Harley Benton PB-50 test (my first bass)

RoderickF

RoderickF

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Mar 27, 2016
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#1
I've just bought the Harley Benton PB-50 for 98€. It's my first bass but I've played guitar for 12 years.
I didn't really know if a single coil pickup could do the job, without hum or noises.

She's gorgeous !

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The bass is really great and playable and the Wilkinson pickup doesn't deliver too much hum... Perfect for the price !

I recorded through a Zoom G3 pedal.

'Gz & Hustlas' by Snoop Dogg (sample of 'Haboglabotribin' by Bernard Wright) :


'Aeroplane' by Red Hot Chili Peppers :


I've played bass for 2 hours so sorry for my playing :)
 
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#2
Congratulations @RoderickF

PB-50 is a very fine bass and you're in good company. Actually you must be about the 10th or 12th person I've heard in recent weeks to get one :thumbsup:
One of them is an old UK pro with a #2 hit single under his belt:) Yipe whole lot of interest in the PB-50,I personally prefer tapes and flats on mine.
Thomastik on 1 & Status Hot Wire on the other,the aforementioned UK fella went for La Bella's. Might sound crazy putting 50 euro strings on a 98 euro
bass but the bass is definitely worth it.

The Harley Benton owners group on here would be glad to hear from you.

I own a Harley Benton club

Your playing sounds good and you're enjoying the bass.

Can life get any better:cool:
 
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#3
kodiakblair said:
Congratulations @RoderickF

PB-50 is a very fine bass and you're in good company. Actually you must be about the 10th or 12th person I've heard in recent weeks to get one :thumbsup:
One of them is an old UK pro with a #2 hit single under his belt:) Yipe whole lot of interest in the PB-50,I personally prefer tapes and flats on mine.
Thomastik on 1 & Status Hot Wire on the other,the aforementioned UK fella went for La Bella's. Might sound crazy putting 50 euro strings on a 98 euro
bass but the bass is definitely worth it.

The Harley Benton owners group on here would be glad to hear from you.

I own a Harley Benton club

Your playing sounds good and you're enjoying the bass.

Can life get any better:cool:
Click to expand...

Thanks KodiakBlair ;)
What's the difference in sound between round and flat strings ?

I'm gonna post something in the HB owners group soon
 
#4
@RoderickF

There's a couple of differences. Firstly flats have more of a thud to them,especially if they're tapes. Here's a link to a PB-50 strung with La Bella flats.



You see how they differ from the zingy bright round wounds :)

Another difference is feel. Flats generally have a higher tension though the Thomastik TI's I use are quite slack. La Bella do a "Low Tension" set too.
Those two are about 20-30% more expensive than the well respected Fender or D'Addario flats.

It's not that flats can only be used for say old Motown,plenty 70's Funky slap players used flats.
 
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#5
kodiakblair said:
@RoderickF

There's a couple of differences. Firstly flats have more of a thud to them,especially if they're tapes. Here's a link to a PB-50 strung with La Bella flats.



You see how they differ from the zingy bright round wounds :)

Another difference is feel. Flats generally have a higher tension though the Thomastik TI's I use are quite slack. La Bella do a "Low Tension" set too.
Those two are about 20-30% more expensive than the well respected Fender or D'Addario flats.

It's not that flats can only be used for say old Motown,plenty 70's Funky slap players used flats.
Click to expand...


That's very clear ! Thanks :thumbsup:
 
#6
Nice looking bass! I can't believe the stuff you can buy today for little money! Another thing about Tapewound strings. They are generally a roundwound string with an outer nylon wrap which makes them smooth, eliminates finger noise that roundwounds tend to have, last practically forever, and have more highs than most flats. D'addario makes a nice tapewound string, and you shouldn't have to file the nut with these like you may have to with other tapewounds. They also tend to be lower in tension than strings of similar gauge. Enjoy your new bass!
 
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#10
kodiakblair said:
@1stnamebassist

Thanks for adding the part about flats lasting for years. It makes using 40 euro strings on a 90 - 100 euro bass easier:)
Click to expand...
It's true that flats last for years or a better way to put it they get better with age. However my post was about tapewounds which also last a long time, but they are actually roundwound strings wrapped in nylon. The exception may be rotosound or Ghs, but I'm not 100% positive about that. I do know with almost 100% certainty that all the others are roundwound. I'll try and research it later!
Edit: I checked basstringsonline and the rotosound tapes are listed as flat wounds.
 
#12
1stnamebassist said:
Nice looking bass! I can't believe the stuff you can buy today for little money! Another thing about Tapewound strings. They are generally a roundwound string with an outer nylon wrap which makes them smooth, eliminates finger noise that roundwounds tend to have, last practically forever, and have more highs than most flats. D'addario makes a nice tapewound string, and you shouldn't have to file the nut with these like you may have to with other tapewounds. They also tend to be lower in tension than strings of similar gauge. Enjoy your new bass!
Click to expand...

Daddario nylon tapewound strings seem to be a great option (Plus they look good !) but my bass is a 45-100 and Daddario tapewound strings only exist in 50-105... Should I get 45-100 Elixir nanoweb or Daddario strings ?
I usually put elixir strings on my two electric guitars...

Thanks 1stnamebassist !
 
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#14
1stnamebassist said:
It's true that flats last for years or a better way to put it they get better with age. However my post was about tapewounds which also last a long time, but they are actually roundwound strings wrapped in nylon. The exception may be rotosound or Ghs, but I'm not 100% positive about that. I do know with almost 100% certainty that all the others are roundwound. I'll try and research it later!
Edit: I checked basstringsonline and the rotosound tapes are listed as flat wounds.
Click to expand...

I can't find any tapewound flat strings, do you knwo some ?
 
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