Freddie Fumble

I use midi a lot, I used to write demo’s for Yamaha sound modules and keyboards etc. You do some amazing things and create some incredible sounds once you get into the programming side of things. Midi it’s self is pretty simple it’s the incompatibility of drivers and software that causes the hassle.

The ones I’ve tried with the yellow strips on the packets have been awful and just sounded dead, both flat and round wound… It’s all down to personal preference.

I see a lot of Harley Benton stuff and generally speaking I think you would expect to pay around half again for similar more well known brand names, but they are still budget instruments and you get what you pay for. But I have seen a lot of problems with Harley Benton basses and guitars, most of the non cosmetic problems can be corrected with a good set-up and fret level dress (which in some cases will cost more that the guitar or bass), but other problems like necks set at the wrong angle are more difficult to sort out. And sending the instrument back because it’s not up to your expectations will cost around £40-£50. There is no getting away from the fact that although good value for not a lot of money these are cheap guitars made in china with very poor quality control, the HB MM copies are OK for the price but feels nothing like say a stingray and the OLP basses are far superior, and the squires (even the made in china ones) are far superior to the HB jazz copy which feels nothing like a jazz bass and has very poor pickups etc. The HB stuff is very much entry level, and I would recommend spending a bit more on an OLP or better still a used Sub.