Who's Harley Benton and why should i care about her ?
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solspirit
Ultimate Post Liker
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
I wouldn't call the gear cheap it is inexpensive, big difference. My bass player has two Ric 4001s and just bought a Harley Benton Ric copy for $200. The thing plays amazing and sounds just like a Ric. He liked it so much that he bought a HH bass from them for around the same cost. The bass is a monster. I am considering picking up one of their Ric guitars for $200.
Gstring
Active member
I don't usually buy new guitars but earlier this year I bought a Harley Benton CST-24T P90. An excellent PRS copy ..a slight arch top like the USA model as opposed to the beveled flatish SE model. On advice I went for a B stock which I understand is usually a guitar which has been returned with a minor defect which has been sorted.
Cost was 185 pounds shipped (around $225) Guitar is totally amazing for this price range. Spent another 45 quid (around $55) with my friendly tech to have custom shop job on frets and a new graph tech nut... He only found 3 slightly high frets and around 7 which were a bit flattish and fret ends needed little work. He said he had seen worse Gibsons. The Jacoba Fret board was very dry and needed a good soak in fret oil.but is now great. First guitar I have owned with a jacoba fret board.No complaints
I actually bought the guitar as a vehicle for a set of Irongear P90s I had but I actually quite like the stock pups.
Am really blown away by this guitar Both for looks (I have the .Ocean Blue model) and playability..Fret ends are now superb and great action. Even the Wilkinson trem is usable
Has become my go to guitar.Lives permanently in my living room plugged in Stock pots seem fine but but may go for Series and OOP sometime
Possibly I was lucky and got a good un but here in the UK definitely worth a punt with Thomans return policy
Cost was 185 pounds shipped (around $225) Guitar is totally amazing for this price range. Spent another 45 quid (around $55) with my friendly tech to have custom shop job on frets and a new graph tech nut... He only found 3 slightly high frets and around 7 which were a bit flattish and fret ends needed little work. He said he had seen worse Gibsons. The Jacoba Fret board was very dry and needed a good soak in fret oil.but is now great. First guitar I have owned with a jacoba fret board.No complaints
I actually bought the guitar as a vehicle for a set of Irongear P90s I had but I actually quite like the stock pups.
Am really blown away by this guitar Both for looks (I have the .Ocean Blue model) and playability..Fret ends are now superb and great action. Even the Wilkinson trem is usable
Has become my go to guitar.Lives permanently in my living room plugged in Stock pots seem fine but but may go for Series and OOP sometime
Possibly I was lucky and got a good un but here in the UK definitely worth a punt with Thomans return policy
solspirit
Ultimate Post Liker
I wouldn't call the gear cheap it is inexpensive, big difference. My bass player has two Ric 4001s and just bought a Harley Benton Ric copy for $200. The thing plays amazing and sounds just like a Ric. He liked it so much that he bought a HH bass from them for around the same cost. The bass is a monster. I am considering picking up one of their Ric guitars for $200.
Yeah I mispoke, I meant inexpensive. The two words are practically interchangabe with me. If I see some "cheap" I have more choice words dor it like shit or garbage. I can't find anything that says they're made outside of Germany either. . . Straighten me out on that if you would please.
Lucius Paisley
Well-known member
I've seen instances of people choosing to buy the HB DC Junior as a placeholder until they can get a "real" LP Jr and then being very disappointed when they do.
I can't say either way, but I think this video demo shows HB are more than worth it.
I'm aware some people have a problem with Shane / InTheBlues reviews, but he's left-handed and I think he's pretty fair without going overboard with praise, and that's all I'm really looking for in a review.
I can't say either way, but I think this video demo shows HB are more than worth it.
I'm aware some people have a problem with Shane / InTheBlues reviews, but he's left-handed and I think he's pretty fair without going overboard with praise, and that's all I'm really looking for in a review.
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Been looking at them for a while, as they seem to offer quite a bit for the $$, especially with Strats and Teles, there's quite a few variants with different finishes, pup configs, neck shapes.
This is one of their upper-tier Strats. Ash body, alnico 5 pups, Gotoh 510 style trem with a large block, pau ferro board, satin finish. For about $170, seems a no brainer. For a similar price, you're in Squier Affinity territory, which has ceramic pups and a pot metal trem block. On paper, at least, the HB seems like a better buy.
This is one of their upper-tier Strats. Ash body, alnico 5 pups, Gotoh 510 style trem with a large block, pau ferro board, satin finish. For about $170, seems a no brainer. For a similar price, you're in Squier Affinity territory, which has ceramic pups and a pot metal trem block. On paper, at least, the HB seems like a better buy.
Lovegun
Active member
Harley Benton is a store brand for Thomann music shop. I don't think they are really seeking world wide distribution as a brand. You can order their stuff only from Thomann site internationally. I don't know where they manufacture their stuff but I suspect they use some place where other brands are made. They have cut out the middle man from the equation since they can order the manufacturing themselves.
I'm always skeptical about fretwork, and that is on anything, not just lower-priced models. If you can't do fretwork yourself and do not have a true pro nearby then it's better to order from a trusted retailer with a good return policy. IMO lower-priced guitars are not good items to order as "used" from individuals on Reverb/Ebay. Local is cool because you can inspect it yourself!
The Harley Benton cabs I'm sure are good for the $. Most people are not pushing cabs to a volume that will really start to display the difference in materials and/or design.
It's great that they use good speakers at least, and not some house brand "custom special gx80" lol.
The Harley Benton cabs I'm sure are good for the $. Most people are not pushing cabs to a volume that will really start to display the difference in materials and/or design.
It's great that they use good speakers at least, and not some house brand "custom special gx80" lol.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Yeah, that's right. HB's still seem like a better deal than what is considered 'off brand' in USA shops. I am talking about those brands you only see in Sam Ash or GC.
nexion218
New member
Yeah, like Lovegun said: it's the "house brand" of Thomann. I vaguely remember my luthier saying that if everything is as its intended, they are a steal for that price, but he encountered a couple of really botched ones. On the bright side if they were any cheaper they would be practically free and from what I know Thomann has an excellent return policy so sounds like a really low risk adventure.
NegativeEase
New member
I've seen their stuff in guitar shops on Denmark Street in London, Edinborough and in shops in Germany, Belgium and Amsterdam -maybe in the states too -can't recall.
It's good student/entry level to mid level stuff from my memory -I mean, I took a few off the wall to play -so they were cool and featured enough to catch my eye, and I don't recall any being poor in quality.
I guess since it's a house brand for Thomann (I just found this out), the guitars Ive seen are used? I can't recall.
It's good student/entry level to mid level stuff from my memory -I mean, I took a few off the wall to play -so they were cool and featured enough to catch my eye, and I don't recall any being poor in quality.
I guess since it's a house brand for Thomann (I just found this out), the guitars Ive seen are used? I can't recall.
ErikH
Well-known member
I’ve got my eye on their PJ4 precision bass. Have heard a lot of good things about them. I can take care of any fret or electronic issues so no problem there for me if it needs to be handled. Unless I can find something States side that I like well enough, I’ll be going for one of those.
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NegativeEase
New member
I wouldn't call the gear cheap it is inexpensive, big difference. My bass player has two Ric 4001s and just bought a Harley Benton Ric copy for $200. The thing plays amazing and sounds just like a Ric. He liked it so much that he bought a HH bass from them for around the same cost. The bass is a monster. I am considering picking up one of their Ric guitars for $200.
This checks out with the type of HB stuff Ive pulled off the wall at a shop before. Didnt know they were that inexpensive!
