Harley Benton JB-20 CA Standard Series

JB20 CA Bass.

This bass guitar is an impressively assembled instrument.
The range of authentic Jazz Bass tones are all there for the finding.
It's appearance and quality of finish is also a delight.
The bass handles well and came perfectly set-up.
The minor adjustments made for personal preferences were easily made.
An ideal instrument from beginner through to intermediate use.
And also a go-to bass for all other music making.
Many of Thomann' s customers who have commented on product value for money are correct to do so, and the JB 20 CA bass is certainly no exception.
It joins the JB 20 Sunburst Bass previously purchased, to which Flat Wound Strings are now fitted. This also gives a good performing instrument.
After many years of listening to my eldest son practising bass for his gigs, I picked up an old Westone Thunderer1A bass he had left with me on leaving home. I now spend happy hours, making the same noises he used to, and have my own collection of basses from which to choose.
Thomann' s is always my preference for any items I need to follow my retirement interests..

Many years ago I had a candy apple red Tokai Jazz Bass and sold it to buy my JayDee in 1986. Although I'll never regret buying my beloved JayDee (still in my possession), I do bitterly regret selling the Tokai.

So, when I had a little birthday cash in.my account I decided to get nostalgic and bought this...

The colour is a bit more pinkish than candy apple but it looks great, and played very nicely out of the (well packaged) box.

As with all jazz basses, its a simple set up and not the loudest of basses but that is standard even on Fender ones.

The tonal range is far better than the price point would suggest and the pickups are perfectly adequate under most conditions.

My only slight disappointment was that the fretboard ends were pretty poorly finished and rather sharp but when compared to the overall quality of the bass, thats a fairly small gripe and fixable by most people with a little patience and household tools.

It's noticeable how light it is but sustain doesn't suffer too much (and what bass player actually needs sustain anyway?). I have a Marcus Miller J Bass which is significantly weightier and the basic tone is largely comparable.

It would be a great little gig bass for pubs and clubs that you could happily play all night, without any issues, and not feel like you've just got back from the gym after.

If the colour had been a few shades more scarlet...I would have been completely satisfied and my nostalgic need fulfilled.

But for the price...there is honestly nothing that can be complained about

As a new international student in Germany on a tight budget, I needed an affordable bass that still offered good quality and playability. I decided to order one from Thomann, and from the moment I unboxed it, I was pleasantly surprised by how much value this instrument provides for its price.

The bass arrived with a setup that was already comfortable and very playable. As a guitar tech, I usually expect to spend time fixing issues on budget instruments, but this one only needed minor adjustments to match my personal preferences. The laurel fretboard feels almost identical to rosewood (smooth, natural), and far better than any composite fretboard I’ve used. The neck was straight, the satin finish felt exceptionally smooth, and there were no fret sprouts or buzzing anywhere. Even the nut was perfectly slotted, and the string height was spot-on. The color looked even better in person than in the photos, and the overall weight and feel of the bass were just right.

For the price, this bass offers incredible value and quality. It plays well, sounds good, and requires almost no work to get started; just tune and enjoy. In my opinion, this is one of the best budget-friendly basses you can buy, especially if you want something reliable, comfortable, and surprisingly well-built.