A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

So my previous experience with Harley Benton has been very limited...had one of the headless models for a little while but I wasn't super impressed with it (probably because I couldn't help but compare it to my Kiesel Vader) and I ended up moving it on. Recently I've had a random hankering for a tele bodied guitar with humbuckers and when this came up at GC for under $300 I had to grab it.

Harley Benton #2 is a different experience...this one is IMPRESSIVE. Roasted maple neck and fretboard, stainless steel frets, quality locking tuners, string-thru bridge, sapele body, etc. Neck feels fantastic, some beautiful flame figuring when the light hits right, fretwork is perfect, and the pickups sound decent too though of course nothing jaw-dropping. Push-pull on the tone knob for coil split too and the pots are quality.

Here's some crappy pics...I know stuff like HB can be hit or miss on the QC as I've read but this one is an absolutely killer instrument and would still be so at three times its price. Going to throw in the Bareknuckle Rebel Yell / Nailbomb set I have sittin' around and it's going to be a monster.

I've got a pair and agree, they are quite amazing.

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honyock wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 9:40 pm I've got a pair and agree, they are quite amazing.

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Nice! Fusion models or something else?

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 11:25 am

honyock wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 9:40 pm I've got a pair and agree, they are quite amazing.

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Nice! Fusion models or something else?

One fusion of each style. Just broke in the new hangers.

honyock wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 2:43 pm

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 11:25 am

honyock wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 9:40 pm I've got a pair and agree, they are quite amazing.

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Nice! Fusion models or something else?

One fusion of each style. Just broke in the new hangers. 20211218_124113.jpg

Very cool, I'm after a Fusion III now if a good one pops up used...I'm particular with the aesthetics of the woods on these so I really don't wanna chance one sight unseen from Thomann. What're the backs of the necks like on yours? I've seen everything from no flame at all to flamey as hell on these.

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:27 pm

honyock wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 2:43 pm

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 11:25 am

Nice! Fusion models or something else?

One fusion of each style. Just broke in the new hangers. 20211218_124113.jpg

Very cool, I'm after a Fusion III now if a good one pops up used...I'm particular with the aesthetics of the woods on these so I really don't wanna chance one sight unseen from Thomann. What're the backs of the necks like on yours? I've seen everything from no flame at all to flamey as hell on these.

The strat is non existent, the Tele it is mildly flamed, but dies not jump out at you like my SX Leo 1 piece neck

honyock wrote: ↑Sun Dec 19, 2021 12:22 am

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:27 pm

honyock wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 2:43 pm

One fusion of each style. Just broke in the new hangers. 20211218_124113.jpg

Very cool, I'm after a Fusion III now if a good one pops up used...I'm particular with the aesthetics of the woods on these so I really don't wanna chance one sight unseen from Thomann. What're the backs of the necks like on yours? I've seen everything from no flame at all to flamey as hell on these.

The strat is non existent, the Tele it is mildly flamed, but dies not jump out at you like my SX Leo 1 piece neck

Really does seem like luck of the draw which is why I'm holding out for another like mine...they of course always use the insanely flamed ones for the website but sometimes you get lucky with one of those.

I really like their roasted necks. I have the HP42 sig model and that neck just makes me happy. Gorgeous guitar man, congrats!!

NickintheStates wrote: ↑Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:45 pm I really like their roasted necks. I have the HP42 sig model and that neck just makes me happy. Gorgeous guitar man, congrats!!

Very cool! Do you have any pics of it? Really like that model.

I have one.. it's in storage at the moment. It's a fun guitar that sadly I don't play enough... I'd be up to sell if interested.

NickintheStates wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:17 pm I have one.. it's in storage at the moment. It's a fun guitar that sadly I don't play enough... I'd be up to sell if interested.

IMG_1329.JPG

Hey Nick, sorry I missed your comment here from a few days ago. I'll PM you!

Very nice but I do have a hard time labeling that as a "tele"

nomadh wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 8:26 pm Very nice but I do have a hard time labeling that as a "tele"

Well, I didn't...because I also don't think it's a tele at all in any way. Just has a "tele shaped" body, which I'm guessing is what the "T" is for .

slowhand84 wrote:

nomadh wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 8:26 pm Very nice but I do have a hard time labeling that as a "tele"

Well, I didn't...because I also don't think it's a tele at all in any way. Just has a "tele shaped" body, which I'm guessing is what the "T" is for .

I think the same of my T style one. It in no way is a Tele other than the body shape. It doesn't sound like a tele and with the trem even moreso doesn't feel like a Tele when playing.

Conversely, the S style one I think of as a strat.

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honyock wrote: ↑Wed Dec 29, 2021 10:59 am

slowhand84 wrote:

nomadh wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 8:26 pm Very nice but I do have a hard time labeling that as a "tele"

Well, I didn't...because I also don't think it's a tele at all in any way. Just has a "tele shaped" body, which I'm guessing is what the "T" is for .

I think the same of my T style one. It in no way is a Tele other than the body shape. It doesn't sound like a tele and with the trem even moreso doesn't feel like a Tele when playing.

Conversely, the S style one I think of as a strat.

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For sure, the Fusion III is more of a superstrat. I'd like one of those too but I'm picky about the woods so I'll have to keep an eye out for a used one so I can see exactly what I'm getting. Hopefully I can get lucky again like I did with GC and score one for well under $300 shipped.