meterman

Okay, quick update on the Harley Benton fretless ukulele bass. It arrived this afternoon and once I'd got it in tune, it stayed there. So far, so good. The rubber strings actually didn't take much getting used to and the weeny scale length is pretty easy to adjust to, although I do have a 25" scale Precision copy so the uke bass isn't too far off that. The good - it's a lot of fun to play, and acoustically it sounds bigger than it really should. It's been a while since I've owned a fretless and I'd forgotten how they make you focus differently (in a good way) while playing. Mic-ed up rather than plugged in is where it really gets good. Even a half decent condenser makes it sound like more than a €144 bass. It sounds massive mic-ed up with a touch of compression, even with me playing it. The bad - the E string has fret buzz from 1 to 8 and then 10. I'm hoping this might disappear after a day or two. When the parcel was delivered it was quite warm (it was 39 degrees here today) and when I opened the box, the bass was warm. So maybe it'll settle. The other thing is a black mark in the natural finish on the front. Had it been on the back it wouldn't have bothered me, but on the front it does. Will I keep it or exchange it? Don't know yet. But it is a funky little thing to have 👍

It still is cool, I'd definitely go for one of those! 👍

Actually we might all be larfing at it now, but some of us are old enough to remember when barely-affordable starter basses weren't much better than this. One of my mates had a Satellite short scale Woolworths special that had special effects built in like: every note had fret buzz, the action was higher than my mate Kev on a glue bender, the strings were rough and sharp to the touch, it wasn't earthed properly so electric shocks were part of the deal... It was only when decent Japanese copies started turning up in the UK, and then Squiers and Westones, etc, that things started getting good for kids buying their first paper-round-money bass. Mind you, if the above bass has flats on it, I'd give it a go 😂

Edit: I can see the pics on a laptop screen now, and the back of the body is clean.

Does it have the fold-out stand, like the 60's ones? I always thought that was a cool feature.

Yep, the instant giveaway is the truss rod access on the headstock. Also the shape of the headstock is a bit off, even for 1970's Fender, and that decal was probably made by someone that's seen a picture of a fake Precision bass once on the internet and tried to replicate it. Hard avoid.

Does it have a Tele-style headstock with sharpie scrawlings on it 🤔

Can't comment on rounds as I've never used them, but on various Fender style basses I've always had flatwounds: La Bella or Chromes are my favourites but it depends on what gauge you feel comfortable with. Then maybe Olympia or Picato or Pyramid? They're all good. Harley Benton's cheapie flats felt better to me than Fender or Rotosound, both of which felt like cables even at 40-100. And Thomastik Infeld flats lasted about a week before being replaced by La Bellas. Couldn't get on with the feel or sound. Good luck with whatever you try 👍

Personally, I'd develop a good finger technique if I was starting again, on both hands. I'm up to speed with thumb style playing but I couldn't play "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" that way, I'd have to use a pick, or pay someone else to play it for me. I'm self taught and just went with what felt right for me as I went along. I certainly wouldn't advocate thumb style as a technique at all. It's just how I play.

Good question - my playing technique is weird, I actually do play with my thumb. Like, instead of a pick I use my thumb. I've only seen a couple of other players do it, but it's what I'm most comfortable doing. I can use a pick for most things, and my middle finger if the tune isn't too busy. But I can't slap to save my life. It helps that I usually only play bass on my own material, so I can choose between thumb and pick, but it's mostly thumb. Hence the tugbar. I'm lost without them.

Now that’s just blimming weird 😂

It does, but it’s maple. I’ve put it on my Jazz and am selling it. Nowt wrong with maple, I just like darker ‘boards.

It's a really good combination. Never tried it before, but it's great for me 👍

Update: my mate sold me a Squier Sonic Precision for £100, and I put the neck from my Squier Jazz on it, and it was a dead-on fit. Put a set of La Bella flats on, added a tugbar and a 3-ply pickguard, and it's just an amazing bass, I had no idea a Precision with a Jazz neck would be the perfect bass for me but I have a feeling that this is. Blown away at how great a bass can be for Harley Benton money. And, it's blue 👍

My mate sold me his Squier Sonic Precision in California Blue for £100. I put the neck from my Squier Jazz on it, and added a tugbar, and it's amazing, it weighs about 2kg, sounds better than a £100 bass has any right to, and it's California Blue. With La Bella flats on 👍

Harley Benton because it already has Aquila strings (so no need to upgrade) and it's from Thomann who are the easiest to deal with over here. €150 with a gigbag and free delivery? If it's okay I'll be chuffed. If it's not, I can always send it back and get a fretless acoustic bass instead and put nylon tapewounds on it. Will tell everyone what it's like and try and do a video or something. 👍

Not at all, but it's the talc that gets me all excited. Phwoar!

Couldn't find any online dealer that would ship a Batking fretless to France, and although I liked the look of the J&D, the only place I could get one from was Music Store in Germany, who I've had the crappiest customer service with whenever I've bought from them So, I've ordered a Harley Benton cheapie from Thomann. It has Aquila strings already and if it's not quite what I'm after then at least the returns process from here is pretty easy. Will do a review when I get it 👍

Yeah, that 'not quite' upright bass sound is what I'd like, ideally. My four or five years of fretless acoustic playing were absolute joy, I played all the time until the bass fell in on itself 😂 I rarely venture beyond the 7th or 8th fret on anything anyway so I might be alright with a fretless uke bass. I'll keep looking 👍 thank you 🙏

None yet, I’m still deciding what to buy. Can’t try any fretted or fretless ukes out as there’s no music stores anywhere near where I live. Will report back when I get something.

Good info thank you 🙏 Thomann are the easiest company for me to deal with so Harley Benton might get the nod 👍

That does sound really good, better than I expected. Her video was great too, no nonsense or paid product advertising, just good information. Another one for the shortlist, thank you 🙏

Yeah I've got Aquila strings on both my soprano ukuleles and once they stay in pitch they are rock solid. Harley Benton is one for the shortlist then. Thank you 🙏

Is the one! Doo itt!!!

Hiya folks. I used to have a 30" scale fretless no-name electro-acoustic bass that I loved playing and would frequently record with. Sadly, it's cheapness meant that it pretty much fell apart after 4 or 5 years - the top bellied up, the bridge lifted up, and then one day the neck cracked at the heel and shortly fell off. So, I've been thinking about getting a little fretless uke bass to replace it. But I've really no idea what to start looking at (except fretless uke basses, obviously)? I have no experience with them. I saw a Jack and Danny one online https://www.musicstore.com/fr_FR/EUR/J-D-UK-BM1R-FL-Fretless-Bass-Ukulele-Natural-/art-BAS0009799-000 which looked alright but I've no idea whether it'll be any good or just future firewood? Does anyone know if the Harley Bentons are any good? I live hours away from any music shops so I'd have to buy online. Any uke bass experts got any tips or recommendations? Mega thankyou's in advance 🙏 - Lee