Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo 5HH Pickup Placement

[Jeffrey Nations]

Hi All,
First time posting here. I'm wondering if any of you can comment on the pickup placement on the Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo 5HH. Specifically, I'm wondering if the placement of the pickups interferes with your slap technique at all. I picked up an endorsement with Ernie Ball and am debating between getting the Stingray 5H or the Bongo 5HH. I'm really wanting the Bongo due to its sound, look, and the 24 frets but fear that the pickup placement won't suit my right hand for slapping as I tend to slap pretty much right where that neck pickup is. I live in St. Louis and am keeping my eyes open for a Bongo at one of the area's music stores but so far, no luck. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Thanks!

 

[IronLung1986]

I had a Bongo as my main bass for a few years. I don't play slap, but I occasionally tried a little baby bit of slap on it and it did seem like the neck pickup was kind of in the way. A lot of people do slap on them though, so it's probably more a matter of how malleable your technique is and how willing you are to get used to it. Personally I would not be very willing to change in order to accommodate gear at this point. The other thing to mention is that the bridge pickup on a Bongo is not in the Stingray spot. So if you're hoping to cover the real Stingray slap sound on a Bongo I'm afraid it's not going to happen. They used to make a single H Bongo 5 with the pickup in the Stingray spot but I think they're discontinued now.

 

[AxtoOx]

I played a single H SR5 for years, never needed the other p/u plenty of slap room, my experience.

 

[HELLonWHEELS]

Consider finding a used HS Bongo. I know exactly what you mean I find that's difficult to get my finger in between the pickup and the string to 'pop'. With the HS your finger is behind the pickup so no problem.

 

[Jeffrey Nations]

Consider finding a used HS Bongo. I know exactly what you mean I find that's difficult to get my finger in between the pickup and the string to 'pop'. With the HS your finger is behind the pickup so no problem.

View attachment 3957628

I asked my rep at EB about doing an HS and he said they don't do those anymore. Otherwise, yeah, I would be all over that. Thanks for posting that photo, though. I'm trying to find a custom blue/teal finish for whatever I order and the color of that one you posted would def be something I'll consider