Harley Benton Bass VI review for bass players

Skip the 1st 5 minutes if you want to go straight to the bass sound. In the 1st 5 minutes I share my thoughts on Harley Benton, and explain what I did to make this instrument VERY nice to play for bass players.

[@tpfbb]

Just a quick reconnect on the bass VI. I used it in a worship setting at church this past Sunday. I was surprised by how well it worked. Sounded great … felt really good after a couple of days of woodshedding. You can see the service at Grace Church Bellingham’s web site. The October 30, 22 service has 3 tunes at the start and 2 at the end. Not sure how the stream mix will be, but it’s still worth a look

[@kevmac1230]

I'm an old bassist that's been eyeing this.I initially was thinking of the Squire but this one is getting pretty good marks and as a owner of a HB rb-414 I think they give bang for the buck.Not to mention they're half the price.

[@tpfbb]

yeah ... a good use of $$

[@tpfbb]

Also since this video, I put a 22 on the high E string and it evened up the feel of the tension on the treble side.

[@tpfbb]

And if u are going to tune the hi E to E (unlike my tuning it to a D), then a 20 wound would work

[@tpfbb]

Yes that would work. Just make sure you crimp the E at the point that you would cut it off near the bridge/tailpiece. By crimping you avoid popping the wrap loose, which would make it unusable … dead.

[@kevmac1230]

If it isn't too much work a more extensive video on the mods of the strings would be great.

[@tpfbb]

@@kevmac1230 I already posted a newer continuation of the review. go to the channel and look a few vids newer

[@Lanternamagika]

Great suggestions and video, thank you. Would totally follow your footsteps 🙏. Could you please expand a little though about 1) condenser upgrade (which one, where, howto etc.) and 2) what D'Addario strings set did you resort to? and where did you get the 0.125 low E? Last: 3) any guidelines/suggestions to adopt flatwounds? Forgive the too many questions, and thanks a million sir 🙏🙏🙏

[@doubpearce7035hacked]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJOlqauggbBqZ5o

[@guitarnutsanonymous7199]

So you used a regular-scale .125 E string and wrapped it around the tailpiece? Is that what I'm seeing?

[@geoffgardner389]

Could you please explain how you attached the 125 low e string at the bridge? Also what about the tuner? Wasn’t the 125 difficult to get through the tuner?

[@doubpearce7035hacked]

So … I’m about to do a part 2 video that updates a few things. I’ll show how to attach those strings. Basically you can turn any longer scale string into a short scale string by leaving the excess string at the tailpiece end (actually attach the skinny part of the tuner end with just enough of the full wrap to get over the nut) then crimp the tailpiece end to keep it from unwinding the wrap. Bend the string into a tight V. Cut the excess off of the tailpiece end and remove the ball end from the cut off portion. Thread the Ball onto the V end and tighten a cable tie so that it pulls the V closed. Then when you tighten the string up to tension the new ball end locks into the tailpiece. I’ve adjusted string gauges to 22-30-40-55-80-115. They feel much more balanced at those gauges. The stock sets from DAddario are way heavier on the hi E thru D and way too floppy on the low E and A IMO

[@tpfbb]

@@doubpearce7035hacked p.s. the tuner was no problem ...

[@tpfbb]

I uploaded a close up of the bridge/tailpiece as the thumbnail for this video. hopefully the description and pic will give you what you need

[@gabrielorville5334]

Why would a fixed bridge be better than a tremolo in the Bass VI? I've wanted to get one but I am not sure which is better or what would be the reason for being so?

[@tpfbb]

The trem bridge is less stable, so easier to push pull out of tune. Trem is more for guitar players who want that baritone guitar usage

[@Lanternamagika]

Could you please expand a little though about condenser upgrade? Many many would appreciate 🙏

[@tpfbb]

hello ... I think you are talking about the "capacitor" mod ... not condenser. The tone circuit on any passive pickup system has a capacitor (.47uf? maybe) that bleeds treble off thru a pot. If you check the cap on your circuit, you can buy one of equal (or higher if you want to) and solder it side by side with the one already in the circuit (in parallel). It rolls larger amounts of highs off as you increase the pot position. This makes your bass less bright. Be careful because you can put TOO much capacitance on the tone pot, which will begin to act like a volume pot ... lowering the overall volume.

[@IwantAwan]

Im thinking of getting one. But i heard the squier bass vi has intonation problems, does this instrument share the same problem. And do the top and bottom strings ever slide off the fretboard since its so tightly spaced?

[@tpfbb]

neither problem exists with this one .... tune o matic bridge instead of wonky whammy bar fixes that

[@tpfbb]

also I was able to spread the bridge spacing a bit and still no string slip problem

[@fredguelen7630]

Merci !

[@Lanternamagika]