Harley Benton HBP120BK

It's a Chinese-made P-bass clone, so the standard Fender features apply (i.e. one split pickup, passive, 1 tone and 1 volume control...).

The sound is what I absolutely adore about this bass. It is very rich, full, meaty, and it fits my style (alternative, indie, punk, general rock). However, I usually keep the tone control all the way up because otherwise the bass sounds very boggy. Also, adjusting the volume control produces sudden drops, so messing with it in the middle of a song can be a hassle. Still, with both knobs turned all the way, it sounds fantastic through an old Peavey amp, with or without a bass pod. It's a great instrument for gigging (and rocking it).

When I got it, I wasn't really proficient with basses, so I couldn't tell much here. I know I had to adjust the pickups (and it took a while, due to low-quality screws, I'm guessing) because the E string sounded much more thunderous than any of the others. The action was set a bit low, but a friend fixed that for me without any trouble. I also had to change the strings, as the factory ones sounded a bit dull... and I kind of broke the A during a gig, too, so the rest had to go. The finish is a flawless black with a plastic pickguard.

Looks very durable. No noticeable wear'n'tear for 2.5 years. I play a gig at least once a week since 2007, and it hasn't failed me once. The only sucky thing is that the screws that hold the pickguard and the pickup magnets developed rust recently... Very disappointed. Other than that, it appears as reliable as a real Fender. I pound on it pretty hard, including neck-bending, and it holds very well. The strap buttons are flawless when combined with the Harley Benton nylon strap, which took me 30 minutes to fit in. It cannot possibly come off without another 30 minutes' hard labor, either. I confidently use it without a backup. My only worry is that I break another string, but I always carry spares.

Haven't used it yet, but it's a great deal - 3-year warranty. Thomann has excellent customer support reputation, so I guess this one must be a 10...

I've been playing for 3 years now. I started with this bass and don't seriously consider changing it in the near future. It is very good for live performances and it fits very well with my style. For the money I paid, it is irreplaceable. Still, if it got stolen, lost, or broken (last one unlikely), I would probably put together some more cash for a Squier, hoping it will still have this big rich sound. The one feature I don't like about the bass visually are the tuners - they're not the trademark Fender-style and it takes away some of the instrument's charm. Nevertheless, I think this bass made me a lifetime Precision convert, and that already says a lot. It's every beginner's best choice, and possibly every actively gigging rocker's. I've sampled a number of other basses, including all of Fender's and MusicMan's popular models, and I have to say I still love my Harley Benton enough not to part with it just yet.