Which Semi-Hollow would I buy? Ibanez Vs. Epiphone Vs. Harley Benton  

Did anyone just observe samurai guitarist just walks out of nowhere 0:15 😂

I own and Ibanez Artcore As53, and it plays great. Completely disregarding that, 0:16, you can see the wild SameraiGuitarist in his natural habitat.

I LOVE the way semi-hollows sound with distortion. There’s still that little bit of overdrive lingering in there. It reminds me of Alex Lifeson’s earlier work with Rush. Just a pure rock n roll sound.

00:16 Is that Samuraiguitarist?

I'm extremely fond of the Gretsch Streamliner Center Block Jr. Unlike previous Gretsch Semi's, these weigh nothing, play great, *and everything is Epiphone/Gibson sized so you can replace the hardware and pickups with whatever you like* They're also $450 new, $380 with the coupons they give out every month at GC.

I've been looking at that Harley Benton HB-35 Plus for some time. Love that colour. Now I like the way it sounds too… Tuners are fine, they're never the problem when it comes to stability and there wasn't even serious bending involved. New strings are on new guitars, which no one ever stretched, especially at that price.

I’ve owned a few epiphones over the years, even gigged with them, and they’ve always been some of my favorite guitars.

To my ears, the HB is the clear winner! :)

I bought that same Ibanez over every other guitar in the store. Granted they mostly had fender/squier and a good selection of shred guitars. I played every fender/squier I didn't already own and left with the artcore. I polished the frets, changed the magnets to alico II and covered the pickups. It was already pretty cool but it was butter after a little love.

The HB wins if nothing for the coil splits.

I’ve had my HB 35 Plus for 3 years now and it’s played the most despite having more expensive guitars. It’s unbelievably well made. I can cover so many genres in one sitting. I’ve never seen a comparison like this so it’s great to see I made the right choice 😊👍

I am looking at these kinds of guitars this came at just the right time

Love all your vid's. They are on point and easy going fun. Well done. HB all the way.

I picked up that Ibanez yesterday, I’m loving it and having a lot of fun

Harley Benton for looks and sound! As for playability, that's up to the player! As for price, Harley Benton, every time. Goes to show, brand isn't always a winner!

The thing you didn't like with the pickups on the Ibanez might be because they are uncovered, in my experience the covered humbuckers sound smoother and suit semi acoustic guitars better.

Epiphone sounded the best, and I liked its look best. However, I can’t deny the value for the money in that HB. It definitely looks rocker too.

I have a harley benton, i had the same issue until i replaced the stock strings and it stays in tune now

After seeing this review I became interested in the Harley Benton HB-35Plus. I looked into it on the web and RU-vid and ordered it. I ordered the Vintage Burst because the Lemon Burst was out of order and I don't care about the color of my guitar. This guitar is amazing! The looks, the finish, the sound, playability. My frets are perfectly smooth and guitar was setup perfect out of the box. I can't believe this is a € 209,00 guitar! 😳 Now I'm afraid the UPS guy will come and take my guitar away because they delivered the wrong guitar... 🙈 The only less perfect thing I found was that the guitar is slightly on the heavy side...

I got a Harley Benton CST24HB and its an amazing guitar. Sounds as good as it looks and its like 200 bucks.

Haha! @SamuraiGuitarist walks through the back of your shot 00:14. I know Canada's a big place but my two favourite Canadian guitar youtubers must live pretty close to each other!

Thanks for the insight. From what I have read, the HB is being steadily improved and at least one specification (the HB-35 PLUS at sterling £190 AUG 2020) claims a bone nut, block inlays (they were dots) and branded pickups (upgrade Roswell PAF 5 vintage-style humbucker with coil split - I believe made by Wilkinson). The tuners are kind of Grover type (serviceable) although unbranded. No customer review of the HB PLUS mentions tuning instability although they do say that the bridge / saddles are a weak point - oddly cheap compared to the other parts (like full sized decent pots). At £200 for the guitar, I would be tempted to replace both tuners and bridge with Wilkinson parts OR if you have budget, a Graphtech bridge and TUSQ nut set with Gotoh tuners. Stretched strings, bit of fast fret in the grooves of the nut and there shouldn't be any tuning or intonation issue. At the moment they only seem to have two colours - the lemon burst and vintage cherry ( Chuck Berry) red - no problem with those, both beautiful, but black would be an obvious (B.B.King) addition and maybe a nice Pelham blue :) . The maple flame whilst great at this price isn't the AAAA claimed in the marketing - not compared to an expensive AAAA PRS or CS Gibson for example, so that is a bit of mis-direction. It seems to be pitched under the Epi / Ibanez level and more at the Firefly price point (another potential ES although these need more work than the HB) - you cannot get a Firefly for love nor money right now. HB looks like a much more established and robust operation so I'd be pitching there for what it's worth. Tone is the decider - it was best here by far.

Never thought I'd say this i think the harley benton sounds better and nicer looking hope it plays aswell as the other two 👍

I love my Gretsch semi hollow. They are the other option that should be considered when buying such a guitar.

*Tone time stamps* Epiphone - 0:44 Harley Benton - 4:28 Ibanez - 8:03

Epiphone guitars have improved so much over the last 10 years. The built quality is great.

I think the Epiphone sounded best. Huge with distortion, too. I have both Ibanez (AS-120) and Epiphone (Sheraton Elitist) semi-hollow guitars. I think the Ibanez was slightly better quality than comparable Epiphones at that time. I replaced the pickups in the AS-120, which had Super-58s; I put in Z-90s.

I own two grote guitars that I bought off of Amazon, the first I bought the "telecaster thinline" for $140 delivered and it is a steal ! Then I bought the "335" and it too is a steal for $240 delivered. They both are beautiful guitars with really nice necks and fret work. I bought upgraded machine heads for both but have not installed them on either because the "cheap" ones that came on them hold tune surprisingly well. The pickups will get upgraded when I find the time but they both sound unbelievably good with the stock cheap ones. I have a few high end guitars and no the grote is not a fender or gibson but..... If these were all that I could afford even just leaving it alone and playing it stock , I would be happy. I bought them because my go to number one is my strat but I wanted a tele and a 335 but can't afford the real thing in every guitar (yet) but of course I want every guitar. I guess what I'm saying is for a really good copy at a killer price , I like the grote .... they sell out quickly but you gotta keep checking and they will be back. 🍻🎸🤟😜❤

The neck pickup on the HB was my favorite tone out of the group. Might have to splurge for new tuners, but oh well.

IMO i would choose a gretsch 2622 center block.. best value for the money and wonderful made instruments way better than a epiphone!

I recently went with a HB35 in the green (but still have my eye on the Sire H7). Added new high-end strings, locking tuners, roller bridge, and removed the pickguard, leveled out some dead frets, and smoothed out some minorly rough fret ends. That made the overall appearance really pop with that metallic green against the new gold flash. The intonation is still perfect and the guitar now looks and plays like it should. Was too much work required? Not a chance because I love doing that kind of work. It is a great guitar, a virtual diamond in the rough that requires a surprisingly small amount of work to make perfect.

I thought artcores came with chrome pickup covers but it has been years since I saw the new models. EDIT: It's great to see a newer company innovating and asking much less than established industry giants that don't change the formula.

If HB is better to begin with and half the price of the others then just why not get the HB and invest another $200 on upgrades like locking tuners and tremolo bar?

An entry- level guitar that won't stay in tune would not be my first choice.

I have an Ibanez AM-53 semi-hollow that is a great player, really well made but yea the pickups are throwaways. I put a set of Gibson Classic 57's that I bought used and they sound fantastic on it.

Dude loves the G chord.

Cool offering. I didn't like anything here but have had an IBZ AS73 in vsb for over 10 years now. Blasted this thru a BadMonkey and Blues Jr while my stereo played Cream "Sitting On Top Of The World" from Goodbye before seeing EC in '07. Those were the days.

Small update here. I bought the HB 35+ in black, about a month ago. Very pleased with it, far better than the 247 it cost.

The HB sounded and looked good, but probably only ok if you’re happy to change the nut and tuners yourself. Then it’ll be a bargain. I’ve got an Epi Dot and it’s a superb player

I have a Ibanez AS73 I’ve had for a few years. The stock pickups weren’t great but I put a set of Gibson 490s I had in it and it plays great and sounds great now.

After this shootout its pretty clear which is best sounding and best looking. That hb sounds sweet and looks sweet. Definitely the best sounding and looking for your money. Hb all the way for me until I can save enough for a higher end gretsch. Great review

With this video you've sold me one of those HBs and I love it.

Not for nothing, but at the beginning of the video he says how great it is to be back at Thomann University and at the end of the video that is, ostensibly, a comparison of guitars, he chooses the Thomann produced guitar as the best choice. I mean, maybe it is but you can't disregard the appearance of bias here.

I have the blue burst and it’s stunning

I think the Harley Benton, had the most "spank." Someone send one to Australia for me... 😊😆🎸🎸😍

By the way your playing guitar, I can tell, you are used to playing strats

Nice! Saw you with DovyDas & thought I'd check you out. Love to see you two together for some sets as I love your style...

Big body beauty’s abound so Ryan drips them around and the HB has the best sound🤘🏽

He's a Strat man, for shure You can really tell it

Harley Benton has a very nice budget crispy semi sound, despite its tuning issues.

I haven’t tried them but I can believe the HB is the better option. When it comes to lower price guitars, I think HB puts more work into them compared to the other budget lines, maybe because the budget line is all HB cares about and does. The others throw a budget line only to have some presence there, but they don’t put that much effort or good specs for the price of a HB.

Why there is not a single semi-hollow guitar review where they try it unplugged??? why? It is semi-hollow for a reason you know.

HB sounds pretty good!👍👍😎

The 2 knobs on the Ibanez IS a mod!

Hmm, I wish you showed us if the distorted sounds on the Harley are good. Anyway, much better guitar and price than their new DC Pro...(assuming the tuning is just that model or easily solvable with some graphite). Don't tell them the guitar is underpriced Ryan! If they find out they might just start jacking the prices...Anyway, we know you prefer the mighty Firefly!!!

Love the block inlays on the HB !

I got no horse in this race (I own a Peavey JF1) but aesthetically speaking the HB wins. Tone is always subjective on videos such as this.

A stock HB-35Plus Lemon i have been using onstage for about 6 months. lots of tones. 10-50 gauge strings. i check tuning 2-3 times a set. looks nice. it's not bullet proof but works for me.

Really dig that Harley Benton. Sounds good too.

I liked the sound and the looks of the Harley Benton better than the other two. My order of preference is HB, Epiphone and finally the Ibanez.

oooh slick samurai guitarist cameo at 0:15

I just went ahead and dropped the coin (or Sweetwater credit) for a trans black Ibanez AS53. If you know Ibanez quality, it’s worth it, and holy smokes was it worth it. I played a trimmed out Artstar years ago, and was hooked, but at the time couldn’t justify the price. But this one… I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve even gone so far as to consider the trans red model. The guitar is no-frills, but flawless. And strung with 10-52s! Perfect!

samurai guitarist just walking in the back LMao

I have Hagstrom Viking and man, that guitar sounds amazing.

I own a Harley Benton flying V I paid $140.00 us for it and she plays fantastic. Nice beefy neck and she screams.

The Ibanez has very high output indeed, I have one (AS53) of those (transparent black) and this was my first impression when I got it (online purchase) and plugged it in. In my case it's a great thing, but yeah, definitely a question about preferences.

0:15 samuraiguitarist just aimlessly wondering around in the background of another RU-vidr's video.

I find myself strangely attracted to the Harley Benton. A PRS headstock would’ve been nice but at the price I might be brave enough to fit some vertical string guides to elevate the Gibson tuning issues.

i didnt expect samurai guitarist to waltz in after 15 seconds

The Harley is beautiful!

The Fact that Samy-G is walking by in the background got me flashed for a sec

Yeah let's pick the guitar that won't stay in tune. Smart move. Also, an Ibanez artcore model in the same price range as the Dot is the best choice. I own an Epiphone Dot and an ES-339 Pro and if I had to do it again I'd go Ibanez instead of the Dot.

Harley Benton no doubt. I have one which it's my favorite and I have big name guitars. 🎵🎸🎶

Over the last 45 years or so, I've owned a lot of electric guitars, from Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, PRS to Keystone. Currently, I only have a self-made Strat and - brand new - a Harley Benton HB 35 Plus. From experience, I had doubts whether the HB 35+ was actually better than the other low-price guitars I had. But after looking at it and doing some initial testing, I have to totally change my point of view. The HB 35+ is really a very good guitar, especially in this price segment! If I compare this guitar with the Epiphone Casino Elitist, which I bought a few years ago and sold on last year, I would go for the HB 35+ (amazing, considering that the Casino was 8 x as expensive!). The best guitar I ever had was an Ibanez replica ES 335 from 76/77, which I was able to get hold of at the end of 1977 from a dealer who was closing down his business, at a sale for DM 600; unfortunately the guitar was stolen. Since I bought the guitar "off the wall", so to speak, I was not given any documentation on this guitar, so that I have not been able to find out the model designation to this day. Please excuse my lousy English.

Epiphone "Dot",, its got that blues tone!,, i love mine

I really love my Hagstrom Viking for a semi hollow.

Fix the tuning issues with the Harley Benton, and it wins hands down. The Ibanez totally sucks, in my opinion.

Since I viewed this video, months ago, I have canceled my order bc it was taking too damn long, for the lemon burst HB , you review in this video and continue to visit the California Thomann's website to see the same notice, "in stock within 3 to 5 weeks". What's up man!!!! I'd like to get one of those Lemon burst HB semi hollowbodies.

Anyone gonna talk about SammyG just wlaking by at the start looking like a mood

I have a Gary Clark jr Casino, with an original 1953 P90 in the neck and a mojo P90 in the bridge with vintage inspired pickups pots and a set of original gray tiger caps, also a faber locking bridge with titanium saddles with a camel bone nut!!! I should say the casino was in a right state when I bought it that’s why I went with all the mods and it sounds awesome now!!!

I own an Ibanez AS93 and a Epi Sheraton and Riviera P93. You can't go wrong with either really. The Ibanez has better upper fret access due to its design. Play them all if you can then pick the one that speaks to you the most. Upgrade the nut at a minimum. Then do the Pickups/pots/caps upgrade later. You'll have a great guitar for not that much money.

I own 4 Benton’s , all really good guitars, but why do they spoil the look of this semi with a lp pickguard ?

Nice 1 Ry! HB seems like the leader of the 335 alike, budget pack! \m/

I’ve given flack but damn ....this is such a useful video, especially if just starting out. Rural world players have a hell of a time in the noise that IS the guitar market. Good on ya! When I started playing, maybe every 10th guitar was playable. More problems than lube could fix.....

I have a 2008 Dot and the pickups are the weak point on it. I upgraded to a set of probuckers with coil-split and love it to death.

You sold me a Harley Benton dude, those Roswell pickups just kick ass, the sound is so thick the new artcores have that flat finish, looks like a 9 year old left it out in the rain for 5 years, epiphones don't feel good in your hand. I wish they had a red one with the roswell humbucking/single coil pickups, but I can live with Yeller for that rich thick sound!

Someday Ryan will demo guitars with reverb like everybody else (we hope)!

Gretsch streamliner is the best hollow body out there for the money, just a great player, nice pickups, very high quality.

Cool review. I LOVE HB''S. Not because of price alone but because of sound and playability..

Would be interesting to compare with an authentic 335 to put it in perspective.

holy shit that's samuraiguitarist walking at 0:16. guitar youtuber cinematic universe

1. Epiphone 2.Ibanez 3. Harley benton ( Always out of tune) - Shit Guitar !!!

samurai guitarist casually strolling in the background

Yep, Harley Benton had a smoother tone as one would like for jazz/blues. Epi sounded thinner and I dont like where the Jack plugs in. Ibanez is a beauty but didnt stand out tone wise. Nice review!

The Harley Benton has the best sound!

It looks “lemony” good!

This may sound crazy to most but Epiphones has always been good to me.

You’re so right about Ibanez pickups not being great. I have an Artcore that I got because the feel and the look were incredible, but over time I just couldn’t get the sounds I wanted. Upgrading the pickups to 58’s did the trick.

Firefly!!

The Harley Benton has super snappy sounding pickups for them being humbuckers