Play both, but man if the Bongo is in your budget go for it--the playing experience is exquisite. I've played two ever and that resulted in an immediate puddle of drool forming when I found out Sterling is doing a Bongo later this year. (Also, FYI For you if you were unaware.)
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Fender jazz or bongo
- Thread starter Peter bassman
- Start date
I had a Fender Jazz 5 and sold it and play a Bongo now. LOL
We all have our preferences.
The only Fender 5 string I would consider is the discontinued Roscoe Beck 5. They got it all correct in that bass. Sounds like a Jazz bass.
The Bongo is an acquired taste. I have two 6's and a 5 and will not part with them. They are phenomenal basses. Yeah, they look "different" but they are wonderful instruments. My Bongo 5 sounds almost exactly like a Jazz 5 but has so much more going for it with that terrific electronics. Fret work is about perfect on all three of my basses.
I know it is difficult to play both the Fender and the Bongo but that would be best. Another thing, the active Fender 5's have a well deserved reputation for being noisy even though they have "noisless" pickups. I have a friend who has been trying to get his Fender Jazz 5 Deluxe quiet and, so far, is still looking for an answer. It is back at Sweetwater now and perhaps they can solve the noise problem.
I'm a bit late to the party, but still. I play only 5s and 6s. Haven't had a Fender JB in over 40 years, and I traded that one in on a Stingray, which I owned for over 40 years, for 20 of which it was my only bass. Unfortunately, the Ray became too heavy for my back, especially after 5 lower back surgeries. Sold the Ray (amazing how much it appreciated in value) and got a sweet deal on a BFR Stingray Special 5 that weighed a mere 7.4 pounds, over two pounds lighter than my Stingray 4 did.
Then, recently, I got a superb deal on a Bongo 6 HS. The four-band preamp is the best production preamp I have ever played, such an incredibly wide tone palette. You will NEVER get that range or tone from any Fender, let alone a JB 5. The B on the Bongo is excellent, even with the stock strings. I am just about ready to change those out for a set of LaBella Super Steps, whose clarity and sustain are unbeatable. I have them on most of my basses now.
Although many complain about single coil hum or buzz, when soloed, my S does neither hum nor buzz. Not sure how they do it, but it is as quiet as the Stingray-like humbucker in the bridge position.
I have heard many people talk about the G string (on the 5 string version) slipping off the edge. You might want to check out John Myung who plays with Dream Theater. His custom Bongo has 6 strings fitted to a 5 string neck. If anyone was going to have a problem with the higher string falling off the edge, it would be him, but it doesn't happen. I think things like this are down to poor technique. Certainly I have not experienced this on either my 5 string Special or the 6 string Bongo.
I can't say too many great things about this bass.
The only thing about the Bongos is the same as is true for many basses in the MusicMan and Sterling line - the weight. The Bongo is by far the heaviest bass I own, but I use a Slinger Strap and by the use of two shoulder straps and a waist belt, it distributes the weight a lot better compared to a single shoulder strap. I can now play the Bongo as long as I want without my back hurting at all.
Then, recently, I got a superb deal on a Bongo 6 HS. The four-band preamp is the best production preamp I have ever played, such an incredibly wide tone palette. You will NEVER get that range or tone from any Fender, let alone a JB 5. The B on the Bongo is excellent, even with the stock strings. I am just about ready to change those out for a set of LaBella Super Steps, whose clarity and sustain are unbeatable. I have them on most of my basses now.
Although many complain about single coil hum or buzz, when soloed, my S does neither hum nor buzz. Not sure how they do it, but it is as quiet as the Stingray-like humbucker in the bridge position.
I have heard many people talk about the G string (on the 5 string version) slipping off the edge. You might want to check out John Myung who plays with Dream Theater. His custom Bongo has 6 strings fitted to a 5 string neck. If anyone was going to have a problem with the higher string falling off the edge, it would be him, but it doesn't happen. I think things like this are down to poor technique. Certainly I have not experienced this on either my 5 string Special or the 6 string Bongo.
I can't say too many great things about this bass.
The only thing about the Bongos is the same as is true for many basses in the MusicMan and Sterling line - the weight. The Bongo is by far the heaviest bass I own, but I use a Slinger Strap and by the use of two shoulder straps and a waist belt, it distributes the weight a lot better compared to a single shoulder strap. I can now play the Bongo as long as I want without my back hurting at all.
