My Harley Benton PB-Shorty BK Standard Series

[John Bilko]

I started playing bass maybe 40+ years ago with a Fender precision after years of guitar playing but stopped playing anything seriously for the last two decades. I kept all my kit and the bass I have from then is an Aria pro2.   I decided to get a short scale bass because my fingers aren't what they used to be at my age.  I decided I'd get a Harley Benton bass as I have a few HB guitars, reviews were good and most of all it is cheap which means a lot to me at my time of life.  I recently got an HB  "Beatles" bass and it is superb so I decided to get a solid short scale bass from HB and hence I got the Harley Benton PB-Shorty BK Standard Series.  I want to fit new flat wound strings even though I have only had it for a few days.  Trouble is I don't want to pay £20+ even though I love D'addarios and would like the  XL Chromes Flat Wound 45-100 Regular Light but they are almost the cost of the bass.😄

So the question is can someone recommend some for a lot less than £20?

[police squad]

Hey John

apparently the Harley Benton flats are very good

[John Bilko]

1 hour ago, police squad said:

Hey John

apparently the Harley Benton flats are very good

Thanks. 

The flats for my HB are recommended by Thomann as GHS 3020 L which are £45. 

The flats for my Beatles bass are recommended by Thomann as Daddario ECB81M which are a bit costly at £43 plus shipping. 

The strings would cost me as much as the bass.😄

I do like Daddis but I am a bit broke just now. lol

[Paul S]

I bought a HB Shorty when they first came out and, several years and a major bass sell off later, it is the only Fender flavoured bass I still have.  I swapped the pickup for a Tonerider, just because the extra oomph suited the band better, but everything else is stock.  Anyhoo, I would say if you buy cheap flats you will just be disappointed - you'll end up with a dull thud and lose all the nusanced tones that more expensive flats will give you.  The Thomann flats don't come in short scale I don't think and MIE cutting longscale flats to fit usually ends up with the cut end unravelling.  I have TI Flats on mine - they do a shortscale version - and couldn't be happier with the sound and playability.  If you baulk at paying £40+ for strings, they usually turn up secondhand in the classifieds here for £25-ish.  You just have to wait.

[police squad]

There's a thread here. Sorry I'm on my phone and not totally sure if the link us right

Someone has succesfully cut them bending the string 90 degrees and cutting

Worth a read tbh

Edited 40 minutes ago by police squad
Link