Bongo 5 vs Bongo 4

[cloudburst]

I'm thinking of getting a fiver and currently weighing up the options.

One of the options, since I play a Bongo 4HH (love it) would be to get a Bongo 5HH. ....yea, yea, getting older, bum getting bigger, need bigger loo seat etc etc (just before you guys say it).

Just wondering, then, if any of you know:
- is the 5 much heavier than the 4?
- is the body the same size?
- is it regarded as a 'good 5' in terms of B string and in comparison with SR5?
- how does string spacing compare with Bongo 4 and SR5?

Other options I'm considering are SR5, SR Classic 5 and (wild card) Yamaha BB Nathan East.

CB

[Dingus]

Hi Gary , to get some indication of typical weights for these basses it's useful to look at the weight of actual examples in shops that stock them :

[url="http://www.theperfectbass.com/explore.cfm?STORE=Y&N=122&SN=162&CT=101&PG=101&W=STORE&P=N&S=1001081&U=1&SS=1&CR=Y&modify=0"]http://www.theperfec...1&CR=Y&modify=0[/url]

[url="http://www.basscentral.com/musicman/bongo5.shtml"]http://www.basscentr...an/bongo5.shtml[/url]

Bongos that left the factory in the last twelve months will have the new lightweight tuners that immidiately knock almost half a pound off the final weight of the bass , but you would have to order a brand new one to get hold of such a recent example in the U.K , in all probability . The Bongo is certainly , on average , the lightest of all the EBMM basses , and the newest ones have the best chance of being light .

If you're considering the Yamaha Nathan East ( lovely bass ) then I would also cast your eye over the even lovlier BB2025X , nice examples of which are now turning up secondhand , and which can do both the modern and traditional sounds with aplomb . I noticed that they have got an ex-demo 2025x the same as this in at Bass Gear at very reasonable money :

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxkN1RzRQqE[/media]

Edited July 6, 2013 by Dingus

[stingrayPete1977]

Bongo 5, SR5, ClassicRay5 or a Nathan East 5.....you cant miss

[Dingus]

Regarding the string spacing on EBMM basses , it's on the tighter side in the scheme of things ( 17.5 mm ) . I find it a bit too tight , but many players seem to get used to it without too much trouble . I think the body on the 5 string Bongo is indeed the same size as the four string . All the EBMM 5 strings I have ever played had a very good sounding low B .

Edited July 6, 2013 by Dingus

[visog]

Cloudburst,

Basses apart, consider the increased whump required from your rig if going '5-live'. You need some serious low-end to do it justice...

It's quite an investment overall for just 5 extra notes, both in terms of gear and playing. That said, the new position options with a good 'B' are good fun...

Good luck.

Visog

[cloudburst]

Thanks folks. I'm leaning toward another Bongo.

Amplification - usually when playing live, it's the venue's kit that I use; for smaller venues, I've my Markbass 121p combo, which I'm sure will be fine.

Spacing - if the Bongo 5 is indeed the same as the SR5 - I'll be fine, having small delicate fingers, rather than farmer's sausages.

Weight - I would prefer to lug around an extra half pound than have those hideous looking lightweight tuners they've started using. Yeuch.

CB

[Lfalex v1.1]

[quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1373138640' post='2134120']
Thanks folks. I'm leaning toward another Bongo

Spacing - if the Bongo 5 is indeed the same as the SR5 - I'll be fine.

CB
[/quote]
Same bridge on both, isn't it?

[Gust0o]

Yup. Had no issues moving from SR4 to SR5, spacing felt fine.