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Bongo 5 replacement pickup

ggunn

ggunn

Aug 30, 2006
5,465
881
Austin, TX
#1
I've got a Bongo 5 HHP, and I really love it, but after jamming with a friend's P bass the other night, I've a hankering for the clarity of that single coil sound (yeah, I know the P has a split coil in humbucking mode, but still...) . Has anyone got a suggestion for a replacement pup that would fit the body (no routing) and wiring (18V preamp) in the neck position of my Bongo that would give me more of that "Fendery" sound? Apparently EMG makes some that fit that bill, but I've seen mixed reviews of EMG pups. They are pretty pricey, too.
 
#2
I really don't think you are going to get a P-bass sound out of a Bongo. IMO, you are talking about passive, split single-coil apples and 18V active oranges. I'll be the first to tell anyone that the Bongo HH is extremely versatile, but a P-bass has a pretty distinct sound that even a modded Bongo would have a hard time copping.
 
#3
mynan said:
I really don't think you are going to get a P-bass sound out of a Bongo. IMO, you are talking about passive, split single-coil apples and 18V active oranges. I'll be the first to tell anyone that the Bongo HH is extremely versatile, but a P-bass has a pretty distinct sound that even a modded Bongo would have a hard time copping.
Click to expand...

I realize that; let me rephrase - does anyone know of a single coil replacement pickup that will fit my Bongo 5 HHP in the bridge position?
 
#4
"yes, i have a porsche, and i am wondering if there is any way i can use it to haul about a half ton of mulch? i was helping a friend do some landscaping the other day, and i really liked the way his pickup truck hauled a bunch of stuff.

i am aware that i could buy a decent pickup truck for less money than it would cost to modify my porsche, and i am also aware that all sorts of porsche enthusiasts will really be up in arms about such a thing, but what should i do?"

just buy a P, man!! there are tons of them out there at all sorts of price points. it is completely cool to have a whole bunch of basses that have all sorts of different sounds and string and pickup configurations.
 
#6
Lucas G said:
"yes, i have a porsche, and i am wondering if there is any way i can use it to haul about a half ton of mulch? i was helping a friend do some landscaping the other day, and i really liked the way his pickup truck hauled a bunch of stuff.

i am aware that i could buy a decent pickup truck for less money than it would cost to modify my porsche, and i am also aware that all sorts of porsche enthusiasts will really be up in arms about such a thing, but what should i do?"

just buy a P, man!! there are tons of them out there at all sorts of price points. it is completely cool to have a whole bunch of basses that have all sorts of different sounds and string and pickup configurations.
Click to expand...

Thanks for nothing.

A single coil at the neck is an option on the Bongo, and I am wondering if I might like the sound of it better than the H I presently have in that position. Is that so wrong?

Get past the Fender reference, please; single coil pickups are inherently clearer because they generate their sound from one point on the string instead of two. They don't have the phase cancellation effects in the high harmonics that humbuckers have. I'd like to hear how that difference manifests itself on my Bongo. I don't expect it to sound just like a P bass.

As to buying another bass; thanks ever so much for the advice, but I am recently unemployed so that is not an option for me.

I would really appreciate it if you would either answer my question or not respond; lecturing me on the differences between a Bongo and a P bass is not necessary.
 
#7
okay, fair enough. maybe you could snag a pickup from an OLP MM2? i have a passive one, and the coils are split. don't know how it will work with the voltage, though.

edit: i forgot that we were talking about a 5-string. maybe a pickup from the OLP 5-string passive bass, then.

also usually when folks are talking about modifying fairly expensive instruments, you usually don't stop to think about whether or not they have a job. especially not on a forum that is for the most part about buying bass gear. if we were on a 'holy crap, how do i make rent this month?' forum we would not likely be talking about bass guitar pickups, and i probably would not have suggested just buying a p-bass.
 
#8
ggunn said:
As to buying another bass; thanks ever so much for the advice, but I am recently unemployed so that is not an option for me.

I would really appreciate it if you would either answer my question or not respond; lecturing me on the differences between a Bongo and a P bass is not necessary.
Click to expand...

The cost of modifying the instrument will probably run you quite a bit, not to mention potentially not come out as you hope.

If you are absolutely set on replacing the pickup, I would highly recommend Nordstrand pickups. I am not sure how much it will get along with the Bongo's electronics, but I once swapped the MM-style pickup on a Carvin with a Nordstrand Stingray pickup and it really gave it a more vintage growl that the Carvin entirely lacked.
 
#10
ggunn said:
Thanks for nothing.

A single coil at the neck is an option on the Bongo, and I am wondering if I might like the sound of it better than the H I presently have in that position. Is that so wrong?

Get past the Fender reference, please; single coil pickups are inherently clearer because they generate their sound from one point on the string instead of two. They don't have the phase cancellation effects in the high harmonics that humbuckers have. I'd like to hear how that difference manifests itself on my Bongo. I don't expect it to sound just like a P bass.

As to buying another bass; thanks ever so much for the advice, but I am recently unemployed so that is not an option for me.

I would really appreciate it if you would either answer my question or not respond; lecturing me on the differences between a Bongo and a P bass is not necessary.
Click to expand...

ggun calm your emotions! You're posting on a public forum and part of buying into that is that you are going to get a whole load of opinions! Lucas G makes a relevant point and I can understand how you didn't see the funny side of his post but you can't expect him to know your financial situation! If you don't like the post ignore it!

Peace out!
 
#11
I think modding your bongo is a bad idea. I think save up $200 or so and keep your eyes peeled for a MIM Fender P. It's all you need and will run you about the cost of a good pickup. That's the beauty of a P, it's simplicity. Stop looking for a difficult solution when there is a very simple one right in front of you.
 
#12
If you're REALLY serious about modding it, I would imagine you could simply wire the stock pickup so it's in single-coil mode... simply wire up one of the 2 coils, and you're set. Granted, you'll get all sorts of noise, as the P-pickup is humbucking, and a true single coil is not, but I'm sure you already knew that.
 
#13
DTSH said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Delano hybrid is a MM style humbucker that splits to a jazz... I love this thing. Haven't tried it in a 5er though.
Click to expand...

Now, you see? There are folks who actually post helpful ideas out there. Thanks, that's something I haven't found in all my googling. I'll look into it.

To those who thought I was being emotional - sorry, it's hard to convey emotion (or lack of it) in a post. I'm not being emotional, I'm just trying to get an answer to a question, and instead of an answer, I get a lecture (one that sounded just a bit condescending to me, BTW) on how a P bass is different from a Bongo. It's just not that helpful. Sorry if I was a bit terse in getting that across.

To everyone who was advising me not to "mod" my Bongo (though a simple pickup swap is not a mod), or who was telling me just to go buy a P bass (a P bass is not what I want, just a little more clarity from my Bongo) - thanks just the same for your input, but that is not the information I am looking for.

What I am looking for is information on single coil pickups that would fit within the neck position routing on my Bongo 5 and which will play nicely with the 18V onboard preamp. Splitting the existing humbucker is not an option; half a humbucker is not the same as a single coil, and I don't want what I do to be irreversible.
 
#14
ggunn said:
Splitting the existing humbucker is not an option; half a humbucker is not the same as a single coil, and I don't want what I do to be irreversible.
Click to expand...

Not to get into an arguement, but I'm pretty sure that half a humbucker is exactly a single coil. HUmbuckers are 2 single coils wired together, each wound the opposite of the other, in order to cancel out the hum. Splitting the coils is not irreversible by any stretch, it's simply a change in wiring.

Also, finding a single coil pickup housed in a MM style case, especially the newer MM cases, is going to be a challenge. You may be able to get someone to custom make one for you, but as far as I know, no such thing exists off-the-shelf. I can appreciate what you're going for, as I'm one who tinkers with this sort of thing way too much, but it seems like there are easier and cheaper ways of doing this. I only speak from my own experience.

One more thing- I'm positive the pickups in a Bongo are passive, wired to an active preamp, unlike, say, EMG's which are active pickups with an optional active preamp. Since that is the case, any passive pickups should work fine with the pre, as the pickups don't need any juice from the batteries.
 

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