Getting the MusicMan Bongo sound on my bass?

#5
MM won't sell their electronics separately. I feel the Bongo has a really unique midrange that I've never heard in anything else, a kind of artificial but sweet sounding edge. I've never been able to eq that sound into any other instrument.
I find the design quite beautiful actually. All solid-body instruments are kind of stupid-looking, like toy cartoon guitars. :) Given that, why get upset about one that's a bit too oval-shaped?

Buy a Bongo and a Stingray and swap the electronics.

Or, buy a Bongo and cut off the horns to get that oh-so-attractive teardrop shape.
 
#7
I just got a Bongo 5HS delivered from Bass Central (NBD Post to come) and I just don't think there is another bass that sounds quite like it. I also have a StingRay (see avatar) and to me, the Bongo sounds like a more refined/modern take on the StingRay. Don't be afraid of the shape, after putting it on a strap, I can tell that it was very well thought out and it's extremely comfortable. At least to me it is. On a strap, it also doesn't look all that much different from a traditionally shaped bass. If anything, you'll probably get positive comments because it doesn't look exactly like everything else.
 
#9
The Bongo preamp is the same as the preamp in both the Big Al sss and Big Al humbucker basses, as I understand it. I have one of each. To my ears, neither sound like a Bongo, they all sound different. The Big Al humbucker came from the 25th or 30th anniversary Stingray, I think. It sounds nothing like a Bongo. Not at all.
YMMV

Ken R
 
#10
Bass_Thumper said:
I just got a Bongo 5HS delivered from Bass Central (NBD Post to come) and I just don't think there is another bass that sounds quite like it. I also have a StingRay (see avatar) and to me, the Bongo sounds like a more refined/modern take on the StingRay. Don't be afraid of the shape, after putting it on a strap, I can tell that it was very well thought out and it's extremely comfortable. At least to me it is. On a strap, it also doesn't look all that much different from a traditionally shaped bass. If anything, you'll probably get positive comments because it doesn't look exactly like everything else.
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As some of you know I'm a self confessed Musicman nut but mostly for their more traditional looking basses - I can honestly say that my Bongo gets admiring comments both on the sound and looks every time I use it - I've started doing so more and I've found it's awesome in a blues/funk setting.
 
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#11
TMARK said:
All I want is a Sterling HH with a Stingray neck. I was going to buy one of each and switch necks until I realized I could buy a G&L with whatever neck I wanted.
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Good job because you'd have been disappointed - the Sterling has a sculpted neck, five bolt attachment, 22 frets, and a smaller body - whereas the Stingray has a non-sculpted neck joint, 6 bolt attachment and 21 frets. So they're completely different.
 
#12
Ken R said:
The Bongo preamp is the same as the preamp in both the Big Al sss and Big Al humbucker basses, as I understand it. I have one of each. To my ears, neither sound like a Bongo, they all sound different. The Big Al humbucker came from the 25th or 30th anniversary Stingray, I think. It sounds nothing like a Bongo. Not at all.
YMMV

Ken R
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The pick ups in the Bongo uniquely have neodymium magnets - I suspect this changes the sound. The multi pick up Bongo also has pick up blend whereas the Big Al and Reflex have switch selection - this makes a difference also.
 
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