Harley Benton Enhanced Series

[klaymaster]

Has anybody seen these yet? New higher end Harley Benton with amazing prices. I see one in my future.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_enhanced_mj_4eb_creme.htm?ref=search_prv_6
There is a P version as well if you search around.

 

[slantedpanted]

Thomann is as I understand one ofte biggest Sire/Markus Miller distributors....

Looks like they want an even bigger slice of the marked.

 

[klaymaster]

Thomann is as I understand one ofte biggest Sire/Markus Miller distributors....

Looks like they want an even bigger slice of the marked.

These are great competition for that. They are clearly inspired/copied from Sandberg

 

[JZQuantum]

They are non-US distributors. Anyone know if there are any extra fees/import taxes other than the basic shipping cost to ship to US?

 

[twc1313]

Sweet baby Jesus. I had a Vintage HB Jazz and was impressed. This is killer, they have a Lake Placid Blue as well. Sold.

 

[klaymaster]

5 string P-H in natural

 

[Axstar]

Not really my thing, but I admire Thomann's ability to read the market. If they see a lot of Sandberg and Sire stuff leaving the warehouse then this range makes a lot of sense.

 

[klaymaster]

I want one of each. They are active/passive have stainless steel frets and sell for around $400 for a 5 string. Yep.

 

[BassikLee]

I ordered the ash P/MM5 and the blue J/MM5. Currently says 6-7 weeks. I don't need them, but they seemed like decent basses for not much money.

Adam is playing one in this video:

 

[bassadvisor]

And ebony fingerboards. They seem a good poor man's Sandberg. They look much better than I expected. The body seems thin and not too heavy. Looking forward for a blue one, most probably a 4 or 5 string JM.

 

[420 Bass It]

I'm looking for a new 5 string and this seems like a very good candidate...
A quick look at the P-bass page tells me they now use aftermarket tuners and bridges?

I looked it up and they're some obscure stuff from a brand called WSC. However, the specifications on their website are really well detailed...
WSC Music : Your Guitar Parts Solutions

Makes me wonder if getting one and upgrading it to Hipshots is feasible.

 

[BassikLee]

By definition, aftermarket hardware means it's installed after the bass leaves the factory. These basses use the hardware listed, but it's OEM stuff. I'm sure it's decent hardware. I have two of these on order. I'll post here when they arrive.

 

[kodiakblair]

@420 Bass It

Those JB45 tuners are dynamite,I've used them on a few basses. Very solid,very reliable The locking SK-5 bridge is no slouch either. Would be nice if Thomann listed the correct parts

My experience with Roswell pickups is limited to the big pole single coil in the PB-50,great pickup but those poles were the wrong look for a 51 style P-bass.

Tune basses are built by WSC so technically the pickups/preamp in my old TWB-4 are Roswell. It's a serious bit of kit so I don't forsee any problems with this new line from Thomann.

 

[420 Bass It]

I'm actually glad you have good experiences with this hardware because that's mostly what was preventing me from purchasing one (along with weight I guess). This is also a problem with the Sire basses - there aren't any drop-in replacements that I know of for Sire tuners/bridges.

 

[kodiakblair]

@420 Bass It

I can weigh the tuners and bridge when I finish work, I've a 4 string waiting for them.

Be a good few hours yet, not went 10am here in Scotland.

 

[kodiakblair]

Tuners weigh 3oz each and 8oz for the bridge.

 

[BassikLee]

After TWO unsuccessful attempts to order these, I think the third time is going to be the ticket. My CC kept rejecting Thomann, so I decided to use real money and just get the Jazz for now. I'll post a review. Might even do a video.

Bonus round, I happen to have a Sire jazz plate preamp. If that drops in, it's going in the jazz. I used to have an ice blue jazz five. Wasn't a Fender. I've missed it. This will be like getting that bass back, and a NBD, all rolled into one.

 

[BassikLee]

Ship notifications received. I caved and ordered the P/MM too. I plan to do videos.

 

[BassikLee]

 

[BassikLee]

OK, so the P version arrived. Fit/finish is at least as nice as the J. Three piece ash body, satin finish. Very nice. There's some sort of issue with the electronics. It seemed like the bridge pickup was a bit....weak or nasal sounding, and the whole bass was maybe a tad dark, like a passive tone control rolled about halfway off. Plugged it in tonight, and the bridge pickup didn't work at all. Then it came back. I haven't reached out to Thomann about it yet, but I will. I will post what they say or do about it. I'm sure this isn't a feature. I would not let this one bass' issue scare you away if you were in the market for something like this.