Thomann selling Harley Benton basses as 'Decoration only'

[Annoying Twit]

Sorry to hear that no-one got a Les Paul. It did seem unusual that they stayed up as long as they did. When I saw them up there, I was damn tempted to go for the gold top just because. But, I already have a Vintage (brand) Les Paul.

[mr zed]

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1450184957' post='2930341']
Just pulled the trigger on the white 5 string progressive and had the confirmation email I'll report back when it arrives - with pics obviously
[/quote]

Well, it arrived on Saturday. Gave it a good visual inspection - all good, plugged the tuner in and got it in tune, checked the intonation at 12th and 24th frets - perfect. Plugged it into my practice amp and all works fine both passive and active. Even the battery works. The tone in both modes is actually very good. Output from the pups is fine. Action is nice and low. I've left it to settle and it would benefit from a quarter turn on the truss rod which i'll do this evening. Very happy. I'll try it in anger at Wednesday's rehearsal but so far I would be more than happy to gig this.

[Annoying Twit]

Dekos on the main site.

[url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/decorative_guitars_and_basses.html"]https://www.thomann....and_basses.html[/url]

PJ5 HTR and others. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pj_5_htr_deluxe_series_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...series_deko.htm[/url]

Vagely MM style bass: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_mb_4_sb_deluxe_series_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...series_deko.htm[/url]

Lefty P-Bass: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pb_20bk_lh_standard_se_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ard_se_deko.htm[/url]

BZ-4000 very pricey for a deko. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_bz_4000_nt_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...000_nt_deko.htm[/url]

Les Paul Insto-sold-out. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_500_bk_vintage_seri_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...e_seri_deko.htm[/url] Two other Les Pauls insto-sold-out.

Acoustic guitar: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_d_120ce_vs_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...0ce_vs_deko.htm[/url]

Nicer looking (but more expensive) acoustic guitar already sold out. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_clj_503ce_nt_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...3ce_nt_deko.htm[/url]

EDIT: There was this fancy guitar too, but it's sold out now: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_cst_24tol_tobacco_sunb_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...o_sunb_deko.htm[/url]

EDIT: BZ-4000 gone despite the price. Left P-Bass now gone. As of a few seconds ago, MM-style bass still there.

Anybody get anything?

Edited December 21, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[such]

I arrived at my parents' in Poland few days ago and my two dekos - standard J and P - were waiting for me. I haven't found any fault in either. Well, the J kinda has a few barely felt (impossible to photograph) imperfections in the finish on the back of its neck. And one of its volume knobs doesn't sit perfectly straight on the pot shaft. But I would expect those kind of imperfections from a bass at this pricepoint (at its non-deko price). Absolutely nothing wrong with the P. Both are playable and take setting up well, the necks are straight and feel solid and stable. The sound is a bit underwhelming, the soloed pickups in the J hum quite a bit, also as the basses are unshielded, both buzz noticeably when playing in front of the laptop (which is what I do here). All in all, no surprises; two reasonable holiday practice machines. As mentioned before, my brother gets one if he wants it.

Edited December 21, 2015 by such

[Annoying Twit]

Result! Particularly for your brother

[Annoying Twit]

Does anyone know: Do the Harley Benton acoustic basses with the generic pre-amp have a low Z or high Z XLR output.

It does seem logical that it would be low Z, but these are cheap basses and corners may be cut. On the other hand, I see no evidence that the electronics on my bass are anything less than well designed and implemented.

[kodiakblair]

The jack output on mine has high z & low z outputs but whether they're wired that way inside I couldn't say.It's a B-30 BK.
The bass uke preamps definitely have both.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1450743411' post='2935511']
The jack output on mine has high z & low z outputs but whether they're wired that way inside I couldn't say.It's a B-30 BK.
The bass uke preamps definitely have both.
[/quote]


I'm sorry but I don't understand this. How can a single jack be both high z and low z? I assumed that the jack would be high z and the XLR would be low z.

[kodiakblair]

You assumed right. I worded the reply badly.

[Annoying Twit]

Thanks KB.

A guitar that IMHO is less likely to instantly sell out.

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_dc_200_bk_student_seri_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...t_seri_deko.htm[/url]

Edited December 22, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Annoying Twit]

Loads of Dekos on the mobile site. Unfortunately, I was doing a MASSIVE pile of dishes and they are probably mostly all gone now. Anyone spot them and grab some?

EDIT: Yup, all gone.

Edited December 23, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Bigwan]

All gone by the time my alert popped up. Mine checks every minute on WiFi and 5 minutes on mobile data. I was on WiFi and was looking at my phone at the time so instantly went to the mobile site. Definitely something fishy with that...

[mr zed]

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1450690290' post='2934818']


Well, it arrived on Saturday. Gave it a good visual inspection - all good, plugged the tuner in and got it in tune, checked the intonation at 12th and 24th frets - perfect. Plugged it into my practice amp and all works fine both passive and active. Even the battery works. The tone in both modes is actually very good. Output from the pups is fine. Action is nice and low. I've left it to settle and it would benefit from a quarter turn on the truss rod which i'll do this evening. Very happy. I'll try it in anger at Wednesday's rehearsal but so far I would be more than happy to gig this.
[/quote]
So, a quick update. I had a slight buzzing on the A flat on the E string at the 7th fret. Tweaked this out with the truss rod but now the string height is a bit high for my liking at the dusty end of the fretboard. The bridge saddles are as low as they will go so I'm going to shim the neck. Got some Schaller straploocks on order and a new strap so I can swap quickly between my 4 string and my 5 mid gig. I'm also going to design a scratchplate as I think this would add to the looks. Can't decide between tortie or black. Whichever one I go for, it will be 3 ply.

[yorks5stringer]

Load of Deco guitars plus a 75 Jazz been and gone....

[Annoying Twit]

Thunder bird deko [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_tb_70vs_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...b_70vs_deko.htm[/url]

Acoustic-Electric Guitar Deko. http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_cg300ce_nt_deko.htm

Edited December 30, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Maude]

I've made a proper decision to get rid of all the gear I've collected that I don't really need and buy something really nice, hence the Takemine TB10 thread, so why the hell am I eyeing up that Thunderbird!!

Someone please buy it

[Annoying Twit]

It's gone. So, problem solved. Unless it was you that bought it.

[Maude]

Not me, I was strong

[yorks5stringer]

Weirdly not showing the TBird sold out on the mobile site but sold out on the main site.

[stevebasshead]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1451521825' post='2941316']
Weirdly not showing the TBird sold out on the mobile site but sold out on the main site.
[/quote]Yep, but when you try to buy it as I just did it goes into your basket, but when you click on your basket to go and pay it days your basket is empty. Bugger, really fancied that one too!

[gafbass02]

Likewise. I've urgent need of a cheap tbird for my current band, clicked but got the no go email this morning :-/

Edited December 31, 2015 by gafbass02

[Annoying Twit]

Acoustic and Electric guitar dekos on main site.

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_clj_503ce_nt_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...3ce_nt_deko.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_cst_24tol_tobacco_sunb_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...o_sunb_deko.htm[/url]

EDIT: They appeared on the mobile site after they were already sold out.

Edited December 31, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Annoying Twit]

Right handed four string acoustic is back. http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_b_30_nt_acoustic_bassdeko.htm

[alyctes]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1451641458' post='2941935']
Right handed four string acoustic is back. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_b_30_nt_acoustic_bassdeko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ic_bassdeko.htm[/url]
[/quote]

... and gone; now showing Sold Out.

But also On Request, from the Decorative Guitars and Basses page http://www.thomann.de/gb/decorative_guitars_and_basses.html

So I don't know what's going on, as usual.

Edited January 1, 2016 by alyctes

[BassBunny]

My PJ5 HTR arrived a couple of days ago. Can't see anything wrong with it other than a slight blemish under the laquer. Reserved judgement until I could try it at last nights gig.
Original plan was that I was only getting it for the body and neck but after a quick noodle post-soundcheck, change of plan.
It is quiet as a mouse, it plays great and sounds fantastic. The "pimping" plan was going to involve, shielding cavity (no need), and just about changing everything.
New plan is Wilkinson Vintage bridge and CTS pots, Switchcraft jack and Bobs your Whatsit.
I am staggered at the pickups, they sound immense. I was switching from my Carvin/Marlleaux 5 er with a Glockenklang pre-amp to the PJ5 and output wise they are very comparable.
Tuners are solid and work well. That might be the only other area that I look at in the future.
Happy Bunny.