Al Krow

Agreed with all that! And in terms of "pimping a bass" it's gotta be safer / make more sense to start with something budget, right? The only fly in the ointment is the weight of the HB model I'm after. Thomann were historically superb at returns - and that would be the one issue I would return it for, but I understand it's a bit of mare arranging that currently to / from the EU? And for some reason, stores are IME pretty poor at actually providing you with an accurate weight estimate for their basses (well certainly Andertons and PMT in my experience) - probably because the warehouse is in different location to the sales team. But I'll drop them a line and see if they can let me know what the models they have for shipping are weighing in at.

Thanks for that - so you had the same model but in the 4 string version. Do you recall how much it weighed and how well it balanced / much neck dive?

Cheers - that's really useful feedback. It's actually more a reverse-P plus (MM (or J) itch in a 5er for me. There aren't too many around in that config and the HB is offering one in a relatively budget package in the same body shape as the Berg VM5. My Sandberg itch actually got very well scratched a while back - I had one as my goto gigging for several years, so I'm familiar with their (very good) build qualities and also the aspects that don't quite float my boat. Which HB model did you have? They seem to go from really really budget, to just budget so I'm guessing there will be a range of quality and finish even in the HB range. Interestingly the HB MP5-EB's I understand are put together in Indonesia, which most folk would consider to be a more upmarket bass manufacturing location than their main manufacturing base in China

I think there's a broader message in your first point Mark which is modding (as opposed to refi'ing) a bass very rarely increases the value. Maybe some parallels with house refurb work in that a lick of paint is known to give you max bang for your buck in terms of value-add. Point here is if you start with a £300 HB chassis (delivered to your door) and need to spend £350 on electronics (Black labels plus Glock 3 band preamp) to get a P/MM that you really like - you've forked out £650 on a new bass. Used VM5 Bergs seem to be going for north of £1k these days (the ones in the FS are on at £1,200 after being reduced). If you want to swap out the pups e.g. to put some Black labels in to get a (used) bass, which hopefully you'd still really like, but now costing £1,200+ If you're just in it to make money then get yourself a Wal and put it away in a hard case in a humidity controlled room. (I personally wouldn't recommend Bitcoin 'coz (a) it's a Ponzi scheme and (b) I don't have a spare $1.5 billion knocking around that I wouldn't notice if it went missing...) If you want value for money on a bass you're going to play, then @TheLowDown has asked exactly the right question IMO. Interestingly, @Doddy in this case I wouldn't feel I would be settling for less, because I would have got the bass I was after for half the price; and we're into USA Fender vs MIM Fender and Yamaha BB2034/5 vs BB1024/5 discussion territory. What is going to be the deal breaker for me is if the HB is much above 10 lbs, which it could well be. A real shame.

Very nicely put.

Ah ok - that subtlety had completely eluded me, so I'm very glad you've pointed that out! So how does the Schecter Model T in that clip differ from yours which is the "Session" version? Google searches seem to all point to Schecter Model T Session if you put in Schecter Model T, which doesn't help clarify!

A little something for the weekend for our resident King's X & Tech 21 DP-3X fan, showing off your bass mcnach.

@Caz - Uptown Funk, and some nice off beat parts in that too!

Thanks John. That would be back into 'uncomfortable' territory for me, for sure.

Thanks - I've also seen the Alder reported as 4.5kg to 4.7kg, which should be just about manageable at the top end with a decent strap. But if I get one around 10lbs or less even better!

Absolutely, it's pretty close to the top of my wish list currently. Did the clip I posted match up to what you are hearing on yours? Oooh...just spotted you have a Harley Benton MB-5, which you're liking. It's MP-5EB sibling is actually the other one currently on my bucket list also as an alternative the Berg VM5 (and which seems from your comment the Schecter would hold its own with).

Haha - not sure about that! If you're swapping out the electronics on both the Berg and the HB e.g. to get set of Black Labels the HB is going to win every time. Biggest loss on a bass I've ever suffered was on a...Sandberg. And if the Berg route was such good option then, not sure why folk would be doing the following? Clearly madness 😁

Although tbf he's got the Swamp Ash body, so perhaps the Alder will be a bit lighter? Plus some ultra-lite tuners, if absolutely necessary, to shave another 1/2 lb to 1lb... ...maybe game on still, then. Alder LPB or Creme. Yup that could very nicely

Hi @PPSteve - agreed the one at Bass Gallery did look like an 1100S Let me give your post a plug on this thread, too, although tbf BB1200S are a bit like the BB2000, i.e. gold dust and they just don't come up too often! (In fact I don't think anyone on our "wall of shame" on the OP has a BB2000...) Looking for a Yamaha BB1200S - Bass Guitars - Basschat "Unfortunately" looking through the BG website there was a stunning blue TRB 5P which completely turned my head, but which I don't need. ...no I really don't need... ..no, no, seriously, I really really don't need... 😊

Just came across this. If this model HB is coming in at 11 lbs, that would unfortunately be a bit of deal breaker.

Haha - you and me both, matey! I'll have to 'fess to having got as far as getting in touch with the chap who had one in listed in the FS recently.

Agreed! For me the issue has always been getting a £1.5k to £2k bass such as the VM5, where I'm not going to be totally happy with the pups and / or pre-amp and wanted to swap them out. I've some while back ended up concluding that Delanos were too polite for me (I completely get that's going to be personal taste). But at the Berg entry ticket price point, IMO a bass should be "good to go" so I've balked at taking the plunge with the prospect of adding several £hundred on top. Whereas, as you say, picking up a decent chassis in the shape of the HB MP5-EB for £300 and swapping in a set of pups to suit (e.g. Sandberg Black** Label or EMGs?) and a Glock 3 band EQ, then as @horrorshowbass is rightly pointing out, you're saving a bunch of cash and actually getting a more boutique bass than the boutique bass it's up against. Hmmm...definitely food for thought! **Sandberg Black Label vs Delano etc - Bass Guitars - Basschat

Yeah definitely. But having recently discovered Minotaur straps, off the back off a personal recommendation from Mark at Talking Bass (who is such an excellent online tutor!) 10 lbs seems to be perfectly fine for me and has given my much loved Spector Euro 5LX a new lease of life! So If the Model T is coming in at or below that, it shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Sounds like a really neat solution. Heard a lot of good things about the Glock preamps. And in fact I've also come across folk replacing the Sandberg 2 band preamp, itself, with a Glock 3 band and stacked knobs. Your comment about the bridge humbucker completely ties in with what Bass the World guys were saying on their review. So an extra £100 or so for the Glock 2 band? Not tempted to swap in something meatier pup wise at the bridge for a final upgrade?

If you're fine with the an effective 18 easily accessible frets (from my Sire experience) which was my only real 'gripe' on an otherwise very decent bass, would you not consider getting a Sire P7? Appreciate the colour choice on the Sires are a bit more limited and I don't think LPB is available on them!

Useful to know, thanks. Really bad how? And what did you swap the electronics out for?

Yeah, me too....FFS 😂

Laminate necks are also apparently excellent for eliminating dead spots (as well as providing greater strength and additional protection against neck twist & bow)

What a handsome duo!! They both look great, and I even find myself surprised that I'm preferring the deep red 604 over the natural 605, it's been done so well.

Just as an fyi, here's the 4 string version of same model HB and a pretty decent "warts and all" review.