Harley Benton P-Bass build Diary

[robertg43]

I have used this type of pin vice https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Micro-Drill-Pin-Chuck-6-5mm-Hexagonal-Shank-Toolmaker-Lathe-Wire-Vice-Vise-0-1mm/283866883003?hash=item4217c8e3bb:g:JEUAAOSwoLFerwH0

[Stub Mandrel]

I didn't drill any holes in this one, but where I have had to drill holes in guitar bodies, I have one of these 🙂

 

[Stub Mandrel]

Well I can report exactly what the Hardly-Bent-One / Deathburger P-bass sounds like. Because after messing around with it for a few days I can say the basic sound is like hitting open piano strings, very rich and rounded but not bright (that will be the Fender flatwounds).

In fact it sounded exactly like a well known track which I have tried to learn over the last ten-minutes and record on my phone, but my sight reading of tab (even at quarter note speed) isn't too brilliant so apologies for the stilted timing and obvious fluffs, but I hope you will be able to recognise the tune and the tone is, to my ear, spot on!

Sound of the P-Bass.mp3

 

[SpondonBassed]

27 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Well I can report exactly what the Hardly-Bent-One / Deathburger P-bass sounds like. Because after messing around with it for a few days I can say the basic sound is like hitting open piano strings, very rich and rounded but not bright (that will be the Fender flatwounds).

In fact it sounded exactly like a well known track which I have tried to learn over the last ten-minutes and record on my phone, but my sight reading of tab (even at quarter note speed) isn't too brilliant so apologies for the stilted timing and obvious fluffs, but I hope you will be able to recognise the tune and the tone is, to my ear, spot on!

Sound of the P-Bass.mp3 240.82 kB · 2 downloads

 

Frère Jacques?

[Si600]

Chopsticks?

It sounds, and looks, utterly spiffing.

[Richard R]

That sounds excellent!

And I shall hopefully recognise the song when you tell me what it is. That first phrase rings a very, very distant bell. Though it also sounds like something The Redhills play, and they aren't that well known. 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

It's from the intro to Foreplay/Long TIme by Boston.

Of course once I put my phone away, within a few minutes I was playing it confidently and accurately... honest!

[Richard R]

That's not a song I know. However it's a nice riff, I will have to look it up.

🎶

[Stub Mandrel]

Kind of defeats the point of a kit but I  jhave replaced the knobs with used ones  and added nickle plated tuners and vintage bridge. Now I've gone and got a quilted maple body (a second, but I can't see the fault). Stained it blue today.  Waiting for a Wilkinson j pup, and will be able to use the aged mint green scratchplate that wouldn't fit the original body.

 

 

 

[HazBeen]

Lovely!

[Stub Mandrel]

I've made a few mods to the Harley Benton P-Bass.

 

Original parts are neck, neck plate, jack socket, tone control and many screws.

 

I have a custom engraved nickel neck plate on order...

 

       

 

(I also have a s/h neck on order so soon I will rebuild the  original bass but with a different neck) ... it seemed daft not to leave it as a pile of bits for the sake of £30.