Paolo85 Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 While these were mentioned in the "Thoman tease" thread, that was mostly about the "Gotoh" basses and I think these deserve their own thread. Despite all the hype around the Gotoh basses, which came out pretty much at the same time, I see that the cheaper JB-62 are doing rather well in terms of sales. The picture is Thoman's ranking of their best selling J basses. If I read this correctly, the sunburst "Gotoh" is the only one in the top 20. It is followed by a JB-62, and there are another three JB-62 in the list. Are any of the JB-62 owners on Basschat? How do you find them? There's an online review on Youtube (in Polish, with translation) and the guy says it is less than 4kg - thanks I would gess to the poplar body. Same wood used in much more expensive basses such as some Squier CV or Sterling Ray4. I feel that the JB-62 has on paper much more potential to revolutionise the low-end market. At ~£150, one can live with cheap tuners. And replacing them is not too hard or expensive if needed, with total costs remaning below or close to a Squier Affinity. The Roswell pickups are good. I do not have an opinion on tone wood yet but I do know for sure that some poplar basses can be very good, and poplar can be a good trade off if the HB's alder Js easily go over 5kg. But then, this is all on paper. Are they built to the same quality of the JB-75? With that lighter body, are they massive neck divers? Any other issues? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lksmks792 Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 I just got one last week, in shell pink. Build quality etc bang on, nothing to complain about. Tuners do feel a bit cheap though less so than on my other HB (5string PJ). Set up pretty good as well, with low action out of the box. Intonation seems to be in need of some tweaking. I only rehearsed with it once for about half an hour but I wasn't disappointed. Great, classic JB tones for very little money. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 (edited) @lksmks792 Tuners... prolly have'nt been round n round... pop the strings out, apply a dab of coppa slip to the worms and go round n round, forward and back... to clear any plating flashing, then wipe and go again with a dab of vaseline... If no coppa slip then just go with the vaseline, smoothed out and improved the feel of a few a sets of cheap tuners. Easy and may improve enough to stop thinking of the outlay for new tuners that are half the price of the bass.... Edited February 15, 2023 by PaulThePlug 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo85 Posted February 15, 2023 Author Share Posted February 15, 2023 50 minutes ago, lksmks792 said: I just got one last week, in shell pink. Build quality etc bang on, nothing to complain about. Tuners do feel a bit cheap though less so than on my other HB (5string PJ). Set up pretty good as well, with low action out of the box. Intonation seems to be in need of some tweaking. I only rehearsed with it once for about half an hour but I wasn't disappointed. Great, classic JB tones for very little money. Great! How is it in terms of weigh and balance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lksmks792 Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 Definitely not too heavy (don't have exact figures though) and balances pretty well. No neck dive to speak of. Again much better than my 5er PJ, which is very neck heavy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 No surprise to see me in this thread. However.....I may surprise you by saying I haven't bought one of these. Yet. 2 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 I expect this uses the same hardware as the Harley Benton jaco-alike fretless, within a week of getting one I both rehearsed and gigged it. Meaning I used this for a whole gig, under lights and hammering away at the strings with my fingers and pick, drop D tuning it a few times... There's nothing wrong with the tuners. It needs new strings, but the tuners are fine. There are lighter tuners, more expensive tuners, ones that feel nicer. But be under no illusion, these work: you can use them to tune the strings and they stay in tune as good as most. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verb Posted February 25, 2023 Share Posted February 25, 2023 I received one yesterday. Weight wise it is 4kg on two different sets of scales. It balances fine on my 4" wide strap, no neck dive at all. The tuners are smooth in operation and have kept the bass in tune. I also have a PB50 and a JB20, the tuners on the 62 are the best of the three. Fit and finish all looks good. Set up wise, I just had to tune it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo_08 Posted March 27, 2023 Share Posted March 27, 2023 I have just pulled the trigger on a shell pink one this evening. 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted March 27, 2023 Share Posted March 27, 2023 On 15/02/2023 at 10:17, lksmks792 said: I just got one last week, in shell pink. Build quality etc bang on, nothing to complain about. Tuners do feel a bit cheap though less so than on my other HB (5string PJ). Set up pretty good as well, with low action out of the box. Intonation seems to be in need of some tweaking. I only rehearsed with it once for about half an hour but I wasn't disappointed. Great, classic JB tones for very little money. Just the merest lick of silicon grease makes them feel much smoother 😎 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo_08 Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 On 15/02/2023 at 15:13, stewblack said: No surprise to see me in this thread. However.....I may surprise you by saying I haven't bought one of these. Yet. .... Has this changed yet? ☺️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted March 29, 2023 Share Posted March 29, 2023 14 hours ago, Bobo_08 said: .... Has this changed yet? ☺️ I have made a firm decision. Based on common sense rather than any moral ground. I live in an overcrowded, damp, cold room. I took a bass out the other day having not used it for a while. The pots crackled, there was rust on the pick ups, the strings were dead. I simply cannot in all conscience bring another instrument into this room. Apart from anything else I'm falling over the ones I already have! 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo_08 Posted March 29, 2023 Share Posted March 29, 2023 1 hour ago, stewblack said: I have made a firm decision. Based on common sense rather than any moral ground. I live in an overcrowded, damp, cold room. I took a bass out the other day having not used it for a while. The pots crackled, there was rust on the pick ups, the strings were dead. I simply cannot in all conscience bring another instrument into this room. Apart from anything else I'm falling over the ones I already have! A dehumidifier and then a new bass then mate! How are you getting on with that Matt Black PB20? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted March 29, 2023 Share Posted March 29, 2023 2 hours ago, Bobo_08 said: How are you getting on with that Matt Black PB20? i love it! A dehumidifier and a new bass I also love! Not that5 I have anywhere to put either 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 15 hours ago, stewblack said: Not that5 I have anywhere to put either Any space on the ceiling? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 3 minutes ago, uk_lefty said: Any space on the ceiling? You're not helping 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassybill Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 I have a couple of Harley Benton Jazz basses and the quality is just out of this world for the money. The only issue I have with them - and it’s a real shame as they are in every other way excellent - is that they are both back breakingly heavy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 2 hours ago, bassybill said: I have a couple of Harley Benton Jazz basses and the quality is just out of this world for the money. The only issue I have with them - and it’s a real shame as they are in every other way excellent - is that they are both back breakingly heavy. Yes the jazz is a heavy one. None of the others are remotely as heavy. However I have find they balance so well I can use them comfortably for two three hours, and I'm old and quite broken! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil___lien Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 But are you guys talking specifically about the JB-62CC? The body is made of poplar.. isn't that supposed to be lighter? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo_08 Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 On 30/03/2023 at 18:28, bassybill said: I have a couple of Harley Benton Jazz basses and the quality is just out of this world for the money. The only issue I have with them - and it’s a real shame as they are in every other way excellent - is that they are both back breakingly heavy. I've just received my JB 62 this afternoon and I really like it, it's a very reasonable weight. I will report back exactly how heavy it is once I've found the luggage scales. I have a PB20 which is really quite heavy and not very comfortable during 2 to 3hr practice session 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo_08 Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 22 hours ago, neil___lien said: But are you guys talking specifically about the JB-62CC? The body is made of poplar.. isn't that supposed to be lighter? It is, I just got mine.. will advise on weight when I find those pesky luggage scales. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil___lien Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 Aaah great! Thanks! Glad to hear U like it! I ordered a JP-45OP today in the end, so a JB62 will have to wait for now.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo_08 Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 HB PB20 4.35kg HB JB62 4.22kg 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil___lien Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 And i believe my Harley Benton MV-4MSB is 4.1kg IIRC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo_08 Posted April 2, 2023 Share Posted April 2, 2023 4 hours ago, Bobo_08 said: HB PB20 4.35kg HB JB62 4.22kg I was actually surprised how close these two basses weighed because my perception was that the PB20 was considerably heavier, I was wrong. As a comparison my Yamaha TRBX304 is Mahogany and weighs in at 3.9kg. I think a decent quality strap is paramount.. I remember now that I practised for 2hours with that PB20 with just a seatbelt nylon strap... Zero padding... It wasn't a pleasant experience. Lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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