NBD cheap as chips, but very pretty

[SICbass]

I just took delivery of a Harley benton PB50.

 

I'm doing a 50s Rock'n'Roll show and have used my HB Beatbass up till now. It's fine soundwise, but the 14mm string spacing, while doable is overall a bit meh.

Also, while looking at the media stuff running on the screens behind us, I noticed that, when not playing upright, they were all playing (surpise, surprise) 50s p-basses. The clue is in the name, right? Also, I wanted more of the brash 50s youth look (cars with fins n'all that) than vintage p-bass. The irony of the fact that I am in my late 50s and no longer a youth is of no relevance here 🤨

 

Soooooo, that's how I justified this purchase to myself. I swapped out the delivered roundwounds for HB Flats, did a bit of work on the action and Bob's your aunty's live in lover.

 

It's loads of fun. Can't wait to do the show on Friday

 

[HeadlessBassist]

Noice That'll look well in a 50's show. Congrats!

[PaulThePlug]

Nice...

[smithy]

Looks really nice.

But to be honest, it's the HB flats that I'm interested in.

There isn't much information about them. Any comments on sound, feel (tension)?

[police squad]

1 hour ago, smithy said:

Looks really nice.

But to be honest, it's the HB flats that I'm interested in.

There isn't much information about them. Any comments on sound, feel (tension)?

what gauge as well please

 

These PB50s are great basses

[PaulThePlug]

From the packaging i suspect Olympia, similar to Adagio 45-100 Std Tension

https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_hqs_bass_45_100_flatwound.htm

 

[Terry M.]

Back when I played 4s I had the Squier version in the buttercream finish and black pickguard. Loved it. I have one eye looking out to see if any manufacturer dares to build a 5 string version 😁 Yours looks great.

[JJMotown]

1 hour ago, PaulThePlug said:

From the packaging i suspect Olympia, similar to Adagio 45-100 Std Tension

https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_hqs_bass_45_100_flatwound.htm

 

Nope. They're much higher tension.

[SICbass]

3 hours ago, smithy said:

Looks really nice.

But to be honest, it's the HB flats that I'm interested in.

There isn't much information about them. Any comments on sound, feel (tension)?

 

2 hours ago, police squad said:

what gauge as well please

 

These PB50s are great basses

 

1 hour ago, JJMotown said:

Nope. They're much higher tension.

 

Here's the blurb - they sure ain't low tension, but surprisingly (for me, at least) it seems to work in this context. I can get the strings fairly low with zero buzz, so they're easy to fret. I won't be doing much in the way of string bends, but then I don't really need that in this context anyway, so...

 

p.s. they are easy to slide over from the get-go. My first ever flats were Fenders and itook a good long while before they stopped being "sticky", which almost put me off flats for life.

 

Soundwise, I would describe them as well punchy and very solid. Very even across the neck.

 

 

Set of Strings for Electric Bass

High quality stainless steel flatwound strings for bass

Complete set .045 - .100

Long scale

Hexagonal core made of American steel for solid bass, optimal tension and constant volume

Individually coloured ball ends for easy mounting

String gauges: .045fw - .065fw - .080fw - .100fw

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 17:51 by SICbass