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, 2025 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.

 

 

[Supernaut]

If anyone is looking to sell a set, I would be interested in buying them. Haven't ordered from Thomann in over two years. 

[Stub Mandrel]

57 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

If anyone is looking to sell a set, I would be interested in buying them. Haven't ordered from Thomann in over two years. 

 

I'll sell you a set for £38 😈

[Supernaut]

No thanks. 

[80Hz]

Funny, I was thinking about posting some love for HB flats and searched first!

 

Basically I concur with all of the above 😄

 

They have a mid forward sound which I found close to TI jazz flats - albeit a bit more mellow.

 

Not much in the way of thump or low bass, very different from LaBella DTF voicing - possibly a result of being light gauge?

 

They feel smooth but not highly polished. No “grabiness” like I’ve experienced with TIs.

 

Basically an affordable, easy to play flat with low-ish tension and a general purpose voicing that sits right where you’d expect.

I read somewhere (not sure if it was here) that they might be rebadged Olympias. Olympia do sell a 45-100 flatwound set for £19.99 on eBay but I’m too tight to risk the extra £7.89 to find out whether they’re the same!

Anyway on the back of these I tried HB “HQS” steels and they went straight in the bin.

 

Edited 23 hours ago by 80Hz
Failing at basic arithmetic

[Geek99]

2 hours ago, 80Hz said:

Funny, I was thinking about posting some love for HB flats and searched first!

 

Basically I concur with all of the above 😄

 

They have a mid forward sound which I found close to TI jazz flats - albeit a bit more mellow.

 

Not much in the way of thump or low bass, very different from LaBella DTF voicing - possibly a result of being light gauge?

 

They feel smooth but not highly polished. No “grabiness” like I’ve experienced with TIs.

 

Basically an affordable, easy to play flat with low-ish tension and a general purpose voicing that sits right where you’d expect.

I read somewhere (not sure if it was here) that they might be rebadged Olympias. Olympia do sell a 45-100 flatwound set for £19.99 on eBay but I’m too tight to risk the extra £7.89 to find out whether they’re the same!

Anyway on the back of these I tried HB “HQS” steels and they went straight in the bin.

 

Olympiad were actually pretty good though I prefer adagio, which are even cheaper 

[80Hz]

22 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Olympiad were actually pretty good though I prefer adagio, which are even cheaper 

 

Yes the Adagios do seem to come up often as good affordable flats. Another one on my list to try 🙂 

[Geek99]

17 hours ago, 80Hz said:

 

Yes the Adagios do seem to come up often as good affordable flats. Another one on my list to try 🙂 

I sold a p bass with them on to a guy who was clearly 73,989 times more talented than me. He said “I love the bass but what are these strings? They're amazing” 

I said “adagio cheapies” and he looked at me like I was lying. They’d been on there for two years -recommend that you give them a shot. If you don’t get on with them, list them on here for £7 and I’ll take them off you 

Edited 1 hour ago by Geek99

[80Hz]

5 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

If you don’t get on with them, list them on here for £7 and I’ll take them off you 

 

Fair enough 😆 - I note the Adagios are nickel wound, whereas both the HBs and Olympias (which may be one and the same - TBD) are stainless steel.

[Geek99]

57 minutes ago, 80Hz said:

 

Fair enough 😆 - I note the Adagios are nickel wound, whereas both the HBs and Olympias (which may be one and the same - TBD) are stainless steel.

I slightly preferred the adagio sound