MB-5 SB Deluxe Series : Fantastic Bass!! Harley Benton should be proud!

Where to start with this? The bass is strong and sturdy with a fantastic weight. The bridge is top notch in my book. The stock strings come bright and perfectly playable. The neck is wonderful. It is quick and feels wonderful to play.

Out of the box the action was low but perfect for me. It doesn't dive and the weight adds to the feel of it wonderfully. The tuners hold up well to boot. More on the neck: no frets where sticking out, nothing required grinding or sanding, the nut feels really good, and the fret height is nothing short of marvelous. It is versatile and very fast for a neck. The finish on it was lovely and it always brings a smile to my face whenever I play it.

The stock strings, as mentioned before hold up really well. Especially the B string, which this bass holds really well. It is comfortable and the sound is remarkably balanced. The sound while seemingly lacking a little bit in volume from what I'm used to is really consistent and bassy. When slapping and popping it sings, not to mention the beauty of harmonics on new strings. But after frequent playing this bass has provided nothing but supportive tone rich lines.

Due to its slightly quieter volume it can struggle to cut through mixes but its truly a joy to play. It gets bonus points for the fact that it resembles a Stingray. Its a perfect Stingray substitute. The single double coil pickup is super solid and great to play with. It feels like the perfect blend of versatility and reliability. This bass is great for different styles, I've used it for Jazz, Funk, Rock, and Blues and it can play all of them really really well.

It is well built and well tested by quality control. I could not think of a better introduction to the five string community. It looks beautiful as well, I was not sure about the sunburst finish but now I could not be happier. The orange sunburst fading to black, accompanied by a black Stingray-esque pickguard which lies so aesthetically below the strings, makes for a gorgeous visual appeal. On that note the finish of this coloration is superb! And the headstock holds up to that as well.

Now what are my complaints? My grievances? Firstly I do not understand the need for two volume knobs (one for each of the coils in the pickup). They drastically reduce the volume of the bass and its difficult for the bass to shine. Maybe I need more experience with it? Also it could just be me but this bass hums a little bit more than I was expecting, I will set it down and hear a hum or buzz, I thought it was my amp until I plugged it into my friends and the hum was still there. But that in my books does not knock away any points or value for me.

Lastly, I would like to address the cost. It blew my mind at the cost, a budget bass that not only seems good but sounds fantastic? I never thought that it would exist. Its perfectly priced for all that one gets, and what one gets is a bass that is dependable, versatile, sturdy, and both fun to play and listen to. I could not recommend this bass enough. I have been playing for two years and this bass for 4 months and I could not sing its praises higher. It plays like an instrument not in this price range and sounds like an instrument 3 times its price. The reviews have not been wrong about this, and this bass and Harley Benton as a company have been praised again and again.