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Thomann selling Harley Benton basses as 'Decoration only'


Annoying Twit

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I've only got two, though I have bought three. (Including one 12 string for the parcelforce guy's father :) ).

I'm sure I will buy another some day. I've noticed that the gretsch-a-like guitars have returned. http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_bigtone_vintage_white.htm

I'm hoping that the Santos series electro-acoustic classical will return too. And that there will eventually be a deko.

Then again, the HB60 returned after first selling out, and I've seen no HB60 dekos for ages. http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hb_60_wb.htm

If there was a deko gretsch-a-like, I would definitely be tempted, but I don't think I need another double humbucker guitar.

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My Jazz is here and at first quick look over its awesome.
The only thing I can see that could cause deko status is most of the fret edges feel sharp, maybe they're like this anyway as at full price they're not exactly expensive.
The body wood is lovely. From the front or back it really does look like one piece off wood, only looking at the end can you see the different pieces.
The fretboard has some lovely figuring as well.
I haven't plugged it in yet but only want the neck anyway so not too worried if the electrics are shot.
The body would make a nice chopping board for the kitchen if sanded back to wood and oiled with something edible.

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Been having a look at some of the other HB basses on the Thomann site. It looks as if their B-stock items might actually be worse than some of the Dekos... !

Also, the whole thing looks like a huge mix+match parts shop. If you want a J-style bass with a reverse headstock, they're cheap enough (even at full price) that it's possible to buy two, for the price of a starter bass six or seven years ago. Surreal.

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The intention was to give mine away. I ordered one up to give to a freind of Mrs C's... he now has a choice of the four I have left :blink: hopefully that choice will be made in the next week or so.

I did contact my local music charity (Camden Music Trust) a couple of times by email asking if they needed any bass guitars as they provide private lessons and the chance to jam in bands for kids at local schools over the weekend. I also offered my time to help out with either teaching or just organising stuff, but I guess they had enough bass guitars and didn't want my help as I never got a reply!

I may pop them up in the recycling section :) They are perfectly playable basses and some (the jazzes in particular) look exceptional.

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LOADS OF DEKOS!!!

E.g.

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbz_2004_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...z_2004_deko.htm[/url]

This bass (HBZ2004 neck through) has the following review.

[quote]
Not just a decoration.

I have seen this bass for a long time. "Should I buy it? Or Not?" These questions haunted me every thomann day...until...THE DAY OF LIGHT! The god of music spoke to me with those words:

God Of Music: "Fry, you want it! Don't you?"
Me: "I'm not Fry! I'm K, Thomas K. But you can call me bro."
God Of Music: "Oh, sorry bro. I thought I would speak with thomann Fry, who would like to play the holophonor."
Me: "Ah, okay. No problem."
God Of Music: "So, can we restart?..."
Me: "...i'm waiting..."
God Of Music: "Bro, you want it, don't you? This beautiful bass, which reflects a harmony sound of natural. Warm tone at the neck, crunch at the bridge. And thomann you should know, that you can make many different sounds with the tone-controller. Without it there are really funky perkussive notes. Turn it up and you'll hear the warm beat of your heart. The wood, ohhhhh, beautiful for your eyes. The action is okay and the intonation is thomann perfect. Even the hardware has a good quality."
Me: "Sounds like I won't give it away."
God Of Music: "Ahhh....yeeeaah. Perhaps you can burn one of this bass-guitars, so the soul of the bass flys to the heaven, where some legend musicians can play it?"
Me: "Nope, 'cause I would be thomann taken into a prison! :P"

In the end I bought it and it was true, what GoM had said.

[/quote]

1975 Jazz. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75_na_vintage_serie_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d..._serie_deko.htm[/url]

Guitar thing: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_s_620_tr_rock_series_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...series_deko.htm[/url]

Also, uke bass.

Shorty Precision Bass. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pb_shorty_bk_standarddeko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...tandarddeko.htm[/url]

Edited by Annoying Twit
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Man, this is such bad news... I'm in real 6s and 7s about whether or not to get the vintage jazz; it look awesome, and I want to try to defret it having played and loved a Squier fretless recently... Anyone know anything about fretless maple boards?! Will I have to epoxy it?

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[quote name='ben4343' timestamp='1441182103' post='2856629']
Man, this is such bad news... I'm in real 6s and 7s about whether or not to get the vintage jazz; it look awesome, and I want to try to defret it having played and loved a Squier fretless recently... Anyone know anything about fretless maple boards?! Will I have to epoxy it?
[/quote]

Whats not to like... they cost £30 and look like this :D

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My name is Ben and I have a problem...

Just ordered the 75 jazzer. Let's see if it gets processed. I think that is deco number 3 for me. TBird, fretless acoustic, and this jazz, which I will defret. Need to start shifting some other basses, I can't keep this up. It's my 5th Harley Benton bass...

By the way, if any one is thinking about the shorty P I can definitely recommend it. I bought one full price (50 odd quid) and think it's brilliant; the £18 these are currently at is eye watering. Good sound, slightly wonky but fun to play, easy to lug about. Do it!!


Edit: Oh balls, Order Confirmed...

Edited by ben4343
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My 4 string fretless acoustic just arrived! Interestingly, the HB label attached to the headstock had a QC stamp dated 23 May 2015.... wonder what happened in these 3 months?

Bass is totally playable with no obvious defects, except maybe some light chipping on the fingerboard edges and the nut looks a tad rough. The fingerboard itself has some lighter streaks, but actually quite attractive.... for the money it's a ridiculous bargain. Pretty much confirming everyone else's experiences....

cheers, Roman

Edited by roman_sub
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[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1441364977' post='2858271']
Why is it more expensive than the right handed one? They're £18 or so aren't they?
[/quote]
Nine out of ten times that's the norm :( , we are already handicapped in our choice so if we finally find something we deserve to pay more for the exclusivity :biggrin: .

The most common told argument coming from manufacturers is that it is more expansive to fabricate lefthanded instruments due to smaller production runs and mirrored machining, clamping and whatever else is involved in the process.

Edited by blablas
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