ribbetingfrog Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 I bought a harley benton guitar cab in January and am pleasantly surprised how good it is. had a curious look at their basses on the off chance and found this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pb_50_sb_vintage_series.htm?sid=016035ddb050f26c0494fe6c3d21f5e0Hought It seems to review really well, Wilkinson pickup, all for £86 delivered. My first thought is it must be awful for that price but the reviews are full of people saying otherwise, and some bbasschatters seem to like Harley Benton stuff. I play a Warwick Vampyre atm but fancy a backup that is a different style but not got a lot of cash to splash. So, can it really be a half decent bass for £86? opinions please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr zed Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Yes - and if you don't like it you can send it back for a full refund. This will allow one of us to buy it as a deko for £20. Seriously though, I bought a Harley Benton 5 string progressive Deko and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Can't comment on the pb50 but I really like the looks. Well worth a risk-free punt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) Mines pretty good.Shame there isn't any other colours though Edited March 12, 2017 by MarkG3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikki_Sixx Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) That's a beaut! If you're after something new and different but cheap, then I'd say this is worth a punt - especially if reviews are favorable! Let us know if you go for it! Edited February 20, 2016 by Rikki_Sixx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Had mine a couple of years now and absolutely love it,so much so I got another 2. 1st one sports Status Hot Wire nylon,plays and sounds fantastic. 2nd went to a friend for his 40th,he went for Chromes. 3rd I fancied a Tele look but ended using a Peavey ferrite instead. Another fella bought Thunderbird's one with a Duncan in it but after I sent him my spare Wilkinson he went with that,same tone as the SD but it's louder. Plenty of basses here but that PB-50 probably sees more use than the others.Best £70 I spent in years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Once again GAS has struck! But for once, it is cheap GAS!! I have ordered one of these and am going to fit a Wilkinson MM pickup that I have knocking about, in place of the single coil. Well thats the plan at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 How do these compare to say SX or Westfield? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Having never played an SX or Westfield I couldn't say but I have owned 10 Harley Bentons The basic PB-20 I preferred to the Squier Affiniity P-bass,it has a Poplar body same as some of my Peaveys. Young lad at Stirling Uni uses it now on his symphonic metal recording tuned BEAD. BZ-4000-NT which is the top tier series was another good bass, build quality and features were fantastic, JB-75 is a nice jazz bass,HB-60 performed like my last semi hollow. Honestly I've yet to play a bad HB bass, no complaints on the RB-414 itself but the Ric inspired design wasn't for me. The reason they're so affordable is not so much cost cutting but lower profit margins + high volumes of sales. Thomann buy direct so there's no middle man adding his costs,no sales reps or advertising. A friend of mine set up a Harley Benton forum,plenty satisfied owners there an I'm sure 1 or 2 will have had Westfields or SX's. Here's the link if you fancy checking it out. http://theharleybentonclub.proboards.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 I've got one, easily the equal of a squier or similar. Proper chunky neck though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 (edited) I'm very very tempted by the JB-75. I've been toying with getting a back up/2nd jazz or p bass and was looking at old Squiers. These HB's are cheaper...as for quality, from what I've seen and heard, the HB's seem very good indeed. [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1456084696' post='2985274'] I've got one, easily the equal of a squier or similar. Proper chunky neck though. [/quote] I assume you mean from front to back rather than nut width. Is that on the JB-75 or the PB50? Edited February 21, 2016 by Marvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 [quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1456085424' post='2985284'] I'm very very tempted by the JB-75. I've been toying with getting a back up/2nd jazz or p bass and was looking at old Squiers. These HB's are cheaper...as for quality, from what I've seen and heard, the HB's seem very good indeed. I assume you mean from front to back rather than nut width. Is that on the JB-75 or the PB50? [/quote] Front to back. It's a pb50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1456087896' post='2985313'] Front to back. It's a pb50. [/quote] That makes sense, thanks Just increased my GAS level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyV Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Havent got a PB 50 but have a PB 20 and a JB 20, both the standard series models. These are seriously good value for money basses - really nicely put together, nice finish on them and really good necks on my two. Perfect for upgrading on the standard series models but with the PB 50 you already have a decent Wilkinson pickup in so you are good to go straight out the box. You really cant go wrong for the money in my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribbetingfrog Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 Thanks for all the replies. I was kinda hoping you'd put me off but now I think I'm going to have to pull the trigger! Will let everyone know what I think when I buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribbetingfrog Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 Bass ordered, looking forward unboxing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribbetingfrog Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) I just got my PB 50 today. Only bad points: It needed a set up, slight tweak to the truss rod and lowering the action. The tone knob is slightly bent, but only slightly. Had to unscrew the thumbrest to remove to protective coating from the pick guard. Otherwise, awesome! Perfect finish, great Wilkinson pickup with plenty of character. The bridge is better than the MIM fender I used to own. More chunky. Tuners can't be faulted. Plays great. The d'addario strings are fantastic. I love the bright sound, accentuates the attack when I play with a pick. Perfect for the rock covers I play in my band. I'm looking forward to a beautiful relationship. Crazy how good a guitar can be for £76! Edited February 29, 2016 by ribbetingfrog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyV Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Thats done it. I have been waiting for ages for a deko one of these to come up again but I am now wondering why I have waited. I am just going to have to buy one at full price. That really is a great looking bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Have to say it's crazy waiting on a deko,which could be knackered, when the full price with warranty is so affordable. I did buy a deko one but that was just to rob the body,made an arse of a pickup rout on one. Only fault was a dodgy tooth on a tuner. Gave it to a friend,my other 2 PB-50s see plenty of use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I got mine last Friday. Just had to lift the bridge a couple of turns and it was good to go. As above the tuners are fine but I`m not sure about the sound of the single coil pickup. I was going to replace it with a MM pickup I have but to get this done would cost as much as the bass so that is out the window the now. The guitarist with the £3K Les Paul was impressed with the sound, especially when he found out the price! I have since replaced the tuners, bridge, knobs and screws with all black hardware and it looks the biz. I changed the parts as I had them lying about not because the original hardware wasn`t up to the job. Is it worth the money? Well I have owned several Squiers that cost 3 times as much and this is as good as them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Single coil and brand new strings combo sounded a bit bright for me so swapped strings for Hot Wire tapes,that solved it. The Wilkinson itself is a decent pickup,friend in Kenya bought BC'er Thunderbird's PB-50 with a Duncan in it and after I sacked the idea of a 2nd 50 with a toaster,went with Peavey Ferrite, I sent him the spare Wilkinson.He was a bit deflated when he A/B'd them as the Wilkinson sounded the same as the mighty SD he'd heard so much about,it was louder too Interesting idea going with the MM jezzaboy,be great to hear your thoughts if you get around to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No. 8 Wire Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 [quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1456777787' post='2992240'] I got mine last Friday. Just had to lift the bridge a couple of turns and it was good to go. As above the tuners are fine but I`m not sure about the sound of the single coil pickup. I was going to replace it with a MM pickup I have but to get this done would cost as much as the bass so that is out the window the now. The guitarist with the £3K Les Paul was impressed with the sound, especially when he found out the price! I have since replaced the tuners, bridge, knobs and screws with all black hardware and it looks the biz. I changed the parts as I had them lying about not because the original hardware wasn`t up to the job. Is it worth the money? Well I have owned several Squiers that cost 3 times as much and this is as good as them. [/quote] Have you got a picture of it with the black hardware? I've got a PB-50 coming on order, black hardware is one my options for personalising it a bit, so would be great to see yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 (edited) Here is a few pics. I had to spray paint the control plate with enamel paint, stuck on the Motorhead sticker as there is a big gap and in the future, I will get a custom transfer for the headstock. Sorry about the quality of the photos. Re the MM pickup, if I am flush at some point, I will get it done by someone who knows how to use a router [attachment=213756:SAM_0882.JPG] [attachment=213757:SAM_0883.JPG] [attachment=213758:SAM_0885.JPG] Edited March 2, 2016 by jezzaboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No. 8 Wire Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 [quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1456949292' post='2993985'] Here is a few pics. I had to spray paint the control plate with enamel paint, stuck on the Motorhead sticker as there is a big gap and in the future, I will get a custom transfer for the headstock. Sorry about the quality of the photos. Re the MM pickup, if I am flush at some point, I will get it done by someone who knows how to use a router [/quote] Thanks for posting those pics, looks badass with the black hardware. Tempted to go for a similar look. I'm planning on reshaping the headstock tele style and taking the neck back to bare wood and refinishing in Tru OIl and wax - so it feels a little like my stingray. I have a SD SCPB2 to go in it as well, but will have to see how the original sounds first. I'll probably keep it stock for a little while to just to get the setup right. Very tempted by that black hardware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 With photos getting posted,might as well put mine up On the left with the Peavey SF and right with the nylons.,it also has an aged look to the fretboard. [attachment=213778:PB 50s (2).jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No. 8 Wire Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1456955845' post='2994092'] With photos getting posted,might as well put mine up On the left with the Peavey SF and right with the nylons.,it also has an aged look to the fretboard. [attachment=213778:PB 50s (2).jpg] [/quote] Nice! It's that aged look natural? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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