Duarte

You ask why buy something 'posh' after stating that you have compared your cheapo P-bass with a USA P-bass. First off, I love P-basses, but would not call a USA P bass posh. If I wanted something to tinker with I'd buy a P-bass (I did, and it was fun) but a real posh bass sounds infinitely more complex, has more clarity, better playability, doesn't look like a generic bass, and won't fall apart after a year of use. A P-bass is a P-bass, yeah the cheaper ones don't sound as good, and the more expensive ones are more reliable, but at the end of the day, a P-bass sounds like a P-bass. Not a bad thing by all means, it's a classic sound that I love. I wanted the incredible sound of the Bongo with the 4band EQ, 18 volts, neodymium magnets, massive humbuckers, insane looks and superb feel...tell me how to get all these things by tinkering a sh*tty old westfield and I'll do it (don't wanna spend more than £50)

I agree. Order one. You'll love how they feel, because they feel perfect. Mine is the only bass I'll ever really need.

According to Mr Ball the neck is exactly the same as a sterling. So, a great neck!

Personally, I love this bass. Played one in the States and it was insane. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTv0dHtHHbI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eernieball%2Ecom%2Fforums%2Fmusic%2Dman%2Dbasses%2F39732%2Dbig%2Dal%2Dvideo%2Donline%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTv0dHtHHbI...player_embedded[/url] Zak

They arre beautiful things, those contours are literally perfect...love it. Check out my review (in the review section) of my HS. [quote name='Pete Academy' post='549690' date='Jul 24 2009, 06:35 AM']Sold a beautiful 97 Stingray 5, bought a Bongo 5 after trying one in the shop. Biggest mistake ever. It just didn't cut through live. Don't expect it to sound like a Stingray.[/quote] That is interesting, as I found that live mine cuts through a whole lot better than my Ray. Love the Ray though, they are both badass.

[quote name='fatgoogle' post='518279' date='Jun 19 2009, 12:22 PM']this video did catch my eye though. i didnt know you could buy HSS [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqHBhvI1Kb0&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqHBhvI1Kb0...feature=related[/url][/quote] You can't. That guy has just raised the hum cancelling dummy coil, which is not designed to work as a real pickup. However, check out the new 25th anniversary bass - in HSS. [url="http://www.drumcityguitarland.com/drumcitygl/stores/1/images/Ernie%20BallMusic%20Man/Ernie%20BallMusic%20Man%2025th%20Anniversay%205-String%20Bass%20HSS%20Flame%20Top%20F22743%205-String%20Electric%20Bass.JPG"]http://www.drumcityguitarland.com/drumcity...tric%20Bass.JPG[/url]

For me, the pickup cover gives me a place to rest my thumb for fingerstyle and rest my palm when slapping. It really helps with my technique... Looks badass too. Do it.

Yes they are great. Just something about them. No I don't have a python guard, but I really want one. It just looks epic on egyptian smoke. The one I've got is some kind of Pearloid thing, a sort of black and grey one. I'm also thinking black or white ice...

Does it suprise any of you that Sterling Ball said they came up with this at the last minute before NAMM over a chinese take away? That's the way to do it, obviously.

Mmmm that does sound nice. I don't know what it is about about Music Mans but I just love them all. Especially the Bongo.

I bought this bass a few weeks ago now, and have used it in band practices, live, home practice and recording. I now know what it is capable of. It is a 4 string HS model (humbucker/single coil) with 4 band EQ (bass/low mid/hi mid/treble) and pan pot. This thing really is as versatile as you could want, the EQ is extremely powerful - runs on 18 volts. This particular bass is finished with a colour called 'egyptian smoke,' which is just grey really. A sort of metallic grey, it looks awesome. It also features the classic musicman bridge which is rock solid and the same tuners as the stingray and sterling. The bongo comes with a basswood body, which some see as inferior - but it really doesn't make a difference on this bass. It has 24 frets which confused me at first, but I got used to it. That and all the knobs make it quite a frightening bass to when you first get hold of it. It has Neodymium pickup magnets, and it is the only bass on the market that does (aprt from music man's latest offerings) and they are HOT and have a huge range. The sound you get from this bass really is something special, when I first plugged it in a made sure everything was flat and both pickups were on full and it sounded so clean and full. Definitely a hi-fi thing going on here, but with musicman character. Using the front single coil and a bit of EQ, this thing can cop a good P bass tone (I actually preferred it to my real P bass) focussing on the bridge humbucker can give you a stinray-ish sort of tone. I'd say both pickups up full is very jazzy, but massive frequency range and a lot beefier. And of course, you can have any ratio of the two pickups which offers a very wide variety of tones. The sound is very stingray related as you would expect, but the pickups is located slightly closer to the bridge than a ray so it has it's own voice. With the single H bongo, the humbucker is located ever so slightly in front of the stingray, which gives it an AGGRESSIVE sound. The HS however is very smooth and jazzy. I must say that the EQ is verrrrrry sensitive and must be used sparingly - otherwise people could die. So I would give the sound a 10/10. It is the best sounding bass I have ever played. Playability wise this thing doesn't dissappoint. The neck is thinner than a stingray but thicker than a sterling neck and has a satin finish (over the paint - you don't ever touch paint I must add) which feels great. Although I do prefer a bare wood feel and slghtly thicker necks - but I have massive hands. The action is set up very low with no buzzing - it pretty much plays itself! It is almost too easy. The balace is very good, but when sitting the lower horn can dig into your leg causing it to dive a bit. When standing however, it is almost perfect. As for the looks...I absolutely love them. I don't understand how people can't love the look. Pictures are actually quite deceptive, they make it look very fat and bulbous when in fact it is extremely thin and light. The quality is typical Music Man, top notch fit and finish. The attebtion to detail is fantastic, although I would prefer a sturdier battery compartment (it's plastic) and there is that issue with the headstock dings... The rosewood fingerboard is probably the best looking wood I've seen. They must use an very high grade of wood here, as it is just beautiful. Best rosewood fingerboard I've seen. SO...overall I would give this a 9/10. Nothing is perfect, but the bongo is damn close. There are a few quirks and of course it's not for everyone, but in fairness it is the best sounding bass I've ever played, very easy to play and it looks great (yes it does). I want a H and an HH now, too. Zak

I personally love EHX's white and black finger compressors.