DIY Harley Benton p bass kit

[Twincam]

Very quick review.
Just built up a bass for my brother with one of these kits. Was an easy build. Impressed with the bass and its genuinely really nice to play and sounds really good.
There was a few minor things wrong, pickguard needed a little sanding in a small area but the biggest was the bridge screw holes are lined up at a very slight angle which isn't enough to effect the bass, but visually annoying as the bridge is at slight angle.
Neck is nice, frets and wood quality/feel very respectable indeed. Frets did need a minor amount of work for a 2mm action, but were good enough out the box for a 2.5mm height. Nut is cut perfect. Truss rod works fine.
Pickup surprisingly nice, not a big output however. Electrics are ok seen a lot worse for a lot more money. Zero electronics noise.
Cheapo strings as standard are just about serviceable.

A great bass to experiment with.

[Annoying Twit]

Seriously though, I would appreciate seeing pics of your build. I was very tempted to buy one of these kits, but I bought a complete bass instead, and am now thinking about what to do with it. Edited April 2, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Twincam]

Here are some quick pics taken just after initial build before painting. Taken with an ancient blackberry, but will give you a rough idea.

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[URL=http://s330.photobucket.com/user/Twincam2008/media/IMG-20150402-00010_zpshjytg3uv.jpg.html][IMG]http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l415/Twincam2008/IMG-20150402-00010_zpshjytg3uv.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s330.photobucket.com/user/Twincam2008/media/IMG-20150402-00011_zpsacefmuij.jpg.html][IMG]http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l415/Twincam2008/IMG-20150402-00011_zpsacefmuij.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s330.photobucket.com/user/Twincam2008/media/IMG-20150402-00013_zpsryxc1wiv.jpg.html][IMG]http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l415/Twincam2008/IMG-20150402-00013_zpsryxc1wiv.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s330.photobucket.com/user/Twincam2008/media/IMG-20150402-00007_zpsjjw6gevg.jpg.html][IMG]http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l415/Twincam2008/IMG-20150402-00007_zpsjjw6gevg.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[yorks5stringer]

Very nice, but are you going to shape the "paddle"...?

[Annoying Twit]

That grain has come out much better than I would have expected for a basswood body. It is basswood isn't it? It looks nicely finished. Is it just an oil job? Or did you do more for the finishing.

I echo y5s's comments about the paddle - but hey, it works

[gary mac]

An ancient Blackberry, oh you young whippersnappers.

[Myke]

I really couldn't live with that bridge, it pains me to look at it.

The grain is nice and the body and that bit on the fretboard is lovely

[Twincam]

[quote name='Myke' timestamp='1428030922' post='2737259']
I really couldn't live with that bridge, it pains me to look at it.

The grain is nice and the body and that bit on the fretboard is lovely
[/quote]

The bridge is annoying but it works and the bass plays well. If i had paid more for the kit i would of returned it. I'm willing to bet its a one off. However gonna cover it with an ashtray cover.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1427996648' post='2736915']
That grain has come out much better than I would have expected for a basswood body. It is basswood isn't it? It looks nicely finished. Is it just an oil job? Or did you do more for the finishing.

I echo y5s's comments about the paddle - but hey, it works
[/quote]

Yeah basswood. That's how it was totally untouched out the box. Comes coated in something that can be painted on. So with staining, lacquer or what ever then would look canny. Hmmm might keep the huge paddle for the sonic effect haha. No over the weekend its going to be shaped or at least its corners rounded.

For 70 odd pounds it really is a decent bass. In feel and play ability its matches the lower range squires, has a better neck in my opinion too.
I think new strings, ashtray cover for bridge, upgraded pick up to come soon. see how my younger brother gets on with playing first.

I plan on getting a few more of these for peoples birthday/xmas/wedding/anniversary gifts part of my plan to oneday have a band made up of just bassists haha.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Twincam

[HowieBass]

I'm another that would be driven mad by that bridge! The body wood looks quite nice!

[Annoying Twit]

I must admit that I can't see what's wrong with the bridge. I assume that others know how to make a photobucket image display in full resolution and can see some flaw on the bridge. (If I right click on the image or paste its address into the browser I go back to photo bucket. If I zoom in on the page showing the picture of the bass's body, I get blur city and can't clearly see what is wrong with the bridge. What is wrong with it?

It looks as if you have a very nice action dialled in there.

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1428051851' post='2737410']
I must admit that I can't see what's wrong with the bridge. I assume that others know how to make a photobucket image display in full resolution and can see some flaw on the bridge. (If I right click on the image or paste its address into the browser I go back to photo bucket. If I zoom in on the page showing the picture of the bass's body, I get blur city and can't clearly see what is wrong with the bridge. What is wrong with it?

It looks as if you have a very nice action dialled in there.
[/quote]

The bridge is fine, it's the angle it's mounted at that's not right! I'd have filled and re-drilled the holes if it were mine.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1428053339' post='2737437']
The bridge is fine, it's the angle it's mounted at that's not right! I'd have filled and re-drilled the holes if it were mine.
[/quote]

Thanks. So obvious once it is pointed out. I was looking closely at the bridge, not the wider context of it's positioning.

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

I, too, would not be able to cope with the badly aligned bridge. Having said that, when I was shopping around for a precision recently I saw a brand new American standard with a bridge almost as badly aligned as that!

[Twincam]

Im asking thomann for either a new body or some sort of partial refund.

[UglyDog]

I'd fill and re-drill the screwholes for the bridge. After asking for a partial refund of course

[Annoying Twit]

I think I read somewhere that someone was filling in holes using matchsticks and wood glue! (I'm not sure if this is the best method).

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1428071856' post='2737781']
I think I read somewhere that someone was filling in holes using matchsticks and wood glue! (I'm not sure if this is the best method).
[/quote]

I like those bamboo chopsticks from takeaways for plugging holes, with wood glue. They're big enough to fill most holes and easy to whittle down to fit. But on this one I'd want to check that the bridge still covered the old holes when correctly positioned, as it will be ugly looking otherwise.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Beer of the Bass