The Sterling by Music Man Bongo5 is a modern 5-string bass with contoured body & custom electronics. Featuring Mahogany body, Rosewood fretboard, & ceramic humbuckers. In Firemist Purple
4.3
4 Reviews
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The Bongo 5 has joined the Sterling by Music Man lineup, offering one of the most unique and modern bass designs at an accessible price. Known for its bold and divisive aesthetics (we’re fans), this bass isn’t just about looks — it’s a thoughtfully designed instrument built for comfort and performance.
With its premium roasted maple neck and versatile tonal range — from bold growls to rich, warm tones — the Sterling Bongo 5 is the dependable bass you didn’t know you needed.
Unmatched Tone, Seamless Control
The Bongo is known for its versatility, and Sterling has stayed true to that legacy. With two high-output ceramic humbuckers and an active preamp, it produces a clear, punchy tone that cuts through even the densest mix.
Dual Ceramic Humbuckers: These aren't your grandpa's vintage pickups. The dual ceramic humbuckers provide a modern, aggressive edge with plenty of output. They’re tight, focused, and responsive, ensuring your low B-string remains defined rather than turning into a muddy rumble.
2-Band Active Preamp: Simplicity is key when you're on stage. The onboard 2-band active EQ gives you control over your treble and bass frequencies right at your fingertips. Whether you need to scoop the mids for slap or boost the lows for a reggae feel, you can shape your sound instantly without fiddling with your amp.
Pickup Blend Control: Instead of a clunky toggle switch, the blend knob allows for seamless transitions between the neck and bridge pickups. You can dial in the perfect balance — 100% bridge for that biting, Jaco-esque midrange, or favor the neck for a warm, pillowy foundation.
Ergonomics That Make Sense
The Bongo's body shape might look like it was designed in a wind tunnel, and that's because it emphasizes balance and comfort above all else. It defies tradition to serve the player. The deep cutaways and contoured basswood body mean the instrument hugs you back, making those four-hour marathon gigs feel like a breeze.
Roasted Maple Neck: This is a feature usually reserved for boutique instruments. Roasting the maple removes moisture and impurities, resulting in a neck that is incredibly stable and resistant to humidity changes. Plus, it just looks and feels fantastic.
Rosewood Fingerboard: Sitting atop that rock-solid neck is a rosewood fingerboard with a 12-inch radius. It offers a classic, warm attack and a smooth, fast playing surface that feels broken in from day one.
24-Fret Access: Thanks to the Bongo's unique geometry and deep cutaways, reaching the 24th fret isn't a struggle — it's a guarantee. You have full command of two octaves per string, allowing for melodic runs and chords that are often out of reach on traditional basses.
Form Meets Function
Let’s be honest: you don’t buy a Bongo to blend into the background. Whether you choose the stealthy black or the shimmering Firemist finish, this bass demands attention. But beyond the flash, it’s built with the reliability that gigging musicians demand.
Secure 5-Bolt Neck Joint: The neck is secured to the body with a heavy-duty 5-bolt pattern. This ensures maximum surface contact between the neck and body, translating to better sustain, resonance, and tuning stability.
Sterling-Designed Bridge: A high-mass bridge anchors your tone, providing excellent vibration transfer from the strings to the mahogany body. It’s fully adjustable, so you can dial in your intonation and action with precision.
Matching Headstock: To complete the streamlined look, the headstock is finished to match the body. It’s a small detail that adds a touch of class and cohesiveness to the instrument’s modern vibe.
A Modern Classic for the Modern Player
The Sterling by Music Man Bongo 5 proves that you don't have to sacrifice comfort for tone, or style for substance. This bass is designed for pioneers — musicians ready to explore new sonic horizons without being held back by their instrument.
Sterling by Music Man Bongo 5 Features:
Indonesian Mahogany Body: deeply contoured for maximum comfort and balance.
Roasted Maple Neck: offers superior stability and a premium feel.
Dual Ceramic Humbuckers: deliver high-output, punchy, and articulate tone.
2-Band Active Preamp: allows for precise boosting and cutting of treble and bass frequencies.
24 Frets: two full octaves of playing range with easy upper-register access.
12" Fingerboard Radius: flat enough for fast playing, round enough for comfortable chording.
6-Bolt Neck Attachment: ensures superior stability and sustain.
Pickup Blend Knob: provides seamless mixing of neck and bridge pickup tones.
Ernie Ball Strings: comes factory-equipped with the industry standard for tone.
Sterling by Music Man Bongo 5 5-String Bass Guitar Specifications
Item #:
SBM BONGO5 FMPS
Manufacturer Part Number:
ST-BONGO5-FMPS-R2
UPC:
810002953804
Product Specifications
Model: BONGO5
Body Wood: Indonesian Mahogany
Bridge: Sterling by Music Man-Designed Bridge
Pickguard: Black
Scale Length: 34" / 86.4 cm
Neck Radius: 12" / 30.5 cm
Frets: 24 Frets
Neck Width: 1.77" / 41 mm at Nut, 2.80" / 71.2 mm at Last Fret
Neck Wood: Roasted Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fret Markers: White Dot Markets
Tuning Machines: Open Gear
Truss Rod: Dual Action
Neck Attachment: 6-Bolt Pattern
Controls: 2-Band Active Preamp
Switching Pickup: Blend Control Knob
Pickups: HH - 2 Ceramic Humbuckers
Strings: Ernie Ball 2836 Super Slinky
Sterling by Music Man Bongo 5 5-String Bass Guitar Specifications
Product Specifications
Model: BONGO5
Body Wood: Indonesian Mahogany
Bridge: Sterling by Music Man-Designed Bridge
Pickguard: Black
Scale Length: 34" / 86.4 cm
Neck Radius: 12" / 30.5 cm
Frets: 24 Frets
Neck Width: 1.77" / 41 mm at Nut, 2.80" / 71.2 mm at Last Fret
Neck Wood: Roasted Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fret Markers: White Dot Markets
Tuning Machines: Open Gear
Truss Rod: Dual Action
Neck Attachment: 6-Bolt Pattern
Controls: 2-Band Active Preamp
Switching Pickup: Blend Control Knob
Pickups: HH - 2 Ceramic Humbuckers
Strings: Ernie Ball 2836 Super Slinky
Customer Reviews
4.3
Based on 4 reviews
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Michael C. 🇺🇸
Verified Buyer
I was happy when Sterling
I was happy when Sterling by Music Man put the less expensive version of its big brother. Both versions are hard to find off the shelf to test for comfort, quality and most importantly, sound. I was very pleased with all of the above. In fact, my guitarist wants one now. Direct recording to DAW soun...
Published date
11/22/25
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Patrick C. 🇺🇸
Verified Buyer
I love my new Sterling
I love my new Sterling Bongo 5. I have been hoping for some time for Sterling to do this , and it finally happened! Plays great, beautiful neck and versatile pickups. All culminate to a very fine, much more affordable version of the great Music Man Bongo. I'm stoked! Stealth finish looks amazing wit...
I’ll start with the positives. Paint, electronics & setup from the factory were on point. No glaring deficiencies. HOWEVER, I noticed upon opening it, the fret ends were very sharp. Enough so that it’d slice my fingers open. I was disappointed, but I figured it’d give me an opportunity to learn how ...
Published date
01/20/26
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Questions & Answers
1 answered questions
Brad
Verified User
Q: How much does it weigh?
Answers on Content by By AMS Customer Service on Tue Oct 28 2025
A: We do keep everything sealed from the manufacturer and our warehouses do not keep records of the individual weights.
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