police squad Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) hi folks what's it like under the pickguard please. Also is the sunburst a 50s sunburst or does it have red in it, like a 60s Fancy one for my Police tribute which is re-starting in December As you can see nothing under the pick guard Great neck too. Nice n chunky Flats on order Edited November 14, 2023 by police squad 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) I've just sold my PB50....nothing wrong with it, just having a cull and getting down to two, well, three, maybe four... ....to me it's a very traditional sunburst, in a good way. I should add that from what I've seen of Mr Stings single coil bass it's very much on the darker side, those 50s Sunbursts are quite variable ....no scratch plate, yet the Signatures have a white pick guard...? Don't dismiss the red though, the car based De Pont red was the first Custom Colour that Fender did, but not very Stingy😉 Mine was exceptionally well finished, not just for the money, I mean exceptional. I just couldn't find any flaws in it. Neck had zero sprout, no high frets, no rough frets. Neck feels super smooth, unfinished as in not varnished, I like this. Will attain an old played in look if you do the front pads on the car, and then have a noodle... Played out the box fine, but I always set my bass up to my taste. Took a nice low action, saddles almost on the floor on flats. 😎 Yes, it's a large 50s style neck as they were, but plays like it has a flat radius, I'm a jazz bass man by choice, but had no problem getting around it on the faster funk n disco I play. Ditch the OE strings, fit some Harley Benton Value flats for the proper sound. Those Budget Harley Benton strings are brilliant, again, not just good for the, money, both flats and rounds. Mine had the later Roswell pick up. Tuners were unremarkable....which means they were fine, I only ever notice a bad tuner. Bass held tune, very stable neck. Nice pots, good trim slope on the tone control. Unremarkable bridge.... Tone wise, well it's a 4 pole single coil and quite middy/trebly (may surprise a few, thats 50s style single coils) nothing like a Precision, much thinner sound than a P bass split, and thinner than an 8 pole jazz on the neck pup too, not a bad sound, just different, woody even. It needs those flats to get the best from it....did/does Sting use flats? For the money it's a no brainer, buy one, if you don't like it, loose a few quid, ain't like dropping a couple of grand on a Fender😉 ....mine flew away at £80 on Marketplace to a guy in a 50s/60s band....years of fun, cost me about 1 sheet per month. This guy does a great review, Spanish but subtitles. Buy one and enjoy. 😎 Edited November 7, 2023 by iconic 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 Makes me want to get one again! Dagnammit I’m easily led… 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 I've just seen a video of one being taken apart and there's no routing under the pickguard. This pleases me as I need to have the PG removed to keep with the Sting vibe hundred quid, it's mad 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 ok, trigger pulled!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) @police squad... STOP... Been a few HB PB50 Modders about... and does look like a mighty fine 'lil project... Earlier(?) ones have no routing under the plate, later ones have had a small hole in the top... to make the drilling and wiring easier between pup cavity and control cavity via the hole... shame - or a little sticker? 😉 The burst on the later ones is a paper photo burst over bass wood... some posts pics etc show and describe lots of plastic type sealer... bugger to get off - Red one is meant to be an easier re-fin Headstock?.. see page 6 Mike Dirnt - still tempted to tele the head on my P Bitsa...bass heads.pdf Edited November 7, 2023 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) More... ^ I recall a thread where the Headstock was done before the scratchplate was lifted... and hole noticed... so no return, that said it's real little and a sticker, or plastic wood type fill would sort it... Fingers crossed yours hasn't but not end of world stuff. Edited November 7, 2023 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 even if its a small hole, my original Sting bass had a hole, I just put the finger rest over it. it's no biggy either way arrives next week, first Policed gig is Dec 2nd 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 5 hours ago, police squad said: even if its a small hole, Not all have the hole. It was absent from my first 4 PB-50's. Present on one from the first run when Thomann switched factory in May 2018, absent from the red left hander bought last year. Yes, I've owned multiple PB-50s and never felt the need to return a single one. It's been one of the most important basses I've ever bought, had a house full of pretty basses with active EQ, CF/Graphite necks, fancy aftermarket brand pickups/ tuning pegs/bridges etc. One £78 purchase put an end to that malarkey. 9, soon to be 10, years later, PB-50 still brings a smile to my face 🙂 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 I’ve pulled the pick guard off my red right (bit unintentionally Nick Cave there) handed Roswell pickup PB-50 this evening, and there are no extra holes in it. No idea when it was made, but the Roswell pickup suggests a more recent build. anyone want a white pick guard for a black one? This still has the plastic on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 58 minutes ago, BillB said: No idea when it was made, but the Roswell pickup suggests a more recent build. Some time after March 2018. Prior to then all PB-50s were right handed sunburst with Wilkinson single coil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 14, 2023 Author Share Posted November 14, 2023 so it's turned up and it's very good. Yes needs a set up but crikey I'm impressed. Might need to shim the neck but I'll fiddle with the saddles etc later 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted November 14, 2023 Share Posted November 14, 2023 ^ Any hole under the pickguard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 15, 2023 Author Share Posted November 15, 2023 15 hours ago, PaulThePlug said: ^ Any hole under the pickguard? nope, see the picture at the top of the page. well chuffed 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted November 15, 2023 Share Posted November 15, 2023 They really are crazy quality. My fretless jazz was supposed to be until I save up for a more costly brand but got to be honest I don't think an "upgrade" is required at all. I really like everything Harley Benton do. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted November 15, 2023 Share Posted November 15, 2023 @uk_lefty I remember reading this bold statement on BC several years back, think it was from Camden Rob. "TBH my Harley Benton JB-75 is more than capable for 99.9% of what I do, I have 3 Wal 6 strings for the other 0.1%." 😄 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 16, 2023 Author Share Posted November 16, 2023 I work with a guy who has several HB guitars. I hink, if you get a good one, you become a fan. I'm going to shim the neck on mine I think. Maybe replace the nut as it looks a bit rough (seems to be cut ok though) atm it's my office bass and I wasnt there yesterday, so didnt have time to play with it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 16, 2023 Author Share Posted November 16, 2023 I'm also thinking about rolling the fingerboard edges, if anyone has done it, how did you do it please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MungoBass Posted November 16, 2023 Share Posted November 16, 2023 I had a Fiesta Red one a couple of years ago, excellent basses for very little money. I changed the strings for some Fender flats and it played and sounded great. Reading this thread is making me want to look at the Thomann site.....again! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 16, 2023 Author Share Posted November 16, 2023 Just now, MungoBass said: I had a Fiesta Red one a couple of years ago, excellent basses for very little money. I changed the strings for some Fender flats and it played and sounded great. Reading this thread is making me want to look at the Thomann site.....again! i have fender flats coming fot it 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted November 18, 2023 Author Share Posted November 18, 2023 Today I rolled the fingerboard edges and cut the nut deeper (and it was already pretty good) and it has made an incredible difference. I do think I need to shim the neck as the screws in the bridge saddles are digging into my hand a bit. But I've been playing it for about 3 hours today, learning new material and I'm really enjoying it. Rolling the finger board was very rewarding actually 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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