Harley Benton Multiscale 5s

[primussucks9126]

I didn't see a thread on these yet.

🎸 Harley Benton MSB-5 ESP

5-String Multiscale Electric Bass Body: Okoume, Top: Flame burl maole, 5-Piece neck: Roasted Canadian maple / okoumé / roasted Canadian maple / okoumé / roasted Canadian maple, Dual Action Truss Rod, Fingerboard: Canadian maple, Fingerboard inlays:...

www.thomannmusic.com

They look solid and they're reasonably priced. They already to be pretty similar to the g4m/redsub basses. Actually almost identical to the old Rondo Brice Freak basses.

It looks like the tone would be too modern for me, but its definitely tempting.

 

[kodiakblair]

Thomann first launched those late 2016.

Don't recall a flood of QC complaints so perhaps it was just poor timing because the basses were discontinued by the start of 2017.

 

[dabbler]

Yes, very similar to my Brice Freak indeed. Biggest physical difference appears to be the neck to body interface. And I'm thinking I might like the HB interface better, assuming that it's stable.

I'm not sure why HB made theirs a multiscale. I have a 32"-35" multiscale, but I have no desire for the shorter high end strings. And tone wise it doesn't hold a candle to my 34"-37' Brice Defiant.

 

[primussucks9126]

Yes, very similar to my Brice Freak indeed. Biggest physical difference appears to be the neck to body interface. And I'm thinking I might like the HB interface better, assuming that it's stable.

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I'm not sure why HB made theirs a multiscale. I have a 32"-35" multiscale, but I have no desire for the shorter high end strings. And tone wise it doesn't hold a candle to my 34"-37' Brice Defiant.

Brice also made a multiscale variant with the same scale length, and like kodaiakblair said it looks like these were previously available for a short period.

It seems like recycling the design was the path of least resistance.

An affordable 37" B would've been hard for me to resist.

 

[luckydawgg169]

YAY! Lets keep using up all the wood to make budget instruments that look like expensive instruments to meet market demand.

 

[Pep]

While I believe Harley Benton has some of the best prices on very good basses, this isn't one that I really care for even at that price. It just personal preference but I'm not a fan of the "fat" upper horn or how it attaches to the back of the neck. JMHO

 

[TeeSee]

YAY! Lets keep using up all the wood to make budget instruments that look like expensive instruments to meet market demand.

I guess us paupers should be kept firmly in our places then. We should ALL be able to afford Alembics and Dingwalls. Those of us who can't.... Jeez, what an attitude.

 

[joeLowB]

I'm intrigued. Wonder how it sounds in reality

 

[ManyMountains]

Interested as well. Could be a gateway MS bass for those of us on the fence but not wanting or unable to pony up for pricier models from Ibanez.

 

[silky smoove]

The first thing I check when someone introduces a multiscale model is where they place the parallel fret. This model has it at the 7th or 8th fret. That's where Dingwall places theirs and is my preference compared to some I've played where it's way up at the 12th fret. Good on HB for that consideration.

 

[dabbler]

Brice also made a multiscale variant with the same scale length, and like kodaiakblair said it looks like these were previously available for a short period.

It seems like recycling the design was the path of least resistance.

An affordable 37" B would've been hard for me to resist.

Yes, very similar, but the Brice was 32-35, the HB is 33.5-35 (which seems very strange, but that's what it says in the specs).

Brice Freak-Out Bass 53235

 

[Five or Six]

Anybody know what the Harley Benton MSB 5 ESP weighs?

 

[TeeSee]

Interested as well. Could be a gateway MS bass for those of us on the fence but not wanting or unable to pony up for pricier models from Ibanez.

I bought the G4M 972 5 string about a year and a half ago. It's undergone some heavy mods but once you try a multiscale it's difficult to go back. The low B just sounds much more punchier and precise to a normal fretted 5 string.
I can't be sure but the HB could be made in the same factory as the G4M. One thing to look out for if it is a similar neck, that the string spacing on mine is 17mm which may not suit everyone.
That said, I have to wholeheartedly agree with you that at this ludicrous price and given HB make some quality instruments, those considering a budget fanned fret would have to come up with some pretty lame excuses not to buy one.

 

[dabbler]

I bought the G4M 972 5 string about a year and a half ago. It's undergone some heavy mods but once you try a multiscale it's difficult to go back. The low B just sounds much more punchier and precise to a normal fretted 5 string.
I can't be sure but the HB could be made in the same factory as the G4M. One thing to look out for if it is a similar neck, that the string spacing on mine is 17mm which may not suit everyone.
That said, I have to wholeheartedly agree with you that at this ludicrous price and given HB make some quality instruments, those considering a budget fanned fret would have to come up with some pretty lame excuses not to buy one.

While I agree with your post, I would add that if you REALLY want to find it what multiscale can give you on the bottom end, spend a little more and get something like these:

Bass Guitars Multi Scale Fret

Yeah, these are totally passive and I did mod mine so I can play inner/outer coils or the pups in series/parallel mode with VVT configuration, but it taught me that a 37 inch B is a wonderful thing!

 

[TeeSee]

While I agree with your post, I would add that if you REALLY want to find it what multiscale can give you on the bottom end, spend a little more and get something like these:

Bass Guitars Multi Scale Fret

Yeah, these are totally passive and I did mod mine so I can play inner/outer coils or the pups in series/parallel mode with VVT configuration, but it taught me that a 37 inch B is a wonderful thing!
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much nicer than your Freak, the HB and G4M as you don't have that solid upper horn. That said I rarely go higher than the 12th fret on any bass, so it's not a biggy to me other than it's uglier than a welder's bench. Anyway I perhaps wasn't paying enough attention to the HB specs having a 35" low scale when I posted that about the necks possibly being made in the same factory, it is a different neck to the Harley, my G4M neck range is 34.5 to 36.5" not quite in the Brice measurement at 37" but close enough for government work.

 

[HardNHeavy]

i know nothing about these basses, but for the price of a 5 i couldn't resist... this should be coming today!

 

[TeeSee]

i know nothing about these basses, but for the price of a 5 i couldn't resist... this should be coming today!


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I'm struggling to identify that one, it looks like a JB-75 but the white block inlays, what appears to be roasted maple fingerboard, tug bar and tort guard don't seem to appear to be a 75 variant. Also the 75 has Roswell pickups but the lettering on the pickups on your picture are too long to say 'Roswell' .
Throw us a bone here mate, I'm intrigued..
Either way it looks a lovely guitar and if it's anything like the 75 - you're going to love it.

 

[joeLowB]

i know nothing about these basses, but for the price of a 5 i couldn't resist... this should be coming today!


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Very interested to hear your reaction to it!

 

[dabbler]

I'm struggling to identify that one, it looks like a JB-75 but the white block inlays, what appears to be roasted maple fingerboard, tug bar and tort guard don't seem to appear to be a 75 variant. Also the 75 has Roswell pickups but the lettering on the pickups on your picture are too long to say 'Roswell' .
Throw us a bone here mate, I'm intrigued..
Either way it looks a lovely guitar and if it's anything like the 75 - you're going to love it.

Looks like:

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[HardNHeavy]

Looks like:

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still waiting on this bass, remember to read the fine print on duty/tax from other countries...Listed as a $200 bass, with all the shipping/fee's it will end up being about $400.