Harley Benton BA500H - Should I buy one?

[Christophano]

Now chaps.....

After searching through my finances, I may be able to purchase a cheap head for my new band venture.

I'm finding it hard to ignore the Harley Benton BA500H. Read a couple of decent reviews on here and it seems like there isn't anything that comes close for under £200.... Or is there?

Discuss!

:-)

[Dave Vader]

There's the identical red sub one.
But otherwise, no.
Unless you fancy a GKbackline600 really cheap (which i admit I replaced with an HB that i like more)

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/177367-gallien-krueger-gk-backline-600-fsft-l125-posted/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/177367-gallien-krueger-gk-backline-600-fsft-l125-posted/page__fromsearch__1[/url]

</shamelessplug>

[neepheid]

I use the RedSub BT5110 combo, which features the same head which can be removed from the 1x10. I really like it - I use it with my Zoot 4x10 cab for bigger gigs or ones with no PA support. Dunno what comes close for the money and it wasn't really a consideration for me - I bought the combo for flexibility. Last night I did a radio session with some of the band and I just used the combo and pointed my microphone down at it, worked like a charm.

[gapiro]

I use one for a backup (although currently it is my main rig due to problems) and they are pretty nift. I picked mine up 2nd hand on BC though.

[Christophano]

Thanks dudes.... I'm really considering it. Anyone shed any light on using the aux port for a preamp? Apparently it works.....

[KevB]

One possible alternative might be the Behringer BX4500H which is similar but even cheaper;

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_bx4500h_ultrabass_basshead.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_bx4500h_ultrabass_basshead.htm[/url]

I used to have one that I kept in a practice room for rehearsal and as a backup for gigs. I never had a breakdown of my main rig so in the end I sold it on but it never gave me any problems. People seem to think that anything with Behringer on the front will automatically self destruct within a week of purchase but this thing seemed very ruggedly put together to me.

[neepheid]

[quote name='Christophano' timestamp='1342534740' post='1736719']
Thanks dudes.... I'm really considering it. Anyone shed any light on using the aux port for a preamp? Apparently it works.....
[/quote]

I have used the aux in before for amplifying many things - laptop, mp3 player, phone, and also used my Tascam bass trainer as a bass preamp to use two basses at once for bass lessons. Never used a preamp before but as long as the output is the right level then it should work. Of course all tone shaping will have to be done on the preamp - only the master volume will have any effect.

[Lord Sausage]

I've got one. They're pretty good. The eq is just alright. The contour is good. i don't like the colour knob, but i think that comes into it's own if you pair it with a HB cab. I use a Hartke Bass Attack pre amp pedal with it and it sounds really good.

[Christophano]

Cheers for that dudes. Looks like a decent pre is a must then. I've got the berhinger sansamp clone kicking about, so ill play with that before I but anything expensive.....