Monz Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 OK guys and gals I have been toying with the idea of a new bass for while now, and since I just joined a working band the need for a second bass is good enough justification I LOVE the Bongo so there is the dilema... H/HS/HH/HH w-piezo (what on earth does the piezo do anyway) Can anyone with experience/expertise/opinion give me some pointers please. (Waits with bated breath) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 It's your choice fella! Try a load and decide what sound you like. Always thought piezos were a bit pointless though. You won't get the extra cash back on resale I don't think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dub_junkie Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I used to have a Bongo 4 with the humbucker and single coil. the sc was just too close to the neck for my way of playing. I havent played one but the 3 band single H Bongo gets good reviews.the HB is in the sweetspot and the 3 band EQ bites a bit more than the 4EQ on the other versions but as I've only ever seen and tried the HS and the HH,I'm only repeating what the Bongo H owners on the EBMM boards are saying Strings and Things will send up a bass tp their nearest dealer to you for you to try so if you can try a HH or HS in stock it may be worth having a single H sent up to audition as I doubt you'll see any shops carrying one FWIW I did love the 4 band EQ on the HS and I thought the bass sounded A1/first class Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathewsanchez Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Bongo single H basses have the pickup in the 'sweet spot' which is supposed to be more similar to the pickup placement on a stingray. Some people say HH musicmans are difficult to slap because of the pickup placement, so single H or HS would avoid that problem. And piezos pick up sound from the bridge saddles and allow you to switch to a more 'woody' sound, but they are a bit of an expensive option. See what you can try out and get whichever sounds and feels best for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 I tried an HH bongo with what i believe was a 4 band EQ the other day, and i have to say it sounded awesome, played awesome, and the pickup hardly got in the way of my slapping at all, that preamp is so powerful the pickups don't need to be mounted particularly close to the strings so there's plenty of room for slapping. I'd try one out though if i were you. And i think the piezo is to make it sound more like an acoustic bass? As someone mentioned, that's 200 quid you won't see again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 im sure bongo's are brilliant basses, but i just cant get past the look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I know what you mean, some of them look really beautiful (candy red with abalone p/g), but some of the other colours really do bring out the toilet seat in it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I'm becoming Bongo Curious myself..... If it was me i'd be going for the HH the double buck sound must be massive !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I know a 5 string HH would meet all of my needs. I'm yet to see one I REALLY like though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
far0n Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 They've got a few Musicmen (is that the right plural) over here on Portrack Lane in Stockton, including a Bongo 4HS if anyone was thinking of putting one through their paces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I've owned 2. The 5 HH was immense. I will own another one day. The 5H/S with piezo was deeply underwhelming in comparison. The piezo was my first piezo thing. It was not good at all. I then got a Bolin with piezo. Just fabulous. So to sum up (for me) 5HH = fab. 5H/S piezo = not the fire breathing dragon I was hoping for. YMMV obv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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