Harley Benton JB-75MN SB Vintage Series

OK so, let's take it from the top. Selection and ordering. This site is one of the best online retailers I have ever encountered. Everything is accounted for. The site is unbelievably intuitive and easy to navigate and supplies answers to questions I had before I even knew I had them. Placing the order could not have been easier and communication was great.

The package arrived earlier than stated and the container was in perfect condition. This was due to the shipper (UPS) and not so much a function of Thomann. I was a little surprised at how the packing was done, not as much "padding" as I would have thought but everything was in perfect condition. The bass was in immaculate condition. Not one nick, dent, scratch, or other imperfection. Removing it from the box my first reaction was, "Wow, this is heavy." It's listed at 5.15 kgs (one of the lighter in the series and the reason I chose this particular model.) But I don't know what the average bass weighs in at.

Not having the slightest bit of experience with a bass there is not much more I can say. I tuned it up but felt that it did not sound just right so I trekked on down to the local guitar shop for a setup. The tech picked up the bass and the first words he said were, "Wow, this is heavy." He made a few minor adjustments to the string height but otherwise said the instrument was in good shape.

When I got home I could notice the difference.

So now I am learning how to adjust the pickups and create different effects. I tune it up before every practice session and it stays very well tuned day to day. I'm taking an online course (which I can highly recommend from bassbuzz.com) and feeling more confident each day. The neck is smooth and easy to navigate.

I chose this particular bass as an entry level instrument. I had never heard of the Harley Benton name before but after doing some research and reading many positive reviews decided this was the best bang for the buck and I am not disappointed.

Because I am just starting out I didn't want to go all out and buy a speaker amp in case things didn't work out so I bought the Vox amPlug2 and it really works great.

So, from a Noob's perspective I have absolutely no complaints and I am thoroughly satisfied with the purchase. At the entry level my personal opinion is that you don't need to spend a lot of money on the instrument until you're sure you want to stick with it and this bass is very reasonably priced. I am enjoying the learning and playing experience very much and would highly recommend this bass for folks in the same position as me.

Really hopes this helps.

..you're not paying Fender prices, are you?

Many of the reviews here are slightly hyperbolic and do the JB-75 an injustice. It's very nice (very, very nice) but it's not perfect and you should be aware of this when buying.
Finish is, as others have said, excellent. Removing all the protective plastic was a royal pain in the backside, especially from the control plate. There were a couple of minor scratches on the scratchplate, under the plastic sheet - nothing to cause concern.
The neck is great - thin just as JBs should be but noticeably deep. The satin finish makes it very playable and I have absolutely no issues with this. The slot for the A string was cut too deep which meant that the string buzzed on the first fret. While I have no doubts that Thommann would have addressed this, it was easier just to deal with it here buy very slightly building up the bottom of the slot. Easy to do and problem solved. Likewise a spent ten minutes going along the fret edges with very fine wet and dry as there were sharp edges - nothing major, but just enough to irritate me. On the upside, these minor issues dealt with I have a good low action right up the neck with minimal buzz.

The sound is everything I was looking for - punchy with lots of pop. As with the real thing the tone control does it's job but it isn't spectacular, that's a criticism of passive tone control in general rather than this bass in particular, but fading between the pickups gives everything from majestic lows to real punch with plenty of bite. This is what I was looking for, this is why I bought it and this is exactly what I got.

I have a few basses and this gives nothing away sound-wise. Construction is solid and I have no concerns about longevity. Pickups are great, hardware is simple, solid and does it's job well. D Addario strings are a bonus as they are my choice anyway.

It is unfair to suggest that the JB-75 is equivalent in overall quality to a bass costing several times more, it isn't. For what you pay for it though, I struggle to see how it can be beaten for value. Very solid with a good tonal range, decent (read high) output and that sense of a well-built instrument that will go the distance it remains a mystery how Thommann can offer these at the price they do. I am just glad that they do!

Finally - service from Thommann was absolutely spot on, really cannot fault it in anyway whatsoever, for which they have my thanks and my continuing custom.

Harley Benton did it again: It's incredible that such an amazing instrument can cost that little! All the hype you read about in other reviews is entirely justified. This is a marvelous bass. Until now I was playing a bass bought by… a competitor (yes, that one), at about the same price range. Any comparison is not even close: The Harley Benton blows the competition out of the water.

The only negative about it is the first thing you'll encounter receiving the box: This thing is heavy. Really heavy. But guess what: It's the price you have to pay for getting stunning tone. The sustain is beyond belief – just hit the string, let it ring, and you'll be amazed.

The pickups are excellent, guaranteed to give you full control and the tone you've been after.

The finishing is great, high quality with no discernible flaws.

All in all, you really can't go wrong with this bass!

Fretwork is fine, no sharpness but my fret bar number 8 is a little higher and thicker than other frets, so it causes a terrible buzz (checked the string height and the neck rod, but it was not the problem), I will try to sand it down. the only woke thing about my order that I did not like was the box, it was wet when delivered and there was holes all over the place so the guitar was soaked when I received it. I wish for better cardboard box or at least plastic covered on the outer side for the rain protection but they said that all the customers wants greener box and less plastic.