Harley Benton Enhanced 25th Firemist

[Tvrtastic]

Wow, how nice is this!  And unusually also available as a lefty 
 

https://harleybenton.com/product/enhanced-25th-firemist/

443 notes 

[stewblack]

Oh.

 

My.

 

God.

[benh]

That is gorgeous. I don't know how they do it for the money

[stewblack]

I just said in another thread no more basses for me, but come on. 

Wow 

[jassbass]

More expensive than other colours, looks very nice though

[rushbo]

My word, that looks yummy.

 

However...

 

Reviews of the enhanced series were a bit mixed. Has anyone had any experience of these in the real world. I'm looking at you stewblack...

Edited March 30, 2023 by rushbo

[Pea Turgh]

It looks lush.  Really love the color combination.  39mm nut width though, so not for me.  Only other bass option is a Jazz, too.

[BassAdder60]

Very nice looking 

[TheLowDown]

Seems fantastic, but it depends on the weight whether it's a yay or nay.

[bnt]

Well, I recently updated my NBD thread with a gig story - a 1-song gig, that is. I was not happy with the electronics in mine and replaced the lot with active EMGs. It doesn’t look like they changed anything there. Apart from that, it’s well-built and holds up well, if big and heavy. 

[MungoBass]

Very nice!

 

I clicked on the link to the Thomann site and the bass shown there has a stunning flamed neck….. I wonder if that is standard?

[bartelby]

The Jazz one looks a bit dull in comparison!

[stewblack]

11 hours ago, rushbo said:

My word, that looks yummy.

 

However...

 

Reviews of the enhanced series were a bit mixed. Has anyone had any experience of these in the real world. I'm looking at you stewblack...

Yes. I have the jazz enhanced. It's natural so a bit vanilla to look at, but it's a beautiful bass to play. 

I don't know what criticism others have of it, but generally people seem to look harder for faults on HB basses than the overpriced competition.

I have a little financial chicanery to get through before I buy this one but I'll let you know. 

[stewblack]

14 minutes ago, bartelby said:

The Jazz one looks a bit dull in comparison!

But a matching headstock, which is all that's missing from the P.

Edit: oh it's much cheaper isn't it 

Edited March 31, 2023 by stewblack

[iconic]

My word, that Jazz is a looker. 

[Pea Turgh]

If they did a Mustang in this colour, I’d be on it.

[bartelby]

38 minutes ago, stewblack said:

But a matching headstock, which is all that's missing from the P.

Edit: oh it's much cheaper isn't it 

 

I didn't notice it was a matching headstock. Just thought it was plain wood.
Still, I think it would have looked better with a similar neck to the enhanced:

[stewblack]

29 minutes ago, bartelby said:

 

I didn't notice it was a matching headstock. Just thought it was plain wood.
Still, I think it would have looked better with a similar neck to the enhanced:

Hmmm. That one is different. Block inlays.

Edited March 31, 2023 by stewblack

[Ralf1e]

14 hours ago, stewblack said:

I just said in another thread no more basses for me, but come on. 

Wow 

I think they got your home bugged. 😂

[bnt]

My Enhanced is Lake Placid Blue, with matching headstock. I think they didn't match the headstock of the Anniversary edition so that they could show off the roasted maple, which mine doesn't have. They both have the block inlays and the zero fret, things I like.

 

(Why don't all guitars and basses have a zero fret? It reduces or prevents nut filing problems and tonal changes on open strings. I've heard that wear can be a problem, but even now that stainless steel frets are more common?)

Edited March 31, 2023 by bnt

[Bobo_08]

I also just spotted this today, almost pulled the trigger as soon as I saw it! I still might! The only thing I am wondering about is the weight as the Alder body offerings from HB are often a  it on the heavy side. 

[soldersqueeze]

All this talk about the bass and no one has mentioned the commemorative lanyard?? 

 

I swear I don't understand folk's priorities sometimes.

 

It comes with a commemorative lanyard, people. Instant buy.

[uk_lefty]

I was scrolling through Facebook and thought "that's a nice Sandberg..." Then I saw this thread. And that they do them in left handed. And I want a 4 string jazz at the moment, if that's slightly "better" than the JB fretless jazz I just bought it will be a bargain at £265... 

[Paolo85]

I am annoyed at the Enhanced because I would be all over a cheap P H bass if only they were not known to be super heavy. I would even get over mixed reviews on the electronics as these can be replaced. I see this one costs £150 more than the other Enhanced. They have added a gigbag and a roasted maple neck. I am not too excited about either of them.

At £439 you are not in the "so cheap that I am shocked it's good" price range. At that price one can buy a Sire V5 or a Sterling Ray 4. I am not saying this is worse (I have not tried it), I just wish they figured out how to make lighter basses instead throwing around Gotoh tuners, zero frets and roasted maple necks for free

Edited April 1, 2023 by Paolo85

[stewblack]

11 hours ago, Paolo85 said:

I am annoyed at the Enhanced because I would be all over a cheap P H bass if only they were not known to be super heavy. I would even get over mixed reviews on the electronics as these can be replaced. I see this one costs £150 more than the other Enhanced. They have added a gigbag and a roasted maple neck. I am not too excited about either of them.

At £439 you are not in the "so cheap that I am shocked it's good" price range. At that price one can buy a Sire V5 or a Sterling Ray 4. I am not saying this is worse (I have not tried it), I just wish they figured out how to make lighter basses instead throwing around Gotoh tuners, zero frets and roasted maple necks for free

I have HB P basses which are incredibly well priced and they're not remotely heavy.