Harley Benton Enhanced MP-4MN Natural

After the purchase the bass was sent were quickly which I appreciated. I got the bass 10 days ago. I went for the top of the line expecting that the quality will follow. On paper this bass has it all but the reality is totally different. Where should I start. First the preamp didn't work so I thought it away. Secondly the pickups are biggggg mismatch the p pickups is overwound I think it was 15 k and the bridge pickup is only 5k so there is no way you can balance this again I thought them away. So I was left with the bear wood and some hardware. The bridge is nice I must say the tuners are solid. The finish is very bad first there is colour mismatch between neck and body since they are both "natural". The wood used is good I must say a bit on a heavy side though. The fretboard was never polished it is straight from the laquer room, the bubbles are trapped under the laquer and for the mos part they are not visible but over the inlay they are very annoying. Frets are very rough you can't play the instrument if you don't polish the frets. I mean if you are not good at DIY don't purchase this bass.

In terms of features, this bass is great: the mythical PH configuration, with active electronics, swamp ash body, high-mass bridge, and nice extras like 0th fret, string tree, and easy truss rod adjustment.

The build is mostly fine. The hump at the neck joint is really noticeable, the bridge alignment is a bit off, and the neck has a tendency to dive. Despite the neck dive, I still find the neck to be a bit too thick for me, and I wish the body had a steeper curve, as I really feel the edge of the body when I play in the seating position. It is also a very heavy bass, and your back will let you know that very quickly.

Quality control is what you'd expect from Harley Benton, which is to say it leaves a lot to be desired. As I was taking the bass out of the box, two of the pot covers fell off because they were not glued. Very easy fix with strips of tin foil, but not a great first impression. The fret work is alright, but the split coil pickup could use some extra padding, the tuners are very rough and don't rotate well. The pickups hiss in some configurations, and after many adjustments, I still can't get them to sound good.

And yet, despite the above flaws, some of which are just a matter of ergonomics and personal preference, the value on offer is incredible! If you're interested in a Sandberg California VM but don't feel like parting with 2,000€, this is a great purchase. If you are willing to put in some work yourself, or pay for luthier services, this bass is a really good starting point for some mods and upgrades. Just don't expect it to be perfect out of the box, because you'd be rolling some karmic dice on QC.

*I just got the bass this morning*
That being said I have to say this is a magnificent beast.
Overseas shipping to USA took about 3 weeks once the bass was no longer on back order. Which I was well aware of.
Pros: It arrived undamaged all packaging was in good shape. The guitar had been properly set up. The neck is spot on, It only needed a very minor tuning adjustment to be ready to play. After giving it about 8 hours. to adjust to home temp and humidity. I can't find any flaws or blenishes in the wood or hardware. The electronics are all functioning properly and a wide tone pallette is at your fingertips.
I'll update as time passes.
Cons: If you want to get picky. The body is crafted from 4 unmatched pieces. Mind you they don't look bad and from stage distance you likely wouldn't notice. That is with the natural finish. If that bothers you get one of the other colour options. Weight: it comes in at 9.7 pounds. A few ounces heavier than my Fenders, less than my Peavy T-40 and also less than my Harley Benton JB-75 SB Vintage Series and my Harley Benton MM-84A SB Deluxe Series. But if weight is a issue for you, look elsewhere.
All in all 5 stars for Value, Prefomance, Construction & Playability.
Thomann for making a great producy at such a nice price!!

I'm absolutely not a professional musician, but I've been playing the bass for a few years on a moderate level. I'm also not your tech-savvy guy who knows the ins and outs of magnets or all the fine details of musical instruments; I don't know what the exact advantages of the various materials are, and I have no idea (or even serious interest in) what is hidden behind the scratch board. But I do know that this heavy bass feels like magic under my fingers, has a superb sound to it (with great controls that allow you to adjust it to your own taste), and instantly made me fall in love with playing the bass again. I honestly regret not having bought this wonderful bass any earlier! Warmly recommended to anyone who wants to step up from his entry-level instrument and find out what a real bass feels like.