Harley Benton JP-45OP MODIFIED - EMG X Metalworks Pickups & Hipshot Hardware - LowEndLobster Builds
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
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EMG PJX-CS Pickups: www.emgpickups...
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Hipshot Ultralite Tuners: hipshotproduct...
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Hey Everyone! Today we're modifying our Harley Benton JP-45OP with a whole bunch of awesome parts from EMG and Hipshot. The stock alnico pickups are getting replaced with some CUSTOM EMG PJX-CS Metalworks pickups, and we're going all Hipshot for the hardware. We'll go over the parts, installation, and compare our transformed bass to stock. Let's do this!
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with SIT Foundation Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at sitstrings.com/
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Not often I hear a bass on here post-modification that I thought sounded better stock, but this one did! The mods are definitely a classy touch, and I love the Hipshot stuff, but if it were mine I'd probably put the stock electronics back in!
Thanks! The many responses like this speak volumes on how great these basses are stock.
You have to admit that the stock HB sounds pretty good....
For sure, this deserved the 5/5 stock. Absolute heavy hitter. Now it's shiny ;P
That bass is legit one of the top 5 best sounding I've ever heard on your channel. Great job!
Got to admit it sure looks better with the mods, that being said HB hit a home run in it's stock form.
Thanks John. For sure, this bass is an absolute heavy hitter stock
Honestly I think I prefer the stock sound, it´s less harsh to my ears. At first glance i thought you were trying the new relentless pickups! great bass for the price.
Listened on a good pair of headphones then again on a set of JBL speakers. I gotta say, I liked the HB stock pickups better and I am a big fan of EMG'S.
I like both a lot…wonder if just doing a thorough shielding job would make the stock setup quit enough. I have the stock shorty MB Gotoh version with the same pickups and it’s crazy loud on a bar stage with neons. Had to put it away and play my daily driver J bass…which I thought was sort of loud before bringing the HB out.
@@swperry04039 some good shielding would probably help a lot. I would install new pots and input jack also but keep those stock pickups IMO.
@@swperry04039 he should do a video on how to do that perfectly ( keeping the stock PU's but making the build quality better by adding proper shielding ) . As far as I can hear the sound is fine from the stock pickups but the bridge and - definitely - tuners are valid upgrades . I notice this with a lot of the HB stuff ...also with their guitars
Nothing gets rid of noise like EMGs, but a few things that you could try are: 1) copper with conducive adhesive tape on all cavities and back of the pickguard. 2) add grounding wires connecting the pickup cavities with the main cavity and with the bridge grounding wire; and 3) try a wireless system. Sometimes noise from the grid travels from the grid to the amp and to your bass though the cable. A wireless system like the Lekato WS-50 breaks that link.
That's one very nice piece of ash. When I am working on my bench I always have great difficulty keeping my kitty away she loves to help....lol
You can really hear the new pickups with slap. But the stock ones were definitely not bad!
Your original review led me to buying this bass. It's glorious and I love it.
Same here .
Same! 🤟🏼
I hear more clarity on the emg's however the low end shines more on the stock, just my opinion, great vid as always, thanks you
New pickups provide a lot of top end and a fuller sound.
Yep I’m for sure doing this the bass was already great but after the lobster touch it sounds even greater
The sound of the EMG set is SHINY !! (like their finish)
Very punchy and bright, compared to the stock set.
But I find them more open and versatile.
You're doing such a fantastic job modding these basses and sharing your results !!
Thank you so much for your time and experiences.
Peace !
Wow! That SLAP TONE!!! WTF!! That bass ALREADY sounded great as is; but those electronics really beef that tone! Nice upgrade!!!🤨🎶👍🏾
i like it! but i think it sounds different not really better brighter yes. love your channel.😀
A really nice upgrade. The stock pups are not that bad, but the mods definitely added a little more. They sounded fuller and warmer. Well worth the change out. Love the video.
I bought this bass because of you...
I love it.
Thanks
Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭
I love this channel Lobster. Great to see what's possible and to fairly compare before and after. These videos must take a lot of planning and time. The upgrades (largely the pickups?) have improved the sound no doubt, the upgrades are most noticable when playing with a pick or slap. Whether you'd notice the upgrades in a live mix, or even in a studio after shaping and plugins is debatable. Great work
Wilkinson bridges are just fine. The kickass will sound different but not necessarily better
Indeed the bridge pickup for me sounded better passive. YMMV
Upgraded sounded , sounded awesome.
I was surprised at how good this bass sounded stock. I must say I liked the mods better though but pushing a 200 dollar bass to 400+ puts it up against many other bass's at that price point. As always a great video from the Lobster!
Interesting project. I think which pickups/electronics you prefer partly depends on music you would be using it for.
The mods give it more articulation. However, I have to say, I like the stock electronics better. They sound fatter to me.
The fact the upgraded electronics were not very obviously or IMO significantly different from the stock makes me want to buy one of these all the more. The metal pickups look so good in it though.
Very happy to hear the result and it looks beautiful too
Super tight sound with upgrades. However, kuddos Harley Benton for making such a solid bass over all. The stock electronics sounded rather good.
I think I see why the Frank Bello set uses the alnico J pickup. I like everything but the bridge solo'd. I think the JAX you have in your spector is a little more pleasing.
Yeah I think the J was a little bit too thin and trebly. I'll definitely keep this in mind next time I do an EMG PJ build
Still waiting for mine in the mail! Was looking at putting in GZR's but these seem cool too
Guys I got it in a few days ago, this bass is absolutely amazing!
Those plug-n-play connectors are awesome! It couldn't get much easier. The new pickups sound a lot crisper to me. Nice!
Looks like a schecter bass. Nice review.
Awesome transformation. Thanks for sharing with us.
In my humble opinion, the Alnico pickups are more suited to such an instrument.
Personally, I would also stick to full shielding and at first I would only replace the J pickup with a noiseless one, most likely on a Fender, because the EMG does nothing for a more open sound, just more treble, which can be compensated anyway with an additional preamp, which every bass player has.
If you have to replace the P pickup, I personally, without imposing my taste, would prefer the classic sound of a Fender Custom Shop '62 or even a Vintage '63 Precision, and for a more modern vibe, a Nordstrand NP4A or even a Delano PMVC 4 AL/M2, although I've encountered quite a bit of criticism of the latter (I personally like them a lot), but by no means a P with a ceramic magnet.
In the previous video, however, LowEndLobster did well to pay particular attention to the fact that the P pickup is out toward the fretboard (by my measurement about ¼ inch). This fact and also that the body is Ash completely changes the tonal response in the direction of looking for a more different sound.
No doubt the price of this instrument is attractive as it is, but considering the extra cash for the complete "rebuild" and removal of the nasty buzz, I think one is better off buying a Marcus Miller P7, G&L Tribute LB-100, Sadowsky MetroExpress 21, Yamaha BB 434 or G&L Tribute SB-2 (around €600-730) and for a little higher (€850-900) a completely passable-sounding Mexican Fender Player P, and if you prefer a more modern sound, again in this price range, the Sandberg Electra.
Wow! I'm getting a set of those for my '75 modified P(PJ) which already has '83 EMGs in it(or something close to them). Great Mod and video! Thanks!
Super helpful videos on this bass! I bought the 5 string version a few days ago. I like the stock sound better with fingers, but the EMGs sound better with a pick and slap. Keep up the great content!
I have this same bass in sunburst, and I did similar mods. EMG PJAX pickups and a Gotoh bridge. I left the tuners alone, though, because I found the stock tuners to be acceptable. Needless to say, the upgrades vastly improved the sound of the instrument.
There’s nothing my pickup routes love than a bit of massaging!
Someone needs to do an episode on getting a bass Plek'd.
Actually have one planned! Local guy has one and I've gotten a bunch of basses done and am super happy with the results.
Stock isn't bad. Emg get super hi fi. Very unforgiving pickups. But that helps tidy up my playing.
You can't so this to me... I'm already having G.A.S. because of this bass and now you make it even sweeter with those PUPs and the Hardware... Damn, I think I have to pull the trigger after christmas
Great experiment! But to me it validates the solid quality of the original. Double cost for a small increase in brightness. Worth it? In my opinion absolutely not. But as a fun messing around with spare cash... Why not!
Wooooow that Sounds very good , a Total change and a good Video . Thanks .
Hi Lobster,
Nice vid as always ;) Wow! Those pickups have lots of high freq informaion.. And that P pickup... what an output?!?! For my ears the bass sounds balanced and nice with stock components. With the mods it's become a modern monster. PJ configuration is a life saver for any genre, and one of my favs. Only thing that doesn't suit on my taste is the kickass bridge, but it's personal thing. I'm not a hi mass bridge guy...
Nice stuff! I have been very curious about those pickups!
Sounded great stock! But it’s like you dipped it on “the ooze” and it became a super PJ , like the super shredder of Harley Benton basses
Great job Lobby!
I’ve put nordstrand blade in my JJ450
I must say they blow the stock pickup into the stratosphere
Now it’s the preamp that does not feel right
Great job....a nice bass will now be a much better bass...thanks
Definitely less noisy with the EMG guts. Great sound though, before and after.
The differences I can hear from the upgrades- better output, increased fidelity, and a much better presence. Not a lot of change in overall tonal qualities as it’s very bright and clear. It no longer sounds “inexpensive”. I will assume that sustain and playability have improved. It’s a bit top end heavy for my liking but I’m guessing it’s the materials and pickup pairing that makes it sound aggressive and modern versus warm and traditional. Looks are killer though. Definitely an improvement and I am guessing the clarity will easily cut through a live mix and sit well in a track. Nice work as always.
Lobster always has fresh strings so his tone at 100% is way too steely for me. I stay passive these days to suit pedals anyway.
Awsome modification and very interesting indeed. I personally liked the more vintage sound very much so probably would stick with them. Was wondering if the pickup height is criticical when you do such a modification. Do you need to experiment with that in order to get the best result? Thanks for this video!
Please do a review on the Harley Benton JB-62 series!
Fabuloso Senor Lobster. Kickass mods (pun intended) and gives me some ideas for the Harley Benton MV-4MSB Gotoh I just ordered. Looking forward to the next mod!
Definitely an improvig upgrade. More harmonics and better dynamics. Sounds really good actually.
I also noticed that the pickup cavities have the same finish as the visible surface - something that I find nothing short of amazing at this price point.
I must say LowEnd, the interface connected to your recording software is so good that it kills a lot of your comparisons. Even some of your "dog" basses sound good! I'm going to rewind to find out what you are using.
I just use an orange 50w practice amp with the DI out going into my focusrite
@@LowEndLobster Thanks! If you don't mind me asking, is the Focusrite a Scarlett or Clarett?
Scarlett
@@LowEndLobster Thank you!
that look easy and sound great!
When you change bridges, how do you know which ones will fit? I’ve wanted to change my Ibanez SR 755 accu cast 305 bridge with something but I don’t know which bridges will fit.
The accu cast is not just sitting on top of the body. There is a small cut out inlet for it.
Great question! I can usually tell on basses that have the 5-in-line Fender screw pattern, those ar the most common options. Those Accucast bridges from Ibanez are a bit more difficult to swap out, but they're pretty well equipped stock.
Wooooooow...what a great sound...wooooow...🤯🙌
Nice job!!
What a stunner!❤
It does sound brighter and more aggressive. But, for my taste, I prefer the originals. Not a fan of the highs from EMG pickups, they sound too harsh to my ears. (This comment adds nothing relevant to the discussion and has the sole purpose of boosting the channel, which is awesome :-P )
Thank you!
Call me dinosaur but I prefer the vintage sound of the stock pickup. I would just go for the new tuners and shielding for pickups and electronic cavities.
I'm going to say that the upgrades were a nice touch, however, really didn't do the factory alnico pickups that much justice as the factory pickups
have a slightly warmer tone than the 'clinical' sounding EMG's. The Hipshot bridge and the new tuners have their advantage. With that being said,
I was quite pleased with the sound of the Wilkinson brass saddles as Harley-Benton's stock bridge setup can clearly hold it's own sustain and tone value very well.
I would have made the choice to use the shielding paint since the opportunity was available to remove the pots, pickups, and output jack.
Overall,......it has an appealing cosmetic look. Nice job.
This bass sounds amazing for the price and i can't wait to mod it!
Planning to put gotoh tuners and high mass bridge on it!
Do you think emg gzr pj pick up would be a nice add?
Thx! And congratulations for your work, you are the best!
I have the jazz version w/ EMG’s …. V clean and modern. Too modern for me. Look on Reverb for my ad.
EMGs sound cold and w/no personality, like having condenser mike under strings. Stock ones are not bad, and much warmer.
I’m super interested in the 550 model…is there a noiseless 5-string P pickup you’d recommend? I wish the new DiMarzios came in 5 versions 😥
I can't wait for you to sell this bass! I hope...lol.
I always throw hipshot tuners on
Hey lobster you got any fixes for a bass that drains batteries unusually quickly? Would replacing the wiring fix this or should I just use it as a backup
Great question! I had this issue on my Ibanez AFR5WAP and was able to resolve it. Basically something was shorting the battery circuit (I think it was the battery - on the jack) and causing it to always be on even when the battery was unplugged. Looking over the circuit, I found the culprit and made sure the two pieces weren't touching. That'd my best guess for your issue.
@@LowEndLobster thank you it’s my Ibanez that’s causing my issues too
NICE !!!!!!!!!
Amazing as always Lobster! Have you seen the new HB short scale bass? Hope its a good one. MV4-MSB Gotoh BM
I have! It will definitely be in my next HB haul
It sounds nearly the same...... just louder... .which a gain knob can take care of that.
sweet ...it lit up nice with the mods 🔥🎸...sale it to me 🤗
Hi Lobster!! Great channel, great content. Love the reviews. ❤❤. Have a question for you about this bass. We have one, same color too, and the 16th fret got banged up beyond repair and I’d like to replace it. What size frets would this bass use? The description from Harley Benton says medium jumbos, but the physical measurements of the frets don’t jive with the specs of some medium jumbo frets we’ve looked at online. Please help!!
That's a tough one. I don't know the answer. You're probably better off getting a second and converting this one to fretless ;P
If you have no one you can borrow a digital caliper from you can buy one for under $ 20. Depending on your ethics you could buy one for this purpose and return it afterwards.
Those metalworks pickups are not available on EMG's website, or any other online store. You can get the regular pjx-cs model but with the plastic covers. How did you get those?
You need to custom order. EMG has great customer service. You can reach out and get custom spec stuff including metalworks housings.
@@LowEndLobster oohh that's nice! Didn't know that. I'll definitely keep that on mind for the future. I'm drooling right now while thinking about the pjax set with metal covers 🤤
Nice upgrades :-)
Does the blend pot from EMG bring any advantage(s) over a lambda one ?
I own a Squier PJ fretless and I was wondering if you had any advice regarding a nice pickup set as an upgrade (passive and without apparent pole pieces) ?
Think I asked this like a year ago, you didn't have an answer but were expecting to try something out. So lemme try again, if you'll indulge the question:
Do you have a super affordable aftermarket set of passive jazz bass pickups that will help a terrible Glarry sound like an actual jazz bass, and I don't know... also sound good?
I don't know if it is just me or if the algo hates me, but I can't find ANY information of Google or CZcams anymore. It feels like I'm returning to the preinternet era when you didn't know anything, and neither did anyone else, and everyone operated on hearsay, myth, and maybe a little experience. Shity times. I got used to finding great answer to relatively easy questions instantly via google searches. But those days seem to be over! Thank you for your low endedness.
Lobster, I do think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Just like on weather 60-cycle hum is to be eliminated at all costs or appreciated like the sound of real muscle car idling. Honest opinionsI am big fan of Wilkinson bridges (upgraded my favorite 1980 Yamaha Pulser 400 with a very similar one too) paired with a proper P-pickup (like an Alnico-5). I think the brass saddles increase brightness and thinner base plate flexes where the string anchors to the bridge. Trev Wilkinson pointed that out over a high mass bridge. And this may be the reason I instantly liked the sound of that bridge with the P-up. Had to be something different about it that made the P-bass tone just sound more palatable, like significantly. I also have a P bass with a high-mass bridge, and it just feels stiffer and sounds brasher. Not in a good way to my ears. Thought about maybe just doing an electronics upgrade when the jack ground wire came unhooked (it was not soldered, very disappointing oversight) last night and my now #1 bass has died. I more securely attached the wire and it came back to life, so I'ma just leave well enough alone for now. Still learned a bunch about the instrument, even though I am 100% sold on the "magic" of the stock configuration. Anyways, I'm rambling, so I'll just close by saying (like this spiel was a profound speech or something . . . ), thanks again for another solid video offering. Any thoughts contra?
Where do you find silver pickups ?
Is there a good split or stacked JBass pickup that isn't overly midrangey?
Very little difference, as many observers point out both sets are good… emgs sound a little more hi fidelity to my ears still
LOBSTER IN DA HIZZZOUSE
Lets gooooo lobster 🦞
ITS A BIRD 🦅 ITS A PLANE ✈️ ITS A LOBSTER 🦞!!!!!!!
The aviation crustacean
@@sicilianmammalian dude thats pretty good lol
"I don't know Rick.."
Hi Lobster. Did you connect the bridge earth wire? And if so, where did you connect it?
Also reading a lot of comments of EMG being to bright. Maybe it’s a good idea to talk about active pickups and that it is important too cut the highs instead of boosting them normally. See this video: czcams.com/video/U0n30sWQKwo/video.html.
I have recently upgraded one of my basses with EMG, and cutting highs was an important lesson. And getting used to the less distortion (clean) sound toke some time. But adding color (distortion) is now up to me instead of the pickups. Now I love my EMG (HB) for there clarity, better harmonics and better blending in with the rest of the band.
Love your reviews. Keep up the good work and greetings from the Netherlands.
Thanks! You don't need the bridge ground for the active EMGs, only passive. I removed it for this project.
Lobster now you need to nerf this bass, it has become way too OP. (i will see myself out, lolz)
Power levels over 9000
I have the same bass. Very nice upgrade, sounded a little fuller via my PC speakers and looks good too. However, I don't think I'll be doing it ..too much money ( a noticable difference but the original bass is fine too, and I haven't any spare money =¬) )
I... did not like the EMG's. Too trebly, sound hyper sensitive and the change isn't much or very pleasant, at least to my ears. Considering the price of the upgrade, it's a hard pass from me. Likewise for the bridge. It's mechanical stuff. It it works, it works.
Thanks Greek Dude! This bass is an absolute heavy hitter stock
I'm with you. The bridge is overkill. Actives always have unnatural bandwidth to me too.
Very pretty designs though!
Stock was better
EMGs sounds disgusting :(
Yep I’m for sure doing this the bass was already great but after the lobster touch it sounds even greater