Anyone heard these? I am after a portable budget (sub £100) combo for 
electro-acoustic (nylon strung) and have my eye on this:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac20.htm

With 3 band EQ (inc parametric mid), 10" woofer plus tweeter, 
active/passive input, reverb etc it looks like a steal at £75 and seems 
a better deal than similar amps at this level. Trouble is I've never 
heard of them!

PS how quick are Thomann on delivery?
-- 
Jon
www.jonboyes.co.uk

Jon Boyes wrote:
> Anyone heard these? I am after a portable budget (sub £100) combo for 
> electro-acoustic (nylon strung) and have my eye on this:
> http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac20.htm
> 
> With 3 band EQ (inc parametric mid), 10" woofer plus tweeter, 
> active/passive input, reverb etc it looks like a steal at £75 and seems 
> a better deal than similar amps at this level. Trouble is I've never 
> heard of them!
> 

It's Thomann's own-brand name for guitar stuff I think. They just buy 
stuff from China and rebrand it. I have played a Harley Benton PRS copy, 
and it was rubbish, but oddly I played the exact same Chinese copy which 
a mate had bought from a guy on eBay - it was unbranded and had been 
well set up and just put together better - and it was amazing.

This amp is never gonna be great, but for £75 you couldn't buy the parts 
to build one.

In article <7wfUj.12039$EH2.6796@newsfe1-win.ntli.net>, 
performingchimp@spam.spam says...
> Jon Boyes wrote:
> > Anyone heard these? I am after a portable budget (sub £100) combo for 
> > electro-acoustic (nylon strung) and have my eye on this:
> > http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac20.htm
> > 
> > With 3 band EQ (inc parametric mid), 10" woofer plus tweeter, 
> > active/passive input, reverb etc it looks like a steal at £75 and seems 
> > a better deal than similar amps at this level. Trouble is I've never 
> > heard of them!
> > 
> 
> It's Thomann's own-brand name for guitar stuff I think. 

Ah, right ta. That explains absence of info elsewhere.

> This amp is never gonna be great, but for £75 you couldn't buy the parts 
> to build one.

Yeah I think any of the tiny combos for acoustic in this class will 
sound pants, but it should suit my purpose. Its brown too!
-- 
Jon
www.jonboyes.co.uk

"performingchimp"  wrote in message 
news:7wfUj.12039$EH2.6796@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
> Jon Boyes wrote:
>> Anyone heard these? I am after a portable budget (sub £100) combo for 
>> electro-acoustic (nylon strung) and have my eye on this:
>> http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac20.htm
>>
>> With 3 band EQ (inc parametric mid), 10" woofer plus tweeter, 
>> active/passive input, reverb etc it looks like a steal at £75 and seems a 
>> better deal than similar amps at this level. Trouble is I've never heard 
>> of them!
>>
>
> It's Thomann's own-brand name for guitar stuff I think. They just buy 
> stuff from China and rebrand it. I have played a Harley Benton PRS copy, 
> and it was rubbish, but oddly I played the exact same Chinese copy which a 
> mate had bought from a guy on eBay - it was unbranded and had been well 
> set up and just put together better - and it was amazing.
>
> This amp is never gonna be great, but for £75 you couldn't buy the parts 
> to build one.


I think often when you pay more, you pay for a certain assurance of quality. 
With many cheap products it can be very hit and miss as to whether you get a 
good one of not. I think that is why Yamaha has been so successful with 
their Pacifica range as they seem to always be of a good build standard 
despite their price.

I considered a Harley benton recently when I was looking for a cheap 5W tube 
combo amp, but I ended going with the Fender champ instead as no one really 
seems to know much about Harley Benton and what there is (i.e. harmony 
central) it all seems a bit too hit and miss for me.

Angof

"Jon Boyes"  wrote in message 
news:MPG.228b7f9ce07e30b4989682@news.btinternet.com...
Anyone heard these? I am after a portable budget (sub £100) combo for
electro-acoustic (nylon strung) and have my eye on this:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac20.htm

With 3 band EQ (inc parametric mid), 10" woofer plus tweeter,
active/passive input, reverb etc it looks like a steal at £75 and seems
a better deal than similar amps at this level. Trouble is I've never
heard of them!

PS how quick are Thomann on delivery?
---------------------

My experience is that Thomann are very good on delivery and the 'Harley 
Benton' gear is their own brand Chinese stuff that does exactly what it says 
on the box and is worth exactly what you pay for it.

In my experience the only people who give you more than you paid for, in 
equipment, is Behringer.

People keep suing them because of this...

-- 
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time,  like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

On Wed, 7 May 2008 14:55:30 +0100, "William Black"
 wrote:

>
>"Jon Boyes"  wrote in message 
>news:MPG.228b7f9ce07e30b4989682@news.btinternet.com...
>Anyone heard these? I am after a portable budget (sub £100) combo for
>electro-acoustic (nylon strung) and have my eye on this:
>http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac20.htm
>
>With 3 band EQ (inc parametric mid), 10" woofer plus tweeter,
>active/passive input, reverb etc it looks like a steal at £75 and seems
>a better deal than similar amps at this level. Trouble is I've never
>heard of them!
>
>PS how quick are Thomann on delivery?
>---------------------
>
>My experience is that Thomann are very good on delivery and the 'Harley 
>Benton' gear is their own brand Chinese stuff that does exactly what it says 
>on the box and is worth exactly what you pay for it.

Isn't the HB tube combo essentially the same as the Epi VJ?

I have a HB-branded flightcase that is in fact a rebadged Warwick.
>
>In my experience the only people who give you more than you paid for, in 
>equipment, is Behringer.
>
>People keep suing them because of this...

I've always been happy with Behringer gear, but my PMH-1000 mixer PA has
now gone pop for the second time - neither time while it was being
thrashed - so I'm a little dubious about the quality of that one. As a
mixer it's great, but the output stage is proving to be a bit fragile.

They make the RX-1202FX, which is exactly the same mixer stage as a
rackmount mixer, I think I'll get one of those instead.
-- 
Chris Bolus (change o to zero to reply by email)
A guitar is for life, not just for Christmas!

"Chris Bolus"  wrote in message 
news:7nc6241da45i4268plcvi1f756r7uhnrja@4ax.com...

>>In my experience the only people who give you more than you paid for, in
>>equipment, is Behringer.
>>
>>People keep suing them because of this...
>
> I've always been happy with Behringer gear, but my PMH-1000 mixer PA has
> now gone pop for the second time - neither time while it was being
> thrashed - so I'm a little dubious about the quality of that one. As a
> mixer it's great, but the output stage is proving to be a bit fragile.
>
> They make the RX-1202FX, which is exactly the same mixer stage as a
> rackmount mixer, I think I'll get one of those instead.

I do have to say that I'm not happy with the whole style of the Behringer 
mixers.

they just look 'cheesy' to me.

I've currently got a Soundcraft, a Yamaha and an Alesis,  all of which are 
nice and strong and haven't blown up yet.

-- 
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time,  like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

"Chris Bolus"  wrote in message
> Isn't the HB tube combo essentially the same as the Epi VJ?

Yup. same parts made in the same factory, just a different badge on the 
outside.



-- 
No66y©
Those who find they're touched by madness
                   Sit down next to me.
              Virtual Preserve are here!
www.soundclick.com/bands/virtualpreserve
no66ys den: http://no66y.designxp.co.uk/
Reply to address is a spam trap.
Use no66y [at] breathe [dot] com

On Thu, 08 May 2008 18:24:10 +0100, Chris Bolus 
wrote:


>I've always been happy with Behringer gear, but my PMH-1000 mixer PA has
>now gone pop for the second time - neither time while it was being
>thrashed - so I'm a little dubious about the quality of that one. As a
>mixer it's great, but the output stage is proving to be a bit fragile.
>
>They make the RX-1202FX, which is exactly the same mixer stage as a
>rackmount mixer, I think I'll get one of those instead.

Having had one mixer that went tits up - twice - is it a wise move to
buy another possibly by the same manufacturer?

I say possibly because with Chinese-made gear you really don't know
who is making it. Nothing wrong with much of it - just needs a bit
more caveat emptor IMO.

Steve.

"SteveShark" <steveATguitarsDOTpowernetDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message 
news:sng624l6c7fckaopd11t7hrhth0556kl9c@4ax.com...

> I say possibly because with Chinese-made gear you really don't know
> who is making it. Nothing wrong with much of it - just needs a bit
> more caveat emptor IMO.

What gear isn't made in China?

I mean:

 'What major manufacturer doesn't source equipment in China'.

-- 
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time,  like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

On Thu, 8 May 2008 19:53:52 +0100, "William Black"
 wrote:

>
>"SteveShark" <steveATguitarsDOTpowernetDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message 
>news:sng624l6c7fckaopd11t7hrhth0556kl9c@4ax.com...
>
>> I say possibly because with Chinese-made gear you really don't know
>> who is making it. Nothing wrong with much of it - just needs a bit
>> more caveat emptor IMO.
>
>What gear isn't made in China?
>
>I mean:
>
> 'What major manufacturer doesn't source equipment in China'.

I fail to see the relevance of your questions.

Virtually all cheap and midrange geara is sourced in China - either in
whole or in terms of components, with some high end gear being
similarly sourced.

There's no doubt that the lower end of the market raises questions of
quality control, which is all I'm saying - just make sure you realise
what you're buying is cheap for a reason and cheap isn't always cheap
in the long run.

It's a gamble.

Steve.

"SteveShark" <steveATguitarsDOTpowernetDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message 
news:vck624dpm8d57pe6gsonlkqglrc1nl6if6@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 8 May 2008 19:53:52 +0100, "William Black"
>  wrote:
>
>>
>>"SteveShark" <steveATguitarsDOTpowernetDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message
>>news:sng624l6c7fckaopd11t7hrhth0556kl9c@4ax.com...
>>
>>> I say possibly because with Chinese-made gear you really don't know
>>> who is making it. Nothing wrong with much of it - just needs a bit
>>> more caveat emptor IMO.
>>
>>What gear isn't made in China?
>>
>>I mean:
>>
>> 'What major manufacturer doesn't source equipment in China'.
>
> I fail to see the relevance of your questions.
>
> Virtually all cheap and midrange geara is sourced in China - either in
> whole or in terms of components, with some high end gear being
> similarly sourced.
>
> There's no doubt that the lower end of the market raises questions of
> quality control, which is all I'm saying - just make sure you realise
> what you're buying is cheap for a reason and cheap isn't always cheap
> in the long run.
>
> It's a gamble.
>
You're not making sense.

If all cheap and medium range gear and some top range stuff is made in 
China,  which we both know is true, then why bother being aware of it.

It's a commonplace...

-- 
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time,  like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

On 08/05/2008 19:16, SteveShark wrote:
> On Thu, 08 May 2008 18:24:10 +0100, Chris Bolus 
> wrote:
> 
> 
>> I've always been happy with Behringer gear, but my PMH-1000 mixer PA has
>> now gone pop for the second time - neither time while it was being
>> thrashed - so I'm a little dubious about the quality of that one. As a
>> mixer it's great, but the output stage is proving to be a bit fragile.
>>
>> They make the RX-1202FX, which is exactly the same mixer stage as a
>> rackmount mixer, I think I'll get one of those instead.
> 
> Having had one mixer that went tits up - twice - is it a wise move to
> buy another possibly by the same manufacturer?
> 
> I say possibly because with Chinese-made gear you really don't know
> who is making it. Nothing wrong with much of it - just needs a bit
> more caveat emptor IMO.
> 
> Steve.
Doesn't this come out of Behringer's own factory in China.  There a two 
part video on youtube somewhere and I thought that Mixers etc were one 
of the items made there.

-- 
MC

On Fri, 09 May 2008 00:17:08 +0100, MC  wrote:

>On 08/05/2008 19:16, SteveShark wrote:
>> On Thu, 08 May 2008 18:24:10 +0100, Chris Bolus 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>> I've always been happy with Behringer gear, but my PMH-1000 mixer PA has
>>> now gone pop for the second time - neither time while it was being
>>> thrashed - so I'm a little dubious about the quality of that one. As a
>>> mixer it's great, but the output stage is proving to be a bit fragile.
>>>
>>> They make the RX-1202FX, which is exactly the same mixer stage as a
>>> rackmount mixer, I think I'll get one of those instead.
>> 
>> Having had one mixer that went tits up - twice - is it a wise move to
>> buy another possibly by the same manufacturer?
>> 
>> I say possibly because with Chinese-made gear you really don't know
>> who is making it. Nothing wrong with much of it - just needs a bit
>> more caveat emptor IMO.
>> 
>> Steve.
>Doesn't this come out of Behringer's own factory in China.  There a two 
>part video on youtube somewhere and I thought that Mixers etc were one 
>of the items made there.

I bet the components come from anywhere that makes them - in which
case I'm guessing that like most places there'll be A and B grades
available with Behringer getting the better ones.


Steve.

On Thu, 08 May 2008 19:16:39 +0100, SteveShark
<steveATguitarsDOTpowernetDOTcoDOTuk> wrote:

>On Thu, 08 May 2008 18:24:10 +0100, Chris Bolus 
>wrote:
>
>
>>I've always been happy with Behringer gear, but my PMH-1000 mixer PA has
>>now gone pop for the second time - neither time while it was being
>>thrashed - so I'm a little dubious about the quality of that one. As a
>>mixer it's great, but the output stage is proving to be a bit fragile.
>>
>>They make the RX-1202FX, which is exactly the same mixer stage as a
>>rackmount mixer, I think I'll get one of those instead.
>
>Having had one mixer that went tits up - twice - is it a wise move to
>buy another possibly by the same manufacturer?
>
>I say possibly because with Chinese-made gear you really don't know
>who is making it. Nothing wrong with much of it - just needs a bit
>more caveat emptor IMO.
>
The mixer section has never failed, just the output stages. And there
are not that many rackmount mixers to choose from anyway.
-- 
Chris Bolus (change o to zero to reply by email)
A guitar is for life, not just for Christmas!

On Wed, 7 May 2008 09:59:02 +0100, Jon Boyes  wrote:

>Anyone heard these? I am after a portable budget (sub £100) combo for 
>electro-acoustic (nylon strung) and have my eye on this:
>http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac20.htm
>
>With 3 band EQ (inc parametric mid), 10" woofer plus tweeter, 
>active/passive input, reverb etc it looks like a steal at £75 and seems 
>a better deal than similar amps at this level. Trouble is I've never 
>heard of them!
>
>PS how quick are Thomann on delivery?

The GA5 is the in house badged version of the Epiphone Valve Junior. I
have had 3 from Thomann! That is the first 2 were combos and had
faults that were not worthy of a return, but they insisted and paid
for collection! The third was for the GA5 head - not the combo - and
they allowed me to swap for this from the combo as it suited me
better. Again excellent for the money. I have bought sundry items like
stands and cables and Midi gear all no probs. Only £7 for delivery so
amass a stash and it is cheaper per item.

All excellent for the money and they are a really good company to deal
with. When I bought late last year the euro pound was in my favor - so
watch your timing.

Will buy more rom them in future that's a fact!

Mark

On Wed, 7 May 2008 14:09:31 +0100, "Angof"  wrote:

>
>"performingchimp"  wrote in message 
>news:7wfUj.12039$EH2.6796@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
>> Jon Boyes wrote:
>>> Anyone heard these? I am after a portable budget (sub £100) combo for 
>>> electro-acoustic (nylon strung) and have my eye on this:
>>> http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbac20.htm
>>>
>>> With 3 band EQ (inc parametric mid), 10" woofer plus tweeter, 
>>> active/passive input, reverb etc it looks like a steal at £75 and seems a 
>>> better deal than similar amps at this level. Trouble is I've never heard 
>>> of them!
>>>
>>
>> It's Thomann's own-brand name for guitar stuff I think. They just buy 
>> stuff from China and rebrand it. I have played a Harley Benton PRS copy, 
>> and it was rubbish, but oddly I played the exact same Chinese copy which a 
>> mate had bought from a guy on eBay - it was unbranded and had been well 
>> set up and just put together better - and it was amazing.
>>
>> This amp is never gonna be great, but for £75 you couldn't buy the parts 
>> to build one.
>
>
>I think often when you pay more, you pay for a certain assurance of quality. 
>With many cheap products it can be very hit and miss as to whether you get a 
>good one of not. I think that is why Yamaha has been so successful with 
>their Pacifica range as they seem to always be of a good build standard 
>despite their price.
>
>I considered a Harley benton recently when I was looking for a cheap 5W tube 
>combo amp, but I ended going with the Fender champ instead as no one really 
>seems to know much about Harley Benton and what there is (i.e. harmony 
>central) it all seems a bit too hit and miss for me.
>
>Angof 
>

Can I say here that the Harley B GA5 and the EVjr are EL84 and the
Champ 6v6 valves and thus sound very different.

The Harley GA5/Epi have a distinctive EL84 tone that gets grittier the
louder it is turned up. EL84 are a very British sounding tone (most
Hi-gain amps opt for this circuit), 6v6 and 6L6 are typical
Fender/tweed options.

Interesting to see there is now a Harley B GA15 combo from Thomann,
that is 2x12ax7/2xEL84 with a 12" speaker and 15w, FX loop all the
4,8,16 ohm outs and reverb and 3 band EQ. Still silly money too... am
tempted yet again....

Mark