reese davis truth. Thing is with instruments (as with almost everything else in existence), you pay for the name slapped on it. Sure people will say (and will be right to an extent) “oh but the feel”, but in reality, you can find nice “feeling” Basses nowadays from brands like HB, for way cheaper that other “name brands”. Also the gap in sound quality seems to be closing too. The HB sounds lovely considering the cost and even compares quite nicely with the other.
@@CatPickStudios pls don't forget the fact, that even a small increase in quality lot of time means exponential increase on price. The "charm" of these Chinese guitars are, that if you got a lucky piece it is great. And then, you can get also a weak piece...
Toxic Potato I agree. Which is why I said that these days you can find nice “feeling” Basses for accesible prices. Companies just charge an extra for the “brand” slapped on the headstock.
@Toxic Potato I don't know if I agree about value of sound in basses. I play guitar more than bass, but I notice differences in bass quality and tone much more, specifically in jazz basses.
I thought the HB sounded pretty decent. I've even been contemplating getting a 5 string bass from HB, probably will now! Thanks for another great comparison!
Are you kidding? You can buy almost 5 for the price of one Sandburg and the sound is the same. In the mix no way to tell difference. Buy one for yourself and treat a bass each for four of your buddies! Amazing value!
Love Harley Benton as a brand. Great combination of quality and value for money. The choice of bridge or through the body stringing on the HB was also a nice touch. Thanks for posting.
The both basses leave a really good impression. The main difference is in the sound of upper strings (D and E), especially D. On HB these strings quickly became "thumpy" during the test, while on the Sandberg they remained that nice "piano" sound. It is all about bass construction. It usually makes the difference between professional instruments and cheap basses, and here so also. Playing live probably will not make that much difference but every more serious studio recording will give undeniable advantage to Sandberg. Such sounding D string of HB simply will not be able to stand out in the band, but it will appear as a "hole" in the sound. Anyway, having in mind the price difference, HB is absolutely beautiful instrument that is also very affordable.
The HB seems to have a fuller tone, but could do with some shielding. If I had to choose between the two, I'd probably go for the Harley Benton, and buy a backup bass with the money I saved.
Both are really nice basses, but there's no way there is €1200 difference between them. Sure the quality on the Sandberg might be better but the HB, for the price range is a steal. You could make some upgrades to the HB and it would be a great bass and still be kinder on your wallet.
I have the 150€ J one, fretless. With Rotosound flats. Now it has Gotoh hardware, DiMarzio will power pups & Emerson electronics. All the above & the boat anchor weight guarantees a decent sound :3
Well the most important thing here we don't discuss is how it sits in a mix. The HB might be nice for solo home play but once you record or play live the Sandberg shines.
Extremely well done, guys! Brilliant vid switching while playing. Playing since 1973, owned Alembic, Smith, Lakland, et. al. Other than the pup noise from the HB, the HB wins on tone. Replace the HB pups + new (inexpensive, but great) pre = HB would KILL! Again, very well done, bass mates!
Thanks! I still use mine all the the for recording and I think it's time to start upgrading it. Maybe some better electronics, possibly different pickups etc. Fort the money it's a killer bass but it definitely could use some upgrades here and there.
I've had a MP-4EB for about a year now, in the 4 seasons of Ireland, and it's held up well. It's only needed adjustment after I changed string gauges, not due to the climate. I thought the electronics were very poor, though, and a full passive rewire helped. It now has EMG active P and MMTW pickups, which are a great improvement. (note: the MMTW wiring required me to enlarge the wiring channel to 10mm, which took a 300mm-long drill due to the angle.)
For studio work jazz that Sandburg has it, for blast venues home entertainment stress release Harley rides high, plus the price is right, and it's a beautiful badass bass.
I do agree with the suggestion of trying a blind test in the mix. For once, a blind test is 100% feasable, since the basses have almost identical physical features and the player should not be able to tell the difference just by holding the instruments in their hands.
To me HB wins hands down. Yes, its neck pickup hums as it's a true single coil but it also give some clearness. If I didn't know what's played my pick would have been HB. Now I as see what's played, my pick intensifies. How well do they made - that's another matter - rough fret work, maybe HB has a ski jump, I don't know. Doesn't really matter since I can replace the frets at this price difference and then add other pickup/pre set to play with.
At least in the last few years, HB has had excellent QC when it comes to the fretboard. Very rarely do you hear reports of fret sprouting during aging/drying. I have three of their basses, all three have impeccable fretboards. Note that this wasn't always the case - if you go back a decade or a bit more, there have been cheaper models that had problems with the freatboard. I have acquired a used HB Shorty (that would be my 4th HB bass) which required a lot of fret dressing, which was partially done by the previous owners. But for the past 4-5 years at least, the HB basses are an amazing value.
HB is a good bass, but I'm thinking I might want to do something with the electronics. They are a bit noisy and the pots feel loose. But overall I've still been pretty happy with it. :)
@@CatPickStudios It's a $300 bass, and the specs look even better than the Squier CV's. If the electronics are the issue, the simple solution would be to start with replaceing them with something like an Audere preamp. In the US a basic drop-in Audere preamp costs under $100, a bit more for Intl. www.audereaudio.com/jazz-4b-chrome.html Based in the UK is the John East preamp. One of the advantages of one of their models is the ability to have passive or active modes or even blend them. www.east-uk.com/index.php/all-products/j-retro-01-deluxe.html I suppose at this price point it is easy to "over-improve" this bass. As I noted, I found the clarity the issue with the HB compared to the Sandberg. But it has to be mentioned that they had the same strings, a string set that may be less than ideal on the HB. I'd love to hear the comparison again, once a set of strings were found that brought out the best characteristics of this bass.
The Harley Benton looks to be narrower at the nut. If I'm right, that could be a good choice for beginners or people with small hands, but for me, that would be a deal-killer. Ibanez SR's and other pencil-neck basses make my hand cramp up.
You guys forget one thing at all. If you buy a sandberg you get out of the box a perfect builded bassguitar who plays great, feels fantastic and sounds always amazing (tried a lot and own 3 sandbergs). The chance with a harley benton is that you need (if you are a professionel who can do this all for yourself) adjust the bass and do a lot of fretwork what is mostly a job for someone who knows what to do. There is a slighty chance for damaged and bad hardware. Yeah off course, money is great value, but if you buy this bass and you have no budget more, and you need to spend 100 or 200 euro for getting it good to work, bring em into a shop for adjustment... näää.
The Sandberg is definitely more compressed and warm sounding in comparison the HB. The zero fret on the HB also looks like it is way farther away from the nut than on the Sandberg which is strange. Was the Harley Benton's action setup really low or is it really just that much more "clacky" for lack of a better term? Regardless, a great showcase/comparison video.
The guy playing the bass in the video gave both of the basses the setup he liked. I do think there was more "clanking" happening with the Harley Benton, maybe raising the strings a tiny bit could take some of that away. And thank you! :)
The Harley Benton had slightly lower action than the Sandberg, the difference was quite minimal. Both were very comfortable basses to play. -the guy who played the bass
to say the hb bass sounds better than the sandberg or vice versa, I do not think appropriate. Both have their advantages. As a studio musician (electronic music like Schiller) I prefer the HB. For live performances, I use the sandberg and have the HB as a backup.
Ironically I actually preferred the sound on the Harley Benton. I think it had a bit more output on the pickups and was a little bit brighter. I think if you are willing to put in a bit of extra work installing some better pots and electrical insulation the HB could be a really good shout.
I closed my eyes at the beginning and honestly I couldn't tell a difference in the sound between the two. They sound the same in a mix. When isolated and played back to back I still couldn't tell much of a difference. Honestly I'm pretty surprised at how close the HB is to the Sandberg, if I was a beginner or buying a bass for my kid I would go for that HB any day of the week. Unfortunately, I want a custom California TM5
The open E sounds more defined on the Harley Benton.
4 роки тому
When listening to the examples starting at 09:49, you can tell that the Sandberg would sit way better in a mix. It's much more even in sustain and attack.
Yep, it's just more focused. I've been playing that Harley Benton a lot since I got it and while it's really good for the money, I would love to get that Sandberg.
This is a very good, very informative comparison. I hear a difference between both but it remains at a detail level and never compromises the character or the quality of the instrument. Maybe a virtuoso recording an album of bass solo music should care. I guess anyone else would be happy with any. I quite like the "beaky" Harley Benton headstock. Yes, it's a bit large here but it's ok, they have to come up with something that does not copy anyone else. Fender headstocks have been goofy in comparison (I have a Squier Deluxe V with an even larger one). Tell us how the necks behave in a year. If all they require is a truss rod adjustment when the seasons turn, it's perfectly fine. That's what the thing is for.
Thanks, appreciate the a well written comment with actual points. You don't see that too often! I'm honestly really curious how the neck on the Harley Benton will behave over a year. As I mentioned, we go through huge humidity and temperature changes over the course of a year and some instruments don't take it well. But so far it's been good so I'm optimistic. :)
@@leo.nordmann Well I'm happy to tell you the bass has become more stable over time. Played it with a band this Friday and noticed I had to tune it less often than what I was used to. Haven't touched the truss rod, thought it could use a tiny bit of tightening. I'm super impressed with this bass when you consider the price.
@@CatPickStudios Awesome. Thanks for the fast answer. I just bought this bass as a 4 string ind blue. They don't have it in stock so I'm just waiting for it to finally being shipped.
I live in Finland and am a loyal HB customer - and so far, my HB basses have behaved very nicely with the changing weather and humidity fluctuations. And of course, I preferred the sound of the HB Enhanced to the Sandberg. I see no reason why the Sandberg is "pro" and the HB isn''s. Heastock shape preferences and nebulous statements about "feel" shoouldn't determine anything. The comment about noise would be a bona-fide determining factor, though in passive mode the noise is often a problem also with more expensive basses.
Big difference for me.... It change the meaning of the song... With HB sounds more like punk, with the other one is more solid ... Both are interesting... depends what You want to tell to the audience...
What about the neck thickness? When you spoke about the neck profile I was actually expecting to hear something about this as well. Thank you for the video!
Idk what you did to make the Harley Benton sound that good, but it certainly didn't apply to mine. I had this exact same enhanced model in a 4 string version and it sounded muddy and dead compared to my Squier jaguar and my Musicman stingray. No matter how hard I tried with the EQ and settings, it always sounded worse. This one sounds better than the sandberg and better than mine
I might be stating the obvious but did you swap the strings? I've had bunch of Harley Bentons come through my studio and most of them ship with absolutely horrible strings that don't stay in tune and sound bad. The guy playing the bass in this video swapped the same string set on both of the basses and I feel that brought them way closer sound wise.
GREAT comparison video! You covered so many aspects that I look for in a bass. It sounds like the Sandberg has a much denser body wood and the strings "talk down" to the pickups instead of resonating with the body. If the HB controls were upgraded with premium parts, do you think the instruments would be more competitive on a quality standpoint?
Thanks! Not sure how much the electronics upgrade would change that. I feel Sandberg has a more focused midrange which makes it an awesome bass for live situations (I've mixed it live several times) where as HB has a more traditional Jazz bass sound. My guess is that upgrading it would bring them even closer sound wise but they would still sound different and especially feel different.
The Sandberg has a fuller, more rounded sound. The HB is slightly thinner sounding. That being said, I'm not sure I would catch the difference if I had not watched this video.
It's really interesting what kind of differences people hear. I personally feel Sandberg is a bit more focused sounding but that might be due to how the bass feels to play.
@@CatPickStudios The front and back match very well. Around the edges it is more noticable. I suppose I just associate one-piece bodies with quality and multi-piece as being 'budget'. It doesn't seem to effect the sound though, unplugged the bass sounds very solid and authoritive, plenty of sustain. Given the price Im overall very happy with it. Great vid btw. 👍
@@Killadey Yeah I totally get that multi-piece thing! Though as you said, it's not really an indicator of quality. If I had the money I'd go for the Sandberg just because it's such a solid instrument, but I do still enjoy my HB as well. And thanks, much appreciated!
Hey, cool review video! It's really useful to actually have a bass in the right context (of a distorted guitar in this case). So many basses sound great in isolation but then are lost in the mix.
As always, the cheaper bass is lacking in definition and midtone warmth. If you are willing to spend the additional money for a pro grade instrument is a very individual decision. If I was in a amateur band with limited style selection / tonal needs... I´d go for the HB. I play in a semi pro cover band playing 1000 - 4000 people venues for 5+ hours per evening and wouldn´t want to risk any hassle with failing parts or setup problems because of temperature and moisture change. In that regard, my Sandbergs have never let me down and are "always by my side". That´s something, which the HB would have to prove being so reliabe. I´ve had cheap basses before, that didn´t stand the test of regular gigging. If you consider upgrading that bass, you will quickly dip 400-500 quid in it (pickups, tuners, electronics) and you´re coming into the ballpark of the Sandberg Electras then... another thing to consider.
Yep, the HB stayed and I've been using it a lot! It certainly has it's flaws but overall I think it's still great for the money. I might start upgrading it at some point, most like by swapping the wobbly pots first. :)
Man you cant compare them both. Sandberg sounds is the "pm" sound. Harley Benton want to give the opportunity for a small price. But the electronics and the pickups are important. Buying it used means you don't really lose money buying a Sandberg.
HB is very good for 330 € but, sandberg is much better bass. Why ? Because now I hear backside harmonic in sandberg sound . Backside harmonic are important part of bass sound for mix.
"I KNOW I'M SO LATE",...I might as well be absent. Lol! In my opinion, the "HARLEY BENTON" sounds a lot "CLEANER" than the "SANDBERG!" That's a "HUGE" come-up for a "COST EFFECTIVE" musical instrument. Now, let's go back to the 70's. Fender p or j basses were "PASSIVE" and would cost you $239 to $269. Everyone loved those basses and still do. Technology going on now, has its advantages. That "HARLEY BENTON" bass has the 70's cost and the 20th century sound. Huge come-up I'd say. I would buy that "HARLEY BENTON" before that "SANBURG" any day. This is my opinion only. Great vs video I would say. Harly benton is just cleaner in tone. Thanks.
Calculating for inflation a Fender bass from the 70's would be $1,603 to $1,804 in todays money. New fenders are also around the same range. So I'm not sure what your point is?
The Harley Benton appears to be the cheapest 5 string bass with stainless steel frets? The 2nd cheapest I've found are the Ibanez BTB. I'm allergic to nickel so I need stainless steel frets.
Hmm the one I had in this video didn't have SS frets, but they might have upgraded it since. I would encourage you to email Thomann and ask about different options they might have.
@@CatPickStudios In a context of a live mix you are the only person concerned with the brand on your headstock. I would swap the bridge pickup tho, then it would be realy good!
If I spent that much money on a Sandberg and then heard this comparo, I'd be a bit ticked off. LOL Of course, feel means a lot to a pro and durability may or may not come in to play years down the road.
Well it's not that simple to be honest. I've had the HB for a while now and while I think it's incredible value for the money, the cost savings do show here and there. I've played it live several times and tuning stability has been an issue in those situations. If I would play the bass live regularly I would probably want to upgrade the electronics as well because they seem to be prone to all kinds of buzz and noise. But again, for the money you get a lot.
CatPick Studios Thanks for the input. I’m just a “bedroom hero” and play occasionally in the church band (we don’t exactly rock lol) I have a Fender Highway 1 for that anyway.
Well that's where I've played mine as well: at the church. For that the bass has been great but if I would gig more, I would probably want to upgrade it a bit. :)
Unfortunately the preset we used is gone and I have no idea what it included :D But if you want to try something close to that sound I suggest you to try following setup: 1) Split the signal with split crossover somewhere around 200-300Hz 2) Path A (below 200Hz), Ampeg SVT4 Pro/similar 3) Path B (over 200Hz) Obsidian 7000 or Stupor OD + cab sim. I use 3 sigma audio cab IR:s, but Helix's own 4x10 or 2x15 do the job quite well too.
Haha I know, I think at the time I was traumatised by shooting bunch of videos that were out of focus and decided to use autofocus just to make sure it's in focust most of the time. Two years later I have better gear and don't use it anymore for the reasons you just mentioned.
I didn't weight mine but it was roughly the same weight as the Sandberg, which I also found a bit heavier than an average bass of the same size. Also please note that with budget friendly basses like HB the weight of the instrument may vary quite a lot from bass to bass.
Well you can get several Harley Bentons for the price of one Sandberg which means you have backups if your weapon breaks. Completely forgot to mention that in the video, I'm sorry.
Exactly my experience. Every damm Sandbeg I've played with those big pole Delanos sound FUCKING DEAD. Same thing with Maruszczyk Jake 5a+ I've had with those same pickups. SO FUCKING DEAD. Those Delanos suck lots of DEAD ass. I'd take the HB any day of the week, and particularly those Roswell pickups blow the Delanos out of the water. Back when I had the Maruszczyk they sounded so dead I even preferred the P pickup in my 88€ thomann kit P build, BY A WIDE MARGIN. Not even comparing them to the real thing (Musicman), which I also have owned several (both ceramic and alnico) and still own a couple (just ceramics), would be simply laughable.
@Toxic Potato Like dark sounding (no treble and no presence) and with a pronounced dip in response at about 600hz, no punch and totally lost in a mix. Hear this clip, then go compare with other bass clips amongst my videos... ua-cam.com/video/OQ0SKH3a-0U/v-deo.html&t=31s
Yes and no. They might sound similar, but the Sandberg feels way more high quality, it has better fret work, nut, tuners and electronics and stays in tune way better. But if you're willing to put in a bit of work on the HB, it's killer bass for the money. (I still use mine)
both have flabby B strings, sounds like the Harley Benton cold save you a grand and nobody would know the difference
Sound wise yes, not sure yet about stability, fret ends etc. but would I say Sandberg is 5 times better? Absolutely not.
reese davis truth. Thing is with instruments (as with almost everything else in existence), you pay for the name slapped on it. Sure people will say (and will be right to an extent) “oh but the feel”, but in reality, you can find nice “feeling” Basses nowadays from brands like HB, for way cheaper that other “name brands”. Also the gap in sound quality seems to be closing too. The HB sounds lovely considering the cost and even compares quite nicely with the other.
@@CatPickStudios pls don't forget the fact, that even a small increase in quality lot of time means exponential increase on price. The "charm" of these Chinese guitars are, that if you got a lucky piece it is great. And then, you can get also a weak piece...
Toxic Potato I agree. Which is why I said that these days you can find nice “feeling” Basses for accesible prices. Companies just charge an extra for the “brand” slapped on the headstock.
@Toxic Potato I don't know if I agree about value of sound in basses. I play guitar more than bass, but I notice differences in bass quality and tone much more, specifically in jazz basses.
I thought the HB sounded pretty decent. I've even been contemplating getting a 5 string bass from HB, probably will now! Thanks for another great comparison!
I've been really happy with that bass, I've both recorded and played live with it already. For the money it's great! Full review coming out soon!
Are you kidding? You can buy almost 5 for the price of one Sandburg and the sound is the same. In the mix no way to tell difference. Buy one for yourself and treat a bass each for four of your buddies! Amazing value!
Sound is not the only important thing in instrument
True! But for me , it is the most important thing.
Really similar sound! If I listen without seeing bass changing, I'll never feel the difference!
Love Harley Benton as a brand. Great combination of quality and value for money.
The choice of bridge or through the body stringing on the HB was also a nice touch.
Thanks for posting.
The both basses leave a really good impression. The main difference is in the sound of upper strings (D and E), especially D.
On HB these strings quickly became "thumpy" during the test, while on the Sandberg they remained that nice "piano" sound. It is all about bass construction.
It usually makes the difference between professional instruments and cheap basses, and here so also.
Playing live probably will not make that much difference but every more serious studio recording will give undeniable advantage to Sandberg.
Such sounding D string of HB simply will not be able to stand out in the band, but it will appear as a "hole" in the sound.
Anyway, having in mind the price difference, HB is absolutely beautiful instrument that is also very affordable.
The HB seems to have a fuller tone, but could do with some shielding.
If I had to choose between the two, I'd probably go for the Harley Benton, and buy a backup bass with the money I saved.
omg, benton sounds waay better to me!
Both are really nice basses, but there's no way there is €1200 difference between them. Sure the quality on the Sandberg might be better but the HB, for the price range is a steal. You could make some upgrades to the HB and it would be a great bass and still be kinder on your wallet.
I have the 150€ J one, fretless.
With Rotosound flats.
Now it has Gotoh hardware, DiMarzio will power pups & Emerson electronics.
All the above & the boat anchor weight guarantees a decent sound :3
I owned both, still have the Sandberg but for as much as I’m playing needed a comparable bass. Sold the HB and bought a used Sire v9
Well the most important thing here we don't discuss is how it sits in a mix. The HB might be nice for solo home play but once you record or play live the Sandberg shines.
The first part was in a mix.
@@wbertie2604 live mix, not mixed for web content, two different universes.
Extremely well done, guys! Brilliant vid switching while playing. Playing since 1973, owned Alembic, Smith, Lakland, et. al. Other than the pup noise from the HB, the HB wins on tone. Replace the HB pups + new (inexpensive, but great) pre = HB would KILL!
Again, very well done, bass mates!
Thanks! I still use mine all the the for recording and I think it's time to start upgrading it. Maybe some better electronics, possibly different pickups etc. Fort the money it's a killer bass but it definitely could use some upgrades here and there.
I've had a MP-4EB for about a year now, in the 4 seasons of Ireland, and it's held up well. It's only needed adjustment after I changed string gauges, not due to the climate. I thought the electronics were very poor, though, and a full passive rewire helped. It now has EMG active P and MMTW pickups, which are a great improvement. (note: the MMTW wiring required me to enlarge the wiring channel to 10mm, which took a 300mm-long drill due to the angle.)
Ooh interesting, you made me want to modify mine now.
For studio work jazz that Sandburg has it, for blast venues home entertainment stress release Harley rides high, plus the price is right, and it's a beautiful badass bass.
The 5th string is much better in the Harley Benton. I only see a quality difference in passive mode. Very interesting comparison!
i really enjoy the HB but the Sandberg is so much better ( i have both in 4 strings with Precision neck pu by the way )
I do agree with the suggestion of trying a blind test in the mix. For once, a blind test is 100% feasable, since the basses have almost identical physical features and the player should not be able to tell the difference just by holding the instruments in their hands.
To me HB wins hands down. Yes, its neck pickup hums as it's a true single coil but it also give some clearness. If I didn't know what's played my pick would have been HB. Now I as see what's played, my pick intensifies. How well do they made - that's another matter - rough fret work, maybe HB has a ski jump, I don't know. Doesn't really matter since I can replace the frets at this price difference and then add other pickup/pre set to play with.
At least in the last few years, HB has had excellent QC when it comes to the fretboard. Very rarely do you hear reports of fret sprouting during aging/drying. I have three of their basses, all three have impeccable fretboards. Note that this wasn't always the case - if you go back a decade or a bit more, there have been cheaper models that had problems with the freatboard. I have acquired a used HB Shorty (that would be my 4th HB bass) which required a lot of fret dressing, which was partially done by the previous owners. But for the past 4-5 years at least, the HB basses are an amazing value.
Seems like there is a set up difference. HB strings are hitting something. Either way, the HB seems like a very good bass.
This is what you find on cheap bass. Maybe all the frets are not even.. The quality control overall is lower
The Sandberg had more "clarity" than the Harley. I heard some harmonics on the Harley that muddied the sound a bit, but it still sounded pretty good.
HB is a good bass, but I'm thinking I might want to do something with the electronics. They are a bit noisy and the pots feel loose. But overall I've still been pretty happy with it. :)
@@CatPickStudios It's a $300 bass, and the specs look even better than the Squier CV's. If the electronics are the issue, the simple solution would be to start with replaceing them with something like an Audere preamp. In the US a basic drop-in Audere preamp costs under $100, a bit more for Intl. www.audereaudio.com/jazz-4b-chrome.html Based in the UK is the John East preamp. One of the advantages of one of their models is the ability to have passive or active modes or even blend them. www.east-uk.com/index.php/all-products/j-retro-01-deluxe.html I suppose at this price point it is easy to "over-improve" this bass. As I noted, I found the clarity the issue with the HB compared to the Sandberg. But it has to be mentioned that they had the same strings, a string set that may be less than ideal on the HB. I'd love to hear the comparison again, once a set of strings were found that brought out the best characteristics of this bass.
@@CatPickStudios how about the nut on the HB?
@@JeezVince it's a tusq nut
The Harley Benton looks to be narrower at the nut. If I'm right, that could be a good choice for beginners or people with small hands, but for me, that would be a deal-killer. Ibanez SR's and other pencil-neck basses make my hand cramp up.
You guys forget one thing at all. If you buy a sandberg you get out of the box a perfect builded bassguitar who plays great, feels fantastic and sounds always amazing (tried a lot and own 3 sandbergs). The chance with a harley benton is that you need (if you are a professionel who can do this all for yourself) adjust the bass and do a lot of fretwork what is mostly a job for someone who knows what to do. There is a slighty chance for damaged and bad hardware. Yeah off course, money is great value, but if you buy this bass and you have no budget more, and you need to spend 100 or 200 euro for getting it good to work, bring em into a shop for adjustment... näää.
The Sandberg is definitely more compressed and warm sounding in comparison the HB. The zero fret on the HB also looks like it is way farther away from the nut than on the Sandberg which is strange. Was the Harley Benton's action setup really low or is it really just that much more "clacky" for lack of a better term? Regardless, a great showcase/comparison video.
The guy playing the bass in the video gave both of the basses the setup he liked. I do think there was more "clanking" happening with the Harley Benton, maybe raising the strings a tiny bit could take some of that away. And thank you! :)
The Harley Benton had slightly lower action than the Sandberg, the difference was quite minimal. Both were very comfortable basses to play.
-the guy who played the bass
to say the hb bass sounds better than the sandberg or vice versa, I do not think appropriate. Both have their advantages. As a studio musician (electronic music like Schiller) I prefer the HB. For live performances, I use the sandberg and have the HB as a backup.
Strings always make a big difference. A pair of DR pure blues would make the Harley sound way better, especially the low B
I have an HB PJ-5. Love it to pieces. For €150 its pretty much a steal
Ironically I actually preferred the sound on the Harley Benton. I think it had a bit more output on the pickups and was a little bit brighter. I think if you are willing to put in a bit of extra work installing some better pots and electrical insulation the HB could be a really good shout.
I closed my eyes at the beginning and honestly I couldn't tell a difference in the sound between the two. They sound the same in a mix. When isolated and played back to back I still couldn't tell much of a difference. Honestly I'm pretty surprised at how close the HB is to the Sandberg, if I was a beginner or buying a bass for my kid I would go for that HB any day of the week. Unfortunately, I want a custom California TM5
The open E sounds more defined on the Harley Benton.
When listening to the examples starting at 09:49, you can tell that the Sandberg would sit way better in a mix. It's much more even in sustain and attack.
Yep, it's just more focused. I've been playing that Harley Benton a lot since I got it and while it's really good for the money, I would love to get that Sandberg.
This is a very good, very informative comparison.
I hear a difference between both but it remains at a detail level and never compromises the character or the quality of the instrument. Maybe a virtuoso recording an album of bass solo music should care. I guess anyone else would be happy with any. I quite like the "beaky" Harley Benton headstock. Yes, it's a bit large here but it's ok, they have to come up with something that does not copy anyone else. Fender headstocks have been goofy in comparison (I have a Squier Deluxe V with an even larger one).
Tell us how the necks behave in a year. If all they require is a truss rod adjustment when the seasons turn, it's perfectly fine. That's what the thing is for.
Thanks, appreciate the a well written comment with actual points. You don't see that too often!
I'm honestly really curious how the neck on the Harley Benton will behave over a year. As I mentioned, we go through huge humidity and temperature changes over the course of a year and some instruments don't take it well. But so far it's been good so I'm optimistic. :)
@@CatPickStudios So it's over 8 months now. Can you say something about the stability yet? I'm curious :)
@@leo.nordmann Well I'm happy to tell you the bass has become more stable over time. Played it with a band this Friday and noticed I had to tune it less often than what I was used to. Haven't touched the truss rod, thought it could use a tiny bit of tightening. I'm super impressed with this bass when you consider the price.
@@CatPickStudios Awesome. Thanks for the fast answer. I just bought this bass as a 4 string ind blue. They don't have it in stock so I'm just waiting for it to finally being shipped.
@@CatPickStudios how about now?
I live in Finland and am a loyal HB customer - and so far, my HB basses have behaved very nicely with the changing weather and humidity fluctuations.
And of course, I preferred the sound of the HB Enhanced to the Sandberg. I see no reason why the Sandberg is "pro" and the HB isn''s. Heastock shape preferences and nebulous statements about "feel" shoouldn't determine anything. The comment about noise would be a bona-fide determining factor, though in passive mode the noise is often a problem also with more expensive basses.
I actually prefered the HB's Neck looks, and the sound on both pups and bridge better.
One more to the shoping cart I guess
I've been really happy with mine, does the job well and is fun to play.
@@CatPickStudios was planing on getting the 5 string progressive series but this one sounds better.
Big difference for me.... It change the meaning of the song... With HB sounds more like punk, with the other one is more solid ... Both are interesting... depends what You want to tell to the audience...
What about the neck thickness? When you spoke about the neck profile I was actually expecting to hear something about this as well. Thank you for the video!
I'd say HB neck profile is more flat and Sandberg a bit rounder and to my hands, more comfortable.
Idk what you did to make the Harley Benton sound that good, but it certainly didn't apply to mine. I had this exact same enhanced model in a 4 string version and it sounded muddy and dead compared to my Squier jaguar and my Musicman stingray. No matter how hard I tried with the EQ and settings, it always sounded worse. This one sounds better than the sandberg and better than mine
I might be stating the obvious but did you swap the strings? I've had bunch of Harley Bentons come through my studio and most of them ship with absolutely horrible strings that don't stay in tune and sound bad. The guy playing the bass in this video swapped the same string set on both of the basses and I feel that brought them way closer sound wise.
@@CatPickStudios The first thing I did was to put on Fodera Ultra Light strings and my HD sounds great!
GREAT comparison video! You covered so many aspects that I look for in a bass. It sounds like the Sandberg has a much denser body wood and the strings "talk down" to the pickups instead of resonating with the body. If the HB controls were upgraded with premium parts, do you think the instruments would be more competitive on a quality standpoint?
Thanks! Not sure how much the electronics upgrade would change that. I feel Sandberg has a more focused midrange which makes it an awesome bass for live situations (I've mixed it live several times) where as HB has a more traditional Jazz bass sound. My guess is that upgrading it would bring them even closer sound wise but they would still sound different and especially feel different.
nice comparison , you should do the blind test in the mix , it could be surprising !
But I don't want to be challenged in my precoseptions! ;D
@@CatPickStudios , then only let the viewer decide :) greetz ps, the HB is a great bass , and yess Both are
You need to manufacture picks with cat ears
The Sandberg has a fuller, more rounded sound. The HB is slightly thinner sounding. That being said, I'm not sure I would catch the difference if I had not watched this video.
It's really interesting what kind of differences people hear. I personally feel Sandberg is a bit more focused sounding but that might be due to how the bass feels to play.
for me both are great, Sand is more massive and round and HB is more vivid and clear on my ear.
Verry little to no difference between both, the bridge humbucker bites more on the HB and sounds rounder on the Sandberg.
Really a great test!
Thanks I was very helpful.
Thanks!
love my california tm5 and the sound is awesome!
It's a killer bass!
I have the MP-4mn. It's a good bass, great for the price. The only thing that bothers me is the 6 piece body😒
Interesting, what is it about the 6 piece body that bothers you? Are the pieces unevenly colored or something else?
@@CatPickStudios The front and back match very well. Around the edges it is more noticable. I suppose I just associate one-piece bodies with quality and multi-piece as being 'budget'. It doesn't seem to effect the sound though, unplugged the bass sounds very solid and authoritive, plenty of sustain. Given the price Im overall very happy with it. Great vid btw. 👍
@@Killadey Yeah I totally get that multi-piece thing! Though as you said, it's not really an indicator of quality. If I had the money I'd go for the Sandberg just because it's such a solid instrument, but I do still enjoy my HB as well. And thanks, much appreciated!
@@Killadey Almost no bass bodies are single piece. Two or three is pretty normal.
I hear a 50hz humm on the Harley Benton bass. Lesser quality shielding?
Oh definitely. I think I'll swap the electronics at some point.
Hey, cool review video! It's really useful to actually have a bass in the right context (of a distorted guitar in this case). So many basses sound great in isolation but then are lost in the mix.
Thanks!
As always, the cheaper bass is lacking in definition and midtone warmth. If you are willing to spend the additional money for a pro grade instrument is a very individual decision. If I was in a amateur band with limited style selection / tonal needs... I´d go for the HB. I play in a semi pro cover band playing 1000 - 4000 people venues for 5+ hours per evening and wouldn´t want to risk any hassle with failing parts or setup problems because of temperature and moisture change. In that regard, my Sandbergs have never let me down and are "always by my side". That´s something, which the HB would have to prove being so reliabe. I´ve had cheap basses before, that didn´t stand the test of regular gigging.
If you consider upgrading that bass, you will quickly dip 400-500 quid in it (pickups, tuners, electronics) and you´re coming into the ballpark of the Sandberg Electras then... another thing to consider.
I found all the B string sounds missing from all the other vids..! 🤩
Gran video...mil gracias...!!! voy por un HB....para empezar....
Hi there! Thanks for this very good review. So, did you keep the Harley Benton? Did it "age" well? :)
Yep, the HB stayed and I've been using it a lot! It certainly has it's flaws but overall I think it's still great for the money. I might start upgrading it at some point, most like by swapping the wobbly pots first. :)
would you tell me please, what strings are used on the basses? What brand and size. THANKS
Daddario XL Nickel 40-130 (40/60/80/100/130)
Could you please check, if passive mode on both guitars can be used without battery inserted?
Works on both basses. Is there a bass that requires you to have battery inserted even when using passive mode?
@@CatPickStudios thanks for reply! sadly yes, my Cort B5's active/passive switch only flattens the eq, but still uses the preamp.
@@PiotrOjrzynski Oh that sucks, sorry to hear that.
I think buying Harley Benton's bass and then replacing it with Delano pickups is a very cheap way to get GOOD sound.
Man you cant compare them both. Sandberg sounds is the "pm" sound. Harley Benton want to give the opportunity for a small price. But the electronics and the pickups are important. Buying it used means you don't really lose money buying a Sandberg.
Upgrading the HB bass with better pickups would do a lot
Yep. Any suggestions? I've been recording with it a lot lately and I feel it's time to upgrade.
@@CatPickStudios what about Sandberg pickups? That would be interesting
Do they sell aftermarket pickups?
@@CatPickStudios sandbergshop.gambiocloud.com/Sandberg-Pickup/
@@CatPickStudios whom do you mean?
HB is very good for 330 € but, sandberg is much better bass. Why ? Because now I hear backside harmonic in sandberg sound . Backside harmonic are important part of bass sound for mix.
"I KNOW I'M SO LATE",...I might as well be absent. Lol! In my opinion, the "HARLEY BENTON" sounds a lot "CLEANER" than the "SANDBERG!" That's a "HUGE" come-up for a "COST EFFECTIVE" musical instrument. Now, let's go back to the 70's. Fender p or j basses were "PASSIVE" and would cost you $239 to $269. Everyone loved those basses and still do. Technology going on now, has its advantages. That "HARLEY BENTON" bass has the 70's cost and the 20th century sound. Huge come-up I'd say. I would buy that "HARLEY BENTON" before that "SANBURG" any day. This is my opinion only. Great vs video I would say. Harly benton is just cleaner in tone. Thanks.
Calculating for inflation a Fender bass from the 70's would be $1,603 to $1,804 in todays money. New fenders are also around the same range. So I'm not sure what your point is?
The Harley Benton appears to be the cheapest 5 string bass with stainless steel frets? The 2nd cheapest I've found are the Ibanez BTB. I'm allergic to nickel so I need stainless steel frets.
Hmm the one I had in this video didn't have SS frets, but they might have upgraded it since. I would encourage you to email Thomann and ask about different options they might have.
@@CatPickStudios That's strange. I bought the same model (MJ-5MN) and on their website it says "22 Medium Jumbo Blacksmith stainless steel frets".
I’m impressed with the Benton , but the Sandberg all the way
Haha I totally agree. The HB was really impressive, but I'd pick the Sandberg every time.
his right hand movements looks better at the sandberg. maybe he is familiar with the sandberg, and the HB is new for him?!
Might be, he had played the Sandberg a lot both live and in the studio at this point!
sold
With all do respect but HB tone is 100% better… I’m actually buying the HB thanks to this video lol…😂
Well that's great then, you get the tone you like more for WAAAAY less money!
Not going to lie. The Harley Benton sounded better.
Is the opening song available? Loved it
Thank you! Yes it is, check out my EP here on the channel called "The First Four" or on streaming platforms "Vladimir Halinen - The First Four" :)
I mean the sandberg sounded much better ofcourse. But the HB held its own.
I find the Sandberg more focused and punchier. For the money HB is very good. (Still use it all the time)
@@CatPickStudios In a context of a live mix you are the only person concerned with the brand on your headstock. I would swap the bridge pickup tho, then it would be realy good!
Totally agree!
@@CatPickStudiosalso thanks for the videos, I really enjoy your conent
excellent review...
Thanks!
If I spent that much money on a Sandberg and then heard this comparo, I'd be a bit ticked off. LOL Of course, feel means a lot to a pro and durability may or may not come in to play years down the road.
Well it's not that simple to be honest. I've had the HB for a while now and while I think it's incredible value for the money, the cost savings do show here and there. I've played it live several times and tuning stability has been an issue in those situations. If I would play the bass live regularly I would probably want to upgrade the electronics as well because they seem to be prone to all kinds of buzz and noise.
But again, for the money you get a lot.
CatPick Studios Thanks for the input. I’m just a “bedroom hero” and play occasionally in the church band (we don’t exactly rock lol) I have a Fender Highway 1 for that anyway.
Well that's where I've played mine as well: at the church. For that the bass has been great but if I would gig more, I would probably want to upgrade it a bit. :)
CatPick Studios No doubt. But, it does sound good, especially for the price.
Would you share your Helix preset? I really like the tone.
I'll ask if Ville could provide it!
Unfortunately the preset we used is gone and I have no idea what it included :D But if you want to try something close to that sound I suggest you to try following setup:
1) Split the signal with split crossover somewhere around 200-300Hz
2) Path A (below 200Hz), Ampeg SVT4 Pro/similar
3) Path B (over 200Hz) Obsidian 7000 or Stupor OD + cab sim. I use 3 sigma audio cab IR:s, but Helix's own 4x10 or 2x15 do the job quite well too.
@@villetuukkanen : Thank you! That's pretty much what I assumed.
man , when u dont move in the space where you are filming. Like here, u are sit. Just turn your focus on manual. The point will never move.
Haha I know, I think at the time I was traumatised by shooting bunch of videos that were out of focus and decided to use autofocus just to make sure it's in focust most of the time. Two years later I have better gear and don't use it anymore for the reasons you just mentioned.
What is the weight of the HB?
I didn't weight mine but it was roughly the same weight as the Sandberg, which I also found a bit heavier than an average bass of the same size.
Also please note that with budget friendly basses like HB the weight of the instrument may vary quite a lot from bass to bass.
Give me the Sanberg.Weight,and mods to the HB out weigh the benefits
It's heavy Harley Benton? How much?
It's definitely on the heavier side. Not sure about the exact weight but pretty sure it's over 4kg. The Sandberg isn't light either but HB is heavier.
After hearing twice with earphones I couldn’t hear any relevant difference that justifies the price
Tone wise I agree. Build quality, tuning stability and hardware quality are very different though.
Big bass friday!:D
great track you had for the opener Sir! but which bass will offer protection from polar bears?????
Well you can get several Harley Bentons for the price of one Sandberg which means you have backups if your weapon breaks. Completely forgot to mention that in the video, I'm sorry.
@@CatPickStudios its ok we all forget some things but at least now your aware :)
have a great weekend Sir!
If I want a 3kg 5-string then I gotta spend the £1.5k on a Sandberg 😢
That's kind of true unfortunately. Lighter woods are usually saved for the more expensive instruments.
i like the look of hb more
It's a nice looking bass.
Exactly my experience. Every damm Sandbeg I've played with those big pole Delanos sound FUCKING DEAD. Same thing with Maruszczyk Jake 5a+ I've had with those same pickups. SO FUCKING DEAD. Those Delanos suck lots of DEAD ass. I'd take the HB any day of the week, and particularly those Roswell pickups blow the Delanos out of the water. Back when I had the Maruszczyk they sounded so dead I even preferred the P pickup in my 88€ thomann kit P build, BY A WIDE MARGIN. Not even comparing them to the real thing (Musicman), which I also have owned several (both ceramic and alnico) and still own a couple (just ceramics), would be simply laughable.
@Toxic Potato Like dark sounding (no treble and no presence) and with a pronounced dip in response at about 600hz, no punch and totally lost in a mix. Hear this clip, then go compare with other bass clips amongst my videos... ua-cam.com/video/OQ0SKH3a-0U/v-deo.html&t=31s
HB is a little bit noisy ;/
I'm thinking about replacing the pickups at some point. I mean for the 333€ you can't expect everything to be perfect.
Of course. What i wanted to say, is that this noise is probably the only thing, that stops Harley Benton to be a no brainer for me
I Hope you'll upload video with changed pickups ;)
If I end up changing them, absolutely!
I just listened without watching. I could not tell for the life of me when the bass changed. Not even with the isolated tracks
What are you listening through?
@@CatPickStudios the speakers of my car while the engine was off, so almost no background noise
in my humble opinion i think the player needs to be a pro not the instrument
Practically the same bass
Yes and no. They might sound similar, but the Sandberg feels way more high quality, it has better fret work, nut, tuners and electronics and stays in tune way better.
But if you're willing to put in a bit of work on the HB, it's killer bass for the money. (I still use mine)
Good grief, turn the guitar down in the mix. We wanted to hear the bass guitars..
Now that' show you review an instrument. Learn from here, kids.
Harley Benton
Let’s me sell my F$$$CK MusicMan and BUY Harley Benton.... it’s time to stop being robbed from big brand....
Yeah maybe you shouldn’t. The HB is great for the money but it’s nowhere near MusicMan quality.
Can't hear the bass over the loud guitar.
I’m guessing you didn’t watch any further where there’s just the bass soloed out?