish anyway, so we could actually be near Newcastle and I wouldn't know any different!

As far as colour goes, I think you can fall in love with any colour MM. The candy red that my bass is wouldn't have been my first choice if I was buying one new, but the opportunity came up to get it used, and after a while, we just clicked! I'm sure it'd be the same for you and teal - which does look very classy on a Bongo by the way! If you want to see some pics to give you an idea, PM member Foggy and see if he can email you some - that man has the largest collection of MM pics known to man

 

[Slim]

I bought my new Bongo 4HH without trying any and I am very happy about it
And it is teal pearl and I love this colour on Bongo.
Take a look at:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/20385-my-new-bongo-photo.html

 

[lexlagoon]

Hi Slim.

Thanks very much for your encouragement. I've just seen your thread and it does indeed look like a really lovely bass. It's also great to hear about how much everyone loved the colour too.

 

[Eggman]

HH here as well. Had an H but sold it to bdgotoh (Brad). The H was/is great - I just wanted the tonal flexibility of two pickups.

Buying a Bongo is the easy part - which one is the hard part. Good thing is there is no wrong choice!!!

(this from a guy who thought there would be no way in h#ll he would buy a Bongo - my DD will be my fourth - though two are, sadly, no longer with me)