How I Turned a Harley Benton into a BOUTIQUE High-End Jazzmaster | ULTIMATE UPGRADES
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- čas přidán 28. 07. 2024
- I Turned a Harley Benton to a BOUTIQUE High-End Jazzmaster | ULTIMATE UPGRADES
#harleybenton #jazzmaster #lollarpickups
The Harley Benton JA-25TH Anniversary Firemist is a real gem and a very good guitar straight out of the box, especially considering how affordable it is. So I thought why not make it even better?! Was it really worth upgrading it with some more higher quality parts? Well, check it out and see for yourself.
Gear Used:
@HarleyBentonOfficial JA-25TH Anniversary Firemist
@LollarPickups P90 Jazzmaster
@DuesenbergGuitars Les Trem II
@allpartsmusic1971 Electronics
@TwoNotestv Captor X
_____________________________________
Email: tonechasebasement@gmail.com
Follow me on Instagram: / tonechasebasement
_____________________________________
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:18 Why I don't like the original Jazzmaster?
00:00:52 The Harley Benton JA-25TH as the Perfect Jazzmaster Modding Platform
00:01:27 What will be upgraded?
00:03:26 Taking it Apart
00:03:44 Shielding the Guitar
00:04:36 Soldering the Electronics
00:05:29 Shielding the Pickguard
00:06:01 Changing the Strap Pins
00:06:18 Maintaining the Fretboard
00:06:30 Assembling the Electronics and Pickups
00:07:11 Installing the Tremolo and Bridge
00:07:32 Installing the Tuners and String Trees
00:08:18 Restringing and Setup
00:08:43 It's Done
00:09:27 Sound Test - Before - Neck Pickup
00:10:03 Sound Test - After - Neck Pickup
00:10:42 Sound Test - Before - Both Pickups
00:11:16 Sound Test - After - Both Pickups
00:11:50 Sound Test - Before - Bridge Pickup
00:12:13 Sound Test - After - Bridge Pickup
00:12:37 First Impressions and Conclusion
00:13:08 Sound Test - Before - Dirty Sound Neck Pickup
00:13:36 Sound Test - After - Dirty Sound Neck Pickup
00:14:05 Sound Test - Before - Dirty Sound Bridge Pickup
00:14:29 Sound Test - After - Dirty Sound Bridge Pickup
00:14:52 Sound Test - Tremolo Test
00:15:27 Outro
DISCLAIMER:
My channel and videos are NOT sponsored or endorsed in any way by anyone. - Hudba
The first video in 2024 is a guitar modding video about the Harley Benton JA-25TH Anniversary Firemis, which is a real gem and a very good guitar straight out of the box, especially considering how affordable it is. So I thought why not make it even better?! Was it really worth upgrading it with some more higher quality parts? Well, check it out and see for yourself. 🙌☺️Let me know in the comments below how you liked it.
7877😊😊😊😊kko
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7877😊😊😊😊kko
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You can definitely hear the difference in pickups. Surprisingly the stock ones still sound really good. I love HB guitars. Nice build my man!
yeah the stock ones sounded good too, but a bit too bright for my taste... The darker P90s are a bit more my cup of tea...thanks for watching man! 🙌
You are happy with the results because you transformed an already good guitar to an instrument that can cope with models costing x3, and you did a fine job my friend, congrats !!
Thank you mate! I really appreciate it!! :)
Very cool modifications! Also great playing. 😎
Thanks a lot!!!🙌🎸 And of course it is a really amazing guitar out of the box as well that just blew my mind...
You guys realllllly need to make.those things with a trem arm.
I like this guitar and your improvements got me even more sold. I do admit that I don't quite dislike the default pickups but that's just a matter of taste. If attempting an electronics upgrade I'd fetch me real jazzmaster pickups (or clones, what the hell). The nut, locking tuners, bridge and tremolo are a must though! You inspired me to get one and turn it into the ultimate surf machine
yes, the hardware upgrades are really worth it and about the electronics, not bad whats already in it but if you want to go completely next level then some higher end pickups are recommended...
Absolutely lovely. However, I liked the original pickups more
they are just completely different... structurewise as well... might be getting one regular jazzmaster too next to it :D anyway, thanks for watching
The production value on this video is insane. better than some 100k sub channels I've seen. subscribed!
wow man! thanks for your comment! 🙌❤️ really appreciate it! If you liked this one check out my other videos as well...
They are!
That is true. The setup is insane, you'll get big in no time
Nice upgrade. I kinda like both sounds of the old and new pickups. btw nice playing!
Thanks mate 🙌 Yeah, the old ones are not bad either... I just somehow like the more mid heavy oriented sound of the p90s.
Congratulations!!!
Worthwhile improvements!!!
Hvala ti brate! 🙌Respect! 🤘🙌
Name na cemu.Pozdrav.
Great guitar, as a long time user of Jazzmasters I can understand about the pickups being brittle and thin but that’s part of what makes it a JM in my opinion.
As for the tuning issues, that’s down to a poorly setup guitar. Brand new they usually come poorly setup (9 gauge strings, no neck shim). First upgrades for me are always a TUSQ nut and string tree, shim in the neck and ideally 11 gauge strings. All of my JMs are setup this way and I have never tuning issues.
thanks for your feedback... yes, you are right about the pickups and in the meantime I was also thinking abiut gettung an other JM style guitar with the regular pickups... Maybe a Vintera or a Larry Carlton or smtg just to have ne of the "real thing" as well.. 😀 and thanks for watching! 🙌 respect!
Man, found a great channel after checking otu the Grohl video. I love me some jazzmaster and i was literally thinking about buying and upgrading a HB jazzmaster. Like minds. Awesome stuff!
Hope you like my other videos as well man! ❤ Make sure to subscribe if you didn't already...
I have the 25th anniversary Jazz bass and did some mods myself. what a great instrument though. I don't think the original pickups even sounded bad, but definitely prefer the new ones, especially in middle position.
It really is! Yeah, the originals are not bad at all however I like the mid focused character of the P90s better... anyway thanks for watching 🙌🙂
Thanks for the great content.🙂
thanks for watching my friend! 🎸🙌
Actually really excited about Harley Benton as a mod platform.
yeah, they are just great for that... very affordable and generally good resonant 🪵 ... which is a very good base to build on. Thanks for the watch and comment! 🙌
New subscriber from Chicago!!!!!!!!! Love it Cat Stevens!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you mate🙌🎸 I really appreciate it!
Let's gooooo 💥💫
Thanks man🤘🙌
Thank you for the video! I play a stock one and I have to say I prefered the unmodded tones. I gues we are after diffrent tones. I'm suprised how the stock pickups keep up even with premium ones. Very different tones of course.
yes, I am not saying that the original ones are bad at all... they are great, but I just never had a guitar with p90s and was looking forward to put them in this guitar for a more darker and mid heavy tone... I have already strat and a tele for the more brighter sounds... but most likely I ak gonna get an another Jazzmaster too with the regular style pickups😅
those hollar pick ups sounds good
they are just awesome🎸 thanks for the comment🤘🙌
Great video, all amazing improvements, i actually think the tone before was more for me except on the middle position, that sounded way better than before, might just be my taste n some eq adjustments might make me prefer the new ones, just they sounded a little dark to me, BUT When u added gain i prefer the new ones 100%
yes, they are completely different kind of pickups.... the new P90s are generally more mid focused therefore a bit darker but much more "controlable" than the Jazzmaster style ones. Also I didn't make any amp adjustments, I used the same settings adter the mod just to see and show the differences... Maybe it was a bit of mistake because I set up the amp for the original ones and these settings were not the best to show the capabilities of the new ones... they definitely sound better after a little tweaking...😊
@@ToneChaseBasement sounds good man, great quality video for a "smaller" channel. I have a classic vibe jazzmaster and love it, i feel like it leans into more rhythm playing or something that requires a few effects and the style of pickups handles a lot of effects well
@@elibeachill1150 thank you man! ❤️ really appreciate the nice comments! I do try to bring out some wuality videos despite I am relatively new to CZcams... if you liked this video check out my other videos as well... thank again, it means a lot! 🙌
Hey, great video! Any chance you'll link to the specific tuners and bridge you used for the replacements?
The bridge is the TonePros TPFR C Tune-O-Matic Roller and the tuners are the Gotoh SD91MG-T-05M-N-L6
Different sounds - depends on your taste, but I love the jazzmaster pickup sounds. Would be interesting to see what a set of lollar jazzmaster pickups would do to that guitar. Oh and my traditional floating jazzmaster trem stays in tune just fine and adds much more to the overall sound. Like the Les trem mod though - and the locking tuners are nice - good job 👍
thanks mate! Yes, I am now also interested in how some Lollar JM pickups sound.. maybe that will be a re-MOD on this guitar soon 😅
You’re a talented dude! It takes a lot of skill to do that kind of “easy” mod:-) I was curious, what is the fingerboard edge like? Is it super straight/sharp like most cheap guitars or is there a little rounding?
oh, thanks for the flattering words 😊 well, lets say I didn't start doing that kind of stuff yesterday but years of practice and mods led to some knowledge in my opinion... ☝️ Regarding the fingerboard edge, it's not sharp at all, its fine and rounded, completely seamless feeling... and its stainless steel frets already so it just feels amazing... I wouldnt say it feels like a cheap guitar at all, rather on the higher end...
Hey! Nice initiative, i was actually thinking of buying it and modding it. Think it can do some heavier stuff with the p90s (maybe even metal)?
didn't try metal with it yet but it could do it I guess😀 still have to try it🔥🎸
Sounds great. The P90 in the bridge sounds fantastic especially with gain. I do however like the way the original neck pickup sounded. What type and value was the original pots? And yes the Les Trem is great!
yeah, the originals were far from bad, they were OK but i just like the more darker and mid-heavy voicing of the P90s... its personal preference only... now I am tempting myself if I should get another Jazzmaster but this time a Larry Carlton and go with the regular Jazzmaster pickups😅 man, sometimes GASsing is not fun anymore😂 the original pots were 250K.
This is a tough comparison... All the upgrades are completely fantastic... But you took a really nice jazzmaster clone and turned it into a rippin offset P90 guitar...which is completely badass in its own right. They are so reasonably priced, you could buy another one and leave it stock. Win Win ! 🤘🏻😝
Exactly! they are worth every penny...
@ToneChaseBasement why did you go for the tremolo option for this build?
I always wanted to have a guitar with a Bigsby kind of tremolo cause I don't have one yet, but the implementation of a Bigsby on this guitar seemed far more complicated than this single cut tremolo design...This is just a one on one replacement without drilling any holes...
I am also planning to install tremolo on my ja-25th. What is the type of the roller bridge that you used?
it is the TonePros TPFR C Tune-O-Matic Roller. It is just great and a must have if you plan on a tremolo...
Could you give some details on the nut, string trees and tuners? I'm also looking to upgrade but overwhelmed by choices 🙃
the string trees are the fender ultra string guides, nut is graphtec (I didn't change it it comes with it), and the tuners are gotoh SD91-05M MG-T Locking
@@ToneChaseBasement Thank you! Ah you kept the nut! Ok. I have the base model (not 25th anniversary) so hope that will be fine.
Virtual insanity
one of my faves
Random and probably stupid question but cant find it anywhere online and am pretty new to guitar. But i have this guitar and am wanting to do some upgrades on it, just without the les trem. Anyways i am looking to swap the bridge. Does this guitar use the metric or imperial sizing for the tune o matic bridge?
metric ones
I did a very similar thing to mine 🎉
its really worth it... I am sure you will like it..
@@ToneChaseBasement yes I loved the standard pickups but I added a Selectable Tone Cap from mythos pedals. I then added 1MEG pots. Then I shielded it. Then I added a rip off of the Dusenburg trem.
@@AM2PMReviews niiiice!
kill me, but i prefer sound before mod. I just bough this guitar and i noticed its sound good in a mix with this high mid bite. Im just making it 2-3db darker with eq and its sits perfect. Btw - awesome idea with tremolo and bridge, i will do the same !
Thanks for watching man :) these pickups are completely different... P90s are obviously darker and sound more like a PAF... idk, its all personal preference... :)
@@ToneChaseBasement btw what kind of potis did you used?
@@thetransposedheads CTS 500k
thx!@@ToneChaseBasement
Great vid! Maybe this is a stupid question, but If i where to buy a Thomann Jazzmaster DIY kit, would that tremolo also fit that guitar? I have a guitar build in mind that I really want to try my hands at. Having basically zero "luthier" experience this style of tremolo seems like the absolute perfect thing for me
I am not sure if there iz a HB Jazaster DIY kit available... but this trem definitely fits any available HB Jazzmaster model.
@@ToneChaseBasement there is! Its Called ”Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit JA”
Do you mind checking it out quickly to see if the trem fits? It looks like the same bridge/tailpiece setup like the guitar in your video right?
@@MikaelKonradsson then in this case it should fit that body as well as these bodies are all line made with the same measurements. So no need to worry about it and just go on and order it.
@@ToneChaseBasement yeah the kit bodies must be the same as the like the JA-60 etc right? If so im definetly ordering the les trem and a kit!
@@MikaelKonradsson yes, it should be the exact same body
Hello, what are the exact guitar tuners? what are the exact model
Its the Gotoh SD91 Locking tuners
To my ears, the Lollars don't necessarily sound "better", just "different". I could probably dial in close enough tones with the amp's eq that in the band mix I couldn't tell a difference, and for the price of Lollars I could add another Harley to my collection. As far as the vibrato, there's not enough range (at least how it is demoed here) in the vibrato to make it a worthwhile upgrade (for me). I Like Les Pauls and other hardtails mainly, and I would feel right at home on that stock two piece bridge. I'm picky about vibratos - it's got to have springs on the back side (two point, six point, floyd, etc.) for the amount of range I like - so no Bigsbys or Jazzmaster/Mustang vibratos for me.
I would just play it stock, and take it to a tech for a set up!
yes, it's all up to personal preferences... I just like it better this way, I am not saying the Lollars sound waaay better, just different as they are by construction completely different pickups... these are P90s just in a JM style enclosure so therefore the heavy mid range and darker/warmer sound... not really possible to eq it out on an amp though but might come close... Anyway, thanks for watching :)
@@ToneChaseBasement I get it. I had a set of Lindy Fralin stock output p90s in a Gibson LP Special DC some years ago. P90s are definitely their own thing.
I have the Firemist Tele and am somewhat disappointed that it doesn’t twang like vintage style teles. It’s unfortunate that the twang character can’t be dialed in. The stock Roswells I’m guessing are a more modern overwound set.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great guitar, and I’ll probably leave it all stock. It plays like butter!
@@TheOfficialManuelBurnett Yes, they are hotter... for a twang just some historically spec'd tele pickups would do... Just my new video coming tomorrow about historic Teles, heheh... :D
what CTS pots have been used ?
500K from Allparts
Is it me or do the new pickups sound worse than the stock pickups?
P90s are completely different pickups characteristic and soundwise than the Jazzmaster styles. They are darker and more mid heavy while the Jazzmasters are scooped and bright.
@@ToneChaseBasement interesting. I guess I'm just used to a completely different sound. I run a Fernandes Raven with the single coil sustainer on the neck and a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates at the bridge and usually run the lows at a 3, the mids at an 8 and the highs at a 7 off of a Roland JC-40. It ends up sounding like a mix between your two sets of pickups.
@@PMMcIntyre yes, it's all about personal taste... I already have some Fenders that can sound close like a Jazzmaster but I didn't have any guitar with P90s so I wanted that flavour as well...
@@ToneChaseBasement right on. Glad it's working out well for you.
So... Your perfect jazzmaster is an SG special with a vibrola bridge in an offset shape? M'kay, but this is not a jazzmaster anymore 😅
might be 😂 only downside of SGs for me is soehow they are a bit uncomfortable, i mean the body and neck... don't know... tried a couple of SGs but never got the feeling that I should own one... but soundwise you might be right😅
@@ToneChaseBasement probably should look at a Revstar with double p-90, might be right up your alley. A jazzmaster is defined by those jazzmaster pickups and that specific trem 😁
great mods and demonstration, but you cant make a silk purse from a sows ear espescially when the upgrades cost more than the guitar
I am not sure buddy... you just have to feel it in your hands and then say if it is worth it or not... For me it was definitely worth it, every penny... Because the result is just insane. The guitar itself might not cost a lot but that doesn't mean its not good. The body and the wood of it is great, the feel of it is great... so its a very good base for high end components making it sound really great.. but you know, not all these upgrades are a must, I just did it for fun and turned out awesome...
I like p90 sound more than original.
me too! Thanks buddy 🎸🙌
The original pickups sounded way better, they have more top end. That may be the capacitors not the pickups themselves.
Yes, they have more top end as they are a completely differently voiced pickup. P90s are generally darker sounding and way more mid heavy, which I prefer over the too bright Jazzmaster pickups... But you know, apples and oranges. Different tastes...
Which capacitors would you suggest to clean up some of that bassy mud?
@@charlesvannice8279 0.22 oranges
The stock pickups are way better, you will cut your audiences ears off with the new ones, your audience will let you know when they begin to leave. 🙂👍🇬🇧
its just about oersonal preference and I like the new ones waaay more...🇪🇸🙃👎
But doesn’t it already comes with P-90s? I mean, the HB, not the Jazzmasters…
no, it's a jazzmaster style pickups by default. Completely different pickups and depth on the winding also the poles are conpletely different on a p90. You can also hear in the demos the completely different character of the sounds. The Jazzmaster ones are bright and scooped sounding while the p90 are really mid heavy and a bit darker sounding.
you can polish a turd, but its still a turd 😂im just kidding, ive never even touched a harley benton. im sure they are fine guitars for the money
you should try one, it's also my first so to say "low budget" guitar in my collection but it is really a level above it's price tag... classes better than a squier or an epiphone... i was really surprised when I took it in my hands.
unlike a turd, the 'polish' is a major part of a guitars value. with CNC and automated production techniques so refined now, woodworking and finishing can be nearly flawless at very low cost when done in bulk like Harley Benton does. But you're right that it's still a Harley Benton though, which only matters if you're a brand snob or want to resell it.
@@larrysteinke1839i agree, of course it doesn't have a resale value like a Fender or a Gibson.. but not even the other high end guitars do like Suhr or Xotic etc... of course you cant ever compare a HB to a Suhr but you get what I mean...
@@ToneChaseBasementI guess as a tone chaser the real value is the satisfaction you get from customizing it to your tone ideals. I put together a Tele partscaster and it's now one of my favorite to play because I was free to customize it exactly how I like. My vintage Les Paul is great but of course not something to experiment with. The Tele gets played way more now.
@@larrysteinke1839exactly my point... you will not just take apart a custom shop instrument and experiment with it... but for a cheaper guitar its fine and it's just pure joy, experimenting and that excitment that you don't even know hiw it will turn out😂 even if you ruin it it's fun trying...
Trashy benton
everybody's got an opinion, doesn't mean either of them is true or false...
Not even gonna watch the video. Just came here to say your thumbnail is clickbait, dude. You did not turn a harley benton into a guitar that's better than a custom shop. Stop it with the bullshit. I'm sure you upgraded the shit out of that guitar and it certainly sounds better than the piece of garbage you purchased originally. But there's no way it'll trump a custom shop.
you're forgetting that how good a guitar is is entirely subjective. I've played $500 ibanez guitars that are better than gibsons in my opinion. Doesn't mean everybody shares the same opinion
of course man😂 just like every video on youtube 🤘 that is how youtube works... thanks for the comment and the click of course 😀
@@BridgetParkGuitarthat is a good point, I have my Japanese Epiphone Les Paul Custom LQ series from the Fujigen factory which is definitely better than many Custom Shop Gibsons I tried... And that is a FACT!
Honestly if you take a "good" look at it, he did not state in his thumbnail that it is better. It ends with a question mark. And even if he would have been stated it... Who cares?! He modded the shit out of it, and it turned out pretty awesome, but that is only my humble opinion... If nothing else, this video showed that it is worth trying to upgrade your instrument, because you can have some incredible gains.
@@user-km3yu6sk7zwell said man! well said!☝️