The $190 Bass VI - Harley Benton GuitarBass VS [Demo]

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Gear Used:
Harley Benton GuitarBass VS
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[@DommoDommo]

With the right drums it could have easily been a smashing pumpkins song.

[@dannybardon2934]

I thought this as soon as he started playing

[@BarryWarne]

Definitely

[@zaccllewellyn8950]

Well music managers seek or need a newer sound to make a lot more money and popularity nowadays so it could be that way either way which is sad

[@joshuaandtheruins8580]

I really like this demo, because you play high and low notes concurrently that showcase the range, and you play both clean and distorted. Most Bass VI demos are just the 2 low strings for bass players, or Cure covers. Absolutely excellent work. I ordered mine from Thomann last night!

[@robotatomico83]

This is my favourite guitar ive ever bought. game changer.

[@georgespringer3897]

Ordered mine back in September and got it last Wednesday! Been loving it! If I hadn’t come across this video, I don’t think I’d know about the Harley Benton version of the bass VI. Thank you so much!

[@damoneubanks9075]

I've been on the fence about picking up the Squier Bass VI but ran across this video and thinking an HB would be a much better deal. It would most likely be a one off type instrument for me rather than an every day bass. So I'd rather save the money and go with an HB I think.

[@HansyPants184]

This was really wild to watch a review on this from a bass player. Usually you get the guitar players emulating bass players with it. Great perspective shift!

[@poopsock7991]

I’ve bought one of these and almost never use it for bass stuff, mostly for dark and mysterious cleans and heavy distorted guitar

[@HansyPants184]

​@@poopsock7991bought the Harley Benton JM baritone and love being able to track bass and guitar with one instrument. Couldn't agree more with the cleans as a guitar makes for such a unique atmosphere.

[@ad-xf8bb]

Would be cool to A/B/Y this with a guitar and bass amp. I kinda want one of these as an excuse to run into my bass and guitar amp at the same time. Throw a looper and an octave pedal in the mix and this is the perfect instrument for a 2-man band.

[@JWNLGamer]

I have this. Squier Vintage Bass VI running through Boss Katana 100 and Orange Crush 50, with A/B/Y, Bass Whammy, Big Muff NY going to the Boss, then a multi-effects bass pedal to the Orange Crush 50. It's a crushing tone for my two-man band!

[@ad-xf8bb]

@@JWNLGamer hell yeah, now that's what I wanna hear.

[@JWNLGamer]

@@ad-xf8bb I'm currently in the process (outside of school duties) of recording music and rehearsing with my drummer. Hopefully I can get things out of it soon! There's some stuff under the name Whitestone already posted that's not ready yet, and not recorded with the setup, haha!

[@seanoreilly2949]

@@JWNLGamer any update on this? Sounds like a killer rig and would love to hear some music made with it.

[@JWNLGamer]

@@seanoreilly2949 No recorded music as of yet (outside of all the demos done), but we did play a few live shows with the setup. I've uploaded one in all its glorious 240p and with the drums facing the camera, haha! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnmnm5maqMlqbZo

[@iansmith9125]

Your playing is always awesome dude but that intro was cooler than the other side of the pillow! Awesome 😎

[@kronkproductions5570]

A. You are so right. B. I’m stealing your pillow line

[@lavadoraautomatica1]

Now this is an instrument that I feel that fits you pretty well.

[@ollie1704]

They've finally started making them again yay. I was gonna get one a few years ago but they stopped producing them.

[@NeoRichardBlake]

Link please! I can't find it... I'm fearing it's gone again... :( Why is this thing discontinued!? It's so cool!

[@Charlesbakowski]

This is a lot of the same way I felt when I first got my Squier VI. Its a really cool concept but... its going to take some adjustment. But once you get it setup and find your way with it, its an amazing experience. Ambient shoegaze to bottomed out sludge all in one!

[@jounikorhonen]

Please! Do feel free to tape a few 5-chords/octave-chords with some serious fuzz! I¨m considering this for a doom-project.

[@Allan-et5ig]

Just got a Squier V1. Started playing today. Matthew - BOY did the vendor have to set it up. There's a 'shim' treatment on the internet that is supposed to improve the instrument 200% I'll probably try. Do you still play yours?

[@marcobalducci4789]

thank you patrick, bought one. good sound, intonation issues, pointed frets.. i love it with fuzz but also with tremolo and reverb morricone style. super arpeggios with fender clean sound. greetings from florence

[@triplesevensix291]

Gonna order one soon. I would love the Fender or even the Squire version but for the dough this is a no brainer. Bargain.

[@Lazelwood]

I have one of these and recommend it for a) 60ies/70ies style picked bass lines b) Kind of spagetti-western / spy movie deeper than baritone guitar stuff. BUT I have also stringed it as a baritone and for me THIS is really where it wins: I compared it A-B with the Sqier Jazzmaster and as well a Danelectro (which I have sold afterwards) and I like it far more. Also a Duesenberg Les Trem II fits well and is pretty stable and still altogether cheaper compared to other baritones with a whammy bar. It's a serious instrument that makes fun and can inspire (but unluckily sold out but if you find a used one...)

[@scottcharney1091]

What about playing like The Cure and Placebo?

[@Lazelwood]

I would say no reason why not... I find what really does not work in terms of typical 4 string bass playing is slap bass stuff but rather melodic picking etc will work fine... @@scottcharney1091

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Patrick Hunter Let's hear Eruption by Eddie Van Halen on a Bass VI (Sounding an Octave below the Guitar version) because he'll be missed & is always going to be a source of inspiration.

[@guy.b.l6351]

Since your doing bass VIs now you should demo the new squier jazzmaster 30" scale baritone

[@nicgundy]

@@perd8882 The Bunn's channel did a review on that guitar! I love it but probably won't commit to convert it for bass VI so it'd make 6 basses I got

[@nicgundy]

PERD THE ZOMBIE as sloppy as I tuned it to E standard, sound was legit!! You’ll enjoy it!

[@ck-ck]

Thx for this demo, , it shows best the possiilities for this guitar-bass , really needed to find this to decide whether i need this instrument!

[@scottcharney1091]

I have always loved what The Cure and Placebo do with Bass VIs. Is this up to the job? Regarding the build quality, in the medium-long term, will I wish I had a rugged Fender?

[@mungofinalfi4480]

What I want to know too!

[@onsesejoo2605]

That dirty sound around 0:30 brings Rickenbacker to mind.

[@ripplewine6112]

THANK YOU! After numorous videos that just didn't nail it then I found this. You seriously rule

[@aidanbrooks771]

I would love to hear that thing through an HM-2.

[@brainbox9219]

I got one on my board and now I’m just waiting for this to be shipping and I will be able to find for you 😎

[@aidanbrooks771]

Coyan Foster nice! Edit: just thought of this though, you better have a decent noise gate because with single coils the hum is going to be pretty significant

[@onsesejoo2605]

0:24 it could be also a bass to emulate a Rickenbacker in a Motörhead cover band. Also the bass sound of Yes sounds to be in reach.

[@damoneubanks9075]

Funny you mention Motorhead. That's exactly who came to mind because Lemmy played his Rickenbacker like a guitar. I play bass in a stoner/doom metal type band and we cover '(We Are) The Road Crew' and I actually have a RIC 4003. But I ran across the Squier Bass VI (and now this HB) and thought these would have been perfect for Lemmy. The Squier version runs $400+. But since this guitar would be more of a one off type instrument for me I'd be more inclined to grab a HB at less than half the price.

[@onsesejoo2605]

@@damoneubanks9075 Jack Bruce of Cream also used the orginal Fender VI on a tour, custom painted by The Fool, the same group who painted the famous The Fool SG for Eric Clapton. :)

[@dylanlemke3057]

I saw on Instagram a couple years ago that someone had taken the Squier Bass VI and put hotrails inside of it. Bet it sounded really good, was just a series of pictures.

[@Αδιάφθορος]

When I'm getting one I'm doing the Dan Armstrong mod.... Hope it's gonna be monstrous in series

[@kevinmyles6369]

Love this demo vid! Instant sub! Great stuff. On my list to get this bass VI!!

[@jfinester]

The body wood on this thing is pronounced “bass” (like the fish) wood, not “base”wood, despite the fact that it’s a bass (pronounced “base”) guitar.

[@randysorenson2530]

Its a Harley Benton, so it might be base wood.

[@matacorpse5762]

So is it a bass bass or a bass bass?

[@MeDicenMax]

Awesome Instrument, man. O: Also awesome performance. ;3

[@bigjohnsgmail]

I'm actually doing a more refined setup on this specific bass VI you sold my buddy Mike. Going to help the output level with a push pot to give B+M series or N+B series probably through a capacitor to keep lows from getting out of control. Also going to beef up the shielding so no more buzzing and popping touching strings. I'll try to get a demo video when I'm done but I need to up my game as far as editing. Just so swamped working on guitars.

[@ck-ck]

Went for the "öriginal copy" of the "Fender Bass VI",namely the "Squire Bass VI", which was the model for the "Harley Benton" copy... :-)

[@bucketsmith]

Thanks for the video, interesting insights! If I may give some feedback; I found I had to turn down my volume a lot because the shots with you talking were quite loud. The shots of playing then became somewhat too soft to appreciate the sound well. But I couldn't leave it high, cause the sudden onset of a talking shot would be a bit jarring.

[@matacorpse5762]

There are some high output minibuckers that would kill in one of those

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Does this video qualify as an infomercial - or just a review? I bet the tuning instability could be overturned with a bit of pencil graphite applied to the nut.

[@MichaelDBauer]

I'm not a fan of single coil pickups - at least not for the style I play. I have a Squier Affinity Strat I bought in the mid 2000s. The first thing I did was replace the bridge pickup with a JB Junior pickup. Love it. I wonder how this guitar/bass would sound with a JB Junior at the bridge.

[@UsTheMusicTVOfficial]

Cool intro song, and otherwise jamming out. Nice to see one of these at a lower price than Fender/Squier.

[@tauruschorus]

I’m looking into this so my friend will give me back my squier vm bass vi I lent him three weeks ago... This sounds awesome and the price is still $199 - ROCKING!

[@OGM_OriginalGameMusic]

dimario tonezone S would be a great pickup to choose

[@bertrandmajorik6589]

Leo Fender's first design, the bass-guitar !!! But bass players are playing the upright... ( 4 strings ) Back to the drawing board..... Looks like your enjoying it, a lot !!

[@ConstantineIsslamow]

Hard to beat the value. Great playing by the way.

[@jeremiahshackelford5340]

What was that first song you were playing? I could swear I've heard it before but I can't place it....

[@Herfinnur]

Bought! I'm looking forward to getting my fatty fingers on this thing. Anyways, here's Wonderwall (proceeds to sing Wonderwall one octave deeper)

[@mmadmuor7149]

Mh, I think this beast would sound really powerful with a Orange Bass Butler 🤔

[@BarryWarne]

be interesting to replace stock pickups with Squire Duncan-Designed Jaguar pickups :)

[@erikarko]

Tasty riffs!!!

[@mono.isgtds]

What strings would you buy for it?

[@scottcharney1091]

There are sets of "Bass VI" strings.

[@OGM_OriginalGameMusic]

they come with 85s which is a the heaviest 8 strings erneiball do. Personally i prefer going to 95's which means you can go for extra slinky bass and extra slinky guitars and mix the 2

[@SonicXRage]

Wow! It's cheaper than my $200 short scale Jaguar yet it still sounds incredible. Just upgrade the pickups and it'll probably feel like a hack: an outstanding Bass VI for only about $300~! I've heard a modified version of my Jaguar bass and it sounds excellent, too. There's a ton of fun to be had with cheap basses.

[@Blueguitar007]

Replacement pick-ups would cost more than the bass did

[@triplesevensix291]

Getting one delivered tomorrow. Good review Patrick. Good tip about the replacement strings too. Factory strings are so shit! I just wish it had the whammy bar as a few extra bucks on top would have been no big deal even though a whammy bar on a six string bass is fucking far out! Lol. You got some cool chops there Patrick. Keep it up & you will be great in about 10 years time! ;) Lol. Great stuff man. Awesome.

[@DisabilityExams]

Good demo - thanks

[@mannishboy1]

Dude! Gotta get me one... Where did you purchase/grab it? I want to string one up with La Bella flatwound six string set!

[@TheSiggy1990]

Have you ever messed around with upgrading this one?

[@jacobbalbino972]

imagine putting a roller bridge on this then hot rails

[@vaibhavkaza]

all i can think of my man

[@mr_obscure_universe]

Never, ever change a pickup because you want it "Louder". Basically, any increase in windings to boost the voltage will also roll back the highs. Back in the day, when pre-amps and amps were -ahem- modest, LOUD pickups were considered better (ex: Gibson Mudbucker). However, decades later all those airy low output high fidelity Guild and Gretsch pickups are now in demand. If you want more sound pressure level, get a louder AMPLIFIER.

[@OGM_OriginalGameMusic]

I think lemmes basss had a guitar pickup in it so you could get some proper motor head sounds from this

[@jupiterjames-reynolds2260]

Try out the ibanez src6. Its a modern version of a bass VI.

[@Leilight]

agree it's sound better but much more expensive T__T .

[@Leilight]

agree it's sound better but much more expensive T__T .

[@jupiterjames-reynolds2260]

@@Leilight true and it doesnt have a tremolo tho i gues it has more tuning stabilty. Its cheaper than the fender versions

[@drgonzo9148]

It has that dumb ibanez bass look :P

[@USSLIBERTYREMEMBERER]

GG Allin Facts, call me a 22 year old boomer but i want my shit to look cool, it doesn’t need to be aerodynamic

[@supportingsmallyoutubers4300]

Like number 100! Good demo, man!!!!

[@deathmetalmachine]

I wish these came out when the squire bass VI came out because I regret buying a squire bass VI the worst instrument I've ever had to set up also the string spacing sucks when it comes to lower tuning and getting heavier gauge strings off kalium on strings I use the heavy set for A to A tuning

[@mindbodylightsound10]

Cool little song you wrote.

[@SuperShecky]

I've had one for almost a year. Thomann sent it to me inexplicably strung with the wrong strings! Duh. They were nice enough to offer correct replacement strings, but the nut needed to be recut, too, complicating things. The tuning stability is fine, as are the Kluson style machines. I've never ever had a problem with tuning machines being a source of tuning problems, ever, unless they were actually broken. As usual, always tune UP to pitch! I used Ernie Ball set .020-.090 all wound strings. They weren't intended for the Fender Bass VI, and just BARELY were long enough for HB's take on the Bass VI, especially the high E. If it had the wang bar like a real Fender, the strings definitely would not have been long enough. The downside of this instrument? It doesn't get the classic "tic-tac" bass sound, which seemed to be the old Danelectro 6 string bass sound. Another downside is the way the pickguard-mounted pickups are configured, with the pickguard under the TOM bridge, changing pickups/switch/pots/jack are a bigger headache than you might expect. The upside? The pickups are actually fine, pretty much alnico strat pickups. While the tic-tac sound isn't quite there, it does get a pretty good "Wichita Lineman" sound. Playability and overall quality is fine. I'm good with the pickups, but I think I'd rather have a pickup switch that offered series wiring combinations rather than the stock Strat parallel wiring combinations so that multi pu positions would be ballsier. The only must-mod is the standard jack upgrade to Switchcraft or Neutrik. The stock jack is a generic cheap guitar cheapo that's bound to crap out sooner or later, probably in the middle of a gig.

[@alecmullaney7957]

Heads up, D'Adarrio strings are longer than Ernies.

[@nejtillallt]

Squire bass vi or Harley benton bass vi?

[@timhamlett5042]

Call me old school(because I’m old) but I just don’t like distorted bass. Did you use a guitar amp or a bass amp?

[@timseitz199]

The intro reminds me of "Moby - That's When I Reach For My Revolver".

[@brbufkin]

Patrick, thank you for great reviews. Regarding Harley Benton guitars, how do feel they will hold up over time? Will it degrade over time like an entry-level bass?

[@leoncorbett4553]

Does it djent?

[@arleyalves3489]

Hi! Thanks for the video! What string model (tension, gauge, flatwound or not...) do you recommend for it?

[@bucketsmith]

They sell BassVI/GuitarBass sets now. If you search Thomann for it you should find a set!

[@davifks]

looks fun

[@dominicadler-biddle9199]

Patrick, you should try to find an ibanez src6

[@LowForestBand]

What is that white instrument you play at 3:18?!

[@spacesuitor]

Looks to me like a Fender Mustang 90 Player Series with the pickups replaced. 😎

[@zsoltbocsi7546]

which pickups are fit as a replacement for this guitar? which pickups fits?

[@boxerfencer]

6:14 an octive lower than a bass?

[@Zip_Tykzoo42087]

I want to see this with death core

[@hollowillusion4732]

Is it very difficult to play those basses compare to a regular 4 strings bass?

[@MonsieurVersatile]

Did you replace the tuners? I just got one of these and it doesn't have the split tuners like yours? Thanks

[@GAdamBarrett]

Could you use a duesenberg les trem?

[@zaccllewellyn8950]

Mine I switched the tuners as it I'd a good guitar but sadly can't switch the pickup selection as precisely as fender one it's n9t the pickups it's the way the selector switch is as the bass vi has 4 separate switches one to switch each pickup from guitar to bass individually and the 4th to switch from treble bass and middle so if have the fourth selector on the preferable position depending which positions you have your first 3 selectors on I have my middle one on terble/guitar and the bridge and neck on bass so the treble can cut through to gain that high distortions sound which cuts through

[@looniethemoonie5353]

Would the labella flatwounds for a fender/squier bass vi fit this?

[@soundrubbers]

no m it fits labella hellcat flatwounds bass VI though perfectly !!

[@tomservo999]

What pickups would you recommend for it?

[@NeoRichardBlake]

I'm wondering that myself. I can't imagine there are a lot of options for it... They need to be 6 string, but tuned for bass frequencies... Maybe baritone pickups? I don't think standard pickups would give the right sound to the bass strings. I've never replaced pickups though, so I'm just speaking from what I've gleaned from combined study of lots of videos. ;) Someone let me know if I'm wrong.

[@AllbeeHivezChristianAllbee]

People say that the stock pickups are actually pretty good and only the electronics really need to be changed. That being said, I would personally be inclined to go with a set of Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound for Strat pickups.

[@skyleranderson1984]

I wonder if I can replace the single coil with hot rails

[@matacorpse5762]

Anyone into metal should check out Loathe. They use Bass VI'S (one uses gretch and the uses a jazzmaster?) Checkout Aggressive Evolution & Gored. If you like Deftones you'll probably like em

[@ashtonmiller5300]

This guitar sounds decent actually

[@juffurey]

the thing that ruins it is the radius. the Squier radius is 9.5" and this is 13.8". Harley Benton doesn't make any radius less than 12" so it sucks for Fender copies

[@PeterSundell]

I see that the string gauge goes from .024 to .084 per default or at least upon delivery. Have you any idea if this could carry a heavier gauge, like a .110 as E? Or if it is even a good idea?

[@bucketsmith]

If I may butt in, from what I gathered from my searching, I believe it'll take it with adjustments to the nut. I thought someone managed 105 without adjustment, but the tuners are guitar tuners and that's the issue. They barely fit the default low E string it comes with. But bass tuners are physically larger, so I don't know if we can find one that can even fit next to the guitar tuners.

[@randalldugan3525]

Patrick says in the video he “threw the stock strings out completely and replaced them with some Fender strings.” The HB comes stock with .024” - 084” gauges. The Fender brand Bass VI string sets I’ve seen advertised at Sweetwater were .024” - .100”. Maybe Patrick could chime in & tell us if that is the set he used and if he had any issues mounting them. In most of the HB GuitarBass VS demo vids I’ve seen on youtube, the stock strings sound awfully loose and rubbery. I think they could benefit from a heavier set IF the tuners will accommodate them and IF the neck/truss rod are beefy enough to handle the extra tension. Whatever tweaks were made to Patrick’s Harley Benton, it sounded REALLY GOOD.

[@patrickhunter]

Yup! They were .24 - .100's! Tuners and bridge handled them like a champ, no modifications or anything needed

[@TheVasder]

What set of strings can i use for drop B tuning?

[@cacadordorio]

woow a new relic jazz bass MIM cool dude

[@cchavez248]

Did you use a guitar or bass amp, or both, on this demo? Thx

[@SD-wg3xo]

Great review! Can you do the same for the Harley Benton HB-60 semi hollow bass? I’m really interested but haven’t seen a proper review of it on YT. Thanks!

[@djeric1000]

can it be nice to tune it BEADGC ? like a 6 string bass ... ?

[@jamesfindice2871]

How does it look under the pickguard? If i wanted to change pickups do i need to do lots of woodwork to fit humbuckers in?

[@bucketsmith]

Yeah it is routed for singlecoils. You'd need to route it yourself for full size humbuckers, or use half-size humbuckers!

[@amaurychavepeyer1114]

Sounds quite decent ! Too bad it's only available in 3TS. Great video as always.

[@OldPeepaw]

3ts is the standard color for this style of guitar, unfortunately.

[@UncleAL2006]

Would an Open D (DADF#AD) tuning work on this bass?

[@reganrobi8445]

Where J buy strings to this bass/guitar?

[@tomitomescu9983]

does it djent?

[@SPLENDIDZEN]

Your first song is Hyper-Grunge!!!...

[@cuervorockero]

Please do an Ibanez SRC6 review

[@Brannington]

this please

[@petaralargic]

Finally useful comparison of this authentic instrument: electric guitar ->bass VI -> electric bass Thank you! ps: love the riffs!

[@Allan-et5ig]

@UCphcYCMTiHot0k2I6nmT0Cw - Nice. Do you have any opinion on this vs. Squier V!?

[@bigsteve9291]

Been looking for some thing new get me head round started on bass went to drums at to pack in drums through ill health after 35 years so as a pass time back on bass got a 4 and a 5 but don't really like the five but this looks an interesting challenge cheers for the insight

[@mungofinalfi4480]

I thought it was Rats by Ghost during the first second of this video.

[@kevmac1230]

You play with such reckless abandon,cool.Jack Bruce played one.

[@panchovilla6719]

I can't find this guitar anywhere and I really want one

[@bobisonyoutube]

Thomann.de has them

[@amos660]

So it's a baritone?I don't get it?

[@boogie3718]

If they would make a lefthanded model I would so buy one

[@minceraftfornite4334]

You can’t just flip the nut and strings

[@zaccllewellyn8950]

Not like a baritone the scale length is wrong, and nah the guitar this was modelled off had 4 separate selector switches 3 of which switching each from guitar to bass or the other way round and the fourth switch is to work as normal like treble middle and bass, this is good but and so is harley bentonite but would be better with the fender bass vi style electric system with the 4 separate switches and the tremolo bar