The Harley Benton B-30BK is a four-string acoustic bass with a piezo pickup, active EQ, and integrated tuner. While it can be played unplugged in any sufficiently quiet environment, the integrated pickup also allows for amplification on stage. In terms of sound, it complements the classic solidbody electric bass and offers a sonic alternative for bassists who like to experiment. The B-30BK is rarely used as a main instrument, so its unbeatable price makes it ideal for musicians who want to learn what the acoustic bass is all about, or for those who are looking for a second instrument to practice and travel with but don't want to make too large an investment.
Thanks to its guitar-like design with its 22-fret long-scale mahogany neck and roseacer fingerboard, the extremely light B-30BK plays much like a normal electric bass, but its sound is somewhere between its solid-wood siblings and the upright bass. The bidirectionally adjustable truss rod guarantees perfect playability at all times. With its relatively large mahogany body and laminated spruce top, this bass sounds powerful enough for home use and has the advantage of always being at hand without having to waste even a second fussing with cables or amplifiers. Nevertheless, the integrated four-band EQ provides full flexibility when the volume needs to be turned up a notch. So you can think of the B-30BK as a commuter between sofa, veranda, rehearsal room, and festival stage. The built-in tuner will come in handy for ensuring a pitch-perfect sound - but always unplug the cable when the instrument is not in use.
The Harley Benton B-30BK is ideal for occasional users who don't want to spend a lot of money on a bass they only use sporadically but still want to rest assured that they can rely on it to perform properly. The instrument is also suitable for electric bass newbies who want to initially get by without an amplifier. However, even seasoned players looking to broaden their musical horizons, to explore new styles, and to work in small ensembles or intimate unplugged settings will appreciate the features of the B-30BK. In fact, this makes it almost perfect for music genres that typically favour an acoustic sound. These include Blues, Folk, Country, and Jazz as well as power ballads.
Since 1998, the Harley Benton brand has been catering for the needs of numerous guitarists and bassists. In addition to an extensive range of stringed instruments, Thomann's house brand also offers a wide choice of amplifiers, speakers, effect pedals, and other accessories. In total, the range includes over 1,500 products. Built by established names in the industry, all Harley Benton products combine quality and reliability at attractive and affordable prices. The continuous expansion of the range ensures that Harley Benton always provides new, exciting, and innovative products that keep players perfectly in tune with the musical world, day after day.
From living room performances to live-streamed unplugged sessions or Flower Power festivals: "Acoustic sound" has been in fashion in recent years. If bassists don't want to lug around an upright bass, an acoustic bass offers a truly practical and affordable solution which is much more than "just" an alternative. While it is of course possible to create a certain similarity in sound to the upright bass, it is also possible to take advantage of the instrument's unique features. For instance, typical electric bass techniques can be used in a new creative way on the B-30BK. And what a great feeling it is to be able to make music at home or on the road without ever having to worry about finding a mains power socket.
Roseacer
Rosewood is a particularly hard wood that has long been popular as a material for making guitar and bass fretboards. This wood is now considered endangered, however, and resources are scarce and expensive – which is why guitar makers have already spent several years searching for alternatives. The wood that Harley Benton has chosen as a fretboard material for its ST Acoustic series and many other guitars is a type of thermally treated maple known as “roseacer” (a word coined from “acer”, the name of the genus to which maple belongs). The heat treatment to which the wood is subjected reduces its water content to around three percent, which prevents subsequent shifting or warping and increases the wood’s stability while also giving it a visual appearance similar to that of rosewood.