Hi before the pictures I shall give my review:
I originally bought a Harley Benton/Palatino:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_bent...ic_upright.htm
I bought it to convert into a 5 string as I wanted a 5 string to take to gigs so my 190 old DB wasn't at risk to be kicked in by a bar worker carrying a crate of beer bottles!
The after finding that to convert the bass was too expensive, I found this on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-strings-3-...:X:RTQ:US:1123
I ordered it in Natural:
Unfortunately delivery took an eternity to arrive in the UK, and then it was stuck in customs and I had to pay an excess fee.
The wood is ok, but I understand why he sells as solid colours. The Natural is OK but the wood is not one solid piece.
The fittings are good and it looks like the are proper ebony tail piece, nut and fingerboard.
The sound is big!
The electronics are OK but the jack out is a small jack, which IMHO is dumb
The free gifts:
Bow OK but student.
Rosin student
Gig bag ok but not checked yet.
Headphones cheap 99 pence rubbish, although if you use good headphones in the headphone socket the sound its good
The metal parts seems custom machined and the brass seems good.
Now the annoying things!!!!!
He used 2 E strings instead of an E and a B
It came in 2 pieces that fit but not snugly, although the bolts hold it tight, but then again it is cheap.
I put it together only to find that the bridge had been set up to pass a 6 lane motorway between the strings and the fingerboard!
It took me all today to set it up and it isn't done yet, but at least it is playable with out getting tendinitis...
So what do I think?
It is NOT my 190 German piece of art, but it cost less and the point is to go to a gig with out fear!
The Harley Benton is overall heavier, but the pegbox is heavier in this one. The space bar is better on this one.
The question is do I regret buying it?
No, not as yet as it will fulfil its job perfectly, as it is solid.
it just narks me to have to put expensive thomastik strings on it..
Will be selling my Harley Benton, as new, as it is!
Will put pics up as soon as!
