bros got me absolutely BALLING my eyes out at 4am in the morning. Dang. it's not often you can literally feel someone's soul screaming through the guitar and it brings you to complete tears. God bless this man Dave. Dudes got a beautiful soul. I hope his life works out for him
See the blond, see the blond cast the spell on our guitar hero Dave. Dave is having none of it, the blond FEELS wrong, is fighting him and he declares "that's got to change". But every time the blond sings to him, you can see his heart melt. Love conquers all, despite her deformities Dave finds a way.... Ain't love grand.
You know when you have those times learning guitar, where you feel you stepped up from the many plateau periods of learning.... ive felt that moment this week, until i watched this intro Jam, back to work!
@@thedavesimpson I have thick fingers from working so the width is actually good for me. I have two questions: can you give me the ball park how much have you have sanded it off? If I understood, the neck is it's thicker than on 62MN series and how much better, if any? Thank you in advance.
OMG!! This was incredible playing and the feelings displayed were so on point. So glad I found this channel to listen to your beautiful technique and phrasing. What an inspiration to listen to you play man! I'm blown away by it. To take that instrument that many would consider an entry level guitar and do what you do with it, is astounding man!!
That outro was something else too Dave. Love the way you get into that zone and lose yourself to the guitar and the music. Very genuine, honest and open playing my friend I could listen to you forever . That was a touch of class That guitar was meant for you man listen to you both together and tell me that's no special. You had me in heavenly rapture and Amen is all that's left to say.
At last an honest review with pros and cons AND solutions !!! Hey Thomann, thank this man because I m buying one thanks to him. What a marvelous playing !! Congrats
Goosebumps, you are amazing, making the guitar cry like this is all I love to hear, you are great! You are the demonstration that a great instrument is not enough but you need technique and heart a lot of heart!
Beautiful 70's vibe, I hear Funkadelic's Maggot Brain, Robin Trower, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Gilmour, Bolin, a whole era, beautiful, goosebumps.
I love that you liked that so much that you did all that effort for an affordable guitar. It shows that man you can get awesome sound and be a stunning player a guitar that won't put you in the poor house.
Just ripping faces off from the start and I love it. I got this same Guitar a few months ago and can't believe the playability . Plays as good as any of my Gibson or any Strat I've owned. Love the P90 sound. Great video Dave. Thanks
Amazing tone and playing style and an absolute blast to listen to you rambling on about your passion for music. Loved the bit where you missed 1 note @ 27:31 and just got aggressive and played through it. You should be world famous dude. I'm a big fan and I would get this model HB for your playing as much as a DG tribute, I mean making tuning your guitar an interesting interlude is brilliant...oh and I hope you tung oiled the back of that neck.
You resolved the neck issue like I did back in the late '70's when I was given a 1960-something Gibson Melody Maker but wanted the neck to be shaped to match my hand a little better. Sanded for hours, taking the profile down a little at a time until it was what I wanted. Refinished it white like Joan Jet's, put a Dimarzio PAF pickup in, Grover tuners, and replaced the non-adjustable bridge with a Leo Quan "Badass" adjustable bridge. I learned how to play on this guitar and, to this day, have never had a guitar with a better neck profile! Unfortunately, I loaned it to a friend and we lost contact with each other, so I no longer have it. Really would like to have it back again though! I would easily trade a brand new guitar for it. It was a no frills rocker that just played like a dream! I totally see why Pat Travers loved his Melody Maker. Joan too, of course. So light weight, and the upper register frets were so easy to access. Sounded great with that DiMarzio.
I've got to get a handfull of these HB guitars before they start sponsoring artists and the price skyrockets. Thanks man, your playing/reviews are always inspirational.
I feel the same....ive reviewed and love the bullet tele. Not quite the guitar player as Dave as ive only 2 years really playing as main instrument. Coming from drums and keys ive never experienced so many cork sniffing non players. Lol. Many are collectors not players. Passion is felt. The rest is robotic buzzwords ...I would play a lego guitar if it felt and played sounded like a guitar. Hahah
Stopping the vid just to say how good the intro was. I watch a lot of your videos. Every intro, even the ones you complain about, will have plenty of people who loved it. With this one I just don't care what anyone thinks. It was that good. So good.
Yep you was into the grain and guts of that guitar Dave, great show, bloody brill. I can see Harley Benton giving you a signature guitar with your perfect neck.
I very rarely leave comments but...You sir, are the Guy Martin of the guitar world...and that's a compliment. Someone with a great talent for what he does and still retains the enthusiasm as if you'd just discovered guitars for the first time. Love the sounds and your down to earth enthusiasm. Hope your journey takes you whare you want to go...
I just listened to this video again today all the way through. Dave, you are without doubt one of the most musical guitarists to ever grace this planet in the era of the electric guitar. There is no technique with you. Just pure fluidity from the heart and soul. Pure feeling. A man at one with his instrument. You really are a master. The tones you get at a flick of the switch are also quite incredible. The guitar is a horrid mid-range instrument for the most part - it competes with the human voice in the audio spectrum a lot of the time. But you make it sound sweet and even when it's a bit nasty, it's a nice kind of nasty. For me, you are the wonderful love child of Jimmy Hendrix and Dave Gilmour. Both have been known to have a fondness for the Strat now and again. I'm glad you got this guitar working for you. It would have been a mistake to send it back. I sent my Gibson Les Paul back to Dawsons just for them to fix the faulty jack, and the idiots only went and did a quick 'set up' on it for free. They totally ruined it - it took me ages to get it back how I liked. Your playing is a true inspiration. I played for the first time in months and months yesterday. And it just flew off the neck. You really got the mojo my boy. Serious kudos to you. You really are an absolute monster and beast on the guitar! Btw, I think that neck might have been a bit too 'fat'! What do you think? :-)
I am so glad that at last someone has talked about the huge size of the HB necks. I bought both a HB bass and guitar and have the exact same problem. I don't play them because of it. I haven't been brave enough to reshape them but I think I will give it a go after seeing this. Thanks for the great vid.
I had the same problem with a neck being a bit too fat, so I shaved and sanded it down to a slight V-shape ('boatneck') and it really made it play better with me. Finishing with a few coats of Danish Oil to get a really smooth surface. Be careful not to shave off too much though since it can affect the stability.
That second song after the neck alterations was frickin' awesome. Great to see good, heart-felt emotion and the projection of your soul when you play, Dave. Awesome wah work. I'd love to hear you play using a talk box in a few riffs, while you're making you way up and down the finger board. That is, maybe accent a riff or two, and maybe a bit of wah thrown in the mix at the same time as well. I tried it and it sounds wondrous, but I have a feeling you'd make it sound way, way better. :D
Dave, first of all, in regard to your ability and feel for what you're playing... MIND BLOWN! You're awesome! With that said, I took delivery of my Harley Benton ST-62 CC RW (Lake Placid Blue), yesterday. I know the uncomfortable feeling in the gut after ordering a guitar on photos and specifications alone. And I'm not a guitar player. I'm a WANT-TO-BE guitar player with a few years of practice under my belt. And I've had a MIM Fender Strat for a couple of years. It cost over three times the price of this Harley Benton. From my very novice perspective, the Harley Benton gives up nothing to the Fender. As for the neck of the Harley Benton, I'd say it's a bit fatter than the Fender, but I don't find it to be objectionable - perhaps because I'm too inexperienced to know better. But I've worked with a few different guitars in trying to learn, and while I'd have a preference for a smaller neck, I'm not having any major issues adjusting to the neck on the HB. I don't know if it's the tone of the pickups, or some elusive presence in the Harley Benton, but I could swear in just a day and a half, I feel like it has made a positive change in my attempts to learn. It seems like I'm playing differently than I was, and the change is positive. I'm not completely fond of the looks of the one I ended up choosing. It's not bad, but I preferred some of the other colors but they didn't come with the same fretboard options. But I'm not looking at it when I'm "playing" and I swear... there's something very special about this Harley Benton. After watching your unboxing video, I was actually feeling the stress. I really wanted you to find a way to bond with the guitar at every level because it seemed like such a perfect fit for you in every regard aside from the slightly massive neck. I was relieved to see that you found a way to make the neck fit and the two of you are stunning together. As for Harley Benton, I give them five thumbs up (even if I have to borrow a few digits). They're amazing! I actually got a second Harley Benton at the same time and I'm equally pleased with it (A tele-style, but with dual humbuckers). I have no reservations whatsoever in perhaps buying from them again when money and stock permit.
I have been following your love hate relationship with this guitar with some interest. I don't play anywhere near as well as you but I am struck by quality of Harley Benton guitars. Your intro here was absolutely amazing and you made the H B sound awesome. I think that all relationships need work and they get stronger and more rewarding because of that chipping and grinding and banging away at each other until both party's are eventually content and reasonably happy with each other. I'm glad you kept the guitar and pleased that you were prepared to put your time and effort into into it. I think that reveals what sort of a character you are i.e. You don't give up or give in easily on things you believe have something worth fighting for. Good luck with your new instrument and I look forward to you getting more! You're a pleasure and watch and listen too and your playing is inspirational.
Epic jam. Jeezus. I truly don't understand how it's possible to play like that. I can't run a simple scale three times in a row without flubbing it. Beautiful stuff, and yeah, that guitar does sound fantastic. I'm glad you sorted out the trunk.
Thx for the brilliant music as always...00:52:50 Made "Little Britain" come to mind. "I want that one!" "But that's not even a guitar Andy!!" "I know, but I want that one"
Hey Dave: I have this guitar and I can say that it is not the pickups that produces the 'midrange boost'. It is actually the anodized pickguard that attenuates the trebley highs to create the impression of the thick midrange. I discovered this when I replaced the anodized pickguard with a plastic pickguard. You can also find out by putting those pickups in another guitar with a plastic pickguard. Those pickups will magically become classic single coils once again (most noticeable with a clean Fendery amp sound) ! Good stuff and video, Dave, in any case.
Wow dave ! Best intro to date ! Awesome playing and tones ! Dont give up on that dream of being discovered bro. YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES ! JUST NEED TO FIND AVENUE THERE!
Already spotted this guitar on Thomann's website before but you really convinced me to get this beauty! Just received it and my GOD. The setup is near-perfect and it was almost in tune. Did not really find the neck too hefty though.
Your playing is absolutely fantastic! I love uber fat necks so your review convinced me to buy one of these. For only 190 bucks after shipping and tax it's a total steal. Merry Christmas!
Congrats - you made it (with the neck). It looks like that you will grow into liking this guitar more and more over time because this strat appears already like being an integral part of you ;-) This ST-62DLX has a perfect sound (great bite) for your typical music style (with the pronounced mids). Seems to be a great choice for Hard Rock etc. Some commenters are referring to Fast Eddie Clark or Iron Maiden - yes that seems to be the right territory for this guitar. Fact is that modding affordable guitars is clearly a great option to get a perfectly customized guitar. Thank you for all the efforts to make these interesting and inspiring videos happen :-) My personal final verdict: You are the most authentic and talented Rock guitar player (and song writer) around (nowadays). But I have one criticism: How much longer we have to wait until you release some of your great tunes (like this epic intro) to us ???
You did DG proud Dave, nice one! There are quite a few Bentons I like the look of, think they might be overtaking the guitars from Vintage. They've up their game - from the Harley Benton Fusion II range you get a guitar that costs less than £270, but is appointed in such a way that if it were a big name brand it would be be closer to £700. They make an ash bodied Tele type for less than £80, which is crazy cheap!
Yo dave superb man.. Recently bought a HB tele.. 70 squids... Haha excellent guitar so much so i have 5 HBs great guitars for little pennies. 12 string acoustic 100 sheets!!!!! Excellent!!!!
Great demonstration of why its crazy to spend thousands on a guitar, its all about the players ability once you get passed a basic level of fit and finish and decency of pick-up.
This is spot on. Most guitars are good enough nowadays (not those you get new for 60€ shipped on ebay, they're probably still junk) and it's really not an art to make a Strat'. After all, it was the whole point of its design. Good pick-ups can be had fairly cheap too. These are just fine.
Mate aside all the technobabble and the HB yes or no.. You had me completely mesmerized dare I say tripping with that awesome jam. And that's a huge compliment from coming from a rhythm guitarist who usually doesn't care fuck all for long guitar solo stuff. Sir I salute you. And yeah yeah will like and follow
Seeing what you have done I would offer the following help :- Just take off the machine heads and remove the finish on the back of the headstock - leave the neck edge and remove down to where you have started. That will look a lot better . Measure the thickness of the neck from a guitar you are fully happy with and adjust accordingly. Finish off with a few rubbed on coats of tung oil or danish oil which is a dilute version of varnish. Buff to perfection when dry !! Keep your powdwer dry and your licks hot !!
