THIS BASS SHOULD BE GARBAGE!

BassTheWorld.com
10 May 202403:24

TLDRGregor Fris of BassTheWorld reviews the Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass, which is inspired by another brand but offers great value for its price of 139€. The bass features a spruce top, mahogany neck, and a rosewood fretboard. Despite its impractical but beautiful design, it delivers a surprisingly decent acoustic sound and an impressive electric sound, making it easy to work with and suitable for various musical styles. The bass also comes with a built-in preamp and a 4-Band Equalizer, making it a steal for its price.

Takeaways

  • 🎸 The Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass is a budget-friendly instrument that, despite its low price, offers surprisingly good quality.
  • 🌟 The design of the bass is inspired by another brand, but it's available at a much lower price point, making it an attractive option for those on a budget.
  • 🎶 Kai Lemke demonstrates that the bass sounds good in performance, suggesting that it has a pleasant tone despite its price.
  • 🎼 The sound holes and half-round plastic body are both aesthetically pleasing and functional, contributing to the bass's sound quality.
  • 🎵 The bass features a Spruce Top, Mahogany neck, and a Roseacre fretboard, which are important components for its sound.
  • 🔨 It has a 34" scale length, 20 frets, a 42mm nut width, and die-cast tuners, which are standard features for a quality bass guitar.
  • 🔊 The piezo pickup and built-in preamp with a 4-Band Equalizer allow for a wide range of tonal adjustments, enhancing the versatility of the instrument.
  • 📈 The acoustic sound of the bass is decent, and the electric sound is described as 'crazy good,' indicating it performs well in both contexts.
  • 🎚️ The bass is easy to work with in recording, suggesting that it has professional-level recording capabilities despite its low cost.
  • 💲 At a price of 139€, the Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass is considered a great deal, offering excellent value for money.
  • 🛍️ The video provides a link in the description for viewers interested in purchasing the bass, making it easy for interested buyers to take action.

Q & A

  • What is the brand of the acoustic bass being reviewed in the video?

    -The brand of the acoustic bass being reviewed is Harley Benton.

  • Who is playing the bass guitar in the video?

    -Kai Lemke is playing the bass guitar in the video.

  • What is the model of the Harley Benton bass featured in the video?

    -The model of the Harley Benton bass featured is the HBO-850 Bass.

  • What is the price of the Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass?

    -The price of the Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass is 139€.

  • What are some of the features of the Harley Benton bass?

    -The Harley Benton bass features a Spruce Top, a Mahogany neck, a Roseacre fretboard, a 34-inch scale, 20 frets, a 42mm nut width, die-cast tuners, a piezo pickup, a built-in preamp with a 4-Band Equalizer, a volume control, a Phase switch, and a tuner.

  • How does the acoustic sound of the Harley Benton bass compare to other more expensive basses?

    -The acoustic sound of the Harley Benton bass is surprisingly decent and has been compared favorably to other more expensive basses that were not as easy to work with.

  • What does the reviewer think about the electric sound of the Harley Benton bass?

    -The reviewer thinks the electric sound of the Harley Benton bass is crazy good.

  • What kind of sound can be achieved by adding additional bass EQ through an amp or a mixing console?

    -By adding additional bass EQ through an amp or a mixing console, a very nice solid bass sound can be achieved.

  • What is the reviewer's final verdict on the Harley Benton bass for its price?

    -The reviewer considers the Harley Benton bass a total steal for its price of 139€.

  • What color option is available for the Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass besides the one shown in the video?

    -The Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass is also available in black.

  • How can viewers order the Harley Benton bass if they are interested?

    -Viewers can order the Harley Benton bass by using the link provided in the video description.

  • What is the long German word that the reviewer recites at the end of the video?

    -The long German word recited by the reviewer is 'Rinderkennzeichnungsfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz', which is the name of an actual German law.

Outlines

00:00

🎸 Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass Review

In this video, Gregor Fris from BassTheWorld introduces an acoustic bass by Harley Benton, the HBO-850, which was sent by Thomann for review. Despite its low price, the bass is surprisingly good. The design is inspired by another brand, but the quality is commendable for the price point. The bass features a Spruce Top, Mahogany neck, and a Roseacre fretboard, with a 34-inch scale, 20 frets, a 42mm nut width, and die-cast tuners. It also has a piezo pickup with a built-in preamp and a 4-Band Equalizer. The acoustic sound is decent, while the electric sound is described as 'crazy good,' making it easy to work with for recording. The video concludes with a recommendation and a humorous recitation of a long German word, showcasing German language's complexity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Acoustic bass

An acoustic bass is a type of stringed musical instrument that is similar to an electric bass but is played acoustically, without the need for an amplifier. In the video, the Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass is an example of an acoustic bass, which is played by Kai Lemke and is the central focus of the review.

💡Design inspiration

Design inspiration refers to the influence or ideas taken from another brand or source when creating a new product. The video mentions that the Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass's design was inspired by another brand, indicating that it may have similarities in appearance to a more established brand's bass guitar.

💡Price point

The price point is the specific price at which a product is offered for sale. In the context of the video, the price point of 139€ for the Harley Benton bass is highlighted as being surprisingly good value for money, given the quality of the instrument.

💡Sound holes

Sound holes are openings in the body of a stringed instrument that allow the sound to project out. The video describes the iconic sound holes on the Harley Benton bass as being both impractical and beautiful, suggesting they contribute to the instrument's aesthetic appeal despite potential functional drawbacks.

💡Extended range belly

An extended range belly refers to a body shape that is larger or has a more pronounced curve, which might affect how a musical instrument fits against the player's body. The video humorously mentions that someone with an extended range belly might need a strap to prevent the bass from sliding away.

💡Spruce Top

A Spruce Top refers to the use of spruce wood for the top part of the instrument, which is known for its tonal qualities and is commonly used in acoustic guitars and basses. The Harley Benton bass features a spruce top, which contributes to its acoustic sound.

💡Piezo pickup

A piezo pickup is a type of electronic transducer that converts the vibrations of a stringed instrument into an electrical signal. The Harley Benton bass has a piezo pickup under the bridge, which is an important component for amplifying the sound of the instrument.

💡Preamp with 4-Band Equalizer

A preamp with a 4-Band Equalizer is an electronic device that boosts the signal from the pickup and allows for tonal adjustments. The Harley Benton bass has a built-in preamp with a 4-Band Equalizer, which gives the player control over the bass, mid, and treble frequencies, enhancing the versatility of the instrument.

💡Melodic chord pieces

Melodic chord pieces refer to musical compositions that feature chords played in a melodic sequence rather than a harmonic background role. The video mentions that the Harley Benton bass is great for playing melodic chord pieces, showcasing its suitability for a variety of musical styles.

💡Bass EQ

Bass EQ stands for bass equalization, which is the process of adjusting the frequency components of the bass sound to achieve a desired tonal balance. The video suggests that adding some additional bass EQ through an amp or mixing console can improve the solid bass sound of the Harley Benton bass.

💡German law

The German law mentioned in the video is a humorous reference to a very long and complex German word that translates to a law related to the supervision of meat labeling and traceability. It is used in the video to highlight the length and complexity of the word, adding a touch of German culture and humor to the content.

Highlights

Considering its price, the acoustic bass should be garbage, but is it?

Gregor Fris introduces the Harley Benton HBO-850 Bass, sent by Thomann for the video review.

The design of the bass is inspired by another brand, questioning originality.

The iconic sound holes and half-round plastic body are both impractical and beautiful.

The bass might require a strap for those with an extended belly to prevent it from sliding.

Kai Lemke demonstrates the bass, making it sound impressive.

The Harley Benton features a Spruce Top, Mahogany neck, and a Roseacre fretboard.

The bass has a 34-inch scale, 20 frets, a 42mm nut width, and die-cast tuners.

A piezo pickup under the bridge connects to a built-in preamp with a 4-Band Equalizer.

The acoustic sound of the bass is surprisingly decent.

The electric sound is described as 'crazy good', surpassing more expensive models.

The bass is great for melodic chord pieces and can provide a solid bass sound with additional EQ.

Gregor is fascinated by the bass, considering it a total steal at 139€.

The bass is also available in black.

A link to order the bass is provided in the video description.

Gregor recites an incredibly long German word, showcasing the language's complexity.

The video concludes with a humorous note on German laws and language.