I Modded the €118 Harley Benton PJ-4 HTR Bass Guitar - Was it Worth It?

[@TheBrunoleocoelho]

The stickers on the body resulted in an amazing look, and the upgraded pickups sound pretty good! But what caught me attention it's the original pickups don't sound bad, for the price, in a simple usage.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Good call! For 118 euros it is a really worthy instrument.

[@ivailopetrov2827]

@@TheGuitarGeek do you reckon the original pickups won't bop as much if you'd lower them?

[@spaceraisin.]

More modding video please! These were the reason I subscribed 👍 4 YEARS??!

[@tobiasherzog3548]

I love your Modding Videos, could watch 'em for four years straight, really!

[@ninjarobotmonk3y]

I really enjoyed this, Thanks for taking the time to film it, edit it, and then share it all :)

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Glad you enjoyed it Dave!

[@bigtguitars7312]

Love your mod videos there’s a bright future for you Andy as the British Phil McKnight

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Hahaha, I am truly honoured

[@zackymad1533]

Great mod video, i really dig the new looks. Sound wise not much of a difference which is a good thing because the bass initially sounded ok. Thank you it was fun to watch.

[@nikolajpotanin]

it was the strings that changed slappng sound more than something else, I assume

[@everready19373]

You could always glue some small blocks of wood into the control cavity and mount the pick guard correctly.

[@vasotoe]

Slap-a-da-bass for the Michiel!!! It's a bass!! RIP Drill Collins 🥲 What a fun project...4 years...really?!?! 😛

[@saarangnarayan123]

This looks really great! The pickups especially sound sooper S M O O T H. The fact that it took you 4 years (really?!) to get around to doing it is made worth it by the sheer number of stickers on there. Honestly, I wasn't expecting THAT many but it looks so much better with that amount of stickers on there. I do think that the pickups are getting lost in the background of those stickers so maybe black bobbins might have suited better AND matched the hardware. Cool project nonetheless!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I was not a fan of the pickguard but it is so disruptive, i like it. The stickers were tough work but definitely worth it!

[@marck7270]

beautiful outcome, hat off to you for your honest self assessment

[@everready19373]

I really want one of their PB-50 models but in butterscotch. I wrote to them to ask about that possibility. Everyone here should do the same.

[@robf.7404]

That bass is now at least 5 yrs old. I saw a video interview with the HB guy where he discussed how he was working towards improved quality. I wonder if that instrument new today is better out of the box.

[@andsoistopped]

Four and a half years. That’s amazing.

[@BudgetPedalChap]

Although, I'm a little sad we didn't get a 10 minutes neck sanding video, this is the content we came here for. For ears? Really?!

[@KaiDown]

I’ve had my PJ5 for a fair few years now, attempting a refret next week!!

[@moewhocooper]

Admitting too 1000's of people you don't know but watch you for entertainment purposes that you took four years to get too do something for a friend. That can't be easy but prices why we watch you. You aren't afraid to admit when you do wrong.(not trying to point fingers) that you man up and let the world know and then make the project look great I hope he does enjoy it I think it looks pimp and the small cosmetic problems would not bother me knowing I have a one of a kinda and done by you.

[@wideyxyz2271]

I like it....4 years....Really!!!!!! Good times Andy...

[@GuitarGearGyan]

Sounds and looks considerably better.

[@PooNinja]

Tone stickers 🤘🏽

[@JohnMcGFrance]

Couple of things. First what strings did you put on? Second, what was the total cost of all the mods? Would it not have been better to have just bought a decent bass like you said. I’m not sure what you gain from modding. For me riptide would be too much hassle. Interesting video though and I learned a lot. Thank you.

[@andsoistopped]

This video got very philosophical.

[@paulsmusic861]

Put some Seymour Duncan quarter pounders in mine, sprayed it black and then reliced with a custom made pick guard. Yes I could have spent the money elsewhere, but I wanted to learn at the same time.

[@StudioChimiel]

4 years of life, 4 years of friendship, and 1 Frozen Princess.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Do you want to build a bassman?

[@PooNinja]

@@TheGuitarGeek why am I hearing iommi slow bending up to an e and Michiel saying “l AM Bassman” thur a multi tap dly and some phase?

[@magneto9210]

Big ass My Chemical Romance sticker front and center, love it.

[@pattonPwr]

Can you believe.. I prefer the sound from the OG pickups

[@cedriclagger9270]

Is the new bridge fitting exactly or do you need to drill new holes?

[@thomassteiger7169]

4 years, really! I like the body covered with stickers. That looks great. But I struggle a little bit with the pickguard contrasting to the sticker colours. But that is something which I could get used to. The new pickups sounds much better while slapping the bass. Thanks for sharing your mod, Andy.

[@JaniceLalla]

me. too, would be better with a solid color pick guard

[@Furtheronmusic]

Four years REALLY! I think updating pickups and possibly the pots possibly worthwhile on a bass line this but possibly not with Dimarzio but a more mid range replacement. Going back to the 4 year thing. I promised to assemble a Telecaster kit for a friend and then forgot. He reminded me and I did it. He even posted on social media to his fans about it then... He welched on the deal leaving me several hundreds of pounds out on the deal. My son now has that guitar and enjoys it..

[@jjerkamillo]

The stock paint and pickguard looked great as is, would've been really cool if you simply painted the face of the headstock to match the original colors instead. Hardware upgrades made a huge different though.

[@Buzzel-NL]

What is this mythical four stringed device? Lovely mod video!

[@vshears]

4 years really!! The sticker finish looks great (from a distance) but I think the thing I take from this video is that the biggest improvement is changing to good strings.

[@oldmanzen6682]

I’ve often thought it would be a fun project to order a bunch of Pokémon stickers or something, and slathering them all over a guitar for a fun stickered look… but every time I see someone do something with stickers, I see how persnickety the process is. It’s all but impossible to get them reasonably flat due to all the contours. Maybe on a Tele without comfort carves. Anyway, fun video to watch. But I have to agree… 4 years…?

[@djolemadzarevic]

OK, nice topic. Wouldn't be nice to give more attention to electronic part, pots especially? I think that is the biggest change (two concentric full size pots instead of three mini sized etc.). All other changes are just routine ones, but that with pots requires more explanation, I think.

[@StudioChimiel]

Looking good

[@PooNinja]

Chat boss has entered the comments 🤘🏽

[@TheGuitarGeek]

There he is! Do you need a new bass?

[@OfficialPerfectoDeCastro]

Yup! Bass looks nice, too

[@PooNinja]

@@TheGuitarGeek I do have an Ibanez ExBass that needs some serious TLC, if you’re near my moon I’ll hand it over with some parts and a ta do list. (No timeline required)

[@StudioChimiel]

@@TheGuitarGeek always

[@TheGuitarGeek]

So... Was it worth it? Link to the bass and all the upgrade parts I used in this video. thmn.to/thocf/50di90k8o3

[@bigtguitars7312]

Definitely everyone knows the Tone is in the stickers

[@ShapuhiFilms]

Four years? Really?! Nice Job! 👍

[@cosmoschtroumpf]

Hi ! I agree with you about those budget instruments, I like your mod with those pickups-tuners-pots. Stickers and pickguard are... Beurk... Sorry. But cool mod however.

[@backlom]

Good advise. I would’ve thought a clear coat would help. For ears ready!!

[@charlieburns1385]

Great job! I like what you did I love the feel of my HB PJ 4 but yes the p/ups are terrible I may go with the geezer Butler p/u sets at $178

[@4stringz.]

nice job. I LOVE that color.

[@pachinko32]

Nice! But... Why not reusing the old pickguard?

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Because my friend wanted the new colour

[@soulagent79]

This used to be my studio bass for a couple of years. It's okay, but overall it felt pretty cheap. New Harley Benton basses have improved. Even the cheapest ones they offer these days are better than this older model.

[@driverbass1554]

You had FOUR years, really, FOUR years and you couldn't talk him into keeping the color?!?! Sorry, I played a Midnight Wine P bass at my buddy's house many years ago and just loved it. I thought this color was going to be a brighter read. But I do, absolutely, love your sticker job! I'm planning to do a sticker bass again. Great work and as I said before, you have a gift for teaching/explaining stuff so we'll! Great work!!! 😃👍

[@itsallaboutlee]

I’m probably the one who likes the sound of an old pickups..:)

[@manfredworner8528]

Wow that’s sharp 😊

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

I completely love the way this turned out but...bro...FOUR YEARS!?...REALLY!??😂❤

[@AndyRobinson1010]

4 years really!?! - but well done, you got there in the end. Good advice about modding cheaper instruments, but I just can't help myself ;-)

[@Jonathan.R.Pereira]

I think the pick guard is for a P Bass. Since it’s missing a hole for the third Pot on a PJ

[@jeromewagschal9485]

I love the sticker job but if it was me I'd seal it all under a few coats of lacquer...

[@FroL_Onn]

Nice! Sticker look so good! 4 years, really???

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Really

[@EasyHeat]

Most "cheap" guitars IMO just need a few TLC mods: 50k-100k pots, better tuning machines, and a proper TUSQ nut. After that? BAM! It will then play and sound like a PRO after setup. Thank me later. 😘 Cheers Andy!

[@PooNinja]

Hammer and chisel are always acceptable to make scratch plates fit.

[@PooNinja]

It’s good to have friends for years… wait 4 years If you’re still friends, you’re actually friends. If ya get ghosted, they weren’t real friends.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

That's a great point Poo

[@PooNinja]

Real friends don’t have time limits ( which is very important when you’re immortal)

[@michaelgriffin5304]

A friend once randomly found a bass in the trash. He brought it to me to fix. (When I was 14) We mostly just took it all apart and looked inside the guard. To our surprise there was an ID badge from our school of a student we knew (or was it one of us?can't recall) never know what you may find!

[@suzetteduncan]

4 years!? really, dude...love the sticker mod. did you cover the stickers with anything to prevent peeling, etc? just wondering

[@matt6288joyce]

Four years… really!? Haha this looks awesome and makes me so tempted to do the pop punk sticker thing

[@tiptizlode4995]

How much do you want for the pickguard? Mine is totally faded? P.S. 4 years, really ???

[@nrich5127]

The original pick guard can best be described as hideous at best - make a replacement after buying a "blank" - it's not that difficult.

[@garyoneill5648]

4 years….really 😂 but you got there in the end 🤦🏻‍♂️ great sticker skills 💪🏼😎 well done to drill Mitchell for stepping up but please let us know drill Colin’s is ok! What would you recommend for a guitar player starting bass? Maybe SQUIER FSR CLASSIC VIBE BASS VI / the new Ibanez 6 string bass / squire classic vibe mustang bass???

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thanks 👍 Drill Colins is fine don't worry. I have a Squier Classic Vibe Myself - thmn.to/thoprod/468527?offid=1&affid=288 I upgraded the pickups but purely for taste rather than out of necessity. I would not go for the cheapest bass available but you should be able to secure something good for under 400

[@marloncarbone2450]

4 years? Really?!? Okay, I totally get it. I've done the same thing... but not 4 years! LOL I have really expensive, custom instruments. They are all natural wood, with an oil finish. So, the sticker thing is not what I'd be into. All the other mods were nice to see.

[@oliverlangrall2014]

4 years. Really!? Maybe next time (if there is a next time) try coating the stickers with clear lacquer for a gloss? I don't know!

[@BenEurope]

Four years? Really? I love the look of the new pickguard but I am afraid it doesn't fit the look of the stickered base. Have you tried keeping the old one? It would have provided more contrast.

[@OakCityGamers]

Bass looks like my desk

[@MikeLute]

The Stickers are another proof, that the finish isn`t of any impotance on a solid body intrument. It sounded good, but how long did it taje to collect all the stickers. Four years, really???

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I am not sure of that. Maybe the poly is so thick that a little more makes no difference... Stickers were collected and saved over quite a few years, yes

[@atomnetton]

I ran into this problem over Christmas, I made a loaded pick guard for my son's Harley Benton bass as an upgrade.... And it didn't fit. We spent a fair bit of boxing day drilling, filling, and swearing at it. 4 years? Really? I've broken that high score many times, really.

[@andsoistopped]

So that means all the new parts are effectively NOS!!!!!!!!

[@jeffdeboer1679]

I'm over a year late on this video, but at least it's not 4 YEARS! 😆

[@dimiblues]

Four years, really? I think the bass looks cool with the stickers. But I also think you will spend less money when you buy the upgraded version. On the other hand, the more expensive HB will not carry a pick up as solid as the Dimarzio or any pick up dedicated brand will . Buying decent strings I think is a must on any new guitar or bass. Greetings Dimitri.

[@DiogoBarbosaa]

Why do you need a picture to save how it was stock when you have this whole video 🤯

[@colmwatulikededazio973]

Does he still kno you after $ years of nada..But he will be delighted with the look. One of ...

[@holstorrsceadus1990]

4 YeArS rEaLlY? Glad my mod projects are getting done faster than that. I like the pick guard. I'm of the opinion that every mod rod should have at least one cosmetic flaw or random quirk just to really give it personality.

[@music.corner]

looks cool, but the original sound was better imho!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

interesting!

[@KimmeU]

I purchased the Harley Benton JP-450P, and not regretting not purchasing an cheaper option and upgrading it. #4yearsRALLY

[@peterszakal]

4 years (really?!) and you covered a Superman-Batman sticker with a pickguard?

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Undercover Superheroes

[@disrobingbean9270]

In light of learning you're actively trying hard to engage with the comments I feel less like this comment may be yelling into the void. You've made a solid reputation on katana tips but as far as I can work out you have missed a trick. I have the 50 mk2 and I plug it into my phone with a cable and run katana librarian as I'm sure you've explained a hundred times thus giving me access too all of those benefits, buy I also have my phone Bluetoothed to an m valve chocolate (4 switch bt midi controller currently £33 on amazon) which I set to give out page up/down/blah/blah and I can then set those 4 footswitches to toggle individual effects and also use katana librarian as a virtual gf-whatsyoucallit to change between all four saved channels thus leaving the panel able to be, in my case, set to a clean channel ready to accept my joyo zombie via the fx send. Thereby turning it into a 5 channel amp in my opinion. Apologies if this is something you have covered before. Edit: combine this with your cab out mod and the 50 is a monster for the money

[@TheMerc1950]

4 years? 4 YEARS ANDY!?! Prost!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Prost!

[@sebyr4963]

that’s its awesome Thank you for the idea

[@ikestoddard2458]

Four years. Really? Lol. Your apology to your friend covers all the bases, I think. Admitting your weaknesses to your audience? Oooo, living on the edge! I liked this video, even though it’s not my kettle of fish. Moar, pleeeeeze.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thanks ike. I’d rather be hated for what I am than loved for what I’m not

[@onefatstratcat]

Not $118 in the states! The shipping cost is ridiculous!! I'll stick with my Ibanez and Yamaha :)

[@PaulCooksStuff]

They're opening a US warehouse shortly for orders via their USA reverb store.

[@barrygoodson4952]

For some just modding a instrument is as much fun as playing them so cheaper instruments have their place .

[@dennisgosens9085]

4 years, really!? The Harley Benton HTR-4 is a nice bass, but i went for the Harley Benton PJ-74 VW Deluxe Series, wich has alnico V pickups....... I installed better pots, vintage cloth wiring and a ceramic disc capacitor, like Fender did on their PJ basses in the 70's. I also installed copper shielding and straplocks and put Elixir Nanoweb NPS 45-105 strings on...... Probably i gonna change the tuners for Gotoh GB640 Resolight tuners..... But here is how she sounds now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4GXc6Sghd6Ama8

[@FireMrshlBill]

Which pots and cap did you go with? Have the pj-74vw and debating on swapping pots or just going for the geezer pj set since it includes everything. I like the stock P pickup enough but wish the J had more body. Also need to make sure everything is grounded and shield it (have the tape, just waiting for next string change in a few weeks) as I am getting more noise the past couple months and the tone pot is particularly scratchy and noisy when turned up.

[@ianvaughan9028]

Oh dear, I much prefer the sound of the stock pickups.

[@egnbigdave]

Pickups cost possibly MORE than the bass. The Tuners would come fairly close to at least half the value.

[@gonzalobernaus3856]

No entiendo el cambio de pastillas, en el video me suena mejor el original. No se si seea por la capa de pegatinas, pero suena muy apagaso la verdad.

[@StudioChimiel]

Bass for liff

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thank you brother.

[@PooNinja]

Bass is lyf!

[@onkelpool]

Let's blame it on my ears and MY headphones... I couldn't hear a clearer tone. Instead of a deep bass guitar, there was a feeling of butter spread evenly on the bread. Maybe it's just professional deformation - 39 years ago my guitar was taken away from me and I was only allowed to play four strings? Anyway, to my ears, the original sounded much more like a band-worthy bass. 🤓

[@andsoistopped]

If I had more time. Yes. 4 1/2 years wasn’t enough 😂😂😂😂😂.

[@foff4strings]

"4 years! Really?" What's the rush? As I was half-watching this I was replacing the nasty, ahem, 'gold' hardware on my Squier 40th Anniversary P-bass in Lake Placid Blue with new nickel parts. WHAT? Relax, I bought it for £289 in the Thomann Cyberweek and saved about £150-160, which (mostly) covers the cost of the new parts. Okay, I kept the anodised pickguard as that looks cool. Love the sticker look, could live with the black hardware, but that pickguard would look better in plain black rather than whatever the f*ck that disgusting psychedelic cat sick finish is.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

oh that gold hardware on the Squier basses is.... divisive! You should be getting a great instrument out of that though.

[@foff4strings]

@@TheGuitarGeek yup, love the block & bound neck, the colour and the pickguard, so for the money I couldn't resist. Well, I could have, but chose not to.

[@Tehstroyer]

4 years, ReALly? But seriously, I have this bass and I bought a new black pickguard (even twice, since I accidentally bought a standard P-Bass one first) because I'm not too fond of the combination it's sold as. Mine is a newer model, so it's a bit better than the one you had, but still. Haven't installed it yet, but I'm bracing myself after watching this. Now imagine Harley Benton actually selling replacement parts for their instruments instead of just parts for other brands. _What a novel idea!_

[@mark.guitar]

This has been hanging around for years. Really too long!

[@HouseOfCouplePuffs]

4 YEARS?! Really? Go easy on yrself, friend.

[@aaronmcquoid8138]

Four years?!? Really?!?!?

[@andsoistopped]

Four years? Really? Shame there was nor FIIIRRREEEEEEE!!!!!!!

[@Markleford]

I have no right to comment on four years, really! The heart is willing, but the ADHD task management is weak.

[@EddieG1888]

The stock pickups sounded better, in my opinion. The replacements seem to scoop too much of the mids out.

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

#126_EyeKanSpellReally_NiceWerkAndAppreciateTheSelfRealizationContentTheMost_HumilityIsStrengthOfOnesValue🇺🇸🇮🇱✝️

[@MarkRigler]

Four years really wtf

[@EPSMRSC]

I love always you honesty. Keeps me coming to check on your work but 4 years? Really 🤣

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Welcome back! Better late than never?? :-D

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

#125_ForEarsReelLee_

[@richardrichard5409]

No😎

[@simonvanderveen6446]

Ha ha ha ha