Harley Benton MB-4 SB Deluxe Series

Whoever is doing quality checks on these basses needs to improve ! The finish on these basses appears to be a photo laminate applied over a basswood core of indeterminate quality. This looks good but you can't compare it to something like a Sterling Sub where you are getting a solid 2 or 3 piece body. The maple neck is well made with generally good fretting with a few sharp ends.

Out of the box the truss rod had not been adjusted and the neck had too much relief. About half a turn was needed with the stock strings to get the neck playable.

The pickup was misaligned with one corner pushed right into the body. I had to remove the pick guard to rectify this which appeared to be caused by the foam supporting pads being misshaped. I added some extra foam to the front of the pickup and this enabled me to set the pickup correctly.

Lastly the nut is not well cut with some strings too low and some too high at the first fret. With the bass properly setup I have buzz at the first fret on one string that will need repairing.

After a few hours work I have the action at under 2mm and the bass plays and sounds good for the price. However, a beginner would not have been able to achieve the same result. I must admit I seriously considered returning this bass.

Postscript: I have now sold this bass and bought a used Sterling SUB in walnut satin. This has better body wood and superior active electronics which give a better sound without the unnecessary coil tap found on the HB. This is a good value bass but its not worth 2 or 3 times the price as suggested by some reviewers. The SUB is a better instrument but you also pay a price premium.