Would you help me with my Harley benton mod?

[Alejandro Q]

Hello. I am in the process to modding my Harley benton fretless bass. This one right here:

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I want to change both pickups and preamp, but for the love of god, i cannot find a pickups that fit! I must say, im from europe and here this things are harder to find. The cavity have this proportions:

1.25″ W X 3.95″ L (32mm X 100mm)

The only company that i know for sure that makes them is aguilar but they do not ship to my country for what i have read. Do you know another one with that size? How viable is to put another size in it, like the emg (1,5 x 3,5)?

Thank you so much guys!

 

[sikamikanico]

That size is most close to Bartolini BC, so I recommend searching in that size. Pickups might be slightly larger, but some have had success doing small cavity enlargements using a dremel tool.

It’s viable to make even larger cavities, but it depends on your tools and skills (probably want a router at some point), or availability and affordability of a pro who can do it for you... if you go with shorter pickups like EMG, you will have holes on the sides, but you can make some kind of pickguard or pickup ring to cover those (which could also hide amateur hack jobs of cavity enlargement, in case that happens )

 

[Alejandro Q]

That size is most close to Bartolini BC, so I recommend searching in that size. Pickups might be slightly larger, but some have had success doing small cavity enlargements using a dremel tool.

It’s viable to make even larger cavities, but it depends on your tools and skills (probably want a router at some point), or availability and affordability of a pro who can do it for you... if you go with shorter pickups like EMG, you will have holes on the sides, but you can make some kind of pickguard or pickup ring to cover those (which could also hide amateur hack jobs of cavity enlargement, in case that happens )

Well, It can't be done with sand paper, can't it? I really don't want to mess it up and my budget is limited. Well, I'll try the bart route. Do you know some single coil models in this size?

 

[sikamikanico]

I’m sure sand paper could work, if you persisted long enough

Single coils you say? Nordstrand for sure, but I think their BC sized pickups are slightly larger (at least as per specs). Then Bartolini of course, they make a bazillion models (some single coil).

Did you try installing a switch for your pickups, allowing a single coil option? It may be the easiest to try all possible options with what you got (+some cheap parts). And lots of fun, and great learning opportunity...

 

[kodiakblair]

@Alejandro Q

Swap the preamp first. Chances are you wont need to swap the pickups.

Also could you post the exact size of the pickups. Kent Armstrong Claymores would probably fit.

 

[sikamikanico]

KA claymores are 35.8 mm, quite a bit wider... but may be a good contender if resizing the cavities!

 

[bestbassgear]

What are the dimensions of the actual pickups? Bartolini BC shape (100mm x 32mm) is a very common 4 string soapbar pickup size. And several companies (Bartolini, Nordstrand, Delano, just to name a few.) make pickups in this shape. I cannot imagine
Harley Benton would invent a slightly undersized version of that pickup, given the availability of ready made pickup covers, and the costs associated with creating a mold for injection moulding plastic into a unique cover shape. It just wouldn't make sense, given the low cost of the bass.

What would you like to hear new pickups tonally that the stock pickups are not producing? I would be happy to try and help steer you in the right direction.

Best,

Frankie

 

[JRA]

ha! great looking ax!

all i got!

 

[kodiakblair]

KA claymores are 35.8 mm, quite a bit wider... but may be a good contender if resizing the cavities!

Reason I suggested KA Claymores is the HB-450 is a rather old model for Thomann and the pickup used were G&B B-114. All G&B soapbars are 37.5mm wide so I suspected an error in the measurement.

Problems with supply caused Thomann to change pickups and they now use Roswell. Looks like the HB-450 has Roswell pickups now as the Roswell BTJ soapbar measures 100.5mm x 32.5mm.

Apologises for my mistake

 

[Alejandro Q]

@Alejandro Q

Swap the preamp first. Chances are you wont need to swap the pickups.

Also could you post the exact size of the pickups. Kent Armstrong Claymores would probably fit.

Even with them being so cheap? I mean, i could try

What are the dimensions of the actual pickups? Bartolini BC shape (100mm x 32mm) is a very common 4 string soapbar pickup size. And several companies (Bartolini, Nordstrand, Delano, just to name a few.) make pickups in this shape. I cannot imagine
Harley Benton would invent a slightly undersized version of that pickup, given the availability of ready made pickup covers, and the costs associated with creating a mold for injection moulding plastic into a unique cover shape. It just wouldn't make sense, given the low cost of the bass.

What would you like to hear new pickups tonally that the stock pickups are not producing? I would be happy to try and help steer you in the right direction.

Best,

Frankie

View attachment 3130155

Honestly I want my tone to be the most similar to the one in you can call me Al by Paul Simon. As stated above, the size is 100mm X 32 Mm
The preamp I thought about was the glockenklang two band one. Maybe you can think of something better?

 

[kodiakblair]

↑Even with them being so cheap? I mean, i could try.
Honestly I want my tone to be the most similar to the one in you can call me Al by Paul Simon.

You know the Gracelands album was recorded with a cheap Washburn B-40

 

[Alejandro Q]

You know the Gracelands album was recorded with a cheap Washburn B-40

That's a pj right? How can i do that with soapbar size?

 

[sikamikanico]

That's a pj right? How can i do that with soapbar size?

Reminds be of that Carnegie Hall joke... lots of practice is the answer

If you really want to swap pickups, I’d try to fit Nordstrand BigSplits in BC size. Confirm measurements with them, but they may be just a couple mm too large. Then assess your options for resizing the cavity (if necessary). Being large split coils, they’re probably as close as you can get to a P in a soapbar.

But frankly, unless your pickups are defective or really bad (which i’d be surprised this day and age), I would suggest working with what you got, especially if measurements don’t work in your favor... maybe a different pre might help, or maybe just going passive would be better (especially for approachinf a P or PJ tone)... Find the right strings for it (best bang for buck when chasing tone, imo), fine tune the setup, and practice... you should be able to get reasonably close...

Or, instead of investing more in this bass, get a P or PJ, or something more to your liking.

 

[kodiakblair]

That's a pj right?

Aye it's a PJ. There are split-P pickups available in soapbar housings but I'm inclined to agree with @sikamikanico ,work with what you have. Swapping pickups and preamps is no guarantee for the tone you want. Take a look at the neck pickup, if it's a 4 wire and in series then try it in parallel. Same with the bridge,wire it for single coil.

Best thing though is find your own tone,similar to Gracelands but your own.