What is it?
Ever since the ‘relic’ guitar movement started, it's been an unending topic of debate. For every person who loves the look and feel of a guitar that's been pre-emptively ‘broken-in’, there's another who will decry it as a cringeworthy act of deception for those who want a storied-looking instrument without putting in the work.
Regardless, the guitar market marches on and, as long as people keep buying ‘em, companies will keep making ‘em. Fender's Road Worn series pioneered the concept as a mass-market proposition in the late 2000s, but have we ever seen relic'd instruments offered for quite so little outlay as the subject of today's review?
In-house brands for music stores aren't a new idea by any means, but Harley Benton has become an unprecedented success story. The guitar and bass-centric sub-brand for German music retail giants Thomann now has quite a life of its own.
With a bass line-up offering bargain-priced takes on everything from a ‘51-style P-Bass to a neck-through seven-string monster, there's something for everyone, and the brand's instruments have become well-liked even by professional players.
Now, Harley Benton adds a pair of very reasonably-priced Aged Series basses, based on the existing PB-62 and JB-62 Precision and Jazz Bass-a-likes, with what’s touted as ‘hand-aged’ finishing. Today, the attention is on the the former, in Light Aged Olympic White.
Specs
- Price: $238 | £214 | €249
- Type: Four-string electric bass
- Body: American alder
- Neck: ‘Lightly caramelised’ Canadian maple, D shape
- Fingerboard material/radius: Laurel, 305mm
- Scale length: 34”/864mm
- Nut/width: 43mm, graphite
- Frets: 20, medium jumbo nickel silver
- Hardware: Aged chrome - CB01-CR machine heads, B401 bridge with brass saddles, string retainer
- String spacing at bridge: 20mm
- Electrics: 1x Isola VT-PB Alnico 5 split-coil, Volume, Tone
- Weight: 7.5lb/3.4kg
- Options: Heavy Aged finishes available at the same price.
- Left-handed options: None
- Finishes: Light Aged Olympic White (as reviewed), Light Aged Black
- Case: None
- Contact: Harley Benton
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★½
Right away, the PB-62LA seems impressively well-built for a bass of its very modest price. The body is alder, true to Fender’s blueprint, and the ‘lightly caramelised’ maple neck is crowned with a laurel fingerboard, a common rosewood substitute on cheaper instruments.
Hardware-wise, it all looks and feels more substantial than you'd expect for the money, with a chunky Sandberg-style string retainer and brass bridge saddles. These components have even been quite nicely aged, to complement the finish.
And let’s talk about that finish. Viewed from a distance, the Light Aged aesthetic isn’t unconvincing. Up close, things are a little different – it’s a thin, satin poly finish with very obvious edges to every patch of wear.
But then, this bass costs just over £200; you can’t expect vintage-correct nitrocellulose checking. And the nature of the finish means that it’ll keep aging, theoretically taking on a more natural look as it gains genuine play-wear.
The neck, though – whatever Harley Benton has done here, it’s worked well. It really does look, and even feel, like it’s got some actual miles on it – though there are some minor fret end imperfections that let the side down a little, and the laurel board looks a little dry.
Playability
Playability rating: ★★★★☆
With the usual Fender-esque ergonomics, it's a comfortable bass to play sitting or standing
The neck itself is fairly chunky; traditional wider P-bass nut width, and a D-shaped profile with medium depth and not too much shoulder. Precision fans should enjoy it, Jazz loyalists may find it tougher going.
The setup from the box is more bow-and-arrow than bass guitar, though; I needed to drop the strings quite a bit at the bridge to make it playable.
That done, it’s a solid playing experience – that aged neck feels good in the hand, and the body and neck have a welcome degree of resonance that isn’t a given at this price.
Another notable plus point is that the PB-62LA is a very reasonable weight; with the usual Fender-esque ergonomics, it's a comfortable bass to play sitting or standing.
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★☆☆
This PB-62LA comes out of the box with its Isola VT-PB Alnico 5 pickup sitting far too low.
Raising it up toward the strings, it starts to find its voice – although even at the very top of its travel, it’s still noticeably low on volume compared to the two other P-pickup basses I'm able to compare with – my ‘83 Ibanez Roadstar, plus a new Washburn Scavenger bass that’s also here for review.
Comparing all three pretty extensively for output, it's clear that the Harley Benton is some way behind the other two in that department. As ever, my test rig consists of a variety of Line 6 HX Stomp patches, ranging from clean to overdriven, and from vintage to modern.
It’s a decent enough Precision tone that possesses the right kind of thick low-mid focus, and a subtly snarling top end
That aside, it’s a decent enough Precision tone that possesses the right kind of thick low-mid focus, and a subtly snarling top end (due in part to the new strings, of course).
As a result, it’s still a fairly enjoyable bass to play plugged-in, but all the while I can’t help thinking it’d be so much better with a pickup that lets it punch through properly.
Verdict
Harley Benton’s goal with the Aged Series is simple; to offer a smattering of its successful, existing Fender-style guitars and basses, with an ‘authentic, hand-aged’ finish and the tantalising promise that each example will be unique as a result.
Relic sceptics still won’t be convinced, but the rest of us might enjoy what Harley Benton has cooked up here
Judged on those criteria, I’d argue the PB-62LA is a success - the pickup leaves something to be desired, but I was impressed by the instrument it sits in. Once set up, it feels great and is a lot of fun to play, and while the Light Aged finish is hardly the last word in sophistication, it’s convincing enough to look cool on stage and should only improve with time.
Relic sceptics still won’t be convinced, but the rest of us might enjoy what Harley Benton has cooked up here.
Guitar World verdict: The PB-62LA is far from the last word in realism as far as that relic job is concerned, but it still looks pretty cool – and it’s a lovely bass, well-built and featuring quality hardware at a knock-down price. Replace that gutless pickup and you’ve a real weapon on your hands.
Test |
Results |
Score |
|---|---|---|
Build quality |
Cost-cutting relic technique aside, it’s an attractive and very solidly-built instrument with impressively substantial, and even nicely-aged, hardware. |
★★★★½ |
Playability |
It’s pretty classic Precision Bass territory, nicely-weighted and fun to play. You might need to spend a while tweaking it after unboxing though. |
★★★★☆ |
Sounds |
It does the classic P-bass sound, but you have to seriously crank your amp to hear it, as the pickup is noticeably weak in output even after substantial adjustment. |
★★★☆☆ |
Overall |
For its low, low price, this is a really strong choice for a vibey, old-school P-bass - especially if you invest in a pickup upgrade. |
★★★★☆ |
