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Does anybody know about Harley Benton and Strinberg basses?

Draculea

Draculea

Oct 2, 2011
330
23
Mexico City
#1
Hello dear fellows,

As I was browsing the web, I came across some pictures of a Hartley Benton bass guitar, which looks very well made, but I was amazed at how low the price is. I wanted to find out more about the brand, and I found pictures of other Harley Benton basses that look exactly the same as the basses from another brand I happen to know called Strinberg.

I own a 6 string Strinberg myself, so I know all the features, and the basses are almost the same, except for the logo being absent in the HB, but they both have the brand embeded just above the fretboard, in very similar font.

Both brands are made in China, but in regards to where they originally are, I've no idea. I just found some info on HB and it says it's from Germany. There is no info at all on the Strinberg website, and the closest thing I found is that Strinberg instruments are distributed in and from Brazil by a company called Sonotec, or something like that.

Does anybody here know anything about these two brands, and if they happen to be related in any way? I would really appreciate it, as I am performing a personal research about basses, but specifically the one I own and its origins. I am curious about this because it's a very good bass, too good actually considering what I paid for it, but I also have a passion for basses and researching on brands, luthiers and such. I would really appreciate any help you and info you can provide me with. Thanks for taking the time to rwad my post.

Ps: I'll post some pics as soon, of both strinberg basses and HB.
 
#2
They are made in China, and branded with various different brand badges for each importer. Harley Benton is the house brand of thomann.de, a German importer and retailer, which is why somebody would think the basses were from Germany.
 
#3
That explains a lot. The bass has explicitly written on it, under the brand lettering, that it was designed in the USA, but it's clearly made in China as the label says. I still wonder which company makes them, and if it's chinese, or the basses are just made there.

I do have to say the basses are very well crafted, and the finish is flawless, which I find to be rather unusual in an instrument made in China. Some details make it look like an expensive bass, and the hardware is looks top of the line, with sealed tuners and a solid block bridge. I bought ot for the equivalent of $350 USD, which is quite a low price considering what I got, it's turned out to be a very good bass, more than I was expecting. I've seen other models and they are also very well made, with neck through body construction, and fine woods for the body. I guess I'll have to wait for the website to be finished in order to know more about this brand.
 
#4
I've played several HB guitars and basses (they've been available at Thomann for many years) and they've all been great for the price. Of course one shouldn't expect much from a $100-$300 instrument but so far they've exceeded my expectations by not being garbage but actually very playable.

The hardware is actually not that good, sure looks decent but the metals are soft and break easily. Still, I'd gig with a HB but not without a backup.

Even my cab is a HB. The tweeter blew in about two hours of play but that just made the tone better :D
 
#5
I have a semi-acoustic HB and its great for gigs. Too bad I have to sell it if I want that big behemoth of an amp I've always wanted. Too lazy to take pics this morning so here it is in its majestic state:

HBB-1960-BK.jpg
 
#6
My first bass was a Harley Benton HPB120 (now known as the PB-20 after their site update not too long ago) and whilst the body is respectable for the price (it's light and there's some good tone from it), the neck is garbage. I don't think they even have different neck profiles for 4 and 5 string basses. I know real Fender P necks are known to be chunky but this thing is in a whole different league. The fretboard is really wide whilst the neck is quite flat. It's the opposite that I want. The truss rod doesn't work either.

Mind you, all of this is based upon a single piece of their cheapy mccheap line. They've had some pretty decent stuff come out as far as I know, and one of the higher end looking basses they do (HBZ-2004 or something) looks very good. There's a Jazz copy they do that looks exactly like the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz. I don't want to spend money on it knowing that it could be a complete dud and need tons of work done to it to make it decent.

If I were you I wouldn't chance it with any of the lower end Harley Benton stuff. It's not worth the money, nor is it worth the time to rectify the problems that come from it. Save for something of higher quality if you're thinking of one of these. Get a Squier Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified. The extra money is worth it. If you're going for any Harley Benton, make sure it's one of their higher end ones that cost more than £120 or so.
 
#7
Well, my questions come out of curiosity rather than being interested in a HB. I just like to research on brands and I found it curious to see Strinberg basses and HB that are pretty much the same design wise, haven't avtually played a HB.

Even though I'm not in ecomnomic shape to buy myself a bass right now (I'm living on a scholarship which is enough to make a decent living but that's it) as soon as I can I will get me a fender o squire 5 string Jazz bass, as it is time to start upgrading my gear, as I need more versatile instruments, and backup basses.

I currently own the strinberg, which as I said is quite good, and also why I wanted to find more info about the brand, a four string fretless bass made in my home country which is also pretty good, but I am not using right now because the nut at the end of the top of truss rod is loose and won't work, the saddles are at their lowest and still the action is a bit high. When properly set it plays like butter, and it has an amazing sound, not to mention I sanded it completely and I found the wood beneath had a beautiful grain, with spalted features.

Anyway, I hope to hear some more about this Strinberg brand, or eventually find more information, hopefully they will finish the website so I can access the other options that are not available at the moment.
 
#8
I was just browsing the fretless bass guitars thread, and I foudn a picture of a Douglas bass, which is exactly the same as Strinbergs and HB, excepto for the headstock... I lookd up on the web for other models and I found another Douglas bass guitar model, a four string one, identical to a Strinberg bass model. Even the dot inlays are not centered but to the side of the fretboard in both basses, and the headstock is the same. My guess now is that there must be a manufacturer un China that does in fact make the same instruments, but depending on where they go the name changes. However the only official website existing is the Strinberg one, not Douglas nor HB website.
 
#9
bongomania said:
They are made in China, and branded with various different brand badges for each importer. Harley Benton is the house brand of thomann.de, a German importer and retailer, which is why somebody would think the basses were from Germany.
Click to expand...

Correct.

You can buy a cheap HB bass and pimp it up with other parts. But I persionally would prefer a Squier over a HB anytime because they're mostly made out of cheap wood.
 
#10
The Strinberg basses seem to look very similar to the Douglas basses from Rondomusic, whereas the Harley Benton ones are just really cheap knockoffs of Fender Ps and Js, with some Musicman copies in the past, and a couple of fairly original models.
 
#11
kombi said:
Correct.

You can buy a cheap HB bass and pimp it up with other parts. But I persionally would prefer a Squier over a HB anytime because they're mostly made out of cheap wood.
Click to expand...

Yup. I considered putting Basslines DiMarzios or an EMG system in my PJ harley Benton. Then I realized I need to get new tuners, maybe a more stable neck, new pots etc. I can't justify the cost, and keeping it original as long as possible is a motivtor for me due to sentimental reasons.

dcalde78 said:
The Strinberg basses seem to look very similar to the Douglas basses from Rondomusic, whereas the Harley Benton ones are just really cheap knockoffs of Fender Ps and Js, with some Musicman copies in the past, and a couple of fairly original models.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about Douglas's but the HB's are cheap and cheerful instruments. Mine has Ok overall operation, but after a few months work the tuners are failing (E has never been 'to spec' and D had a steel wire offcut wedged in it in the beginning)... the trussrod operation is a little finiky (adds an uneven relief... good thing I don't need much). Etc, Etc, Etc. You won't get great bass new at that price point. Good enough for a beginner... I got a fender MP telebass and am happier with that. The HB is very light, and sounds good.
I love that cheaper instruments can be functional, but once one has decided to invest a lot of time and effort in a hobby some investment in efficent tools seems reasonable. Don't go broke... but get what drives you to try harder (but resist impulse buys).
 
#13
Afraid that Wiki info is a few years out of date @Constantinos

Lasse Thernoe, Thomann's Headman for the Harley Benton range said there's 3 or 4 factories involved now.
Judging from what I've read on the various HB groups last couple of weeks there may be another factory just
started building for them too.

Do you own a HB yourself ? If you do please check in at the Harley Benton Owners club on TB

I own a Harley Benton club

Welcome to Talkbass
 
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