I have 9 Harley Benton guitars and basses and not one of them had any blemishes at all. Only two of them needed fret polishing and 4 needed minor intonation. I replaced the pickups only two guitars and one of those was only for experimentation. I couldn't be happier with Harley Benton.
Yeah I mean, I skew the other way.. All three of my HB’s had minor finish blemishes… Key word is minor, and I mention it because some people are very picky, and they should know that generally, the expectation with a budget guitar is minor finish blemishes… That said, my Fusion-T is quite honestly one of my favorite guitars that I play most frequently… Absolutely love it and I’ve left it bone stock… My TE20HH is heavily modded and I swapped the pickups on my st20… All three had phenomenal fretwork outside of needing a polishing… I still think HB’s are hard to beat for the money
I've commented on a few other videos about Harley Benton because people need to know the truth about these guitars. Your video is great!! My first Harley Benton was a B-Stock SC-550 II (les paul copy). I figured the little extra savings being a b-stock would be worth it - and let me tell ya . . . this guitar is totally worth more. The only thing wrong with it was the intonation was bad, but I've been working on guitars for a long time, so that's such an easy fix. Otherwise, this beauty looks just as nice as a Les Paul. It's a chambered body, so it's lighter. I already planned on trying out some different pickups in it, so that was another modification. But, there were no issues with this guitar, at all. And, that started my addiction to Harley Benton. I now have 10 HB guitars and every single one of them was well worth the under $500 price. The Fusions are top of the line, seriously! I'd prefer a bit thinner neck, but everything else about them is truly a beautifully made guitar. I own a few high end guitars from well known companies, and I'd play my Fusion T over those every day of the week. The most work I've had to do on one of these guitars is fret work (smoothing down fret sprout and uneven frets). Just about any guitar I've ever bought online has needed the intonation adjusted and some minor setup. I just got a SC-Junior (les paul jr copy) and it was bit rough, but I worked on the frets and fingerboard and it literally feels like a real Les Paul Jr now. People need to understand that the price difference really means nothing in terms of quality. Because the guitars are coming straight from the Thomann, it leaves out the middle man like Sweetwater, Musicians Friend/Guitar Center, et al. I used to work for one of those bigger companies & a few other local shops, and retail guitar prices are pretty darn close to 100% mark up. Like, I got a Fender American Strat and the retail price was $1400, I got it for $740. I got a PRS that retails for $999, my price was $510 - and guess what - I had to take it back because one of the pots was bad and the neck had a problem. So, these other companies aren't making sure their products are top notch before leaving the manufacturer.
Lots of good enough here, thanks for taking the time to comment… And I completely agree with you about the Fusions, Really a fantastic guitar for the money! Thanks again for the comment 🤘🎸
I've only seen one harley benton and I set it up for a guy. Fender better get on the ball with their fret work.Cause this guitar had awesome fret. It cost under two hundred dollars.
My Fusion-T is literally one of my favorite guitars. I play it more than a lot of the more expensive stuff I have just because I love the feel... Judging by Fender's latest Amazon Squier release, I think they realize they have a problem on their hands with Harley Benton
I have a Fusion III HSH, TE-90FLT Blue Blast tele, and an ST-90-SA strat. I can't believe how nice they look, play and sound. And so AFFORDABLE!! You could fill your house with these and still be on track to retire comfortably.
If it wasn’t for shipping, I’d need a warehouse 😂 😂 😂… Seriously though, I have a Fusion III and it’s probably my favorite budget instrument under $500 I own. Legit hard to find a better value
Couple of things: HB is the "house brand" of Thomann, which is the world´s biggest online store for music gear. They´re literally the "Amazon of music equipment". They´re so cheap, because Thomann goes directly to the factories in Far East, have the instruments build and then import & ship them themselves. There´s no dealer involved, like with import brands of big name companies like Squier, Epiphone etc. Because they´re so big as a company, they can negotiate better prices from the factories and also get the hardware ( bridges/ pickups etc) much cheaper. That´s why you see a 1000 Floyd or EMG pickups on a 450 Euro Guitar. If you´re located in the EU & the UK, their shipping rates are super cheap. Sadly not so much in N. America, but that goes also the other way. Their return policies are usual very generous, usually they will refund or replace faulty instruments without any fuss. Sadly, because they sell so much and have this return policy, they skip on the QC and it´s not unusual to get a lemon. But QC has improved over the years, dramatically, specially the more expensive models are pretty well build. Speaking of, the more expensive series are usually made in Indonesia from what I know.
I have 3 HB's - 2 electrics and an acoustic - and all three of them came out of the box pretty much perfectly set up. Amazing fit and finish, perfect paint and varnish. Frets and binding are flawless. The only thing that's not perfect is that the tuners on the SC-450Plus (the Les Paul copy) are a little out of line on the headstock due to the holes not being drilled perfectly straight. But it doesn't affect the playing at all, and it's barely noticeable. I would also say that both it and the TE-52 (the Telecaster copy) are quite heavy, heavier than you'd think they would be. The acoustic, the Superior-E VS, is fantastic, a dream to play.
That's good to know, I've been contemplating and HB acoustic for some time. I'm likely gonna grab one early next year... So far I have the TE20HH SBK Standard, the Fusion-T, and the ST20... As mentioned in the vid, they have a few quirks but ultimately they're fantastic for the money. It's hard to ask for or find anything more in that budget range
As a bassist,.....I wished Harley Benton was around when I started out 40 years ago. I can't believe the money I wasted on Fender basses over the years and never being totally happy with them. I purchased my first Harley Benton JB-75 jazz bass in Natural Ash just a year ago. When I got this bass in my hands after unboxing it, I was simply floored at the quality of parts, the fit and finish, and playability. It did require some minor set up, however, It plays like a dream with the Roswell alnico 5 pickups, Wilkinson jazz bridge with the brass saddles, D-profile maple neck, 'decent' tuners and controls. I got it as a b-stock item because one of the plastic volume knobs was cracked (easily replaceable). And I only paid $123 USD for this bass, plus around $80 shipping from Germany. Needless to say that I will never buy another Fender again. Harley Benton is impossible to beat on price and quality.
Honestly I’ve been tempted to grab a bass just for some studio work and to let the kids play around on… I feel the same way about the Fusion-T… The Roswells, Wilkinson Trem, Stainless Steel Frets, and locking tuners make it hard to be for the money… and it’s becoming one of my favorite guitars
You got lucky, I really see HB as a mostly-assembled kit. My Les Paul Jr. wasn't buffed (the one on the website was . . . ) and the geometry is wrong, strings are a mile from the pickup. Not an easy fix on a set-neck. However, the guitar itself is good. I put a million hours into it, installed a pickup worth most of the cost of the instrument, and it gets just as much play-time as my Strat and RG550. So not for beginners, not for perfectionists, but for someone with good setup skills they're a steal.
I took a chance because of the 25th anniversary sale. I’ve been playing guitar for a long time, and it’s very clear that people buy guitars with their eyes and not their ears and their hands. It is ridiculous. How good these two Fusion guitars are for have a little I paid. One was beef stock, and the other one was a regular new model, both on sale. Shipping from Europe to the states was about $82 and overall, I paid a little less than $500 for everything. That’s just simply mind blowing. The necks alone feel amazing. That’s worth more than the price I paid for each guitar. The pick ups really aren’t bad at all. Not high output, but definitely nothing different than what is on the Player Plus series by Fender. And, these feel much nicer than my Fenders. That’s crazy. The only thing I had to do is polish the frets. There were 2-3 very minor blemishes. But, that’s the least of my concern.
I have left my Fusion-T bone stock… I realize the Roswells aren’t for everyone, but they fill a void in my collection as far as tone, really kind of mid-level output classic rock distortion tone… That said, if someone were looking for a guitar that needed ZERO modifications out of the box, and was looking to maximize the features that came with the guitar, the Fusion-T is without a doubt one of the Best Buys out there… 🤘🎸
Aside: The shipping costs to the USA are now off the rails. It's $80-something for 1 item, $134 for 2 items and $180-something for 3 items... no more "saving" on shipping. At least, that's my experience. A few days ago, this wasn't the case. I wrote them about this, but haven't heard back yet.
I bought the SC-550 II in Autumn Flame Burst thinking that if I liked it in general, I might shell out the bucks for a Gibson LP Studio. The HB came in with a perfect - - perfect - - finish. Perfect binding, intonation set quite well. The red meranti wood body and neck are flawless. I've been building custom electric guitars for almost twenty years and my best fretwork , while I've never had any complaints about it, is maybe equal to what I found on the 550. It was very good. The Tesla pickups are simply fine. I thought I'd at least change those when the guitar arrived, but I realized quickly that there was no need to do that. None at all. Here's the truth - - after playing the 550 for a month or so, all my GAS for Gibson was gone. The 550 can roar if you want it to, or be sweet and clean. The action is set slightly lower than Gibson factory default, and I don't tolerate any buzz in my guitars. And it is beautiful. Not for the price, mind you, but just beautiful, regardless of what I paid. The one mod I decided to make, and which was worth the price, was putting on some very nice Kluson Revolution tuners. Now, I'm planning to buy another 550 and mod the hell out of it before HB realizes how popular they're getting in the States and start to raise prices.
I’ve actually wanted one of those 550’s for awhile… I’m getting the itch for a single cut so we’ll see but it’s definitely on my list… Definitely be an awesome guitar to mod out 🤘🎸
6. Excellent Modding Platform 👍👍 I bought a Harley Benton LP style single pickup instrument for $182 + shipping. At the end of the day, with shipping and mods, I ended up with a very Special (actually LP Junior :o) guitar for $400. That's after replacing ALL the electronics, starting with the pickup and right down to wiring, and replacing the stock tuners with Gotoh locking tuners. I had planned to replace the bridge, too, but I *like* the Harley Benton bridge on that model.
I’ve seen some LP style bridges on Amazon that have a piezo pickup on them… I’m tempted to get an HB LP just for that 😂 … But yeah, they’re great modding platforms for sure 🤘🎸
I bought the ST-90SA a year ago. The bones of the guitar are GREAT! The way everything fits together is extremely good. You can't slip a piece of paper between the neck and body anywhere. The 3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 ST-Style single coils sound great and have great output. I haven't put a meter on them but they sound great! It's heavy and really plays well. The neck was flamed maple which I didn't expect at all. The bad points are that the output jack, 5 way switch, nut and string trees were absolute garbage. I had never seen such a cheap 5 way switch but the guitar only cost $139.00 when I got it. (before shipping) After changing out the bad components, it works great! It's my go to guitar. And still cost more than I would have paid for a new Strat. Nothing against real Strats. I love them. I was just really pleased with it after I was done replacing the few bad parts. And in all fairness, I may have just gotten one with bad components. I haven't seen anyone else saying anything about bad components. I only hear about frets and set up. Of course It needed setting up. I think nearly any guitar needs to be set up for how each individual plays. IMHO
No doubt… I don’t think people realize that a lot of the common issues with these guitars can be seen on even more expensive guitars… I got a $700 Schecter that needs a Pot and was setup so poorly, it wasn’t even playable when I received it. These are pretty common issues for sub-$1000 guitars. I only kept the Schecter because the Burl top and finish were flawless and I can fix everything else 😂 Side note: I was really surprised at the quality of the pots and switches in my ST-20…
I've never bought a Harley Benton guitar but I've bought parts for my Ovation acoustic and a few other things from Thomann and I have been completely satisfied with their service and products.
I've got two HBs. First I got the EX-76 GHWAN model and it's fantastic. Especially for $300. I also picke up an SC-Custom something or other from the Reverb shop. It's a great guitar, but the neck is too thick for me past the 13th fret. So eventually I'm going to pop those Teslas into the EX, where the only complaint I have it the pickups are...off somehow and then I guess sell that SC. And again, it's a stellar guitar, just not for me. I'd highly recommend HB to anyone, especially if you're looking at or above the $250ish starting point. Edit/Addendum I forgot to mention that as far as I can tell, both guitars are FLAWLESS from and aesthic/finish standpoint. In fact, they are, quite honestly, stunning pieces to look at. The SC was meant to be a second guitar to have in another tuning, and I went through several other brands as well, and was having a load of trouble finding anything that was anywhere near as good as that EX. I even ended up going with the "high end" Epiphone Prophecy Exturas. Two of them. And they were BOTH disasters. Absolute garbage. One had like 5 cracks in the neck and the replacement seemed like it was built by a mentally handicapped monkey. And these are +/-$1200. "Settled" on a Schecter E1 SLS Elite "Evil Twin...." Now THAT guitar is an absolute beast. Is it better than the HB EX? Oh yeah. but that HB is still better, by miles, than guitars that were 4x what it cost.
Im really tempted to pull the trigger on an SC… I’m probably gonna check out some competing brands for channel content but I’m sure I’ll eventually end up with one… Flawless finished on these guitars are not unheard of, it just shouldn’t be the expectation for a budget instrument. None of the imperfections on my HB’s bothered me in the least but I always mention it in vids so people know what to expect… Like you said, definitely recommend to anyone on a budget or anyone looking for a value buy 🤘🎸
@@FretboardDiaries I was honestly surprised at the finishes because I'd watched MANY videos before jumping in. I'm still considering giving an SC-550II a shot, I think the necks are a little different, but that custom is just too chunky up high. Almost certainly going to grab an Amarok baritone though. I need something for low tuning and that neck-thru just really does it for me... Besides the fact they're sexy af.
No shipping or tax costs charged for uk orders from Germany I’ve bought 3 and no added costs all my recieved guitars came immaculate all played out the box, although I did my own personal set ups.I also purchased the tube 15 amp superb amp well recommended.
Ahhh I’ve been meaning to check out their amps for awhile… I’d be in so much trouble if shipping were free to the states, 😂 😂… That said, I too do all my own set ups, pretty simple to do, but all three guitars I received were set up really well out of the box. This shouldn’t be the expectation at this price point, but it’s nice when it happens… 🤘🎸
I have 2 Harley Bentons (An HSH Fusion 2) and (PRS looking CST-24) and both are very nice. The Fusion 2 is amazing with roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, tusq nut, locking tuners... Lots of bells & whistles and is amazing to play. If you know how to do some basic improvements like fret polish, rounding fret ends, adjusting neck and intonation you can take a very good cheap guitar and make it play amazing for little to no money. The only issue I've had ordering from Thomann in the past is shipping to America. I live in Florida and have ordered 4 or 5 times from them and almost every time the box was nearly demolished but no damage to the gear. One larger guitar box had such a large hole in it I was able to reach in and remove the guitar without needing to open the box in any way. It's just luck that kept my guitar from falling out!
Yeah my last box of was a little beat up but thankfully no damage… And you’re right about basic improvements, especially with RU-vid now having tutorials on everything… Most issues are pretty easy to fix
I got the SC 550 about 4 years ago the frets need levelling and a polish and the pots need sorting and maybe a new nut at the top then I think she be a Beauty🎸👍
To me setting them up and working on them is part of the fun… It’s cathartic… Great for beginners to learn on too. I’ve been debating an SC for some time, but I’m in the middle of a move right now, so gotta hold off for a bit… After that though, definitely grabbing one 🤘🎸
Thanks for what seems to be a fair critique of Harley Benton guitars. I really don't consider them "budget", as I can afford to spend waay more on an instrument. It just that some of these HB's make me question why would I ? After years of guitar collecting, I didn't have a Tele. After watching several YT videos , I copped one, a TE 52 NA and lo & behold, I found it was a lot like "Shane in the Blues " demonstrated This $150 Tele clone sounded as "Tele " was anyone would want. Caramelized (low roasted) neck, great fret work (it did sprout a bit during a cold, dry Mid-Western US winter). But I bought it figuring I would update everything on the guitar ... The surprise ? You really don't have to ! Everything works just fine ! I did buy a 2d one, to put G&L MFD pickups in , because I wanted a platform for G&L MFD. The stock pickups are just fine however. I ran into a guy ... that claimed to not be a "dealer"(posing as a "Tech" ) but who thought the JA Baritone was a piece of junk. I found his "observation" interesting, as I had just bought one , and it was just great. The "Amaranth " fret board ??? Fantastic, all 30" long, fret work as smooth as a baby-booty. This guy accused me of first being a "fanboy", then a troll when I pushed back on what I felt were unwarranted criticisms. Finally he revealed he was not a dealer, had no "agenda" , but that he was a "manufacturer". Therein lies his bias... As these "manufacturers" look at what HB sells & ships and it relative high quality, and wonder "how the heck can they do this ? The materials to start with cost them more than the delivered guitar ! I did have to do a minor fix on my CST 24 P90 (pickup not properly installed) ... and I'm not a tech, and it was still a simple fix. BUT a complete beginner, may want a guitar tech to do a set up (or fix minor goofs) and for well less than the cost of a Squier CV... you have a great guitar...
What’s funny about these guitars is that I just find them fun… Fun to play, fun to work on, and for the price, fun to buy 😂… And in this day and age, even a beginner can learn how to fix most of the setup issues on these guitars by watching some RU-vid videos. It’s too bad these guitars weren’t around when I started learning, woulda been amazing and might have even started me on my guitar journey sooner. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching 🤘🎸
I bought three guitars from Thomann and a piano during lockdown on acoustic Koa and a Telecaster style both by Harley Benton and a Recording King resonator zero issues with any of them plus the piano is doing just fine. I also bought picks and cables and again no problems. Thomann were good to deal with and that was shipping to Scotland.
I don’t even want to think about what it would cost to ship a Piano to me 😂 😂 😂… Guitars cost $90, I’d need to finance the shipping 😂 🤦♂️ Seriously though, I’ve too have had very positive experiences with Thomann… Thanks for watching 🤘🎸
I have seven HBs. I believe the low end models are from China, e.g. ST-20/TE-20/DC-20. The midrange from Vietnam and Indonesia. The high end from Indonesia. But quality is excellent across the line. All hit like 2x the price point. They are comparable with the big brands from the same locations.
I have four HB guitars. I'm not the best player in the world, but with a little bit of minor set up once they've arrived, they play and sound fine to my ears, and I mostly can't HEAR the difference between them and many of the big names. I have one of their little mahogany electro-acoustic clones of the Taylor GS Mini, which came with a clone of the Taylor GS Mini carry bag. I bought it for £109 (UK Sterling) and I use it every day. I've played the real thing and I personally can tell little difference. Dave
If I’m being perfectly honest, I can usually tell the difference between an HB and a high end instrument, but HB has really narrowed that gap, particularly with their Fusion line… Add a fret polish and a proper setup, and you narrow that gap even more. I put a set of GFS Power Rail pickups in my HB TE-20 Sbk standard and it has given that guitar such an insane tone, that it’s become one of my favorite guitars to record with. I like high gain pickups with good bottom end and a lot of sustain and those pickups knock it out of the park. Truly an awesome guitar 🤘🎸
This company is in Germany and there are no repair people in the States. If you have a problem, the cost to correct it would exceed the value of the instrument.
So I’ve never had an issue, but I’ve been told they are very good about issuing credit for damage or other issues. I’ve also never had to return anything, so I can’t speak for that either. Again, I’ve been told their policy is pretty good, but I’ve also seen a few complaints too, so there is kind of a “taking your chances” element I suppose.
@@FretboardDiaries The return also requires registering it with customs. Besides being an additional pain in the ass, it's an additional cost. And they don't cover shipping. I think they have the right idea in regard to making a good instrument (about on par with a high end Squier) for a fantastic price. But if they want to succeed in the States they're going to have to up their customer service policies.
I ordered 2 guitars directly from Gibson , L5 & Les Paul a 1957 RI. both sent back with more than little finish problems.. Disappointed ! I now fully support and only support "Budget Friendly" Guitars.. And offing my high dollar guitars one by one. PS. If you play or learning to play guitar? And not knowing/learning the basics of setting up your guitar? Is like driving a car without knowing how check the oil & coolant, or change a flat tire,,
Man I hear you... I spent $800 on a Schecter that arrived looking like the tech that should have set it up took the day off... I'm being perfectly honest when I tell you that the guitar arrived practically UNPLAYABLE... Action was a disaster, pot was no good, fret buzz, numerous dead frets... The guitar itself was beautiful, but everything else was a disaster... Really embarrassing, and to think I could have had an HB Amarok that likely would have been pretty well good to go, at half the price... Well.... Lesson learned....
We need companies like HB, even with the few issues that come with budget guitars. Guitar brands think they sell cars, seeing how they artificially inflate prices. Want to buy a car, or a guitar for the same price. At least my Solar and HB's are better than the 2 Esp 2s I had, which shouldn't be when you pay over 2k just for a name on the headstock
It’s going to be interesting because the guitar market is soft right now… People are holding on to their disposable income because of inflation and economic uncertainty, and more and more people are looking to Harley Benton to stretch the value of their dollar… Fender cut production by 600,000 units, and I’m sure other major companies are feeling it too. I think Harley Benton will continue to grow, just wish they could get the cost of shipping down, but hey, it’s an excuse to order 2 haha 🍻 🤘🎸
Been buying Harleys for years now. Started out to build my collection without breaking the bank. My earlier ones were sometimes poor and needed setting up and tweeking here and there, but I enjoyed the luthier learning. In more recent times they have become better and better. Saw a youtube video about the cheapest Harley acoustic that the reviewer said needed lots of work so I thought that's a good learning project for me. When it arrived it was perfect out the box, action, intonation, level frets, perfect cut nut. I was almost dissapointed, The only downside was the young wood used gave too bright a tone for me but given time it will mellow with age.
Yeah they’ve definitely gotten better through the years… I thought for sure my ST-20 would need fret work and all it needed was a fret polish. Hard to believe the quality for the price, it’s a shame shipping rates keep going up
I have a matte black Fusion 3 with roasted maple and the EMG retro 70s and it's phenomenal for the price. One of the best necks I've owned on that thing, and I own and have owned several nice ESPs, Kramers and Charvels that cost 3 to 4 times the price. Best money I ever spent on guitar gear, for sure.
Love that Matte Black! If I hadn’t already had an SBK Standand Tele in Matte I probably would have went for that… Really a killer looking/sounding guitar
@@FretboardDiaries Yes. I am still really enamored with it. And it really is my favorite guitar these days. And it holds its tune really well. And, I really like the EMGs. I have used 81s for years mostly for down-tuned stuff and I was shocked at how dynamic they are. More like a passive. But yeah...I like Charvels and it's rather Charvel-esque, of course.
I bought Harley Benton LP Jr. Tobacco Sunburst model for $139.00and a hard shell case for $110.00 shipping was $40.00. That was before Thomann switched from DHL to UPS to ship their gear. DHL kept losing or damaging the packages. Due to inflation the shipping charges have gone up considerably.
It really is a great brand, and the sheer variety of guitars they have is mind blowing. Yep, occasionally you’ll get a lemon, but the great thing is Thomann will either knock some of the price off the instrument or have it returned and ship you a new one at no extra cost to the customer. If you’re a mod platform person, there’s no reason not to love this brand. I have three to date…that won’t be the end of it!
I’m going to buy a kit when the weather cools in the fall and humidity drops so I can paint. I’ve been wanting to do this for some time, I think it’d be great content for the channel.. I’ve heard great things about their kits… looking forward to building one 🤘
Very true, but if you buy two from Thomann the shipping price is the same, whereas there’s no way to do that on Reverb. That’s why I’ve continued to buy from Thomann, but if you’re only buying one, Reverb isn’t a bad option
I’m working on Number 4… haha… Although I may branch off to a few other budget brands just for some content and comparison for the channel. We’ll see but thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 🤘🎸
I've bought 5 HBs, resold 3 of them, simply because they weren't my style. I still have a "Jazzmaster' and an 'ES335' style, which I'll keep. It's a good way to find out if you really like a certain style, before investing big bucks. I decided I'm actually a Gretsch fan, but I dwell in the mid-level Electromatic series, so still Oriental manufacture. Anybody who worries about minor finish flaws on the backside of a guitar is not holding the guitar right. The backside is supposed to be against your belly, so the dancing girls see only the front side.
The Jazzmasters look enticing for sure. I’ve never been much of a Gretch guy, just not my style but they’re beautiful guitars… As far as the minor finish flaws, there’s no wrong answer and everyone has their own opinion on it, but my take is that it’s to be expected on a budget instrument. I have some higher end guitars that have some minor finish blemishes too, just adds a little character 🤘🎸
Very true… They’re also a great platform for people who want to learn how to set up guitars, without the risk of doing any damage to an expensive guitar.
The one thing to know is that it will most likely need major setup work. Mine needed a new nut, complete fret job, and the neck shimmed. It also suffers from crappy electronics with no shielding. Oh, and there are holes drilled in places that aren't necessary and a giant crack between the pickup and tremolo cavities. HB sucks!
I bought my first Harley Benton guitar during the height of the pandemic and i was surprised i received it exactly 7 days from the time of purchase. I have the TV yellow Les Paul Jr single cut and the SC400 LP type gold top. Love em both! BTW, the guitars were in tune when i received them!
Yeah I think my last guitars made it in like 5 days from Germany… Crazy fast shipping… I’m looking at an SC for my next guitar… Great looking guitars 🤘
I’ve been meaning to try one of those kits for awhile… Probably gonna give one a shot later in the year, I’ve heard great things and seems like a lot of fun to build one. Gonna have to dust off my airbrush 😂
Here's another point you should consider when buying a Harley Benton. The only way to make them so affordable is mass production. That's fine. So let's say for every 100 guitars there will be 10 to knock it out of the park, of which maybe 1-3 are so incredibly good the might go for 10 times the price. Then there will be 70-80 guitars in several grades of "this is mindblowing for the money" so on any other brand you'd expect to pay from 9 to 2 times the price. And then there are 10 guitars somewhere between "that's what you expect for the price" and "crap". In the last 15 years I ordered over 100 Harley Bentons, constantly on the hunt for the "top 10". I even had 2 from the 10 times the money categorie. What I want to say it can be kind of a lottery to get a great guitar, also you will almost always get a good guitar but you also might happen to get a bad guitar. When living in Europe this is not a concern at all, just send it back. Living in the US this might be an issue... Thomanns' costumer service is great, they will almost certanly find a solution in this case.
Lots of good info there, so thanks for the comment… I should’ve mentioned Thomann’s customer service because I consistently hear how good it is… Thankfully the three guitars I’ve bought have fallen into the “Good” range, so I’ve been quite happy… Thanks again for taking the time to comment 🤘🎸
Just checked out Reverb and Thomman. Reverb is about the same price with free shipping, but the 30 day return window is nice. Also, I checked the 2 guitar shipping... It's not the same shipping cost, but it certainly isn't as expensive if the guitars were split up.
Yeah I mean, I found the reverb price including shipping for one guitar to be about $10 cheaper than Thomann’s price + shipping… They don’t combine shipping on Reverb, and at the time I ordered my 2 guitars from Thomann, the shipping was the same price for 2 as it was for 1, so doing that made more sense… Seeing as how Thomann just raised the shipping cost to over $90 for 1 guitar, it’s soon going to reach a point where it’s no longer worth it in the states… 😟
Thomann now include free shipping on most models and include VAT if you ate ordering in from the UK, they've made it much simpler after initial brexit complications
But even with the say $80 bucks US shipping, it not bad at all. Usually takes less than 4 days (assuming the guitar is in stock . DO NOT ORDER if the puppy in not on hand ) I have even taken to buying the Thomann hard shell case for an additional $68. Adds about $20 to shipping so for $88 , you get a case (better than a gig bag) that if you are your own roadie, and are careful with it, is pretty cool @@FretboardDiaries
@@WilliamJOHNSONJR I’ve been playing so long I have a closet full of cases… 🤦♂️ 😂 😂 but I see your point… l’ve reached a point where I’d rather save up a bit more, and order 2 guitars to save on the shipping… I just couldn’t imagine if shipping was free… 😂 😂 😂 I’d need a warehouse
The stuff on Reverb shipping includes I'm sure is ridiculously marked up. Shipping for me, USA. Is 88 bucks. Four of my eleven guitars are HBs. None have finish issues one needed frets cleaned up. HB is making it difficult for me to buy another brand.🇺🇸⚔️🍕🍺👍👍
Yeah it’s funny, the stuff on reverb is marked up to be the same price as buying from Thomann with shipping, at least it was like that at the time of this video… I love my HB’s, the Fusion-T is the clear absolute winner… With a loaded Spec sheet and sub $300 price it’s hard to beat
@@FretboardDiaries I ordered just within the last two weeks, a JA-25TH anaversary firemist from Thomann delivered just under $400. I think. Reverb wanted a bit over $600 before shipping and tax. I got my first baritone from HB. An Amarok. Really nice. I just now figured out how to tune it!🥴 I'm saving for my birthday. If I don't get a Fusion III, probably an SC500 of some configuration.
@@charlesharper7292 SC500 and Amarok are both on my wish list haha… Probably do the Amarok because it fits my playing style more, heard good things about both though… If you enjoy the Tele-body style, Fusion III is almost a must 🤘
Yup, I have a $700 Schecter that left the factory like it was setup by a Kindergartener… Really embarrassing to be honest. All three Harley’s I bought needed very little if anything in terms of setup. As mentioned in the vid, all I had to do was fret polish… Oh and thanks for the kind words Paul
Thanks for the in-depth look at HB. I visited Thomann and played several model… even a black strat Gilmore knock off. Great tone, frets great very play able for 149 euros. The case would cost more. I going back today… looking at their Ricky 12 sting may get the 2,
I would be in big trouble if I didn’t have to deal with shipping 😂 😂… I’d have to rent a truck, to get my guitars home… If I’m ever in Germany though, it’s going to be a must see for sure 🤘🎸
Yeah I’ve heard their quality has improved since the early years… Some of the guys in the Facebook groups have talked about some of the early models lacking in overall quality. Twisted neck would definitely be unacceptable
Excessive shipping to the US is actually kinda a good thing… 😂 😂 😂… Otherwise I’d need a warehouse for all my HB’s…. But yeah, when I made the video, I was going on what a buddy of mine told me who lived there at one point, that shipping plus VAT was expensive. Obviously I live in the states so it’s hard to gauge the cost in the UK.., Glad to hear it’s cheap for ya’ll, I’d love for it to get down to those prices here…
I have several HB guitars. On all the decent ones I've replaced the tuners with either Grover on the 3+3, or Fender lockers on the 6 in line. Some needed far more setup than others. Best one is a PRS thinline knock off with an amazing fret board inlay. I can recommend the Martin D-45 knock off, sounds amazing and looks the dogs do-dahs. I have a couple or three bought as 'B stock' which have no defects or blemishes that I can see. Just returns I guess, as in Europe and the UK returns are free. You email and they send you a return label. Ta.
I don't live in Germany, so I'm bound to ordering online, but I still live within the European Union, so all I need to do to avoid the €5,90 shpping costs is getting above a total price of €69 which is easy when you're buying a new guitar or bass
Thanks man... I'm moving soon, and have debated the color of my next studio (hoping it ends up larger)... May continue with blue, or perhaps a deep red... Either way, something soothing to jam in for sure. Thanks for the comment
They literally have a model for any style of music you might play, from most of the bigger brands. Want an Explorer? They got you. What a Warlock? They Got You. Want a Strat or a Tele? They Got You. Want a Les Paul? You guessed it, they got you. The pickups have been a LITTLE Weak on some of the models, some of them even being Microphonic, so do a bit of research as you would any guitar brand. But yeah, got 2, an Amarok Baritone and a SC with the Floyd, both are incredible instruments.
No doubt, I’ve been eyeing an Amarok for a bit… I went with the Schecter CR-6 because it was on sale at the time, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t one of the most beautiful finishes you could ask for on a guitar… Setup was absolute trash, and appeared untouched… I have two HB Tele’s and a strat… Kinda feeling like I need an Explorer at this point 😆 And yes, pickups are without a doubt hit or miss, and I saw where KDH had a microphonic issue. I have a tendency to pop pickups out of guitars rather frequently anyway so it’s not an issue for me
Point of interest. All orders over £149 are free posting in UK. Only £10 otherwise. I buy quite a bit from Thomann. I would also check their B stock guitars, some bargains to be found. £60 off their HB PRS copy and it's pristine.
Hey thanks for the comment, lots of good info there… I might have to make another video from all these comments, 7 MORE things to know about Harley Benton 😂 🤘🎸
Yeah, I ordered one . The SC 450 , when it arrived , it looked like it had been on tour . Sent it back . Then I ordered an epiphone muse sg it also looked like it been on tour also. I'm curious about thomanns quality control . I sent it back also . So I figure two guitars both has QC issues . Then I get shit about sending it back. It only took 2 weeks to get my refund after they received there guitar back . So I'm totally done with thomanns .
Only question I would ask would be were these guitars B-Stock? Not saying that would be fair either but I’ve heard of a few instances of this with B-Stock guitars… Obviously a new guitar shouldn’t come in anything less than New condition… You’re not the only one to complain about Thomann’s customer service/return policy. There’s been a few comments on this vid and I’ve seen people in Facebook groups both praise and complain about them. I don’t have any personal experience outside of my orders which were in great shape. Sucks that you had a bad experience
Update on purchasing online with Thomann . I finally purchased a Harley Benton DC-600. It took me twice to get a good purchase, and there was a 10-watt amplifier with accessories, a stand, gigbag extra cables, and a set of ernie ball super slinky 9-42 . It's nice to go visit there store . Vacation planned .the people in the store are much nicer in person . With being American living in Deutschland, it's best to go into the stores . Kiel doesn't have, but maybe 3 music stores, maybe. Gibson epiphone , aria, and a couple of other brands .the gibson I personally wanted was 9000 dollars, in euros it would have been over 12,000 with shipping and customs . Harley Benton is 190 euros unless you got it during the 40th anniversary sale . I saved 50 euros ,and the wife got a mini tour of her homeland. 5 times a charm . So maybe I'll give it some upgrades ? Sorry for the long letter . Just a happy retired American in Deutschland. 😎👍🏽
I haven’t ordered one in a year, but when I did, there weren’t any extra charges other than shipping. I’ve bought three HB’s from Thomann and only had to pay shipping. I’m East coast USA
I wished Harley Benton listed the weights of their guitars because I would never have purchased my TE-53KR Keith Richards "Micawber" tribute model because it weighs 10lbs. Ridiculously heavy which stands to reason why shipping was $80+ to the US ...although the finish was really nice, it arrived with extremely sharp frets. Look...you get what you pay for, IF you're lucky. Live and learn.
I completely agree and the weight of that Keith Richards is something I’ve heard others complain about… It’s been my experience with HB that the fretwork is usually pretty good, but as with any budget instrument, that can be an issue. I had a very good file on hand just in case… Oh and shipping is $80+ to the states regardless of weight… In fact, you can order 2 guitars and the shipping price stays the same. So I either order 2 or buddy up with a friend to cut down on the cost per instrument
@@FretboardDiaries I have a fret dressing file from StewMac NOW but not when I received my HB . You're right in that budget instruments more often than not, come with some form of issue. Between a luthiers full set up, all frets filed and leveled, shipping and better strings, I could have purchased a better instrument from a retailer here in the US ! I think Sire , or Squire's upper end Classic Vibe guitars or Ibanez, G&L. Yamaha, or Music Man all offer a better, affordable product.
@@judeworth938 You bring up a great point that when everything is added up, there may be better options for the new price point… For me, I enjoy working on them, always have, so I don’t have the cost of a Luthier, but for others, definitely something to consider. I will say that of the 3 HB’s I got, the fretwork was the highlight of the guitar, but that’s definitely not the case for all their models. Ultimately the question of whether to spend a little more for a better option is up to the consumer. Personally, I enjoy both options 😂 😂 🤘🎸
I can vouch for the 10 Lbs... I have 2 TE 52 NA, and weighed one at 10 Lbs ! BUT I sit... Don't jump around, Don't play with it behind my head, or with my teeth (like Jimi !) ... Put a 3" cotton web strap on it (Levys) , Swapped out the strap pins for Shaller locking (so the Two Ton Tele would not rip out the short stock screws) And for less that $200, I have Teles that sound as Tele as they wanna ! BTW, My frets were well finished, no sharp edges BUT even with "caramellizing" the neck, Did experience minor fret sprout in a harsh cold /dry Mid Western US winter. (But not nearly as bad as my $800 Fender Player Mustang !)
Yeah, the pisser is when you pay $1.500 for the guitar (Fender American Professional Jaguar) ... and have to resort to the Stew Mac file ! This guitar introduced me to fret sprout... Her 25 year old sister (Fender Am Std Strat Plus never did sprout)@@judeworth938
I’ll be honest, I’ve never understood buying a guitar factory relic’d… I mean, the best part of relicing a guitar is the years of wear I’ve put on it and the story it tells… It’s like buying jeans with holes already in them… 😂… but to each their own. But yeah, the blemishes don’t bother me, I only mentioned them because I know some folks are perfectionists and would be bothered by them
I've noticed the Harley Bentons have increased in price, but some don't have locking tuners and such anymore, or they use their own brand. The soldering work/wrong pots on the EMG pickups are a mess, and I don't get why - as EMG offers fully solderless wiring.
Yeah I mean, given the way inflation has been going, it kinda makes sense that instead of raising prices, certain features would just be dropped or parts would be substituted in an effort to not raise prices… I haven’t bought one of their instruments with EMG’s yet, I’ve stayed on the real budget side of things, so I can’t speak for that. I can only guess that the solderless stuff would add to the cost, but the soldering on the two guitars that I swapped pickups on wasn’t bad (neither had EMG’s though)…
Yeah, My Fusion T HH/ HT are so cool, they are the best argument against me adding another PRS SE , like a DGT, which I'm sure is a fine guitar (and I have 4 PRS SE + a US made S2 ) ... But for the $900 the DGT commands, I'm not sure its worth twice my HB Fusion T ...@@olebrumme6356
Not sure about modding. While you can put a Fender or Watmoth neck in a Squire, not so here. Also, pick guards, bridges etc... all different. Replacing pickups, no problem.
I’ve seen a lot of guys modifying necks to fit on these, check out some of the Harley Benton modding groups on Facebook, all sorts of good info. Pickguards are usually pretty simple to modify to fit these too, and Tuners are also an easy switch. That said, I haven’t tried a bridge swap yet, but that’s coming 😈… I get what you’re saying about direct bolt on parts, but These guitars have good bones… And given how cheap they are, it’s a good platform for people who have never attempted a pickup swap, tuner change, or even modifying parts to fit. Come to think of it, I think I need a kill switch next 🤔🧐😂
I bought a MultiScale-7 TPB earlier this year and have been beyond impressed with it. It is my first multiscale guitar which oddly took me little, if any time to get used too.. There was one very minor issue with it. The tuners didn't allow for much thicker strings than what is on it stock. It came with a 10-59 Daddario EXL set on it. I prefer thicker strings on it and put NYXL 11 to 64 on it, and discovered the low 64b string would not fit into the tuner. The hole in it was not big enough for that big of a string, in any of the tuners. All of them have about a .060 hole... One minor issue that was easily addressable, on one tuner. The finish, the fret work, exceptionably well done. I did have to set it up for the heavier strings, which is completely normal, and prior to changing the strings it was set up very well right out of the box. Prior to purchasing it I was skeptical about it because of some reviews I had seen. After getting into my own hands, I was skeptical of the reviews..... To say I am impressed with my Harley Benton, is a bit of an understatement.... My next guitar that will more than likely be another Harley Benton. I don't need another brand new 4 figure guitar that needs finished, fret work, etc. I already have a few of those that are indeed very nice guitars, after fixing what should not have ever left the factory in that condition.... So the issue of the tuners all having a 0.060 hole in them, is a very moot point.... Some people might never notice that, because they would not want a 0.064 string set, on any guitar....
That’s another guitar I was eyeing… I really want a better 7 string than what I have (SGR Absolute Firewood) Going to have to add that to my top 5 wishlist 😂 🤘🎸
I have the st20 SSS… Really a great guitar for the price, I think it’s only like $81 which is insane… The highlight of the guitar is definitely the fretwork, pickups were a little weak, usable, but weak. I ended up swapping them out for GFS Lil’ Killers, I’m not sure how good the humbucker is in the HSS, could be really good/bad, I haven’t tested one. Considering the price point, it’s hard to ask for more 🤘🎸
I almost bought one last year, I ended up going with the Schecter CR-6… Amarok is definitely on my list of wants, and I’ve heard great things about them
Thanks for the comment, I did mention this somewhere in the vid, but it doesn’t really appear to be that much cheaper (prices include shipping on Reverb)… And honestly, I’m not sure it’s much faster, my last Thomann order got here wicked quick from Germany… The other issue is that since prices include shipping, you can’t save on shipping by buying two guitars… But I suppose if you’re only buying one guitar and can save between $5-$10 on shipping then perhaps it’s worth it. Thanks for watching and the comment 🤘
Yeah ... The only US domestic problem is that you get charged your state sales tax. The price already has from Germany shipping built in (but ship free from Connecticut) .. I do think that the US store, does a little Sweetwater like QC check prior to shipping, as the 2 I ordered US came perfect
I own 3 hbs and I’m happy with 2 of the 3. I have a $400 tribute explorer with emgs in black and a tele 20hh that was $99 which I’m very happy with and then I own a HB SC custom VB and I like the guitar but the Roswell pups are straight 💩. I don’t like those pups at all and just the worst sounding pups of all my budget guitars. Would be nice if they gave options on what pups to order with the guitar 🎸 you are choosing. If they had that option I would buy more 🎸s.
I have a TE20HH sbk standard and that guitar is Fantastic! The Fusion-T I have is loaded spec wise and oddly enough, I happened to like the Roswell’s in that guitar, but with that said, Harley Benton did share this video to Facebook and their website so maybe they’re reading these comments too. Pickup choice would indeed be nice 🤘🎸
That’s a very fair point… That’s why I think the real trick is to either buy two or order with a friend, because shipping is the same price for two and it cuts down on the cost per guitar… With the Fusion line having Stainless Steel frets, locking tuners, and a Wilkinson Trem, you’d be hard pressed to find those specs on a $300 guitar… That said, the used market is really soft right now and with some patience, you could probably find as good or maybe better deal… All about choices I suppose…
I have the Fusion-T and it’s definitely my favorite HB. When I bought mine, I tacked on an ST20 for an extra $79 just to make the shipping worth it 😂 😂 😂 . I’ve since modded the heck out of the ST20 and it’s a pretty rad guitar now
I have 7 or 8 Harley Benton now and in general they are pretty decent out of the box. They all need a set up though, but what guitar doesn't? The only bigger issue I had was with my ST-20 which had a REALLY poorly cut nut, but even that was fixed in no time.
I had that same nut issue on a guitar by Hadean. It was simple enough to fix, it was just muting the high E a bit… I’m currently at 3 HB’s, will likely add at least a 4th, given how inflation has effected the guitar industry, the HB is a better value now more than ever…
@@FretboardDiaries I must admit I am at a "home team" advantage being Dutch, as a neighboring country shipping anything over 50 euro is free. Which is GREAT but it is REALLY BAD for my GAS.
I hear they're good for the money but for what shipping costs and delivery time. it's not really worth it. It's a shame cause they have some cool models.
Yeah the shipping prices are unfortunately expensive… but as I mentioned in the vid, ordering two is the same shipping price, so that lowers the cost of shipping per guitar. Delivery time was within a week for me for both orders, I’m US East Coast though so if you’re West Coast, it could definitely be longer…
Shipping, is the same as the price of the D- 120 acoustic and they can keep it since it's also typically riddled with multiple setup flaws for pure lack of concern and made where they are which doesn't employ Germans let alone Americans.
The problem I’ve found is that the used market is darn near the same price as buying new… While Thomann does have their American reverb store, the problem is it doesn’t allow you to combine shipping, so if you’re buying more than one, there’s no way to save on the shipping like you can from their website
@@stewarttomkinson3356 Oddly enough I’m a lefty too, but the only way I could get a guitar growing up was to borrow one from a right handed friend, so I learned to play right handed… 🤷♂️ 😂… I suppose maybe I’m more ambidextrous than I thought, but it makes finding guitars easier. Glad to hear you know the shipping trick, I missed out on that on my first order…
Yeah I believe it’s a two guitar max… You might be able to add a pedal too but anything beyond that, I believe the shipping cost goes up… It’s been 6 months since I’ve ordered so things can change but that’s how it was 6 months ago
Ive had 2 harley bentons and both arrived damaged. One before the UK left the EU and one after. The one after i had to keep as it was too expensive to send back. Thomann refunded me 80% of the cost of the guitar, which was nice as it was still playable, but o wont be buying them again
Im amazed at the quality of HB, turn your back and I challenge anyone to tell the difference between BH and Fender tele's. Wonderful for beginners or those of us on a budget.
When I made the video, I was going on what a buddy of mine told me who lived there at one point, that shipping plus VAT was expensive. Obviously I live in the states so it’s hard to gauge the cost in the UK.., Glad to hear it’s cheap for ya’ll, I’d love for it to get down to those prices here… Lastly, for us in the states, £10 shipping is ABSOLUTELY a game changer 😂 😂 😂
Gotta be honest that one was tempting, but I had just gotten the Fusion-T a few weeks before they came out… I’ve heard good things about them though, and I love the gold 🤘🎸
So with Harley Benton, I think they’re hit and miss… The TE-20HH Sbk Standard had what I would consider to be very usable pickups, that just kinda lacked sustain. Ultimately I replaced them with GFS PowerRails, and it’s a monster (vids in my channel if you’re curious) The Harley Benton Fusion-T had Roswell pickups in them, and they’re a mid-level output that have a kinda vintage Rock n’ Roll sound to them… Honestly, I love them and they fill a void for that type of tone that was in my collection, but they’re not for everyone, particularly the metal crowd… The ST-20 pickups were weak, with really only the neck and middle pickups being usable… I replaced them with GFS Mini-Humbuckers and it’s become a really rad guitar with a unique sound… With all that said, pickups are hit and miss, their higher end models are pretty good, lower end models, not so much… Best answer I can give you 🤘🎸
First and last one I bought (the PRS for 279 euros) had several scratched and damaged frets, not from transport but from non existent quality control. Return and never again. I'll save up for something better.
I mean, to be fair, I’ve had far more expensive guitars show up with these types of issues and returned them…. I can certainly understand your frustration and that’s a higher price point guitar from them, so you’d expect better. Perhaps you got a lemon, perhaps poor QC, but I can tell you that all three of the HB’s I got had some pretty impressive fretwork for the price point… That said, for a bit more, you could get a PRS SE, particularly on the used market, so I get it…
Shipping costs, if you have bought some you should know what the costs are and perhaps share that rather than making it sound "scary" shipping costs.. You did not actually say SS frets
The problem with that, is that shipping costs can vary by location… So what is expensive for my location, may be less, or in Europe’s case, Free… So it wasn’t really fair to mention the exact cost… Truth be told, it was $82 for one guitar… or… $82 for two guitars to my location… So obviously it makes more sense to order two guitars…
For me it sounds sponsored. Had a lot of them in my hands, I owned 2 myself and enjoy all of it but every fretwork was bad as hell, like they just installed the frets and left it like that, even in their "pro" series.
Nah not Sponsored by them, wish I was 😂… I do have a couple of sponsorships with Fesley Guitars and Guyker, in fact, you can save 15% on Guyker’s website using the code “FretboardDiaries” 😉 😂… Seriously though, all the sponsored content I’ve done is clearly marked as paid sponsored content. I’m Surprised to hear that with your fretwork… I own 3 HB’s and the Fretwork really was the highlight of all three.
Unfortunately they’re only available new through ThomannMusic and ThomannMusic.com I’m not sure if they ship to the Philippines or not, I’d be willing to bet that they do, but I’m sure that shipping would be really pricey…
Depends on where you live… I’ve had some comments saying they have free shipping to the UK… If you live on the US, shipping rates are getting crazy, up to $90 I believe… If you buy from their Reverb store, the shipping is free, but the price of the guitar is raised to cover it, so it works out to about the same… Hope this helps
@@The_Christian_Guitar_Messages Sounds about right to the States… Usually you can order 2 for the same shipping price, so perhaps buddy up with a friend that wants to split the shipping cost, or order 2 to make it worth it… 🤘🎸
I certainly wouldn’t call the blemishes on these guitars damage… The worst one, the ST20, I could see folks saying is unacceptable, and it very well may be. But the little imperfections on the other two are far from “Damage”. That said, I don’t think it’s realistic to expect a perfect finish on a budget instrument. Particularly because in many cases, more expensive guitars have had blemishes… Personally, I’m fine with a few small blems on a $150… 🤷♂️
If you play a guitar every day your will find your own blemishes. I say a used well made guitar is way better than a lousy new one. These days, you can buy a decent made guitar used that cost more than if you bought it brand new. Be careful as guitar dealers are snakes.
Buying new and used both carry benefits and inherent risks. The best benefit of a used guitar is obviously the ability to check it out before you purchase (unless you buy it online). The used market for guitars is soft right now, so if you’re Patient, you can find some real deals. Harley Benton is all about value for $ spent... and I do think they’re a great value for what you get. As far as the blemishes go, they’ve never bothered me, especially because, as you mentioned, you’re going to put your own blemishes on them. I mentioned the blemishes because some folks expect a flawless guitar, and that kinda unreasonable for a guitar at this price point.
Doesn’t bother me at all, but I mention it because some people are bothered by it (trust me on this, I’ve seen it in Facebook groups 😂) Some people expect and absolutely flawless guitar for $150 and that’s not reasonable and shouldn’t be the expectation…
How does it Ring Out , is the neck unbendably strong Weight , and frets are my checkpoints Anything desirable after that is a Bonus . Oh , and I realized 20 years ago I hate Carved , or Arched tops Flat Tops for me , and well , then all feel familiar And blue guitars should not exist
Big thing for me is Fret work… To me that takes the longest to fix. Aside from that, as long as the neck is straight everything else from there I can fix… 😂 Oddly enough, I’m not a huge fan of arched tops, I only own one… I’ve become a huge fan of Tele’s, which HB does well… And as far as Blues guitars go… Any guitar is a Blues guitar if you’re skilled enough 🤘
Legit… 😂… To be honest, if I was still a gigging musician, I would totally be rocking these because they’re cheap enough to easily replace if stolen or damaged on stage… I used to hate having to babysit my nicer instruments 🤷♂️
I have had a lot of budget guitars. Thats no excuse for blemishes. You should have sent all back. Thats why it won't stop. People won't send them back because it's overseas. If that is how they ship overseas and not check quality, then screw Thomann. Bet they don't put those up in their showroom.
I don’t really think it’s reasonable to expect a flawless guitar for $150… The blemishes I pointed out on two of these guitars were very minor, to the point that you have to go looking for them. I would have returned the ST20 had that blemish been on the front of the guitar, being on the back, it doesn’t matter to me. It’s literally a $79 guitar 🤷♂️ … Come to think of it, I probably would have just sanded it down and refinished it before sending it back 😂
