carlsim Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 I know this may seem to be a bit naughty, and I just wanted a bit of advice... I have always loved the mid 70s jazz look, primarily the headstock and a beaten up body with darkened laquer on the neck. Mmmmm... anyhoo.... I only really play 5 string so 4s never get used (trust me - I have had my share...) Anyway, I would like a fretless (which also wouldn't get much use) so I thought about getting a cheap fretless and dressing it up to look like a mid 70s beaten up jazz... I have recently bought 2 Harley Benton acoustic guitars for other gigs I do and with a bit of fettling, was astounded at the price point for the quality of guitar that you get! They will never win awards, but I recently changed my £500 freshman acoustic for a £70 HB one and I would put them side by side any day... That aside... I was looking at this: https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75fl_sb_vintage_series.htm Basically, strip it apart, road worn paint job ( I have a good plan on how to achieve this...) and I wanted to reshape the headstock to make it look like a fender and stick a cheeky 70s decal on it with some aged lacquer that I already have. Nobody would ever be fooled but I don't want to spend £2k+ to get a bass I would hardly ever use professionally... this would be a good compromise and a fun project to boot! So.... does anyone have on of these? Would a fender template like the ones here: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/bass-place/66934d1292895136-p-bass-headstock-template-bass-heads-1-pdf lay over the HB one so it could be reshaped or am I p***ing in the wind here? I was gonna take a punt anyway but thought I would ask before I did... Anyone else done this kind of thing? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 I have yes, I just traced a thin paper template of the headstock in real size, cut the shape out with scissors, drew round it on the actual headstock, and trimmed the wood to suit. This assumes you've got enough extra wood to do this, the one I did was a chinese cheapo neck that the headstock was oversize in the right places, so was easy enough to re shape to the fender design, just needed a bit off the bottom and accentuate the "curve" a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsim Posted September 20, 2021 Author Share Posted September 20, 2021 Yep... that's what I am hoping for. Hopefully someone will have one and wouldn't mind doing a quick check!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 Hey, just sent you a PM with attachment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 I've seen some of our friends and colleagues here do something similar with the single coil 50s style Harley p bass. The thread on here was very good if you can find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gothic Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 I had one of these. While they are extremely good basses (not just for the money, mind you) I'd advise against getting one if you're planning on gigging with it. They are boat anchors. Mine was about 6kg and some change and it got really tiresome after a while. Since you're planning on doing this as a project, I'd suggest you get the HB JB kit. The head's a paddle so you can give it whatever shape you want, they're MUCH lighter and you can slap any color you want on it without having to strip off the original paint. Might need a pickup change if you're not fond of the Chinese ceramics (they're not that bad, really) but the hardware is serviceable. Certainly not the best out there but they do their job as they're supposed to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 (edited) I've seen a 51 P Tele headstock done out of HBs... Don't think there is enough wood for a Std P or J... Decals... @taddy does a sterling job... this is a custom one he did for my P Bitsa. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Water-slide-guitar-decals-for-restoration-projects-please-choose-item-No-/124895054584?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0 Edited September 20, 2021 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsim Posted September 21, 2021 Author Share Posted September 21, 2021 14 hours ago, Gothic said: I had one of these. While they are extremely good basses (not just for the money, mind you) I'd advise against getting one if you're planning on gigging with it. They are boat anchors. Mine was about 6kg and some change and it got really tiresome after a while. Since you're planning on doing this as a project, I'd suggest you get the HB JB kit. The head's a paddle so you can give it whatever shape you want, they're MUCH lighter and you can slap any color you want on it without having to strip off the original paint. Might need a pickup change if you're not fond of the Chinese ceramics (they're not that bad, really) but the hardware is serviceable. Certainly not the best out there but they do their job as they're supposed to. I did consider this but I wanted the 70s sunburst with black pickguard anyway... plus there is the hassle of painting and defretting the neck... I wonder if there is variation in weight... other reviews on the Thomann site mention weight as well but I think that if I gig it, it would just be for the occasional song rather than a whole gig... Thanks for the advice though, it's a shame they don't do it the kit with a fretless neck... i think if they did, I would jump on that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 (edited) Do It!... You may need to scale down the Fender-stock to get as much a P or J shape as you can.... Go Custom Logo for a unique look! Edited September 21, 2021 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsim Posted September 21, 2021 Author Share Posted September 21, 2021 I think I will... I might even keep a project diary to inspire others! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 7 hours ago, carlsim said: I wonder if there is variation in weight... Not as I recall. Had the dubious honour of being a Harley Benton forum mod and dishing out numbers on the HB Owners TalkBass thread , plenty folk reported 12lb+. Being a Peavey T-40 owner I was quite glad to hear that 😀 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 On 21/09/2021 at 16:43, kodiakblair said: Not as I recall. Had the dubious honour of being a Harley Benton forum mod and dishing out numbers on the HB Owners TalkBass thread , plenty folk reported 12lb+. Being a Peavey T-40 owner I was quite glad to hear that 😀 The JB75's are weighty beasts. Mine is 11lbs with Gotoh Resolites on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolltax Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Not that another example is needed, but I also have a Harley Benton JB-75MN and much as I enjoy playing it, I have to agree that it is ridiculously heavy, mine is completely stock, I just weighed it at 5.5 kg (12 lbs). My Sire MM M2 is 3.5 kg ( under 8 lbs) by comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsim Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 I wonder if the the JB-40FL 3-Tone Sunburst one is also heavy? It states same wood for body and neck but they do seem to be far more widespread in use and very little references to weight... @kodiakblairdid anyone comment on these ones? Its looks the same apart the JB75 has a black pickguard... I'm sure there will be minor differences perhaps, not that it would bother me much... It's a shame they don't do the kit bass with a fretless neck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merello Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 The HB headstock is very Sadowskyesque..?.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 4 hours ago, carlsim said: I wonder if the the JB-40FL 3-Tone Sunburst one is also heavy? It states same wood for body and neck but they do seem to be far more widespread in use and very little references to weight... @kodiakblairdid anyone comment on these ones? Its looks the same apart the JB75 has a black pickguard... I'm sure there will be minor differences perhaps, not that it would bother me much... It's a shame they don't do the kit bass with a fretless neck... It's the American Ash body that bumps the weight up. My JB-20 with it's Poplar body is 8.8lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 7 hours ago, carlsim said: @kodiakblairdid anyone comment on these ones? Don't recall any reports of light weight JB-40s , my pal's 40 weighs about the same as his JB-75. It's as Mark said , big bass bodies made from ash tend to be heavier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I had a deco one and when I dropped it created a black hole in our solar system that periodically sucks in small stars and planets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 2 hours ago, kodiakblair said: It's as Mark said , big bass bodies made from ash tend to be heavier. Aye, my '69 precision is so heavy my other basses are in orbit around it. Fortuntely im a 19 1/2 stone amateur powerlifter, so even the most anvil like bass bothers me not. I give thanks to the Lord that I don't have to worry about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Bassfinger said: I give thanks to the Lord that I don't have to worry about that. I don't worry about it either. First job was unloading cement wagons ; no forklifts back then , driver just dropped the hundredweight bag on your shoulder and you were off to trot 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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