L-2000 4 vs Bongo HH 4

drumbook · #1 09-08-2007, 08:15 PM

I was really on the hunt for a SB-2 trade for my Rumblefish when I was offered a mint Bongo in Desert Gold. Had always thought the Egyptian Smoke was cool looking and interesting. Said what the heck, and traded even though I couldn't get too excited about the in-your-face color.

After a 2 hour string change and action re-setting, I sat down and dialed the four band EQ to a more tame setting and lit it up.

The giant similarities are "HUMBUCKING"!!!! Whoa baby, this thing gets it just like my L2K. BOTH can be monsters!!!

Necks: L2K w/1.75 & Bongo with 1 5/8. Bongo wins but G&L makes a gorgeous maple birdseye board compared to the Rosewood only MM.
Bongo is VERY comfortable to play.

Body: L2K is classic looking compared to the BMW designed funky "toilet bowl" as many criticize it for, look. That's where it stops!!! The Bongo is more balanced on the shoulder and on the knee. The Bongo is about 1.5-2 pounds lighter maybe. Both have excellent finishes and excellent bridges.

Electrics and PU's: HUMBUCKERS!!!!!

Oh man, they both sing!!!
I can find more tones with the 4 band Bongo EQ. The L2K wins with the quick switch toggles to dial out active. I DON'T like that the Bongo is only active. There are times I prefer a passive mode and the L2K is more versatile that way. Battery accessibility is hands down easier on the Bongo, but it requires TWO 9 volts. That makes me nervous in certain ways.

Overall.... I love em both!! Great "tiger in the tank" basses built right here in the USA Sunny California.

btw... the L2K is easier to slap (wider between the neck PU and neck heel), but the Bongo has the better slap tone!

Kompressaur · #2 09-10-2007, 11:06 PM

Bongo + points = continous pan (some sweet combinations here),crazy low fast action,compensated nut,killer hi-fi slap tone,nice 4 band EQ

L2K + points (well I got two ASATs but same thing) more organic sound to my ears,more growly,more "wood" in the tone,passive sound,switches are easier to remember than rotary settings

I liked my bongo a lot.It sounded awesome but I gigged it and felt uneasy with it.its too big in the body,it looks odd,the lower horn juts into the leg when seated and i just couldnt get on with the neck p/up so close to the edge of the board.also a painted neck is not my cup of char

I like my ASAT that much that the Bongo became an ASAT semi hollow.I absolutely love the ASAT necks

I still have a single H Sterling bass which is a keeper,has a beautiful neck too,and is a better all round gigging bass than the Bongo imo.

just my two bobs worth

komp

edit if i had the dough i'd keep a Bongo for recording - it really does sound phat

Stanley Design · #3 09-11-2007, 12:46 AM

I too found my L2000 to be more organic sounding compared to my bongo, not in a bad way, just the different body woods I guess.

The bongo's body is way too big for me, yes it has an extra string, but I'm talking a giant dramatic difference, I like the look, I like the look of me holding it in pictures on stage, but the L2000 body is more comfortable for me. I'm a big guy and don't have a belly, it MIGHT be that I strap higher than my waist and not as low as some.

The string spacing on the bongo 5 was what I was looking for and what was lacking on my L2K for certain music styles I do. The L2000 was just too wide for me to go fast, I recently bought a second one that has a thinner neck on it (same neck as the ASAT's) and am much happier with it.

I also agree the bongo is IMPOSSIBLE to slap on. BUYERS, you have fair warning, if you slap then get the single humbucker version unless you do your popping on the actual fretboard. There's no room elsewhere for me.

I wish the L2000 had the nice battery cavity that the Bongo has. Overall, they are very simular but very different at the same time. I am more comfortable with the L2K.

drumbook · #4 09-11-2007, 08:10 AM

These comments are spot on!!!! The Bongo does have it's virtues, but when the smoke clears, my L2K is the long term keeper bass even with it's shortcomings.

Nedmundo · #5 09-11-2007, 12:03 PM

I played a Bongo and an L-2000 for the first time in one sitting. I liked both a lot, but found them quite different tonally. To my ears, the Bongo has a very modern "active" sound that usually isn't my cup of tea. However, it sounds so HUGE that it won me over. I'd like to try one at very high volume.

But I preferred the G&L for the more "organic" vintage tones available, and I think I liked the overall feel more too. Of course the hugeness is there in spades. And thus began the addiction -- I'm at two G&L's and counting!