Harley Benton is the owned brand of Thomann, which is one of the largest Instrument and gear shops/dealers in the World (probably the biggest in Europe tbh). So what they do with Harley Benton is usually just making decently or even quite well specced Instruments and gear and then putting them up on the store for very low prices to attract Customers to their store and order some other things as well. they don't make much money out of Harley Benton but my god is that some good way of advertising your shop.
Lifelong Rick player here (since 1974) - the quirks you noticed are exactly what makes a Rick sound - the bridge pickup is not really used by itself, ever. This does look like a wonderful value at less than $200. Harley Benton is kickin' it!
I bought a black one recently and I absolutely love it. The Rick type shape is the coolest looking bass guitar design on the planet. Its the nearest I'll get to the real thing 😂
I bought one in black. Solution to the pickup volume imbalance - lower the neck on a little, remove the saddle and then the pickup springs from the bridge pickup and raise it as high as it will go. Mine was cosmetically perfect, just needed a small neck adjustment. Plays absolutely beautifully, I really like it. I had a Rick 4003 for a number of years - this doesn't sound the same, but it does have the beginnings of the growl that you can add to with pedals. I think, if memory serves, that it also has a wider neck than the Rick. In short possibly the bass guitar bargain of the decade.
@@user-rt2fh7mo4l It came with the action set really high. I had it set up at a local shop. It plays beautifully. The bridge pick up is a little weaker than the neck pick up , but it doesn't effect the overall sound. It is a bit heavy, which is a good thing. I got the sunburst finish and it is beautiful. Overall you can't beat it for approx. 250 bucks.
@@sunrah4469 fukken A, sounds good. Especially the heavy part, when instruments are light they put me off, feels kinda cheep imo. And bridge i rarely use anyway... My main bass is Schecter Stiletto Extreme 5 which is apsolutley lovely but it also has a weak and pretty hollow bridge pup, so in a way im used to it. Thx for the reply man
@@JunacCRO actually Peter Hook said that his Hondo Rick was the worst instrument ever, and as long as he did some money, he threw it in the garbage... if you ever tried an Hondo, they are really really cheap.
@@Pierfra007 well depends. ive seen bad fenders and ive seen good ones. I apply the same logic to all instruments. But yeah,hondo is a bolt on,there are far better matsu/fujigen copies out there. :)
I actually just barely got one of these...and then turned around and sold it. Not because it's a bad guitar by any means -- honestly, it's freaking awesome. After a proper setup I had a great time playing it, but I was amassing too many guitars that were going unplayed I just had to strip it all down and simplify. I think I might get another one in the future. It's certainly unique and cool and 80% of a real Rick for 1/10 the price.
HB are a company to watch, I made a custom bass of my own using one of their necks and I love it. I also built a jazz bass using a HB body that ‘sang’ better than the fender body.
What is wrong with copying a ric? Dozens of companies have copied fenders for decades. Sand the back of the neck with 2000 grit to matte and smooth the finish. Also, lower the front pickup a bit to even the sound. Great content and playing Patrick.
Reminds me of a time at school when some kid claimed he had Nike Air Jordans but they clearly weren't and everyone laughed at him. Don't buy a fake imitation Ric. Get the real deal or don't get one at all. Don't make a fool out of yourself. Anyone that knows Rics will know it's fake straight away and lol at you.
@@Fireglo The difference here is, people will make fun of you if you're trying to say its a real Ric. I doubt anyone actually would really care if you're just using a Ric clone
@@Fireglonobody is trying to pass off a Harley Benton as a Rickenbacker. People like Rickenbacker but they don’t like Rickenbacker prices and people that get real Rics don’t mod them out to their liking because it devalues them. This bass gives people the ability to own a Ric inspired bass, without blowing their budget and allows them to mod a unique bass platform without the guilt of risking chopping up a real example
I have access to a rickenbacker 4003 and have spent countless hours playing it and a couple things right off the bat that dont seem very close to the real thing are the tone and the neck width/string spacing. That said a lot of what you pay for with a rickenbacker is the name and all the weird quirks of the instrument like the fairly uniform neck width and string spacing and the stereo rick o sound stuff. Something about the treble knob on a rickenbacker almost sounds like it has distortion built in when turned all the way up. That said this does seem like a pretty nice entry level bass though the rickenbacker pickup placement can be a little awkward for fingerstyle so be aware of that.
too bad you can't get rid of that REALLY cheesy logo. I actually liked the sound of this bass. That stupid script "Harley Benton" in italic script across the headstock makes this look really cheap and stupid. I guess it is really cheap, but they could have done a logo that was... idk... better? lol.
I have lusted after a Rickenbacker ever since I saw Bruce Foxton of The Jam playing one in the late 70s. My father bought me a second hand early 70s Kay Ric copy in the early 80s, which I gave to a charity shop a few years back - something I’m kicking myself about now, as they fetch a few hundred £££s these days. I played a real Ric for the first time last week and loved it - although found that it lacked anywhere to anchor my thumb! I’ve been considering getting the HB RB-414CS - but can’t really justify another bass at the moment - I have a 51 style P bass, 75 style J bass, and short scale P bass and another ‘project’ P bass that’s going to have a few mods done to it.
I'm sorry, is this your first time seeing a guitar? There are THOSUANDS of guitars that copy other guitars, if this is something that could be done, then ESP would be very much in hot water for years now for copying the les paul with their eclipse. And I don't think there's a single guitar manufacturer that doesn't sell a strat copy. You can't trademark a shape into which you cut a piece of wood. As long as it doesn't say rickenbacker on the headstock then you're fine.
@@mach2223 "You can't trademark a shape into which you cut a piece of wood" Actually, yes you can. And Rickenbacker in particular is known for being VERY stiff-necked about not letting people copy their design, whereas other companies in general are much more lenient. This is why you rarely ever see anything resembling a Ric, other than of course, a Ric.
I got one of these recently and it's turned into one of my favorite basses. Speaking on the modding, I added glow in the dark glue on the fret markers on the side of the neck and it turned out well. I've also been debating on changing the pickups but I like how they sound stock.
I saved up for a couple of years and bought a Rick Bass. The one you are demo-ing here doesn't really sound like one, in that it lacks that snarl that Rick's have, but it sounds very good, anyway. I would recommend it to anyone as a really good starter bass. It's a deal!
I had a real Rickenbacker stereo in the 70s and it was SHIT ,I took it back to the shop on the following Monday after I bought it at the weekend,and swapped it for a new Jazz bass , was happy ever after .. BUT I must say I am going to buy one of these at the age of 73 .. PS .you are a good player ... Conan UK
I remember getting my first bonus at work (I think it was around 4K) and walking into a guitar shop with the intentions of buying a Rickenbacker Bass. It was the only chance I would have to justify that purchase. I looked at the price they were asking. Laughed, and walked out. Ended up buying an old Datsun 4x4 for 1/3 the price. I would totally have bought a Harley Benton version of it was available
Little known in most circles, but the volume drop on the bridge pickup is due to a capacitor in series with the bridge pickup that cuts the low end out. Can be made switchable or put on a tone control for more flexability, but it's a big characteristic of the rick sound.
Always liked how the Ric looked and played. Buuuttt for thousands of $$ and with the many problems they have, I said " Good Day Sir". Now this i can tote see myself buying! Good vid as always Patty.
@BigBrain Time They did raise the price by $25. Sold out of course. They did the same thing when Josh from the Bass Channel demo(ed) the Thunderbird bass.
Many thanks Patrick. I was seriously considering buying the Chinese Ricky copy as, aesthetically, it looks truer to the genuine Rickenbacker shape. However, after watching your videos on both, I decided on buying the Harley Benton, mainly because of the superior build quality. Well done, excellent intuitive videos.
I bought one a few months ago for my first proper bass guitar. (I got the black version ) Turned out pretty well. Great feel to the body but it is slightly longer scale so you need xl strings. The bass doesnt sound amazing on heavy drop tunings for me but it is a killer everywhere else. Would highly recommend if you like this style.
It sounds good, but I'm kinda disappointed since it doesn't sound anything like a Ric (at least not a 4001/ 4003 with the pot pulled up). $200 for the bass, $218 for pickups, $170 for graph tech ratio tuners, $13 for knobs, $235 for a hipshot bridge, and $220 worth of setup/refining/graphite or bone nut replacement (this is assuming you don't do the rewiring, setup, and nut filing plus replacement yourself). That brings this to about $1050 if you really wanna edge closer to a Ric. This is STILL CHEAPER than an actual Ric! Hahaha! I'd personally just change the pickups and maybe the nut, as well as do the labor myself. Half the fun of getting an instrument tricked out is doing it yourself anyway!
Man... This is exactly what I needed. A ric sound for 10% of the price! Hell, the look is almost 100% of the reason people get real rickys in the 1st place so getting a discount one doesnt sound bad at all!
Great! just bloody great; now I'm gonna have to hear "You don't need another Bass" from the Mrs. and Of course the sleep on the couch response from me of "SILENCE WOMAN Patrick Hunter suggested it". Thanks for the review mate
I got mine in about a week ago. Awesome sound. I'll replace the bridge pickup, though. I leveled the fretboard, did a full setup and intonation and fixed a few flaws in the finish (polished away some "sandcorns" in the finish). This bass will make you sound like Lemmy when you're on a budget.
Thank you so much to Thomann for sending it to you and thanks to you for posting a thorough review!!! I have been looking for a comprehensive review!!! Back in 1990 I was looking for a Thunderbird, went to this shop that, altho they did not have a Thunderbird, they did have a Ric. I plugged that beauty in and it just filled the air with an awesome sound. I did find a Thunderbird eventually but kinda always wonder what could have been. Now, I just can't justify the cost of an instrument that expensive with the family still needing to eat. This $200 Ric caught my eye a while back and couldn't find a good review. So happy you made one! Looking forward to getting one of these!!!
This would be a killer mod project. I play bass but when I wanted to dabble in six string guitar, I bought a Squier Telecaster and used it as an excuse to replace the pickguard, wiring harness, pickups and bridge. It sings pretty sweet now and I spent maybe $300 total. I can't play it for shit, so I couldn't rationalize dropping $600 or more on a guitar that mostly sits around hearing me be a fuzz lord on bass.
I had this bass and sold it recently. It was pretty solid and pretty unique sounding. You didnt mention that's it's apparently chambered... tap on parts of it and you will hear it, also in the middle position all the knons are disengaged.
If I can smuggle it into the house I may go for one! If the bridge P.U. is too quiet, I would probably replace it with a Rick. replacement from Seymour D.
Thomann sent a Bass by USPS that arrived yesterday after an over a 3 month lost in shipping problem, I refused it because I have no idea where it had been or the conditions in which it had been exposed. I don't think they use DHL/USPS any longer, however I did get a fretless Harley Benton bass from Thomann last December that is great. BTW: Thomann was supposed to keep me informed and updated which they never did....I was forced to file a claim through my credit card company to receive a refund!! Not a good business model...
Had a bass ordered from Guitar Center, and UPS lost it. I filed a claim 4 days ago, but I'm afraid I won't be able to get *my first bass* until September at this rate! 😒 I'm afraid I will be in a similar boat as you were...
@@creativename6832 My biggest concern is where it had been for over three months? In a hot container? It might as well have been in the car trunk. This is why I refused it...
Well, watched this review and was compelled to buy one in black. FOUR DAYS LATER it was on my doorstep (indianapolis, IN) from Germany. Super fast delivery. I too have played Chinese Rickenbacker copies, and yes, this does feel WAY more solid. I made some small adjustments and action can playability were easily within reach. Regarding the shape, it definitely is influenced by the Rick bass shape, but I actually like it better! The shorter top horn actually makes my arm land more naturally at the bridge, whereas an actual Rick bass does not. Thanks for the review.... I’m off to start modding my HB!
Sounds pretty good. I recently picked up a 2020 Satin Autumnglo Ric, and the new bridge fixes a ton of the problems that Rics typically have. Will have to take a close look, but I think Ric has also stopped putting the frets under the binding, so you can actually replace them in the future without removing the binding. Lots of quality of life changes in the 2019-2020 bass guitars.
I have one of these on order (since April, multi bass order.. waiting on the Sadowsky Metro chinese warwick thing).. Also happen to have a set of original Ric 4003 pickups laying around... I wonder what would happen those pickups somehow made their way into the HB.... ;P
Sounds absolutely nothing like a Ric, but all that matters is whether or not you like how it does sound. I do like the “inspired by” aesthetics though.
That’s what makes it fun, sure doesn’t sound like a Ric, but you can put whatever you want in it, and have a personalized custom Rickenbacker without needing to take out a 2nd mortgage on your house lol
Artec pickups, IIRC, are Korean-made and a popular choice in better quality budget guitars (read: Harley Benton). Thanks for the review and thanks to Thomann for providing it. Loved the distortion, all else was solid but not my cup of tea.
John Hall *Heavy Breathing *. Rickenbacker changed the bridge btw 😉 but, never had a problem with the older one set them up and forget about it. Also, yes they are on the pricier side but totally worth every penny! Cheers
@@ChrisDavis1975 I own a late '70's Hastrom Swede guitar and, yes, the HB headstock calls the Hastrom to mind right away - but that's not a bad thing at all...
I agree, It sounds like a rick for people that like the look but are not fans of the sound. It doesn't sound like a RB but it sounds like the best sounding cheap bass I've heared. I think I'll definetely get one lol
@@Turak_64 ive owned 2 ricks.. a 77 and an 81 and my neck thru matsumoku lawsuit clone that i got for 400 was better than my real ricks lol. Those old ricks are real shit. Lol.. prob due to the older truss rod systems. They just wouldnt hold a set up at all.
@@garymarra4936 I have heard that despite the price, real Rickies are a pain to set up. I personally wouldn't mind picking up a decent copy and changing out a few bits
sounds good I really don’t like the way it looks I mean I love rickenbackers one of my go-to basses is my 1996 4003 but in my opinion the shape of the body on this bass is a little too symmetrical
Rickenbacker used to strictly control all the parts' sales abroad. I needed to send photos of my 4001 and its serial number to place an order of original Rickenbacker tuners from a 3rd party website. Now I guess with all those fake products out there they have realized they can make easy money by selling some spare parts, especially pickups, tailpieces/bridges etc. By the way you might hate it or love it but a pair of Rickenbacker pickups (and authentical wiring) are essential to recreate that distinct sound. Playability is another issue but your audience won't hear it ;)
That’s a cool bass. I’ve been busy cuz I recently picked up an ‘87 peavey t-40 and I’m loving it! Maybe I’ll send it in for a “show me what you bass” episode
Thanks to this video, I went ahead and pulled the plug and ordered one! Always wanted a Ric style, just not the price for what you get. Cheers Patrick!!
Nice! I’ve played a real rick for many drunken moons and I can tell you yes, the tail piece is crap casted cheap metal so, I 3D printed my own tail piece and that plastic replacement is much better. Also because of playing a Rick for so long, I am most comfortable playing basses that have near parallel strings such as on a hofner bass or a ricken bass; fender and other basses’ string arrangements tend to fan out towards the bridge. Lastly, my 90’s blond rickey had some serious shielding problems but, has three certified signatures in the vol./tone pot cavity; classy.
Buy it, straighten the neck, file the frets, change the pickups, strings, pots and the switch…then the tuners and the bridge and it’ll sound great. This dude is a master of eq’ing instruments but it doesn’t represent how it plays. I’ve tried so many discount instruments I’ve stopped trying. Rather have a few great builds then try to have everything at a discount. Remember you can build collections over decades and have all sorts of great builds.
Got MusicMan-like bass from Harley Benton, 5 strings, two humbs, active preamp onboard. And it's crazy awesome! One little thing: I'm gonna change pups for more bright. And add preamp on/off switch.
Good video bro. I have one of these HBs and I have a Ric 4003. I genuinely like both of them although they aren't the same thing The HB has a really nice neck and I like the way the pickups cut through in a mix. Also really cool for modding without messing with an expensive Ric. I will always love my RIC and nothing quite has that distinctive sound and feel, but the HB is great fun, well made and totally decent for gigging. 👍
I think a big reason Ric owners say it doesn't sound like a Ric is because of the mahogany body and neck vs maple for a Ric. Maple is the brightest wood you can get whereas mahogany is less bright but has nice low mids to it for a different type of growl (Wal basses, for example, have mahogany bodies). So, better than basswood for cheapo basses! But definitely will not give you a Ric sound, but still it seems to have a good useable sound. I wonder why they went with mahogany over maple since I can't see mahogany being cheaper than maple, and maple would have gotten them a lot closer to the sound.
@@avigayegos1496 Nope, weighs the same as a normal jazz bass. The tone on it is killer! It really came to life when I switched it to flat wounds! (comes stock with D'Addario Round wounds, which seems odd on a fretless, but Jaco used rounds) Fit and finish level are as good and maybe even better than a MIM Fender easily. Might eventually drop Aguilars in it, but straight out of the box sounded great!
Yes!! I was hoping you would review one of these! Also, I've always wanted a Rickenbacker and I've played a couple of them but could never just spending the money they cost on one so, this will do nicely. I would probably change the neck pickup to that one Seymour Duncan makes as a Rickenbacker replacement. Other than that it sounds kickass! 🤟😎🤟🎸🎶
my harley benton PJ5 had the same issues with the neck pickup being pretty solid all around, but bridge single coil sounding super quiet, and even killing the volume drastically when ran together with the P. They also buzzed like crazy, but i just swapped the pair for an EMG Active P5 set and its a whole different bass! Harley Benton is a game changer man
hey i dno whether you know but this video is unlisted. Just found your channel. really like your stuff! this sounds badass! it really holds that crunch
Good sound on its own, but not even close to the real thing, which I own (a newer model 4003 bass finished in Midnight Blue). Worth every last penny of the $2,000+ price tag for the sound alone. It sounds EXACTLY like I thought it would when I first heard late 70's-era Rush, a good 12 years or so before I even got the instrument in question, and I could not be happier with it. Running it in stereo (each pickup to its own amp with different effects on each) through a pair of vintage 70's tube amp rigs probably helps with that 😁
I mean, I wouldn't call it a "killer" but that's not bad. Good for someone who wants one on a budget. HB putting out some decent stuff recently. Then again, I'm biased, I play my Ric more than anything else.
![Quando Rondo - Grow Up [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8zFnCg3BO4Q/mqdefault.jpg)
![Ice On My Teeth - ATEEZ エイティーズ 에이티즈 [Music Bank] | KBS WORLD TV 241115](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/c-n92OgbbwA/mqdefault.jpg)
*gets a notification from RUclips saying “New from Patrick Hunter: The $200 Rick...”*
Ah shit, here we go again
Best place in the world, the youtube channel of patrick hunter, and ain't even need another bass, but Patrick won't give a "#$%
Me too!!! Have two basses l need to fix and sell!
@Luke Wayne cool scam
Harley Benton is the owned brand of Thomann, which is one of the largest Instrument and gear shops/dealers in the World (probably the biggest in Europe tbh). So what they do with Harley Benton is usually just making decently or even quite well specced Instruments and gear and then putting them up on the store for very low prices to attract Customers to their store and order some other things as well. they don't make much money out of Harley Benton but my god is that some good way of advertising your shop.
Lifelong Rick player here (since 1974) - the quirks you noticed are exactly what makes a Rick sound - the bridge pickup is not really used by itself, ever. This does look like a wonderful value at less than $200. Harley Benton is kickin' it!
Ditto!
I bought a black one recently and I absolutely love it. The Rick type shape is the coolest looking bass guitar design on the planet. Its the nearest I'll get to the real thing 😂
@@elflakeador09 I’m on my third Ric now a 77. Enjoy what you have. One day you will have the real deal. It looks cool.
@@dixiefallas7799 Ah nice one! 😎👍
@@elflakeador09 Rock and Shock em!🇬🇧
If a Chinese Gibson is a Chibson, is a Chinese Rickenbacker a Chickenbacker?
Yeah they actually are called that all the time.
Neither!
@LowLinK Mmm baked chicken... arrrgghhh
Yes, all. Day. Long. 😄
@@ChrisDavis1975 Clowns!
We finally have a good affordable Ric alternative. Now we just need an affordable Grabber/Ripper copy, PLEASE
Buddy of mine has an Epiphone grabber copy!!! Killer bass!!! He won't part with it!!! Sad, I offered to pay what he paid new and nada!!!!lol
I can vouch for it. I have the 70s grabber reissue and it absolutely rules
Good call. I have a 74 Grabber and it would be great to see a modern equivalent, they're such a unique sound and look fantastic too
if only epiphone would do a proper ripper, grabber, g3, rd .
The world needs an affordable grabber/g3/ripper style!! Whole heartedly agree!!!!
I bought one in black. Solution to the pickup volume imbalance - lower the neck on a little, remove the saddle and then the pickup springs from the bridge pickup and raise it as high as it will go. Mine was cosmetically perfect, just needed a small neck adjustment. Plays absolutely beautifully, I really like it. I had a Rick 4003 for a number of years - this doesn't sound the same, but it does have the beginnings of the growl that you can add to with pedals. I think, if memory serves, that it also has a wider neck than the Rick. In short possibly the bass guitar bargain of the decade.
Bought one a month ago. Late at night in my room I transform into 70s Geddy Lee , Rick James and Lemmy 😎
no srsly dude share some thoughts I'm considering getting one
@@user-rt2fh7mo4l
It came with the action set really high. I had it set up at a local shop. It plays beautifully. The bridge pick up is a little weaker than the neck pick up , but it doesn't effect the overall sound. It is a bit heavy, which is a good thing. I got the sunburst finish and it is beautiful. Overall you can't beat it for approx. 250 bucks.
@@sunrah4469 fukken A, sounds good. Especially the heavy part, when instruments are light they put me off, feels kinda cheep imo. And bridge i rarely use anyway... My main bass is Schecter Stiletto Extreme 5 which is apsolutley lovely but it also has a weak and pretty hollow bridge pup, so in a way im used to it. Thx for the reply man
@@user-rt2fh7mo4l
No problem 👍
@Jx Jx
It is pretty thick , especially compared to my old Ibanez SR which has a slim , very fast neck.
Peter hook already taught us that the rick copy doesn’t even have to be good! Just has to look badass. Not a hard task for a rick if you ask me
he had a japanese instrument tho,they make really good copies. so totally not the same
@k halliday hm not sure about taht one but any japanese one will do. Greco,Univox,Ibanez...
@@JunacCRO I've read somewhere where hook says his hondo II was kind've shitty.
@@JunacCRO actually Peter Hook said that his Hondo Rick was the worst instrument ever, and as long as he did some money, he threw it in the garbage... if you ever tried an Hondo, they are really really cheap.
@@Pierfra007 well depends. ive seen bad fenders and ive seen good ones. I apply the same logic to all instruments.
But yeah,hondo is a bolt on,there are far better matsu/fujigen copies out there. :)
I actually just barely got one of these...and then turned around and sold it.
Not because it's a bad guitar by any means -- honestly, it's freaking awesome. After a proper setup I had a great time playing it, but I was amassing too many guitars that were going unplayed I just had to strip it all down and simplify.
I think I might get another one in the future. It's certainly unique and cool and 80% of a real Rick for 1/10 the price.
Exact same here. setup, was really cool ! But already have too much stuff, and a WSL Rick copy doing the job ^^
Yeah, not a Rick at all. But still... Good bass ans afordable. Got one pb50 HB. 100€ , a beast
@@lechistanskiswit320 you get rick-like cosmetics a nice growly p-bass-ish tone a nice neck, how is it 0%?
@@lechistanskiswit320 it does look similar due to the cherry Burst and kind of similar body shapes, and I was think more like 15 to 25 percent tbh.
I own a TRUE 4003 Rickenbacker and after hearing that bass, it doesn't sound like the real thing, I did liked how it sounded.
Got a 4001 and can also confirm it doesn't sound the same, but again, it does still sound good
4003 owner myself, this is worse than chickenbacker
I like how it sounded too. I think if he rolled off the tone a tad it might be a bit closer. Probably just the pickups though
@@pilummurialis6490 worse? how? why??
@@Sheltada its close enough to not get sued
I've gotta say, i watched your review on this bass like a million times and two months ago i got this bass in black
It became my favorite bass since
HB are a company to watch, I made a custom bass of my own using one of their necks and I love it. I also built a jazz bass using a HB body that ‘sang’ better than the fender body.
MR. EXPERIENCE! YESSSSSSSS! Donny Benet is THE MAN. I can't stop listening to that album.
I love your reviews man
i just watched right after watching one of ur vids lol
ITS. SO. GOOD.
@@patrickhunter finally... a man of culture
Yeah I recently discovered him. Awesome stuff
All i'm saying is: Someone should mod it with the Cliff Burton pickups used on his Rick
truth
YES!
Patrick Hunter DO IT PATRICK!
His 3rd pickup in it kept failing just so you know
Space Emo Cosplay I say we can do away from that one
Loved that initial chunky growl you were getting out of the bass, with the pick!
What is wrong with copying a ric? Dozens of companies have copied fenders for decades.
Sand the back of the neck with 2000 grit to matte and smooth the finish.
Also, lower the front pickup a bit to even the sound.
Great content and playing Patrick.
Reminds me of a time at school when some kid claimed he had Nike Air Jordans but they clearly weren't and everyone laughed at him. Don't buy a fake imitation Ric. Get the real deal or don't get one at all. Don't make a fool out of yourself. Anyone that knows Rics will know it's fake straight away and lol at you.
@@Fireglo The difference here is, people will make fun of you if you're trying to say its a real Ric. I doubt anyone actually would really care if you're just using a Ric clone
@@Fireglo who care
@@Fireglo Dumb
@@Fireglonobody is trying to pass off a Harley Benton as a Rickenbacker. People like Rickenbacker but they don’t like Rickenbacker prices and people that get real Rics don’t mod them out to their liking because it devalues them. This bass gives people the ability to own a Ric inspired bass, without blowing their budget and allows them to mod a unique bass platform without the guilt of risking chopping up a real example
I have access to a rickenbacker 4003 and have spent countless hours playing it and a couple things right off the bat that dont seem very close to the real thing are the tone and the neck width/string spacing. That said a lot of what you pay for with a rickenbacker is the name and all the weird quirks of the instrument like the fairly uniform neck width and string spacing and the stereo rick o sound stuff. Something about the treble knob on a rickenbacker almost sounds like it has distortion built in when turned all the way up. That said this does seem like a pretty nice entry level bass though the rickenbacker pickup placement can be a little awkward for fingerstyle so be aware of that.
Hopefully I'll be able to play a real Rick soon enough!
Yup..only the tone (and the neck, fwiw). And the rest of the stuff.
@Jx Jx it's a little thinner than I'm used to on a fender but the real difference is that the rickenbacker barely tapers toward the nut if at all.
With the price of this bass you could put in some of seymour duncans rickenbacker pickups or even some old rickenbacker pickups off of ebay or reverb
yeah, its a great mod platform.
too bad you can't get rid of that REALLY cheesy logo. I actually liked the sound of this bass. That stupid script "Harley Benton" in italic script across the headstock makes this look really cheap and stupid. I guess it is really cheap, but they could have done a logo that was... idk... better? lol.
1:01 ...And there it is! I can always count on a P-Trick demo to bring the dirt!
Seems perfect for someone who likes the Ric look but hate the Ric sound.
🎯🎯
@The Emperor not me
I hate the Ric look but love the Ric sound 🤣
I have lusted after a Rickenbacker ever since I saw Bruce Foxton of The Jam playing one in the late 70s. My father bought me a second hand early 70s Kay Ric copy in the early 80s, which I gave to a charity shop a few years back - something I’m kicking myself about now, as they fetch a few hundred £££s these days. I played a real Ric for the first time last week and loved it - although found that it lacked anywhere to anchor my thumb! I’ve been considering getting the HB RB-414CS - but can’t really justify another bass at the moment - I have a 51 style P bass, 75 style J bass, and short scale P bass and another ‘project’ P bass that’s going to have a few mods done to it.
Okay, so when is the court date? We all know there is no way Rickenbacker is going to sit back and watch these hit the market.
@Irfan Spirtovic they can't control stuff straight from china.
I'm sorry, is this your first time seeing a guitar? There are THOSUANDS of guitars that copy other guitars, if this is something that could be done, then ESP would be very much in hot water for years now for copying the les paul with their eclipse. And I don't think there's a single guitar manufacturer that doesn't sell a strat copy. You can't trademark a shape into which you cut a piece of wood. As long as it doesn't say rickenbacker on the headstock then you're fine.
the design is slightly different to avoid lawsuits
@@mach2223 "You can't trademark a shape into which you cut a piece of wood"
Actually, yes you can. And Rickenbacker in particular is known for being VERY stiff-necked about not letting people copy their design, whereas other companies in general are much more lenient. This is why you rarely ever see anything resembling a Ric, other than of course, a Ric.
@@Whirlybird88 Well, the more you know.
I got one of these recently and it's turned into one of my favorite basses. Speaking on the modding, I added glow in the dark glue on the fret markers on the side of the neck and it turned out well. I've also been debating on changing the pickups but I like how they sound stock.
Thinking of getting one. Stock pickups will do the trick?
I saved up for a couple of years and bought a Rick Bass. The one you are demo-ing here doesn't really sound like one, in that it lacks that snarl that Rick's have, but it sounds very good, anyway. I would recommend it to anyone as a really good starter bass. It's a deal!
I had a real Rickenbacker stereo in the 70s and it was SHIT ,I took it back to the shop on the following Monday after I bought it at the weekend,and swapped it for a new Jazz bass , was happy ever after .. BUT I must say I am going to buy one of these at the age of 73 .. PS .you are a good player ... Conan UK
Don't you go bringing any of that tired old Fender Fanboy stuff to a Ricky rumble, bwah...😁
@@EleanorPeterson bought one ,, fantastic bass
I remember getting my first bonus at work (I think it was around 4K) and walking into a guitar shop with the intentions of buying a Rickenbacker Bass. It was the only chance I would have to justify that purchase. I looked at the price they were asking. Laughed, and walked out. Ended up buying an old Datsun 4x4 for 1/3 the price. I would totally have bought a Harley Benton version of it was available
Little known in most circles, but the volume drop on the bridge pickup is due to a capacitor in series with the bridge pickup that cuts the low end out. Can be made switchable or put on a tone control for more flexability, but it's a big characteristic of the rick sound.
Always liked how the Ric looked and played. Buuuttt for thousands of $$ and with the many problems they have, I said " Good Day Sir". Now this i can tote see myself buying! Good vid as always Patty.
@BigBrain Time I noticed that as well.
@BigBrain Time They did raise the price by $25. Sold out of course. They did the same thing when Josh from the Bass Channel demo(ed) the Thunderbird bass.
yeah like how the neck pickup volume doesn't exist, at least you can hear the bridge pickup on this bass
Many thanks Patrick. I was seriously considering buying the Chinese Ricky copy as, aesthetically, it looks truer to the genuine Rickenbacker shape. However, after watching your videos on both, I decided on buying the Harley Benton, mainly because of the superior build quality. Well done, excellent intuitive videos.
I bought one a few months ago for my first proper bass guitar. (I got the black version ) Turned out pretty well. Great feel to the body but it is slightly longer scale so you need xl strings. The bass doesnt sound amazing on heavy drop tunings for me but it is a killer everywhere else. Would highly recommend if you like this style.
is it heavy ?
@@avigayegos1496 its about 5 kilos i think. Its about the same weight as my p bass and my stingray.
It sounds good, but I'm kinda disappointed since it doesn't sound anything like a Ric (at least not a 4001/ 4003 with the pot pulled up).
$200 for the bass, $218 for pickups, $170 for graph tech ratio tuners, $13 for knobs, $235 for a hipshot bridge, and $220 worth of setup/refining/graphite or bone nut replacement (this is assuming you don't do the rewiring, setup, and nut filing plus replacement yourself). That brings this to about $1050 if you really wanna edge closer to a Ric. This is STILL CHEAPER than an actual Ric! Hahaha!
I'd personally just change the pickups and maybe the nut, as well as do the labor myself. Half the fun of getting an instrument tricked out is doing it yourself anyway!
Man... This is exactly what I needed. A ric sound for 10% of the price! Hell, the look is almost 100% of the reason people get real rickys in the 1st place so getting a discount one doesnt sound bad at all!
Great! just bloody great; now I'm gonna have to hear "You don't need another Bass" from the Mrs. and Of course the sleep on the couch response from me of "SILENCE WOMAN Patrick Hunter suggested it". Thanks for the review mate
Did you buy one?
@@jonasvanmieghem3024 Sadly not yet ,my budget got shagged so I picked up a Glarry instead.......There's still time
I want to have a Beatles instrument collection and Harley Benton makes it so much easier!!
Lemmy bass ace of spades awesome video rock on
Wow. I genuinely love the sound of this.
I got mine in about a week ago. Awesome sound. I'll replace the bridge pickup, though.
I leveled the fretboard, did a full setup and intonation and fixed a few flaws in the finish (polished away some "sandcorns" in the finish). This bass will make you sound like Lemmy when you're on a budget.
What would you be replacing the bridge pickup with?
@@luis.castro4598 a blade mini-humbucker (15k)
Thank you so much to Thomann for sending it to you and thanks to you for posting a thorough review!!! I have been looking for a comprehensive review!!! Back in 1990 I was looking for a Thunderbird, went to this shop that, altho they did not have a Thunderbird, they did have a Ric. I plugged that beauty in and it just filled the air with an awesome sound. I did find a Thunderbird eventually but kinda always wonder what could have been. Now, I just can't justify the cost of an instrument that expensive with the family still needing to eat. This $200 Ric caught my eye a while back and couldn't find a good review. So happy you made one! Looking forward to getting one of these!!!
That bass has an amazing sound . Looks great as well .
I bought one after watching this video. I was NOT disappointed. It feels great and sounds so fucking huge! I love it.
impressive bass as is but it would be a fun MOD PROJECT!! Aftermarket pickups, bridge, tuners and nut!!
100% yes, dude!
Absolutely. I would replace the bridge, pickups, tuner, nut, electronics, knobs, neck, and body-by getting a $1,500 Rickenbacker 4003 instead.
This would be a killer mod project. I play bass but when I wanted to dabble in six string guitar, I bought a Squier Telecaster and used it as an excuse to replace the pickguard, wiring harness, pickups and bridge. It sings pretty sweet now and I spent maybe $300 total. I can't play it for shit, so I couldn't rationalize dropping $600 or more on a guitar that mostly sits around hearing me be a fuzz lord on bass.
@@warc8us Yeah buddy, It's fun to bring an instrument to it's true potential (regardless of price range). Keep on making noise! :)
I never knew that you can get so many sound with rickenbacker style bass! That bass is quite versatile
yeah even if it sounds more like a growly- pbass
Honestly to keep me more interested and wanting to pickup and play everyday this is such a great option.
I had this bass and sold it recently. It was pretty solid and pretty unique sounding. You didnt mention that's it's apparently chambered... tap on parts of it and you will hear it, also in the middle position all the knons are disengaged.
I'm excited, I just bought this bass for $250 online. Can't wait to start jamming on it, Patrick!
If I can smuggle it into the house I may go for one! If the bridge P.U. is too quiet, I would probably replace it with a Rick. replacement from Seymour D.
that Mr Experience riff caught me off guard, nice one!
Thomann sent a Bass by USPS that arrived yesterday after an over a 3 month lost in shipping problem, I refused it because I have no idea where it had been or the conditions in which it had been exposed. I don't think they use DHL/USPS any longer, however I did get a fretless Harley Benton bass from Thomann last December that is great.
BTW: Thomann was supposed to keep me informed and updated which they never did....I was forced to file a claim through my credit card company to receive a refund!! Not a good business model...
Had a bass ordered from Guitar Center, and UPS lost it. I filed a claim 4 days ago, but I'm afraid I won't be able to get *my first bass* until September at this rate! 😒
I'm afraid I will be in a similar boat as you were...
@@creativename6832 My biggest concern is where it had been for over three months? In a hot container? It might as well have been in the car trunk. This is why I refused it...
Well, watched this review and was compelled to buy one in black. FOUR DAYS LATER it was on my doorstep (indianapolis, IN) from Germany. Super fast delivery.
I too have played Chinese Rickenbacker copies, and yes, this does feel WAY more solid. I made some small adjustments and action can playability were easily within reach.
Regarding the shape, it definitely is influenced by the Rick bass shape, but I actually like it better! The shorter top horn actually makes my arm land more naturally at the bridge, whereas an actual Rick bass does not.
Thanks for the review.... I’m off to start modding my HB!
Sounds pretty good. I recently picked up a 2020 Satin Autumnglo Ric, and the new bridge fixes a ton of the problems that Rics typically have. Will have to take a close look, but I think Ric has also stopped putting the frets under the binding, so you can actually replace them in the future without removing the binding. Lots of quality of life changes in the 2019-2020 bass guitars.
That is one sweet bass, especially for the price!
That bass sounded pretty good!!! Great playing also!!!
I have one of these on order (since April, multi bass order.. waiting on the Sadowsky Metro chinese warwick thing).. Also happen to have a set of original Ric 4003 pickups laying around... I wonder what would happen those pickups somehow made their way into the HB.... ;P
Cant wait to hear what it sounds like.
🦞❗👋 Do it you crazy mad scientist! LOL
PUT the 'bucker in the bridge, & single coil in the neck! Makes more sonic sense!
Please bless that you do a video on it
Do a video with it done, I'm tempted to do that myself
It’s a $200 Bass. Looks great and sounds really good. How can you lose?....Enough said.
That bass really does sound nice, especially for $200! Would have been nice to hear some Chris Squire bass lines played on it though. 😎
OMG, this instrument sounds exactly like a...
200 euros electric bass!!!
Sounds absolutely nothing like a Ric, but all that matters is whether or not you like how it does sound. I do like the “inspired by” aesthetics though.
That’s what makes it fun, sure doesn’t sound like a Ric, but you can put whatever you want in it, and have a personalized custom Rickenbacker without needing to take out a 2nd mortgage on your house lol
Artec pickups, IIRC, are Korean-made and a popular choice in better quality budget guitars (read: Harley Benton).
Thanks for the review and thanks to Thomann for providing it.
Loved the distortion, all else was solid but not my cup of tea.
John Hall *Heavy Breathing *.
Rickenbacker changed the bridge btw 😉 but, never had a problem with the older one set them up and forget about it.
Also, yes they are on the pricier side but totally worth every penny! Cheers
Man, they're treading dangerously close to Hagstrom with that headstock shape, but still a very cool rick alternative.
I immediately thought of a “Hag” too.
I personally looked at the body and said *"Ha! Rickenbacker"*
@@ChrisDavis1975 I own a late '70's Hastrom Swede guitar and, yes, the HB headstock calls the Hastrom to mind right away - but that's not a bad thing at all...
Jeffrey Bonsal I had a Hagstrom bass for a short while several years ago. It was a newer Chinese made model though.
@@ChrisDavis1975 does hagstrom make a non 8 string sg bass?
Awesome video, Patrick!! As always!!
Preciate' it man!🤘
This sound absolutely good to my ear .
Once I get enough money from my job this will be the next bass to add to the collection
😂 Well its pretty cheap.
Holy shit. That sounded way better then I expected! Great demo.
pronounces Rickenbacker correctly, gets big points.
Oh, behave! 🤭
As a guitarist this makes me want to get this bass and listen to the Jam to play some Bruce Foxton riffs.
Bruce Foxton and Chris Squire are my two favorite bassists. And BOTH chose the Rickie!
Same here, I had a jetglo 330 back in 1980 with my first few pay packets coz of Paul Weller. Wish I still had it.
Just ordered one of these basses.
i want one, hands down will buy one when i finally decide its time for a rickenbacker in my collection
I literally got one 4 days ago, absolutely rockin bass
As a multiple 4003 owner I can confirm that this bass has nothing to do with Rickenbacker's sound. End of story. :(
Sounds good though.
I agree, It sounds like a rick for people that like the look but are not fans of the sound. It doesn't sound like a RB but it sounds like the best sounding cheap bass I've heared. I think I'll definetely get one lol
Would be pretty embarrassing if a guitar that's 10% of the cost sounded the same.
@@Turak_64 ive owned 2 ricks.. a 77 and an 81 and my neck thru matsumoku lawsuit clone that i got for 400 was better than my real ricks lol. Those old ricks are real shit. Lol.. prob due to the older truss rod systems. They just wouldnt hold a set up at all.
@@garymarra4936 I have heard that despite the price, real Rickies are a pain to set up. I personally wouldn't mind picking up a decent copy and changing out a few bits
sounds good I really don’t like the way it looks I mean I love rickenbackers one of my go-to basses is my 1996 4003 but in my opinion the shape of the body on this bass is a little too symmetrical
Layin' down the funk with that Donny Benet riff.
I like the way you play bass. Thanks for the demo, it looks like an interesting instrument.
I'm getting one.
Rickenbacker used to strictly control all the parts' sales abroad. I needed to send photos of my 4001 and its serial number to place an order of original Rickenbacker tuners from a 3rd party website.
Now I guess with all those fake products out there they have realized they can make easy money by selling some spare parts, especially pickups, tailpieces/bridges etc.
By the way you might hate it or love it but a pair of Rickenbacker pickups (and authentical wiring) are essential to recreate that distinct sound. Playability is another issue but your audience won't hear it ;)
That’s a cool bass. I’ve been busy cuz I recently picked up an ‘87 peavey t-40 and I’m loving it! Maybe I’ll send it in for a “show me what you bass” episode
I'm impressed.
Thank God that Rickenbacker released the 4003S which they made a new Bridge the V2 and people say that it’s an incredible bridge.
I own a real Rickenbacker 4003. For $200, if it plays nice, I would be happy to buy this as a spare Bass.
Thanks to this video, I went ahead and pulled the plug and ordered one!
Always wanted a Ric style, just not the price for what you get.
Cheers Patrick!!
how was it in the end? keep it for a while?
I hate the look of Rickenbacker instruments but they just sound so awesome! This one can definetely keep up with the original
Nice! I’ve played a real rick for many drunken moons and I can tell you yes, the tail piece is crap casted cheap metal so, I 3D printed my own tail piece and that plastic replacement is much better. Also because of playing a Rick for so long, I am most comfortable playing basses that have near parallel strings such as on a hofner bass or a ricken bass; fender and other basses’ string arrangements tend to fan out towards the bridge. Lastly, my 90’s blond rickey had some serious shielding problems but, has three certified signatures in the vol./tone pot cavity; classy.
That Donny Benét riff, awesome
Buy it, straighten the neck, file the frets, change the pickups, strings, pots and the switch…then the tuners and the bridge and it’ll sound great. This dude is a master of eq’ing instruments but it doesn’t represent how it plays. I’ve tried so many discount instruments I’ve stopped trying. Rather have a few great builds then try to have everything at a discount. Remember you can build collections over decades and have all sorts of great builds.
Got MusicMan-like bass from Harley Benton, 5 strings, two humbs, active preamp onboard. And it's crazy awesome! One little thing: I'm gonna change pups for more bright. And add preamp on/off switch.
Lovely playing!!. It has the setup more like my own bass. I love that kind of bass tone.
Good video bro.
I have one of these HBs and I have a Ric 4003. I genuinely like both of them although they aren't the same thing
The HB has a really nice neck and I like the way the pickups cut through in a mix. Also really cool for modding without messing with an expensive Ric.
I will always love my RIC and nothing quite has that distinctive sound and feel, but the HB is great fun, well made and totally decent for gigging. 👍
Your videos are among the very best. Great tones BTW!
I think a big reason Ric owners say it doesn't sound like a Ric is because of the mahogany body and neck vs maple for a Ric. Maple is the brightest wood you can get whereas mahogany is less bright but has nice low mids to it for a different type of growl (Wal basses, for example, have mahogany bodies). So, better than basswood for cheapo basses! But definitely will not give you a Ric sound, but still it seems to have a good useable sound. I wonder why they went with mahogany over maple since I can't see mahogany being cheaper than maple, and maple would have gotten them a lot closer to the sound.
Those are tempting... I have a HB JB40FL (Jaco bass clone) and it is a monster!
is it heavy ?
@@avigayegos1496 Nope, weighs the same as a normal jazz bass. The tone on it is killer! It really came to life when I switched it to flat wounds! (comes stock with D'Addario Round wounds, which seems odd on a fretless, but Jaco used rounds) Fit and finish level are as good and maybe even better than a MIM Fender easily. Might eventually drop Aguilars in it, but straight out of the box sounded great!
@@boomerbassmeme thank you , buying one
Yes!! I was hoping you would review one of these! Also, I've always wanted a Rickenbacker and I've played a couple of them but could never just spending the money they cost on one so, this will do nicely. I would probably change the neck pickup to that one Seymour Duncan makes as a Rickenbacker replacement. Other than that it sounds kickass! 🤟😎🤟🎸🎶
Killer demo! Thanks for posting. 😎
my harley benton PJ5 had the same issues with the neck pickup being pretty solid all around, but bridge single coil sounding super quiet, and even killing the volume drastically when ran together with the P. They also buzzed like crazy, but i just swapped the pair for an EMG Active P5 set and its a whole different bass! Harley Benton is a game changer man
This is my next mod project!!! Definitely!!!
There is a semi-hollowe version of this bass, too. It's hanging on the wall right behind me. ^^ I can confirm, this is a great bass.
@@jackcooper3983 there is. It's hanging on my wall. Are you working for Harley Benton, or why are you that certain about it?
hey i dno whether you know but this video is unlisted. Just found your channel. really like your stuff! this sounds badass! it really holds that crunch
That bridge design is better than a real Rick's. Pickups are probably hotter than the older models. Frets are definitely better than the old 4001s.
Great review/demo… thank you.
Good sound on its own, but not even close to the real thing, which I own (a newer model 4003 bass finished in Midnight Blue). Worth every last penny of the $2,000+ price tag for the sound alone. It sounds EXACTLY like I thought it would when I first heard late 70's-era Rush, a good 12 years or so before I even got the instrument in question, and I could not be happier with it. Running it in stereo (each pickup to its own amp with different effects on each) through a pair of vintage 70's tube amp rigs probably helps with that 😁
I mean, I wouldn't call it a "killer" but that's not bad. Good for someone who wants one on a budget. HB putting out some decent stuff recently. Then again, I'm biased, I play my Ric more than anything else.