Harley Benton RB-414LH BK Classic Series

This bass looks amazing - that's the only amazing thing here. It's not bad but since this is not the cheapest available bass I've expected more. So I decided to buy that one over the pb-20 hoping that it'll be better to choose someting a bit more expensive and just start playing right away. Unfortunately I was wrong, it'd be better to buy the pb-20 and some decent pickups along with it for the price of the rb-414. Unfortunately the single coil jazz pickup here is just so noisy that I cannot for the love of God find any single place or orientation in my apartment where it'd not be buzzing so much that I've never in my entire life heard such noise coming from any device. I'm not entirely sure since I know close to nothing about the specifics when it comes to this field but for some newbies like me - it's not pleasant to use it unless you can find room that is 100% clean of any electrical devices or wiring. Some may say as I've seen that 'this buzz is charming and it's the most beautifull thing with these pickups' and okay, some may find it charming but for me and perhaps for many others it'll just seem as if it's just a broken unit and just like me they'd be frustrated over this noise. Sure I could return it and go buy something better - it's just my lazy choice not to bother myself with returns. In general tho if you're like me who would rather just get a nice clean sound out of their new toy - avoid this one.

Unlike most buyers of the RB-414LH, I owned and played the real deal, on recordings and at gigs. But - like many musicians before and after me - I hit hard times and had to sell it. Yeah, it happens. But life goes on, and there are other basses. But I missed it: I missed that chunky, assertive sound.

The RB-414LH certainly is close, and even adds a new complaint: the long neck gives it slight tendency to neck-dive if using a smooth strap - probably due to the shorter horn. No big deal though: a better strap takes care of that, and even with the cheap strap it wasn't a bother.

So how about the sound? Does it get there? With new strings, I'd have to say it's definitely in the ballpark, as the saying goes. I got what I wanted, which I wasn't getting from my active-electronics Ltd bass.

What about cost? As a US buyer, I paid a 60% tariff on Chinese-made gear. With shipping, this (currently) 225 bass was about 430. The only used one in the US was about 450 (with shipping and 10% sales tax), so that was an easy choice.

Is it the same as that 70s lefty Rick I used to own? Not quite. But for my needs, it's close enough -- and even with an exorbitant tariff, it's what I can afford. Bear in mind what Miles Davis said: 20% the instrument, 80% the m.f'er who plays it. Now go practice, and then go out there and make the nay-sayers shut up about pricey brands -- unless they want to buy them for you :)