Why do people dislike most Harley Benton products?

[Redrama]

I've just noticed that people keep saying stuff like "Buy anything but HB" or "This is suprisingly good for a HB"

I'm just wondering why.

 

[Gorn]

This is the first negative opinion I've heard about the brand....or rather an implied negative opinion.

 

[FourBanger]

It is a Chinese-made store brand, so many will dismiss them without ever trying one. I would assume they are on par with any other Chinese instrument for the same price.

 

[GregC]

I've been visiting TB pretty much daily for 7 years, and I had to Google the name just now. Never heard of'em before.

 

[Gorn]

I've been visiting TB pretty much daily for 7 years, and I had to Google the name just now. Never heard of'em before.

I think they're a fairly popular cheapo brand in Europe. Not so much in the colonies.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Because people who've been on talkbass for years and years who never heard of them get their first impression from someone who says they have a bad reputation.

If anyone ever asked me about them, now that I've heard of them, I'd have to say, "Don't know anything other than the fact that they don't have a very good reputation."

 

[hdracer]

I think they're a fairly popular cheapo brand in Europe. Not so much in the colonies.

Much the same as Acoustic / GC is here.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

Pretty sure they're the store brand for Thomann in Europe, analogous to Rogue/Musicians Friend

 

[FourBanger]

Thomann house brand, made in the same place as some Ibby Epi and Peavey according to Wikipedia.

 

[FourBanger]

Remember for any instrument though simy the act of playing it in Finland makes it better. Everyone I know in Porvoo just has a baseline cool level higher than the rest of Northern Europe. See: cellos.

 

[mark beem]

I've been visiting TB pretty much daily for 7 years, and I had to Google the name just now. Never heard of'em before.

I've been here over 12 years and I had to Google it as well..

 

[GregC]

Remember for any instrument though simy the act of playing it in Finland makes it better. Everyone I know in Porvoo just has a baseline cool level higher than the rest of Northern Europe. See: cellos.

Well, I just Googled Porvoo and it looks lovely. Now I want to visit. I'm learning all kinds of things from this thread.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I've never heard of them prior to this but I am pretty sure they're garbage.

 

[Major Softie]

Ah, I think the Danes would challenge that assumption about Finland - and this, coming from a Swede.

As long as we can all agree that the Norwegians are the least cool, I think we're all on the same page.

 

[Bassmunnky]

Great way to market a brand NO one has heard of...

 

[avvie]

When the name "Joyo" is used in it's place everybody thinks they're great.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Great way to market a brand NO one has heard of...

"NO one"? Hardly true. Read the rest of the thread.

 

[FretNoMore]

For those who have actually heard of Harley Benton I would assume they might not like the products because they are various re-branded copies or clones. Some of it is probably decent stuff if you know what to pick, some of it not so good. Generally speaking you get what you pay for and Harley Benton is at the lower end of the scale.

 

[Jazz Ad]

It's a house brand with all it implies. You buy a name, not a product. It is generic gear, specs and construction can change randomly over time.

It isn't inherently bad gear, just the cheapest you can get so there isn't a lot to expect from it.
Many, many europeans got started on 6 string bass or fretless with a 100€ Harley Benton.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I have heard of Harley Benton.

Never heard of Porvoo, though.