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NBM: Harley Benton Enhanced MP-5EB
- Thread starter And I
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- benton harley harley benton
unfortunately I just haven't been very busy playing lately... i got the Brute back from the shop and while it has different strings (practically new GHS balanced nickels vs the sunbeams on the HB which already pretty well worn in) it's clear that they are very different sounding instruments.
Upgrading the tuners is a no-brainer if you are comfortable with a tiny bit of drilling. Solves the neck dive 100% and shaves probably a good 6 to 8 ounces of the weight. The preamp upgrade I'd also call a definite improvement. Even flat with the output balanced, passive it sounds vintage and active it sounds more modern. Having a selectable mid-band EQ is a big plus, and the tone knob also adds a lot of possibilities.
I have a rehearsal this Thursday and will probably bring both basses, but even then, the cab I play at rehearsal is a 2x12 epifani with a blown tweeter so it sounds pretty dull. and i've also got a new amp (mesa d800) so it's really a new world and comparisons may be meaningless.
Upgrading the tuners is a no-brainer if you are comfortable with a tiny bit of drilling. Solves the neck dive 100% and shaves probably a good 6 to 8 ounces of the weight. The preamp upgrade I'd also call a definite improvement. Even flat with the output balanced, passive it sounds vintage and active it sounds more modern. Having a selectable mid-band EQ is a big plus, and the tone knob also adds a lot of possibilities.
I have a rehearsal this Thursday and will probably bring both basses, but even then, the cab I play at rehearsal is a 2x12 epifani with a blown tweeter so it sounds pretty dull. and i've also got a new amp (mesa d800) so it's really a new world and comparisons may be meaningless.
There she is! Well, I must let y'all know. Seems fun so far. It made the trek in fine shape. 12 days
I had to raise the saddles on the D & G. One stripped pick guard screw(no biggie). Biggest thing is lots of sharp frets...sigh..
Shocked at how dominant the MM pickup is in the over all sound of this bass. I was really wishing for the "P" tone to be strongest, (I know I can just dial up more P pickups..)..interesting..
All in all, looking fwd to this weekends gig! Thanks gang!
Yeah my MP-5EB has no sharp fret ends, sorry to hear about that @Jeff O'Connor. I did have to give it a full setup, moving most of the saddles and adjusting the truss rod. And with cheaper models, even if it's a great playing bass, the fretwork is definitely one area where they won't be able to deliver consistent quality like you would find on a more expensive instrument...
Sorry Adil.. I was talking to the NBD guy a few posts above yours.. I don't know how to tag another member.
Use the @ sign and their name @HarveyRobertson
Did you try lowering the bridge pup or raising the P? If that doesn't work, a little more involved solution like adding a switch to split the MM (like is on the JM) should help.
Actually, I find the match/balance/blend to be pretty even on mine.
The P pup is hugely louder than the MM on mine when either are soloed. Together it's a little more MM I guess... I put Vol/Vol in place of blend thinking it would let me blend them more fluidly but if one pickup is full on, the first 90% of action on the other vol knob does almost nothing...
Still loving this bass though, luckily, the bottom fret edge issue I first had when unboxing is gone! The neck must have expanded just enough...whew. I'll have to keep an eye(finger) on it.
When I have pickups at full P pup, It's "louder" then at 50/50...First string change coming up today. Excited, got some Stringjoy strings. Nickel 45-65-80-100-130XL.
I'm certainly still in honeymoon stage with it though!! Thanks gang.
When I have pickups at full P pup, It's "louder" then at 50/50...First string change coming up today. Excited, got some Stringjoy strings. Nickel 45-65-80-100-130XL.
I'm certainly still in honeymoon stage with it though!! Thanks gang.
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All,
Take a look at my marked position for drilling the pilot hole. Everything looks great when it's in there, but the pilot hole, once drilled, looks like it might be too close to the edge of the existing shaft hole. If you haven't noticed, I'm really scared to drill this and it splinter or crack once the screw is installed. The pics on page 7 of this thread shows "And I"s #1-G tuner with the new screw about even with the old screw holes. Thoughts?
Take a look at my marked position for drilling the pilot hole. Everything looks great when it's in there, but the pilot hole, once drilled, looks like it might be too close to the edge of the existing shaft hole. If you haven't noticed, I'm really scared to drill this and it splinter or crack once the screw is installed. The pics on page 7 of this thread shows "And I"s #1-G tuner with the new screw about even with the old screw holes. Thoughts?
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Not the 5 string version, but I have the 4 string version of this model. It's my first bass and I read only really good stuff about this (for the price point which was my maximum). I took it to a luthier to have it set up and change to some flatwounds and the luthier was really impressed. His first words were like "oh.. this is.. a lot fancier Harley Benton than usual".
Without too much knowledge on basses, mine doesnt have any QA-sort flaws. It played well before setup, but now even better!
Without too much knowledge on basses, mine doesnt have any QA-sort flaws. It played well before setup, but now even better!
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The J is a larger body / heavier (there are pics of the 2 together earlier in this thread I believe). Not sure if the J "needs" the ultralight tuners for better balance. The P kinda did.
No,it's a mistake on the specs. It's " 6-Way bolted Canadian Hard Rock Maple neck".
Guys, I don't own a Harley Benton yet, (interested in an enhanced alder/ebony P/MM 4), but I've stumbled onto something: while reading these threads and watching You Tube videos, I've read a comment of one video where the viewer said : "I had to rewire bridge pickup because it was wired wrong" - ?! And then it clicked: An MM-type pickup sounding weak and quiet, quieter than the P-type? Well, if that doesn't sound like pickup's coils wired out of phase, I don't know what does! MM pickup too loud? Probably wired in series. The guy from You Tube also mentioned the pickups are color coded according to Seymour Duncan's color scheme, so download the wiring instructions from his site and give it a shot - maybe you don't need to change the pickup, maybe all it needs is exchanging the places of 2 wires!
