I am hoping this is the second to last bass I'll ever buy. The last one is a custom jazz a friend is building for me. GAS may be the cure for GAS.
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NBM: Harley Benton Enhanced MP-5EB
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One week shipping update: it's on its way to the US. Damn I want it TONIGHT!!!!!
03.05.2019 17:02 The international shipment has been processed in the parcel center of origin
09.05.2019 03:05 The international shipment has been processed in the export parcel center
09.05.2019 05:31 The shipment will be transported to the destination country and, from there, handed over to the delivery organization.
03.05.2019 17:02 The international shipment has been processed in the parcel center of origin
09.05.2019 03:05 The international shipment has been processed in the export parcel center
09.05.2019 05:31 The shipment will be transported to the destination country and, from there, handed over to the delivery organization.
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going on day 11, the bass is in the US and awaiting customs clearance:
03.05.2019 17:02 The international shipment has been processed in the parcel center of origin
09.05.2019 03:05 The international shipment has been processed in the export parcel center
09.05.2019 05:31 The shipment will be transported to the destination country and, from there, handed over to the delivery organization.
12.05.2019 21:54 The shipment has arrived in the destination country
13.05.2019 00:46 Shipment is prepared for customs clearance in country of destination
03.05.2019 17:02 The international shipment has been processed in the parcel center of origin
09.05.2019 03:05 The international shipment has been processed in the export parcel center
09.05.2019 05:31 The shipment will be transported to the destination country and, from there, handed over to the delivery organization.
12.05.2019 21:54 The shipment has arrived in the destination country
13.05.2019 00:46 Shipment is prepared for customs clearance in country of destination
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
Inexpensive instruments for some reason are just more appealing to me. I suppose I'd have to play a Sandberg California to know if the $2,000 I didn't spend is worth $2,000. I have 6 basses now, the most expensive sticker price was the Brubaker Brute MJX5 at $700 (and I put in new pickups, a new preamp, new tuners, and now it's getting a fret job so i guess it's a $1200 bass now).
I work from home. The trash truck just drove by. I heard a big truck coming and literally popped out of my seat to see if it was my bass... This is like that time period after load-in before you hit the stage. AGONY!
edit: the UPS truck just drove by. this is coming via USPS but i STILL got excited...
edit: the UPS truck just drove by. this is coming via USPS but i STILL got excited...
The knobs feel a bit chincy. Probably need to be tightened a bit. Allen keys that come with it are not the correct size for the knobs. About to bring it down to the music room and do some things with it...
It's a beauty!
Can't wait to hear more details of it (weight, sound, how the pickups balance, active vs passive etc..) as you get to know it. You've given me a severe GAS flare up!
Can't wait to hear more details of it (weight, sound, how the pickups balance, active vs passive etc..) as you get to know it. You've given me a severe GAS flare up!
Will do! at least this gas can be solved with a relatively small number of dollars and a little patience.
Invoice from Thomann says 3.75kg. That would be 8 1/4 lbs. I haven't even strapped it on yet but that seems impossible. I don't have a good scale but I think I need to get one now...
Crappy bathroom scale shows a shade over 9lbs
Crappy bathroom scale shows a shade over 9lbs
It would work out even better for me, as I'm in the UK. Has the added bonus of my missus loving the LPB & pearl guard, too!
9, 9.5lbs or so is very good for a budget 5 string. Could take a bit off with Ultralites if really needed, but a good strap would do the job for me.
The weight is manageable even for my busted back. It's heavier than the Yamaha trbx505 it's replacing but not tremendously. It does have a bit of neck dive, not awful. Changing the tuners probably requires drilling some new holes in the back of the headstock but I may do it anyway.
The volume knob came off after push-pulling it a couple times. Had to tighten it, no problem.
The balance between pickups is good. P pup is a bit louder and significantly bassier than the MM. Blended they sound best. The P itself is kinda dark, bordering on a little muddy. The MM is nice and barky but a bit thin on its own.
Active is much louder than passive. Wasn't expecting that... I have only played one other active/passive switchable and the overall output is about the same on that one. Without some way to level the volumes, swapping between the two live won't really be possible.
There is no tone control when the preamp is turned off. Hard to say without hearing it blended with a band and given the large difference in output between passive and active, but I think I prefer the sound of the preamp even with the knobs flat. A tiny bass reduction and tiny treble boost seems to clean it up real nice but again, gotta see how it blends with a band.
It will need a little setup work to take care of some slight fret buzz. A few simple tweaks should do it. No sharp fret ends, the neck feels great.
First impression: a completely serviceable bass that I could roll into a gig tomorrow with and be perfectly comfortable. A great backup bass--which is why I got it. With a little setup work, higher end 3-band eq preamp, and ultra lite tuners I would have a tough time choosing between this guy and the Brute.
The volume knob came off after push-pulling it a couple times. Had to tighten it, no problem.
The balance between pickups is good. P pup is a bit louder and significantly bassier than the MM. Blended they sound best. The P itself is kinda dark, bordering on a little muddy. The MM is nice and barky but a bit thin on its own.
Active is much louder than passive. Wasn't expecting that... I have only played one other active/passive switchable and the overall output is about the same on that one. Without some way to level the volumes, swapping between the two live won't really be possible.
There is no tone control when the preamp is turned off. Hard to say without hearing it blended with a band and given the large difference in output between passive and active, but I think I prefer the sound of the preamp even with the knobs flat. A tiny bass reduction and tiny treble boost seems to clean it up real nice but again, gotta see how it blends with a band.
It will need a little setup work to take care of some slight fret buzz. A few simple tweaks should do it. No sharp fret ends, the neck feels great.
First impression: a completely serviceable bass that I could roll into a gig tomorrow with and be perfectly comfortable. A great backup bass--which is why I got it. With a little setup work, higher end 3-band eq preamp, and ultra lite tuners I would have a tough time choosing between this guy and the Brute.
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