A 2015 mod a Harley Benton guitar challenge?

DannyP

ToneControl

DECORATION:

all this looking around, I stumbled onto the fact that Thomann sell unplayable instruments at massive discount, sold for decoration only:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=decoration&gk=&bn=

This thread says that some folks bought them and only found small flaws:
http://basschat.co.uk/topic/227421-thomann-selling-harley-benton-basses-as-decoration-only/page__hl__7 string

as an example,
£40 for an acoustic bass, normally £105
http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_b_30_bk_acoustic_bassdeko.htm

a nylon cutway with spruce top for £45, normally £120:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_santos_series_c_40scedeko.htm

I'd suggest that for projects these are a more economical starting point

I can only see acoustics in at the minute, and a banjo
And a sax for £150!

search for decoration or deko

sinbaadi

I've been holding off because I want some credit for the business that they're getting to go to the fb. I don't really expect any kind of discount code, but I'm amazed that they aren't even acknowledging the fact that we're doing this! I may send them an email myself.

ToneControl

sinbaadi said:

I've been holding off because I want some credit for the business that they're getting to go to the fb. I don't really expect any kind of discount code, but I'm amazed that they aren't even acknowledging the fact that we're doing this! I may send them an email myself.

I agree with the earlier point, we're probably pretty low on their radar, they are huge
check out this video if you haven't seen it:

cacophony

shit the bed!!. i thought they were a little(ish) family firm with a shop and a little stock room round the back!!.

WezV

we didn't get much interest from G4M last year eitehr, but it looks liek quite a few kits have been sold because of it.

dindude

Running distribution centres is my day job, so that video is like porn to me.

TTony

cacophony said:

shit the bed!!. i thought they were a little(ish) family firm with a shop and a little stock room round the back!!.

They're happy to dish out discount vouchers for people writing reviews - they'll get a lot more in-depth and valuable feedback from the content that we'd generate through the challenge (with all the backlinks to their site and the specific models too) - so I don't think its unreasonable to be looking for some sort of "support" from them for the challenge.

And yes, we're small ... if 70,000 site hits/day is smaill, and 7 pages of discussion of the HB brand and lots of lovely links back to their website isn't worth anything. 

dindude

TTony said:

cacophony said:

shit the bed!!. i thought they were a little(ish) family firm with a shop and a little stock room round the back!!.

They're happy to dish out discount vouchers for people writing reviews - they'll get a lot more in-depth and valuable feedback from the content that we'd generate through the challenge (with all the backlinks to their site and the specific models too) - so I don't think its unreasonable to be looking for some sort of "support" from them for the challenge.

And yes, we're small ... if 70,000 site hits/day is smaill, and 7 pages of discussion of the HB brand and lots of lovely links back to their website isn't worth anything. 

I do think it is hard for big businesses to associate themselves with forums though. As they are so "free speech" they have to take the rough with the smooth and they have no control over someone going off on a complete rant, whereas they can filter any reviews on their own site that are "offensive". This as well as being associated with some of the more adult content, and (referencing last nights antics) childish behaviour that can occur. It's a risk for them.

Fair play to the Fender guy on here.

ToneControl

has anyone thought of getting a "decoration" guitar?

TTony

ToneControl said:

has anyone thought of getting a "decoration" guitar?

You mean, like a blinged-up PRS?

ToneControl

no, the 60% reduction flawed ones from my earlier post

TTony

ToneControl said:

no, the 60% reduction flawed ones from my earlier post

Yeah, sorry, I was going for a cheap laugh. 

themeinside

DannyP said:

So I just need four of you to go in with me on this bundle...

http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_playboy_collectors_pack_no_8.htm

To be honest though, their bodies aren't all that. I've had much better...

My LTD Eclipse is made of mahogany, not basswood ;D

ToneControl

TTony said:

ToneControl said:

has anyone thought of getting a "decoration" guitar?

You mean, like a blinged-up PRS?

just got in from a day ast the zoo with the kids, completely missed it,
did occur to me 5 mins later
cheers

seriously though, I thought our aspiring doer-uppers would be all over those cheap instruments

Nomad

The problem with the deco instruments is that it's not clear what's wrong with them. The 5-string fretted acoustic bass has a photo showing a ding, so that's probably a pretty safe bet, but the others would be more of a gamble. (I fancy a flute, but know next to nothing about them...)

ToneControl

Nomad said:

The problem with the deco instruments is that it's not clear what's wrong with them. The 5-string fretted acoustic bass has a photo showing a ding, so that's probably a pretty safe bet, but the others would be more of a gamble. (I fancy a flute, but know next to nothing about them...)

I think the ding is the "D" stamp to stop you sending them back for a full-price refund
the 3 who bought them on the bass forum said the faults were trivial

Deadman

I'll buy one of the cheapies if there's something I actually like. I'm going to be removing every bit of paint in any case!

Andyjr1515

As @ToneControl has pointed out, the Deko items have been a popular topic over the past few months on the Basschat forum.

  Although the choice is very limited - and with a big forum fully alerted, they are going very fast when anything particularly desirable comes up - the general experience by pretty much everyone has been very good.

Thomann's 'Deko' ones are clearly manufacturing quality rejects rather than their 'B-stock' which are returns.  They are sold on a clear, no warranty 'for decoration only basis'.

I am sure that there are some just like that but, in many (most?) cases, they seem to be suffering very minor issues...small blemishes, wrong labels, etc..  I got a 4 string acoustic fretted bass, complete with electrics and built in EQ/tuner where, as far as I can see, the only fault is that the label inside the soundbox says it's a 5 string fretless!  @£42 it was a bargain.  With a set of black nylon strings adding another £28 it is a very nice sounding and smooth playing bargain.  And yes - the electrics all work fine.

I also got a soprano sax.  It was more pricey at around £92 and needed a fix (missing G# cork) that would have bamboozled a non-techie but, in reality, took 10 mins, a bit of floor cork tile and drop of evo-stick to fix.  The revelation is that - even at the full proper price of £220ish, it is a really good product.  The mouthpiece supplied is not good but with my normal mouthpiece it is a cut above most entry level sopranos I've ever tried.  These are notoriously difficult to play in tune, usually unless they are  pretty good quality but this one seems spot on to me - it certainly rivals others I have tried in the £400+ range.

Whether decko, B-stock or full price, I am - and have been for some years - a real Thomann fan   

themeinside

@TTony Well, here is their reply, if it's of any use at all... 'Hi, please write to international@thomann.de, the colleagues there can answer your questions.'