I want to buy a Harley Benton PB-20 SBK Precision Bass, which is around 100 Euro, and put emg or dimarzio pickups. Does it worth to do it? I live in Turkey and the exchange rates are flying. I play an active 5 strings bass but nowadays I'm interested in p-bass' passive pickups' dark tones. does it worth to buy that harley benton and change the pickups or do you have any recommendations for a different p-bass?
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Putting EMG pickups on a Harley Benton P-Bass
- Thread starter Tenebris
- Start date
You surely could but why? For the same price you can get a ton of basses that already have EMG or other great pickups.
Also installing active electronics often takes non reversible modifications.
Heck if you want to buy new get a better bass to start with. Actually go second hand with a better instrument.
There are tons of 80's and 90's P styel instruments that sell for next to nothing and in this era dark tone was the style.
If you like dark tones you'd be happier with Original series Bartolini pickups such as a 8S than with EMG that tend to be pretty bright. Also most EMG pickups are active.
What's your budget, are you looking for a bass that looks like a P or just the P pickup?
Also installing active electronics often takes non reversible modifications.
Heck if you want to buy new get a better bass to start with. Actually go second hand with a better instrument.
There are tons of 80's and 90's P styel instruments that sell for next to nothing and in this era dark tone was the style.
If you like dark tones you'd be happier with Original series Bartolini pickups such as a 8S than with EMG that tend to be pretty bright. Also most EMG pickups are active.
What's your budget, are you looking for a bass that looks like a P or just the P pickup?
I'm not sure if it is good idea of getting pu which costs more than a bass itself. But EMG does have very good passive P bass pu - Geezer Butler. It comes with solderless electronics so you can keep original untouched. And in the end you can reinstall it to any future Pbass.
I'd be quite happy with this bass as it is...absolutely no need to change the pickup.
I already have a P bass, but if I see this one hanging up in the store, it might be too hard to pass up.
Listen to that tone at 35 seconds!
Buy it...you won't find anything that good for that price.
First of all, it's one of the best-looking P basses available, I'd buy this before I bought any Fender MIM or Squier P bass, that's for sure...and yes, I've owned Fenders and Squiers in the past.
You put some GHS black tapewounds on this thing and you'll really be set!
I already have a P bass, but if I see this one hanging up in the store, it might be too hard to pass up.
Listen to that tone at 35 seconds!
Buy it...you won't find anything that good for that price.
First of all, it's one of the best-looking P basses available, I'd buy this before I bought any Fender MIM or Squier P bass, that's for sure...and yes, I've owned Fenders and Squiers in the past.
You put some GHS black tapewounds on this thing and you'll really be set!
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I think the OP is on exactly the right track.. Pickups make the p bass.. Unless there are specific string spacing, neck specs, color, etc... IMHO, You can spend $100 or you can spend $2,000 on a p bass and if the pickups are similar, no one will hear a difference between the two.
I'll go to Portugal with a voluntary project and than pass to Germany to see my relatives and I have plans for buying a p bass from Thomann or somewhere else. I already have a 5 string active pickup bass but nowadays I fell for p bass' dark tones. I have a low budget for it. Approximately 150 Euros
You're welcome, and good luck!Thank you for your humble advice and for replying
Thank you for your humble advice and for replying
Did you ever get a PB-20 and upgraded to EMG GZR?
Yea, i m asking cuz my PB-20 SBK arrives today according to UPS. I m hoping I bond with it physically. Geezer is the plan.