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I thought I'd add some comments about this bass, as people might be interested. Received it the other day, after it being on order for months... My history with Bongos: I've owned a 5-string HS 2008 model, a 6-string HH 2009-ish, and I currently own a 5-string 2019. I prefer the 2019, mostly for the lightweight tuners and other subtle improvements. I actually started playing Bongos because of the ergonomics: Several things about their design have significantly reduced wrist and shoulder pain when playing. To some extent, it combined some elements of the tonal power of my old G&L basses, with the lighter weight and 24-frets of my Ibanez SR Premiums. Two things I really don't like about Bongos (5's, especially): The close proximity of the G-string to the edge of the fretboard (I made my own nut to slightly improve this). Yes, technique obviously can mitigate this, too. The lower 'horn' digs into my thigh, and is quite painful to play seated. I tend to put a leather strap between bass and leg when I practice, to mitigate this. Everything below assumes you already appreciate the Bongo, both in terms of sound and aesthetics... Why did I consider this Sterling Bongo? Mostly just curiosity. Plus, I do want a lightweight and ergonomic 34-inch, 5-string bass that I could just leave set up with a high action, as a different option to my main Bongo. Initial impressions: It certainly looks like a Bongo. It weighs around the same. The paint quality is ok, but feels a bit cheap to touch The same is true of the neck, although I've never been a big fan of the feel of roasted maple. The frets are poorly finished at the ends, with sharp bits that have already sliced my hand. However, the frets also aren't rolled quite as much as my 2018 US model, which makes the G-string feel further away from the edge of the fret (there's more actual fret under the string, as it were). Talking of things that are actually better than the USA Bongo, the lower horn doesn't dig into my thigh as much, because it's not rounded to a point, which spreads the weight out just a little more: Note, the same is also true of the headstock, where they've not really bothered rounding-off the edges of the 'point'. This means that not only is is still highly susceptible to damage, it's now usable as a weapon. Moving on... The neck dives like Tom Daley with an anvil tied to his ankles. I've had the machine heads off, and they weigh around 90g each. For me, it would be essential to reduce the overall headstock weight by around 140g, which I could easily achieve using lighter hardware. This would improve the balance and significantly reduce dive. The sound is quite disappointing (as expected). The lack of Bongo pickups, and the 4-band EQ, both result in this being a very different sounding instrument. Unfortunately, not only does it sound different, it also sounds quite cheap, and reminds me of a pretty nasty Traben bass I had once. I've not played any other Sterling models, but I understand the pickups and preamp are standard on some Sterling Ray models, so YMMV. The overall feel of the bass is just a little feeble. It might just be the tonal issues playing with my head, but I'll swear that it doesn't feel as nice under my hands. The frets and fretboard both feel a bit cheap under my fingers. This all around reminds me a lot of the impressions I got from the Strandberg Boden Prog that I tried a few years ago... a somewhat feeble and gutless instrument, of questionable build quality and playing feel. At least this Bongo is only £999, although I reckon any Ibanez or Yamaha of similar price would be a better overall package. In all, I think it's the kind of thing you should only buy if you really love the Bongo shape, but don't care about how it sounds or feels to play (this seems slightly counterintuitive to me, as many people hate the look but like the sound). I'm left wondering if I should return it, or if investing around £700 in improved hardware and electronics would make enough of a difference. £1700 is around what I paid for my USA model on Reverb, but they don't come up very often! I hope this was all helpful to someone. The headstock point:

Sadly not!

I bought an early 70s MIJ Encore P bass on eBay. When trying to date it, I (with some help from people who know things) found that the pickups were actually Fender ones of the same vintage - worth more than the bass cost me. Sold in its entirety to someone on here. Damned fine bass, that one.

Holiday the guy was out of luck fishing , sold up and spent his days trying to romance the holiday makers , or something like that EZ drummer , Gordon Smith on the Low end , Ibby 6string doing some riffing and the dulcet tones of myself with a bit of pitch modification , and a splash of Ozone through Reaper

Hang Up Your Hang Ups - Herbie Hancock

Ever tried a backbeat?

Many years ago I bought a secondhand Warwick corvette from the bass gallery that came with a simple, lightweight Levy's gig bag. That freebie remains the only gig bag I've ever owned with its straps at the right height to not smash your bass into every doorframe, lintel and overhanging branch. Was a sad day when it started to disintegrate.

Fantastic night last night at Edinburgh's Wee Red Bar with the 80s covers band. We were doing a two-hander with a 90s band and the place was packed - we came within 27 tickets of selling out! No, the venue, not the band 😉 People were dancing from the first song, which is always good to see and loudly singing along to the last few numbers. We hadn't gigged since June, because reasons, so it was great to blow away the cobwebs. Bass was my Sterling Stingray V into the venue's Peavey amp - I still don't know the model number. Maybe I'll look when I'm back there next week, if I remember. In the meantime, here's me grinning like a gargoyle while belting out Love Shack:

The whole point is bring what you've got. I've never played a proper musicman or a bongo, still on the list, but I played a Harley Benton one year that I way preferred to a Wal.

I got a wonderful and varied career with my first bass. Whether it was free is open to debate!

It will come as no surprise to anyone that I did not actually build one. However, I recently picked up anEich Bass Board from Happy Jack. It is giving me IMMENSE joy. I played without it recently and realised how much I enjoy it. I can play at volumes which no one questions, but enjoy super LF action.

Maybe a Curve Back, Hi Mass type that hide the ball ends, Gyker or some-such from Ali Express?

Anyone in the Manchester era know if Darren aka @Dazed is okay. It's been more than 2 ½ weeks since he last answered my PMs. I know he moved recently, but he always answered within the week, so I'm a bit worried... 🫤

That is impressive. I once gave a friend with a 3/4 on the larger end of the scale in my Up! and it was very snug indeed. I doubt it would have fitted a 7/8 or 4/4

Bruce Thomas autobiography, signed and still there with my Profile when purchased on this very site. Reading it again at the moment. Wonderful.

Great stuff Jim!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼

Had a fantastic gig last night. Small social club but it was packed. First set went well but no one dancing. Plenty of clapping though. 3 songs in to the second set, we played Valerie. Suddenly about 30 people started dancing, and they were up for the rest of the night. A good vibe on and off stage. Now the issue i had. We use an XR18 with an external 5Ghz router. It’s been fine up until the last two gigs. Mixing station on the iPad keeps freezing up, or rather lagging, and it’s hit or miss if we can trust it. The iPad isn’t losing connection, and there wasn’t many WiFi connections showing up at this venue to be causing an obvious issue. My Drummer couldn’t even connect to the XR18 from his phone. The plan is now to use Ethernet from the iPad to the router. We will keep the WiFi going but i feel safer with a wired connection. The XR18 itself was fine, no drop outs etc. I’m tempted to also get a new router but I’ll try the cable first.