Annoying Twit

I did listen to a youtube video, and did think that the sound was a bit generic. Clearly the playing and recording are both significant variables, but I didn't think the sound was as good as a T40. To my eyes, that looks like some quality wood, however.

This apparently was originally a sunburst bass, which has been sanded and refinished. Looking at the result, I think this wood needs almost no refinish at all. I wonder what the black painted gold hardware would look like close up though. Does "TL" stand for "Tim Landers", which makes it a 1990s Made in USA bass? As in: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/191599-peavey-usa-tim-landers-signature/ http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peavey-Tl-5-Bass-Guitar-/121410366878?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c449f2d9e

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1408022388' post='2526336'] B stock tend to have dents or other damage so he'd have to declare it. I should have said legally/ethically wrong..... [/quote] Depending on what the fault was, he may have been able to cover it up. He did sand and refinish the brand name off the headstock. As his long rambling replies to questions show, he's prepared to put some work in.

I haven't looked carefully at the 620 guitars before. IMHO, I don't like the look of them, particularly the pointed lower horn and the lack of any sort of soundhole. In that respect, while I still don't find the Harley Benton a thing of beauty, in some respects it improves on the original. However, I don't like the headstock on the HB at all, the real Rickenbacker headstock looks far better. @12StringBassest, do you have any comments on the sound of the 12 string HB compared to your original? http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_rb_612cs_classic_series.htm

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1407965545' post='2525938'] People are easily brainwashed. I have a bass for sale on here that is better than any bass i've seen with an F on the headstock at twice the price. It hasn't sold. [/quote] Siggery?

@FlatEric - there is no ebay link in your post (that I can see). Not that I'm going to be buying it, but I'd like to looksee all the same.

PM sent!

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1407885007' post='2525145'] So he buys these from TH at £99 plus £10 postage? An hour with some fine sandpaper and spray can, say £1.50. Sells on eBay for £199 minus eBay/PP fees. say £21. A good £70 profit. I have no issues with that other than he's hoodwinking buyers into thinking they are getting something more expensive than it is. Ethically wrong if not morally wrong too, IMHO. [/quote] I think they do free postage for big enough purchases. My Harley Benton BZ-7000 (still coming - shipment not due until 25th August) was free postage. Also, he sold one before for £150 via best offer. After fees, the profit won't be much. If he gets an arsey buyer who returns one deliberately broken, then the ebay seller could see all of his profit cancelled out. Is it possible that he might be reselling even cheaper B-stock, or C-stock items? Or even instruments he bought at the Thomann flea market if he has been to Treppendorf. I'm not sure how something can be ethically wrong without it being morally wrong as well.

Over on the German music forum, there are a number of people discussing the desirability of Harley Benton making a bass inspired by Rickenbacker. (At some level). They already do some guitars which are clearly Rickenbacker inspired, while having (I would presume) enough differences to avoid legal problems. This guitar seems to mix up guitar and bass stylings a bit: I don't like the headstock, however. Given how the Harley Benton range is increasing, and that Thomann have already produced something inspired by a Rickenbacker, you'd think that a bass isn't beyond the realms of possibility. Given that some Harley Bentons have been made by Saien, is there a possibility of an HB branded version of the Shine bass being sold at a significantly cheaper price?

Perhaps he's finding out that people are more gullible than he thought, and he's increasing his profit margin.

I'd already seen this thread before I looked at the ebay listing. The ad reads accurately, but I understand someone being blinded by the beauty of that bass and not realising what is for sale.

If you click on the link at the top of this thread, then you go through a number of relists of this bass (or more likely multiple HB Jazz basses). Each one of them goes up in price. Edit: I have received a mildly bizarre stream of consciousness reply from the seller. If anyone wants to see it, PM me. I think the seller probably knows that we're joshing with him. But if he's selling these, he's probably crying all the way to the bank.

@kodiakblair How would you compare your Peaveys to your Bass Collection BC310? Assuming that the BC is MIJ, it would make a good reference point. Have you been gaining basses at a fast rate? I don't remember you having that many a little while ago.

There are so many nice basses around, that there don't seem to be enough buyers around to bid all the prices up. Particularly since a fair percentage of buyers are quite conservative in their tastes.

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1407708438' post='2523304'] The Atic comment stopped me from making a bid and taking a road trip. Could have a neck like a banana. Great price if it is in playable condition though! [/quote] For somebody close by, it would be a no-risk purchase. The seller listed it as: [quote] Used: [size=3]An item that has been previously used. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully [/size][size=3]operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or an item that has been returned to the seller after a period of use. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.[/size] [/quote] Hence, if on collection the neck was a banana or it otherwise isn't fully operational or does not function as intended, it's a clear case of significantly not as described. If the seller is sensible, they'll then cancel the auction by mutual agreement to get their fees back. Otherwise, if the seller did insist that the buyer pay £37 for it and take it away, then the buyer just refuses the item, pays by paypal, and then claims item not received. It is a risk for anyone such as you (Kev) who would have to take a road trip. But as there must be a lot of people within easy driving distance, the £37 is still a gobsmackingly low price.

Just curious about the Zenith bass as IMHO they look really nice. There aren't many threads on them here. Mostly for sale or wanted threads. I'm not going to be buying one, but am curious about what they are like. Does anyone have one? If so, what do you think of this bass?

The BZ-7000 has a push/pull active/passive switch. Interesting, I'm looking forward to seeing what sorts of tones I can get out of it. But, with a balance control, three band EQ, and active/passive, surely it should do a lot. What is a 'bushing bridge'? The bridge looks like individual bridges like the Ibanez BTB7. Also, the Harley Benton says that it has active/passive EQ, but the Ibanez has an 'EQ bypass' switch which bypasses the EQ for a passive sound. This suggests that the Ibanez EQ only works in active mode. Will the Harley Benton EQ work in passive mode, or would there be no EQ?

My Shine 6-er cost me £10 per string! The combination of Thomann's returns policy, plus the Distance Selling Regulations means that if I don't like it, I'm not stuck with it. (If anything's faulty there's the Sale of Goods Act). But, I have a very strong gut feeling that it's not going to go anywhere once it arrives. @kodiakblair - I'll have to wait until the 25th too.

I find my Shine 6 quite comfortable to play, and have for a while looked longingly at the Ibanez BTB-7 (or whatever it's called). I just assumed that I wouldn't be able to justify the purchase of a playable 7-stringer. (There are some very odd things that come up on ebay occasionally). I want the 7-stringer for looper use. Even with the six string, it's hard to set up all of: a bass line, some chords, and solo notes while separating them in frequency sufficiently. Other players seem to manage it with 4 strings, but it doesn't seem to work so well for me. I was seriously considering getting the Harley Benton 8-string guitar, and tuning it to all fourths. But, I've found the string spacing of baritone-ish 8 string guitars a bit narrow, and the scale length would make a low B problematic. Because of that, it wasn't at the top of the list of priorities. I"m sure the BTB7 is a better instrument, but I see it has a rosewood fretboard. [url="http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2013/06/17/ibanez-adds-7-string-bass-to-btb-series/"]http://www.notreble....-to-btb-series/[/url] From my limited experience, I prefer ebanol to rosewood. So, that's one plus for the HB. I really like the walnut on the BTB though. That all makes it look like a carefully considered purchase. It wasn't. As soon as I saw it on the German forum thread, it was childish WANT WANT WANT. Do I need to order myself a scrunchy?

I have pre-ordered the seven string. Paid for it 'n all. Anyone got any advice as to how I can de-fret my Shine six string? I'm useless at selling anything, it wouldn't be worth much if I did, and I will not now have budget for a fretless until 2015.

Update: There's also this new 6 string Harley Benton model coming out: Looks much, much, better than the 'progressive' model posted earlier in the thread. In my opinion.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1407696303' post='2523126'] Damnit Twit! I thought I'd got rid of my 5string GAS, and you have to go and start a thread like this? Poor form sir, poor form. [/quote] You've no idea the amount of 7 string GAS I'm going through right this very second. I'm going to shut down the computer and go to the gym. BTW: There is a 5 string in the BZ range too, but I'd guess that the 5 string HB Jazzer will be much cheaper. EDIT: OH FFS!! The 7 string has an ebanol fretboard. I've really liked every ebanol fretboard that I've ever tried.

WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT!!!!!! http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_bz_7000_nt.htm WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT!!!!! I found out about this reading this thread on a German forum (using Google Translate). http://www.musiker-board.de/board-events-bt/549556-lasse-thernoe-harley-benton-mastermind-13.html There's just so much interesting stuff on that thread. Including interviews with the main designer for Harley Benton. If I buy the 7-string, then because of my budgeting, I won't have money for anything for myself until the end of October. I don't &£^$&%*£$£$ care. I want that 7 string. I WANT IT!!!!!!! Somebody please bring me to my senses or I'll have one of them delivered next week. There are lots of other things mentioned on the German forum thread. Including that there will be a five string version of the '1975' Harley Benton Jazz Bass.

It's a bid, so who knows whether it will sell for a bargain price or overpriced. Collection only without any indication of where in Staffordshire it is may reduce the price. Also, I don't recognise those pickups, are they original? Is it a MIJ model, or one of the later ones? I cycled back from Staffordshire to Leicester yesterday. Not sure that I'd want to do that with a bass in a gig bag on my back.