Stingray Vs. Bongo

[syciprider]

I like Stingrays better for their 21 fret necks and the aggressive humbucker sound

 

[kkaarrll]

Really, you think the Stingray and Bongo sound the same? Have you actually played both? I don't think they get the same sound or feel at all.

@smeet I know this is an old thread, but can you compare the two? what is your comparison thoughts on the sound? I have read/heard that bongos are jazz on steroids, and stingrays are pbass on steroids. Thoughts?

 

[smeet]

I've kind of decided that most MM basses are just not for me, but yes, I got the overall feeling that Bongos are cleaner and more precise sounding, while Stingrays are thicker and more powerful sounding. So that sounds a bit like Jazz vs Precision I guess.

 

[TMARK]

Bongo!!

 

[TheMaynorD]

Glad I found this old thread, and I hope some of the posters are still subscribing: I've been shopping for my next StingRay (I've been without one for many years, while I was in G&L land) and was about to pull the trigger when the Bongo 6's hit, and now I'm torn. I LOVE that Bongo design, and the six is so enticing... But if the Bongo can't pull off that classic StingRay bite and growl, then it's not for me.

So, owners of both, am I reading the results right? It sounds like most of you say that the Bongo does a lot, but it doesn't do the classic 'Ray...

@smeet I know this is an old thread, but can you compare the two? what is your comparison thoughts on the sound? I have read/heard that bongos are jazz on steroids, and stingrays are pbass on steroids. Thoughts?

I own 2 bongos an HH 6 and an HS 6 and i used to own a stingray 5 H. While many say the sound of the stingray is very differe t than that of a bongo panned to the bridge pickup, i fiund that they were not different enough to merit keeping the ray. The conclusion i came to was that the ray was slightly better for gritty aggresive metal or aggresive slapping tonally.speaking. I greatly prefer the bongo for playability. But the bongo came very very close to that sound and if you play a variety of styles, like i do, then the bongo could emulate a jazz, a pbass, or a ray and sound pretty freakin good at the same time. I yhink the bongos natural punchiness works best with hard rock and hence you see a lot of progressive metal and rock artists like John Myung and the Chelsea Grin bassist using it. But i attung my HH with flat wounds and it sounded like a vintage Pbass when panned to the neck pup. They definitely are one of the most versatile basses out there. I used to hate the looks too but they grow on you and once you play one you generally fall in love with the instrument. Plus all basses generally look the same whether its ibanez sr, jazz bass, yamaha, etc. The bongo is most definitely a bongo. The finishes are always spectacular and are never done justice by photos

 

[fender68]

Bongo, because I love John Myung

Exactly!!! Me too.

 

[STEVEN BLACK]

IT LOOKS LIKE I CAN GET A STING RAY IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION FOR ABOUT $500.00 WHEREAS A BONGO RUNS NEW $2,000.00 USED LOWS ARE 1400 TO 1600 DOLLARS. IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IS IT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY PRICE DIFFERENCE?

 

[craigmack1979]

If I were blind, it wouldn't matter. I like the tone from both, but maaaybe I'm leaning towards the Stingray tone. But the main issue with the Bongo is looks. They are TERRIBLE imo. Sort of like the lovechild of two inbred hillbillies.

Lmao

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I know this a zombie thread, but I vote Stingray/Sterling because their tone is more distinctive than that of a Bongo to my ears.