MarkG3 Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 Just spotted these! https://m.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_mb_4_sb_deluxe_series.htm?ref=mm_a_33 https://m.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_mb_5_sb_deluxe_series.htm?ref=mm_a_38 If they are anything like the T-bird they will be great! Says currently unavailable though..... Quote
discreet Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 £84 for the four-string? Actually says 'not YET available', which kind of implies they will be available at some point... ...If they do a white one I'm up for it. Quote
Annoying Twit Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 I bought my BZ-7000 when it was listed as not yet available, but there was a date for when they expected a shipment. These basses appear to be earlier in the process, and might be in a boat somewhere. Quote
Machines Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 Passive? The 5 string looks suspiciously like the Vintage EST. Quote
theyellowcar Posted April 22, 2015 Posted April 22, 2015 Dang. I just pulled the trigger on something Stingray shaped this week (thread to follow soon!) but this looks nice. Especially if they live up to the usual HB hype! Quote
Mattmit Posted April 23, 2015 Posted April 23, 2015 (edited) Why is it all stingray copies and sterling subs have the odd Bridge. Are the smaller bridges super hard to aquire? The retrovibe basses have it and some Chinese aliexpress basses, although the one I saw was on a chickenbacker, not a ray copy. So confused. Edited April 23, 2015 by Mattmit Quote
Machines Posted April 23, 2015 Posted April 23, 2015 [quote name='Mattmit' timestamp='1429778272' post='2754758'] Why is it all stingray copies and sterling subs have the odd Bridge. Are the smaller bridges super hard to aquire? The retrovibe basses have it and some Chinese aliexpress basses, although the one I saw was on a chickenbacker, not a ray copy. So confused. [/quote] They appear to be 'copies' of the original Stingray bridge that had the mutes and was phased out around 1996. However they just have a massive gap between the saddles and end of the bridge and look awful. It'd probably be possible to saw it shorter if you could clean it up well and somehow touch up the missing chrome. There must be one maker of these bridges that supply cheapo bass makers worldwide and if so, I bet Sterling SUBs use them too. It's the main thing that puts me off any Stingray copies. Quote
Beer of the Bass Posted April 23, 2015 Posted April 23, 2015 The big bridges do look a bit weird. I'd be inclined to stick one of these on the five string version: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-Bridge-5-String-Chrome-With-Mounting-Pegs-Screws-allen-key-/281265741124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item417cbe9d44"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-Bridge-5-String-Chrome-With-Mounting-Pegs-Screws-allen-key-/281265741124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item417cbe9d44[/url] Quote
discreet Posted April 23, 2015 Posted April 23, 2015 (edited) I'm not up on MM basses at all, but having done a bit of research on them and their many imitators, I now have GAS for the genuine article, so thanks very much for that. Thpp! Edited April 23, 2015 by discreet Quote
Annoying Twit Posted April 23, 2015 Posted April 23, 2015 I wonder if these will have a massively thick neck like the Westfield MM copy I tried. Quote
kodiakblair Posted April 23, 2015 Posted April 23, 2015 These are also available as active models. MM-84A and MM-85A, £126 and £139. There were also another 2 Deluxe basses added today a Rosewood veneer PJ and a Rosewood veneer JB. Neither have a stock date yet and are priced around £140. Oh both have Basswood bodies under the veneer. Quote
Annoying Twit Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 (edited) I think that there was some discussion that the Ric inspired bass had disappeared. It appears to be back again. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_rb_414cs.htm"]Harley Benton RB414cs[/url] Edited April 24, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote
alittlebitrobot Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 Wow, that's crazy. Are these made of newspaper or is somebody not getting paid? How can it be profitable at that price? Quote
kodiakblair Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 alittlebitrobot It's just a reflection of manufacturing costs in China. Thomann buy direct from Saein and use a small mark up/high sales business model, so no middle man,others buy direct but use a higher mark up/high sales model then the distributor adds their mark up then the vendor. It all adds up but Thomann are both distributor and vendor so those costs are saved. Win win situation. Quote
ezbass Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 That's crazy money! One of those 5s could be coming to Ez Towers. Quote
MarkG3 Posted April 27, 2015 Author Posted April 27, 2015 I asked when they will come in stock and had this: Hello Mark, they’re ordered, delivery time should be in the beginning of august ! Quote
ezbass Posted April 27, 2015 Posted April 27, 2015 [quote name='Mark_88MPH' timestamp='1430117987' post='2758000'] I asked when they will come in stock and had this: Hello Mark, they're ordered, delivery time should be in the beginning of august ! [/quote] Quote
Annoying Twit Posted April 27, 2015 Posted April 27, 2015 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1429890929' post='2756098'] alittlebitrobot It's just a reflection of manufacturing costs in China. Thomann buy direct from Saein and use a small mark up/high sales business model, so no middle man,others buy direct but use a higher mark up/high sales model then the distributor adds their mark up then the vendor. It all adds up but Thomann are both distributor and vendor so those costs are saved. Win win situation. [/quote] How do they get their wood so cheap? I heard a Gibson employee claim that the cost to Fender of basic Squier strats was £20. (He didn't say how much Epiphones were, but implied they were higher quality). Certainly when we have instruments sold for £80 or so, the factory will be getting a fraction of that. Cheap labour is one thing, but isn't there a global market for materials? Quote
Bassbadger Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 [quote name='Machines' timestamp='1429783216' post='2754838'] They appear to be 'copies' of the original Stingray bridge that had the mutes and was phased out around 1996. However they just have a massive gap between the saddles and end of the bridge and look awful. It'd probably be possible to saw it shorter if you could clean it up well and somehow touch up the missing chrome. There must be one maker of these bridges that supply cheapo bass makers worldwide and if so, I bet Sterling SUBs use them too. It's the main thing that puts me off any Stingray copies. [/quote] I am just about to order some shorty Stingray-type bridges. They should be here in a couple of weeks. [email protected] Quote
Rumple Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 I picked this bridge up on ebay very cheaply a couple of years ago for a project I'm still intending to put together. [attachment=190906:IMAG0772.jpg] Quote
Mcgiver69 Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 [quote name='Bassbadger' timestamp='1430384734' post='2760810'] I am just about to order some shorty Stingray-type bridges. They should be here in a couple of weeks. [email protected] [/quote] Sorry to hijack the thread but Dave I have a quick question, Why you never had 5ers in your builts? I was lusting for one of those Stringray thingies you make but none were 5 strings which was a bummer. Quote
MarkG3 Posted May 12, 2015 Author Posted May 12, 2015 'Hi Mark only in sunburst available, sorry.' Quote
kodiakblair Posted May 23, 2015 Posted May 23, 2015 This mean you going to order one Mark ? Not long till August Quote
MarkG3 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Posted May 23, 2015 I most likely will Especially at that price! I love my HB T-bird so hope this will be just as good! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.