Harley Benton MV-5JB Black

MV5-JB, the 5 string bass with a slim neck.

I have been wanting to try a 5 string bass for a while now, but many have quite the wide neck nut width. This one comes in 43mm at the nut so not much bigger than a tradition precision neck.

Fit and finish was awesome and well above basses 2x/3x the price. Tone is great and the low B packs a nice low rumble but is not floppy.

Weight was nice and feature wise this instrument is great value for money!

Highly recommended for a good value for money 5 string bass

I recently picked up the Harley Benton MV-5JB, and honestly, it punches way above its price tag. Here is my honest breakdown after spending some quality time with it in the studio.
The Highlights
Stunning Aesthetics & Finish: Right out of the box, the finish on this bass is incredibly impressive. It looks and feels like a much more expensive instrument.
The 4-to-5 String Transition: As someone transitioning over from a 4-string bass, I was worried about the wider neck. I shouldn't have been. The neck profile is remarkably comfortable and didn't feel awkward or intimidating at all.
Flawless Fretwork & Setup: I’ve heard budget basses can have sharp fret edges, but I had absolutely no problems with the frets on this one. Even better, the setup was amazing straight out of the box—low action, no buzz, and ready to play.
Built Like a Tank (Heavy!): Make no mistake, this bass is very heavy. However, I actually like that because it tells me it’s made of solid, substantial wood. Plus, since I mostly play sitting down in my studio, the weight doesn't bother me at all.
The Pickup "Surprise"
The only real issue I ran into was a bit of a surprise on the spec sheet. My bass arrived with pickups branded "ISOLA" on the covers, which wasn't mentioned anywhere in the original product description.
I reached out to Thomann to see what was going on, and they explained:
"Isola is the new name for our own brand of Harley Benton pickups. They still have the same specs except the name on the cover."
Because of the sudden rebrand, I’m still in the dark about the exact technical specs—like whether they are using ceramic or Alnico magnets.
However, the tone itself does not disappoint. This is my first Jazz Bass, and I had heard warnings about single-coil hum when soloing just one pickup. To my surprise, this bass is as quiet as my PJ bass. I don't know if they secretly used noiseless split-coils for the new Isola line, but it's remarkably silent.
The Verdict
All in all, I am really happy with this purchase. The MV-5JB is structurally solid, plays beautifully, and serves as an amazing, high-quality foundation for future modding if I ever decide to swap parts down the line. If you're looking to jump into the 5-string world, this is a phenomenal way to do it.