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THE BONGO CLUB (Part 2, 3 and infinity)

#2,482
Snake101st said:
Officially a member now, via a trade here on TB!

Always wanted one, after trying an orange one in GC in the early 00s, not sure why it took me so long to finally get one.

Just as thiccc sounding as I remember!
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Just traded that Stealth 5 HH beauty for a JM 6 in platinum with a friendly TBer that was looking to do the same but in reverse.

Loving it so far! The string spacing hasn't bothered me at all, probably since I also play guitar. I had a Dingwall NG3 6 before to fill the 6 string slot, but sold that (and the D-Roc 4 I had) to fund the purchase of a too-good-of-a-deal-to-pass-up Dingwall Z3 5 string, and didnt like how wide the neck was on that NG3 6 anyways.

Since then, I've always wanted to have another 6, but with tighter spacing / a less wide neck, and I thought why not let the Bongo do that, since it's already not afraid of being different. Glad the trade worked out for both myself and the TBer that wanted to trade their 6 for my 5 :)

IMG_9189.jpeg
 
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#2,483
Snake101st said:
Just traded that Stealth 5 HH beauty for a JM 6 in platinum with a friendly TBer that was looking to do the same but in reverse.

Loving it so far! The string spacing hasn't bothered me at all - I had a Dingwall NG3 6 before to fill the 6 string slot, but sold that (and the D-Roc 4 I had) to fund the purchase of a too-good-of-a-deal-to-pass-up Dingwall Z3 5 string, and didnt like how wide the neck was.

Since then, I've always wanted to have another 6, but with tighter spacing / a less wide neck, and I thought why not let the Bongo do that, since it's already not afraid of being different. Glad the trade worked out for both myself and the TBer that wanted to trade their 6 for my 5 :)

View attachment 7422239
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These are so tempting!! Please post clips I you have the time~
 
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#2,486
JustFunk said:
Hi all,

I am GASING badly for a Bongo 5 and I am pretty close to buy a new one (probably, a Stealth Black HH).

Have 2 Music Man already and the 5er of them has the typical slipping G.

Has the Bongo 5 the same issue?
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I have owned several USA Stingray 5's and had problems with the G string slipping off the edge of the fingerboard. I presently own a Sterling Stingray 5 and a USA Bongo 5 and have not had that problem although the G strings are pretty close to the edge of the fingerboards.

It continues to be a puzzle to me why Ernie Ball has not corrected this issue. It has been going on for years.
 
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#2,487
Chuck M said:
I have owned several USA Stingray 5's and had problems with the G string slipping off the edge of the fingerboard. I presently own a Sterling Stingray 5 and a USA Bongo 5 and have not had that problem although the G strings are pretty close to the edge of the fingerboards.

It continues to be a puzzle to me why Ernie Ball has not corrected this issue. It has been going on for years.
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I see. Indeed, I checked whether the issue was still present in 2026 production, albeit it is described from like 2 decades. And since I didn’t find anything, came here to ask specifically.

Well, happy to know that with the Bongo that’s mitigated and have not to be scared of my weekend bassist technique!
 
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#2,488
JustFunk said:
Well, happy to know that with the Bongo that’s mitigated and have not to be scared of my weekend bassist technique!
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Many pro players had the problem with the SR 5 G string/neck in the past. It was not limited to occasional players.

Odd that this should come up today when I practiced with my Sterling SR 5 and my Ernie Ball Bongo 5. I never gave a thought to the G string while playing today.
 
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#2,489
JustFunk said:
I see. Indeed, I checked whether the issue was still present in 2026 production, albeit it is described from like 2 decades. And since I didn’t find anything, came here to ask specifically.

Well, happy to know that with the Bongo that’s mitigated and have not to be scared of my weekend bassist technique!
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It's about the same on both the 5 string Bongos and Stingrays. It varies a bit by bass, and I've owned a few of each, but they all have it to a certain degree
 
#2,490
My 5er has the issue prominently. I didn’t know about this issue until it repeted several times and began to check whether I was the only one. I understand that a clean technique helps but, one shouldn’t play clean (or limit himself to use the G string in a way that doesn’t slip off) due to an (expensive and “build to perfection”instrument defeat).

Just curious, was that a 1 mm wider neck was all needed in order to solve? If it’s so, can’t understand why they never did it.

Now I see why most Bongos on the used market are 4er or 6er. Honestly, I am a bit scared to spend a ton of money for a new 5er, given that I have to order it online as no stores around have it in stock
 
#2,491
JustFunk said:
My 5er has the issue prominently. I didn’t know about this issue until it repeted several times and began to check whether I was the only one. I understand that a clean technique helps but, one shouldn’t play clean (or limit himself to use the G string in a way that doesn’t slip off) due to an (expensive and “build to perfection”instrument defeat).

Just curious, was that a 1 mm wider neck was all needed in order to solve? If it’s so, can’t understand why they never did it.

Now I see why most Bongos on the used market are 4er or 6er. Honestly, I am a bit scared to spend a ton of money for a new 5er, given that I have to order it online as no stores around have it in stock
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It only happens to me if I haven't played one of my EBMM 5 strings in a while, then I subconsciously adjust and it doesn't happen again.

Plenty of people never have an issue with it, which is why they haven't changed it I guess
 
#2,494
PrimitiveMan said:
I actually don't think it's about better or worse. I know some great bassists that can't stand EBMM 5 strings
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It took me a very long time to fall in love with the Ernie Ball Bongo basses. Now they are my main players and I even have grown to love the look of them. Other players would not touch one with a ten foot pole. We have a lot of wonderful basses available to choose from and we all have our own valid likes and dislikes.

I also have 3 of the imported Sterling basses. One is a Sterling Sterling, one a Sterling Stingray 4 and the last one is a Sterling Stingray 5. They are terrific basses considering what they cost.
 
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