Harley Benton flats - they're a bit good!

[mcnach]

I had a 4-string set for a while that I bought to try, as they're just around £10-12, or £15 for a 5-string set. I finally put them on a bass and I'm really liking their sound. I almost never like a set of flats on day 1, but these are nice. 

 

That's all, public service announcement over.

[Hellzero]

In fact, they sound like the Thomastik JF, without the high price tag and their super smooth touch, and with more tension, of course.

[ghostwheel]

13 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

In fact, they sound like the Thomastik JF, without the high price tag and their super smooth touch, and with more tension, of course.

That's interesting. My impression was that they were very similar to La Bella 760xx.

[BlueMoon]

Call me a convert. I bought a 4 string set to try out and was quite impressed. Well worth the price and compare favourably with some name-brand alternatives that cost 3-4 times as much.

[fretmeister]

Do they only do 45-100 and no other choice?

[mcnach]

15 hours ago, Hellzero said:

In fact, they sound like the Thomastik JF, without the high price tag and their super smooth touch, and with more tension, of course.

 

 

I don't find them similar to TI Jazz Flats, I feel these have a deeper bottom and lower mids. If I were going to compare them with anything it would be GHS flats. Regardless, they're pretty nice and they cover quite a range of sounds using the passive tone control, at least while fresh.   

[mcnach]

2 hours ago, BlueMoon said:

Call me a convert. I bought a 4 string set to try out and was quite impressed. Well worth the price and compare favourably with some name-brand alternatives that cost 3-4 times as much.

 

I got a set months ago as I was mildly curious and needed to add a few £ to get free delivery, but I didn't have the right opportunity to try them until yesterday. I just wish I had bought a 5 string set instead, as that's what I play most.

[Hellzero]

3 hours ago, mcnach said:

 

 

I don't find them similar to TI Jazz Flats, I feel these have a deeper bottom and lower mids. If I were going to compare them with anything it would be GHS flats. Regardless, they're pretty nice and they cover quite a range of sounds using the passive tone control, at least while fresh.   

Wait a bit until they settle in, and you'll like them even more.

 

Amazing strings for that price tag.

[mcnach]

4 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Wait a bit until they settle in, and you'll like them even more.

 

Amazing strings for that price tag.

 

 

[Linus27]

I wonder who manufacturers them for Harley Benton. I might try a set for curosity.

[Geek99]

They do them on 5 string? Colour me interested … my sire v7 is a bit bright though otherwise very jazz bass. Maybe it needs flats …

[Geek99]

 

Edited May 19 by Geek99

[Stub Mandrel]

OK, as they are silly cheap, I ordered three sets, including one for my brother who wants to try flats.

First impression - packaged in an attractive, nicely finished proper box, not an envelope. In individual sealed plastic envelopes with very clear numbering. Other brands could do this, it feels premium compared to most brands. Colour coded ball ends, though not as nicely finished as Fender ball ends. Red silk wraps. Feel surprisingly slinky.

 

Lighter gauge than the Fender flats I took off, so hard to make a really fair comparison. The HB strings are marked as 45-100 and measured as 44-99. The Fenders 55-105 measure as 56-104, both sets are stainless steel.

 

Very clear the wrap pitch is much narrower on the Harley Benton strings, which should make them slinkier for a given diameter. Bent over the ends before cutting and no problems with the wrap slipping (presumably helped by the hex core. They also feel smoother than the Fenders, appear to be closer wound.

 

Sounded much brighter/richer than the fenders, with tension much lower than I'd expect from the diameter difference. I had to slack off the truss rod by at least half a turn. Lower tension feels much better. I suspect a lot of this is the 45-100. 

 

So if they bear up and keep some of their richness, these are a much better score than the Fender flats for me. Obviously comparing with Fender 45-100 would be fairer, but at less than 1/3 the cost these are a great deal. I will try their rounds as well.