Harley Benton Enhanced MJ-4EB Demo

[@doncross5181]

I own the natural wood version and it is by far the best bass I've owned. I have rickenbackers, fender pj player plus bass and this is the cheapest and best one by far

[@64jazz]

Agreed, I also own a Player Plus V, and my Harley Benton MJ-5 rivals that Bass in terms of build quality/ fit and finish and, oh yeah PRICE! 😄 Fantastic Bass.👊🏿

[@r3b0rn80]

That passive sound is way better than the onboard active circuit to my ears !

[@JonnyDibble]

Agree!! I was so impressed when listening back on that part

[@Djole_NS246]

I notice that there is no Harley Benton logo on the headstock. If the shape were just a little different and if some expensive name was written on it, no one would even guess that it was a guitar with such a low price. The guitar I have is with perfect fret job and an excellent factory setup - I was lucky. I have only one complaint, and that is that there is no color combination of cream body with maple neck. Mine has a maple neck, but it is natural swamp ash. And when that's the only complaint, it's clear what kind of guitar it is. Comfortable to play, well-balanced, sounds good both active and passive... Maybe your complaint about the sound not being as crisp as the Music Man can be related to the preamp, because in passive mode that pickup sounds great. I assume that a higher quality (and, of course, more expensive) preamp would contribute to an even better sound.

[@webdave_de]

I just ordered my enhanced mp-4 from Thomann. I'm really excited about it. So I took this video (and many others) to check the quality of those enhanced basses.

[@ewraro553]

thinking about getting one of these. How is it?

[@webdave_de]

@@ewraro553 it sounds great. Neck it bigger than my JazzBass but action and sound are great.

[@damasterkarej]

I've noticed on your other video you had this bass. I've just came here to tell you I am not in love with mine and after few reviews on yt I had bigger expectations :)

[@JonnyDibble]

I think the preamp is just a bit of a let down. I prefer Harley Bentons cheaper basses!

[@damasterkarej]

@@JonnyDibble indeed, I use my own in passive. I've fixed sharp frets and rolled fingerboard a little bit. And the weight on five string is... Little bit too much. Full fat Les Paul is extremely light after this one :D

[@ethanlancaster76]

Great review! But the “first fret” is called a zero fret because it’s placed before the actual true first fret for improved intonation.

[@JonnyDibble]

Thanks! Yeah I realised the mistake after uploading haha

[@elbauldo]

I just got a mj-4eb which cost £280 given the extra import tax and UPS handling. Overall pretty good but like a lot of HBs the frets are protruding a bit which might be a bind to file given they are SS. Tuners are deffo a bit meh and the knobs are pretty tacky. Also it seems the bass and treble are by-passed in passive mode. The bass and tone in active mode are too harsh on max/min but okay +/- 50%. Other than all that it's still a very good bass for the money but if you were to only buy one bass you would be better getting the SIRE V3 from Andertons which would be cheaper post Brexit.

[@ghostwriter1440]

Thinking of getting the p bass version of this lad. I will say I wish they had more colours to choose from!

[@JonnyDibble]

Me too! All black ones would be awesome

[@ghostwriter1440]

I’d be down with an all black version! Or maybe even a blue grey primer colour! How bad ass would the jazz model with the p bass neck pickup be?!

[@ghostwriter1440]

Update: I pulled the trigger on the MP model in crème. Excited for it to arrive!

[@64jazz]

​@@ghostwriter1440If Harley Benton comes out with a (5 string version) Black w/a maple neck! I'll be saying 'Take my money Thomanns, Just take it All 😅 ... maybe in 2024 they'll make that happen🤞🏾

[@ghostwriter1440]

Further update. - have used the Harley for several shows as my main bass and have recorded a record with it. Solid buy!

[@ArjanYoyoman]

In my experience it's actually super common that cheap active basses have a very bad pre amp. It's nice that this one had a passive switch

[@JonnyDibble]

@@ArjanYoyoman same experience!

[@richardpaling600]

Just got one of these and first impressions are good. Not really gave it a proper try yet but I've heard it said that upgrading the pickups would make it into an awesome instrument. I was toying with the idea of replacing both pickups with Seymour Duncan's. Any idea which ones I'd need and if I can just simply swap them over without altering anything else?

[@SebastianBleak]

Great stuff man 👊🏽😎

[@JonnyDibble]

Cheers my dude!

[@paulevans4334]

It's a pity they didn't turn the bridge pickup into a full stingray one where you can use either coil and not just one. Are well maybe that's a good idea for a mod.....I can hear that fretbuzz you were on about, not a bad sounding bass for that kind of money tho.

[@JonnyDibble]

Great shout for a mod. Interested to see what they do next!

[@louie8604]

I'd like to see a HX Stomp review, been thinking about getting one.

[@JonnyDibble]

Going to make one for sure. Want to make sure I do it justice 😊

[@louie8604]

Yet another great video, could you check out one of the cheap harley Benton p basses, I think it's the pb 20

[@JonnyDibble]

Thank you! Yeah for sure. I really liked the PB-50 P bass. I played the PJ one years ago and liked it!

[@iluvgrapedrank]

The Harley Benton PB-20 SBK Standard Series looks amazing and only about € 94!

[@JonnyDibble]

@@iluvgrapedrank that matte black finish tho 🔥

[@ethanlancaster76]

I own one.. and for the money everyone should, but I can honestly say that it’s a good enough instrument to gig with and I have. I have it strung with flats and even with the added string tension the action is still really good and very playable. I just don’t understand how they managed to make any money but I will gladly take advantage of them again and buy a couple or 10 more! lol

[@JonnyDibble]

@@ethanlancaster76 Agree, superb basses! By bypassing the middle man Thomann are able to undercut the market so well!

[@bartholomewblack33]

Hi great video, I’m newt bass though and needed to see the settings? as it came with no instructions ? And I can’t tell what knob does what?

[@krumpelmanfamily]

Immediate subscribe when you hit the boots and cuts…. Well done!

[@datyunggeric9509]

So if I were to just upgrade the humbucker I’d get a more true stingray sound? I’m thinking about getting the one with the p pickup in the neck cause I already have 2 Jazz basses. I’d like to explore the tones of the fender p bass and EBMM stingray with that.

[@JonnyDibble]

Yeah I'd say so! Bloody love me some P bass tones 👌

[@frederickwood9116]

Do your know the weight of the Harley Benton Enhanced jazz bass? It’s not something I can find anywhere for any of their jazz basses. Thanks for the material. I enjoy the engaged and light style.

[@JonnyDibble]

Sadly not I'm afraid. Wish I weighed it when I had it! Tha ks very much 😄

[@davidhonomichl5479]

What about the Harley Benton bass amps? Heard some great reviews 'bout the 300 watt one...

[@JonnyDibble]

I'd never considered the bass amps! Hopefully it has a DI out?

[@davidhonomichl5479]

@@JonnyDibble Yes, at least some of them, but they're unfortunately out of stock on thomann right now. I am considering buying one, but I can't find how they sound anywhere and I would also really like to hear them in combination with some pedals. Also this video was really good, the demos keep getting better and there are not that many great bass channels, so please, keep doing them.

[@JonnyDibble]

@@davidhonomichl5479 Seems like the pandemic has put a hold on a lot of their stock because there isn't much in stock at the mo! Thank you so much 😁

[@breadslayerhito1065]

I'm torn between this and Squire Pbass CV 60s. Any advice?

[@marcinszadyn5026]

It is really good bass...

[@JonnyDibble]

Insane value considering all the features!

[@marcinszadyn5026]

Ecactly. All the Benton basses are good for the price. It's awesome. I've got black PB and it's sounds like original Precision. Greetings from Poland. Great videos. 👍👍👍

[@JonnyDibble]

@@marcinszadyn5026 yeah they're great fun! Thanks very much 😁

[@daisuke_thrasher7032]

If you could please review the Harley Benton Hb-60 wb, I haven't seen too many good reviews out there, could really appreciate your take on it, regardless, wicked video this one, cheers

[@JonnyDibble]

Was actually looking at one on eBay the other day! I'll see if I can get my hands on one. Thanks very much 😁

[@SmokedHam444]

Hi Johny, I know you haven't tried the model, but from your experience with other Harley Bentons, would you recommend the PJ-74 or the Talman TMB100? I really can't decide between them and they both seem to be recommended by everyone. I know you don't like the active eq of the Talman, but does that matter much for a beginner? Great reviews btw!

[@JonnyDibble]

Hey! I actually borrowed an older logo version of the PJ Harley Benton and it was awesome. Personally I'd recommend getting that! The Talman is a good bass overall but the neck is less conventional and for a beginner I'd say you're better off getting a passive bass. That's just my opinion anyway 😊 Thanks very much!

[@SmokedHam444]

@@JonnyDibble Alright, thank you!

[@eloysuopunki7926]

How much does this weigh and does it have the ferrite pickups?

[@GreekDude]

The E string sounds dead on this one. I had the 2015 model of the JB-75 and it had that exact same thing. Nothing I'd do could remedy it.

[@guilviking7641]

how did you removed the harley benton on neck

[@JonnyDibble]

Previous owner did it I’m afraid

[@conor3178]

would you recommend this bass or the new Harley Benton MV-4P bass (100 euro cheaper)

[@JonnyDibble]

@@conor3178 tough! I’d probably go for the newer one personally though

[@conor3178]

@@JonnyDibble I was thinking the same

[@Aldon42]

Does it have stainless steel frets?

[@JonnyDibble]

Thanks for the comment! Yes - 22 Medium stainless steel frets

[@richardrichard5409]

More full and less glassy, thats sounds like a humbucker 👍😎

[@RedFrameATH]

Would you go for this bass or a marcus miller at the same price range? Thanks a ton for the video.

[@JonnyDibble]

I've not actually tried the V3 so can't say for sure! Definitely want to get one in the channel soon though.

[@Dapno_]

@@JonnyDibble the sonic blue one from andertons would be rad!

[@Bassplayingypsy]

I think your recording of bass is a little on the too hot side. Low end distortion. But other than that. Sounds good. Not quite a Sandberg Cali bass but the price says YES YES YES!!!!

[@mikeoxlong2740]

Battery? Do you actually need a battery to play?

[@JonnyDibble]

The battery powers the preamp, so the bass and treble EQ controls. You can still play it without the battery, it just won't sound so hot. Passive mode bypasses the active circuit 😊

[@areallemone]

Does the neck have a glossy finish?

[@JonnyDibble]

Great question. From memory... I don't think so!

[@areallemone]

@@JonnyDibble Excellent! Gloss necks can be difficult to play, if done wrong! Thanks, and fast reply!

[@JonnyDibble]

@@areallemone gloss necks are easy to remedy, I always sand them down with a bit of sandpaper and they feel amazing afterwards!

[@jeremiahpughofficial3565]

I'd love to see you try a sterling music man 😁

[@JonnyDibble]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll keep an eye out!

[@JonnyDibble]

@bflo1000 I've now got the Ray24CA! Not HH but still SICK

[@lucagarciaferrari]

Nice demo as always! Can I ask, what do you use for the drums at the beginning of these videos?

[@JonnyDibble]

Thank-you Luca! The drums are a mix of the stock "Heavy" and "East Bay" midi drum sets on Logic Pro X 😊

[@lucagarciaferrari]

Jonny Dibble oh awesome! I’ve been thinking about doing some reviews of my basses but never knew how/where ppl got their drum loops from. Mind if I steal the idea? ;)

[@JonnyDibble]

@@lucagarciaferrari do it man! Its time consuming because I have to write every bit of music for every video but obviously lots of fun. Let me know how you get on!

[@aaakzt-itsme]

do the harley benton jb-75mn. i think its one of the best sounding basses i have played. also in terms of feel. only bit heavy with almost 5kg

[@JonnyDibble]

I've only played the PJ configuration one which was amazing. I'll see if I can get my hands on a JB!

[@BR-ip5pz]

That passive sound @ 7:40 is really nice reminds me of this sound: kzbin.info/www/bejne/an23i6Cpapl5jtU

[@guilviking7641]

I got the MP5 one swamp ash with darkglass capsule preamp and delanos and this cheap bass destroys

[@marcoesposito8753]

Super sexy color.

[@nym053]

It sounds a bit boring to me compared to the non enhanced version. Kind of weird.

[@JonnyDibble]

I agree!

[@baSSbooSSted-pr7dd]

Всегда было интересно, зачем делать обзоры на инструменты, если ты не умеешь ни играть, ни настраивать вменяемый звук?

[@anderscarlsson3387]

So funny when, boost and cut, boost and cut, hahahahahahahahahaha..... hahahahahahahaha..... can't stop myself.......hahahahahahahahah......

[@JonnyDibble]

Couldn't resist after I heard it 😆

[@emilio8381]

Play better than my 800 euro's bass.....

[@JonnyDibble]

Thats insane haha. I wonder how they'd compare with the same setup?a

[@emilio8381]

@@JonnyDibble I'm joking dude, but this bass sounds very good