Harley Benton B-450LH BK Progressive Series

Just received this bass from Thomann. I thought Id leave an honest and fair review of the service, product and criticism I found on the web.
I bought this for my wife after we managed our first jam after 12 years of marriage, 2 fine kids and a spectacular motorcycle accident. Things have been busy. I didnt scour the net to see reviews until after Id received the bass and realised I had no battery. (I had forgotten it had a push pull pot on volume for the passive/active switch). I bought it on price, knew it wouldnt be too heavy (wife is about Julia Hofer's size) and as I trust Thomann and the reviews on the site.
It arrived in a slightly soggy cornered box that was a bit damaged on all corners. Unperturbed due to the Thomann return policy I opened the box to find a nice crisp guitar box inside. Europe has been wet and the box has travel 600 miles. It was adequately packed and handled by DHL i think under the circumstances. The guitar inside was pristine. Initially I wondered why my order was slightly delayed. I contacted Thomann and was informed it was going through a QC check before posting. Great!
The label inside said it had been quality checked by "2369". As my best pal is a renowned luthier I thought I would QC the QC. Ive read good things and bad things about Harley Benton and there will always be some bad reviews of Thomann because of the VOLUME of sales which is about 11 (one more than 10). There was a little string buzz on the nut end of the guitar. I wasnt dissapointed as I suspected a truss rod tweak was hopefully all that was required. Tom Anfield (luthier extrodinaire) agreed. "Just slacken the truss rod a bit and drop the saddles a touch after if it buzzes at the other end youve gone too far" - what about the nut being cut too low I asked?. "That will be fine when you slacken the truss rod". Tom was overall impressed.
Now, imagine being set up in a warm studio in Germany then being sent across chilly N. Europe, the English Channel, Old Blighty in a van a boat another van and sitting on the porch all day. You'd probably want your truss rod tweaked a bit huh? Fret ends good.
Conclusion- Great set up by Harley Benton and/or Thomann. Nice playable guitar, happy familys and musical fun. £115 made in China, shipped and stored in Germany QC'd and delivered!!!!!
Ive included the best YT review I could find which is how I found out about the passive switch (its in the Thomann info on the page so duh! to me).
Thomann - thanks from all of us. P.s. well done on the Trust to encourage kids to play. I'll still buying pretty much everything from you and I think Harley Benton is a Marque now. (Dont ask my luthier what he thinks of other names at this price point.) Buy with confidence I say. Now, off to buy a battery. (I dont mind it wasnt included at this price point although other HB apparently may come with one).
If you are a beginner guitarist then its important to a.) begin to understand how the mechanics of your guitar work, B.) not panic about a bit of fret buzz. Wood moves due to humidity and temperature changes. You should expect to have to tweak a little after a voyage in harsh environments but you may be lucky and not have to bother. My luthier usually does truss rod adjustment free for his customers (what goes around comes around and back to spend £££).
I think I dont accept any criticism of "2369", Thomann or Harley Benton.
Wife is now working hard on her Julia Hofer 'Tippy tappy double toes' which is very funny. Funky feet are important.

I kind of risk my life to earn my money as a tree surgeon. This was money well spent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXPWLkwOeUQ

I'm a guitarist and have been playing the guitar for 10 years. I'm not really a bassist but I know a good instrument when I hold one.
And this bass is really a great quality instrument. I'll try to state what I liked about it
1 It's really versatile. you have active humbucker mode and a passive mode you can switch between the two
2 the bridge and tuners are really good. I thought I will have to change them. But they really do that job, and they look good
3 Playability is amazing. the fretboard edges are rounded which is really shocking to me because this feature is of a high end instrument.
4 Zero sharp frets. I can move my hand all over the fretboard all day and it's VERY smooth.
5 knobs and electronics are good and function 100% like they should.
6 What's nice is that they include 2 batteries (one is actually already inside the bass, the other one is with the packaging and you can save it for later)

This bass is really worth much more than it costs. It's shocking how well it's made. Thank you harley benton.

For cons there's really not much into it but I have 2 notes on that matter.
1 it's a 24 frets bass. but the way the body is shaped it's really hard going past the 22nd fret. But you're playing bass after all so that's not a deal breaker at all
2 the nut is cheap plastic. It is cut really well so it's not bad. It just looks cheap and plasticy. I hate how it looks, but it does the job very well.

If you are a beginner and looking to be the ultimate metal Edge Lord looking to slay riffs and rescue your fair maiden with a sultry bass tone, then look no further. This bass will power its way to random metal riffs throughout your repertoire, booming with great doom through whatever you throw at it.

I personally found it a teeny bit little too hardcore for me - as I like playing everything, but no sweat! it will do succulent succulent jazz/funk riffs too. I personally like pretending I am a fatter Justin Chamberlain, and murdering his back catalogue as much as I enjoy playing twinkle twinkle little star on it.

It’s quite a versatile guitar in that aspect. Just bear in mind the look of the bass will have you screaming to your parents for a slice of shepherd’s pie for dinner in the style of iron maiden or Dillinger escape plan rather than reviewing herbful gins at your local jazz bar, whilst contemplating why jamiroquai abandoned their breathtaking ‘Zender slaps’ on emergency on planet earth so early on.

Heck maybe you can bring it to a jazz bar and blow some wigs off, I don’t know, Do it.

The guitar feels nice by the way. I have not really a clue about music apart from playing the last year, but this has a nice punchy and vibrant sound. If you are looking for something toned back, the vintage bass is probably something for you. The active pickups really give this bass a nice rounding, likewise turning it off can tone down the power if you are about to Tommy the Cat a little bit of Primus to your Gran.


So the plan, Go for it, play it hard - get on the good side of your Gran and hopefully get in her will, and use that money once you are experienced to upgrade with fang filled axe or buy another one.