Ok dudes and possible dudes. Harley Benton in da house.

Tglo · Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:23 pm

Just let me say that the bang for buck factor is off the charts. Harley Benton is the new Ibanez and Aria in our time. I don't say this lightly,cause I had my first ibby and aria in the late 70s and knew then that they would be a force to be reckoned with. That said Harley Benton guitars are well on their way. I now have 4 and my first was a very generous gift from my great friend Tonebender. I now have found my soulmate in a HB l.p.. Now on to the pics. You will be hard pressed to beat the quality in construction and tone. If you love vintage they are the way to go.

toomanycats · Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:53 pm

Tglo wrote: ↑Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:23 pm Harley Benton is the new Ibanez and Aria in our time.

I wish I had said that quote.

glasshand · Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:17 pm

I've been very happy with all of the HB stuff I've ever seen. I just wish the shipping wasn't such a killer.

BrianSkeezer · Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:37 pm

I have 5 and got 1 for my son. I'm pleased with all of them. I also really like their premium gigbags that I paid $30 for ($35 now).

https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann_pr ... tar_br.htm

uwmcscott · Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:17 pm

Those are some nice looking Bentons, nice to see you again Tglo. When I first saw the subject line I won't lie that HBOwner was the first thought that hit my mind.

nomadh · Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:22 pm

uwmcscott wrote: ↑Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:17 pm Those are some nice looking Bentons, nice to see you again Tglo. When I first saw the subject line I won't lie that HBOwner was the first thought that hit my mind.

So Hairy B was right all along?

Tglo · Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:23 pm

Those bags are real mice,but 75.23 to ship 2? That's more then the 2 of them
I guess it's best to order with a guitar. Ah another reason to get more,I like it.

peskypesky · Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:31 pm

I'm glad Harley Benton has come up, since Rondo shit the bed and Guitar Fetish guitars proved to have very spotty QC.

I myself am no longer in the guitar-buying market, but if I was, I'd be grabbing HB's like a richman's bastard.

BrianSkeezer · Thu Dec 17, 2020 5:17 am

Tglo wrote: ↑Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:23 pm Those bags are real mice,but 75.23 to ship 2? That's more then the 2 of them
I guess it's best to order with a guitar. Ah another reason to get more,I like it.

When I got them, I included them in the flat rate shipping with guitars. They used to ship up to 3 guitars for $30 (which was exactly what I bought), and the bags were included in that shipping fee. That was a great deal! I think I have the guitars I want from them, but those bags.... If they bring back the flat rate shipping, I'm buying more of those.

redman · Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:33 am

I've never owned a HB or even played one may have to grab one sometime I would really like to check out what the hype is all about. I'm and old guy I'll be 65 come April and have played music and been knee deep in guitars my entire life and never dreamed I would see the quality of below $200 guitars available today. The CNC machines and low Asian labor cost has completely changed the guitar industry forever and made it possible to put a great guitar in anyone's hand because of the low prices..

Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:37 am

redman wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:33 am I've never owned a HB or even played one may have to grab one sometime I would really like to check out what the hype is all about. I'm and old guy I'll be 65 come April and have played music and been knee deep in guitars my entire life and never dreamed I would see the quality of below $200 guitars available today. The CNC machines and low Asian labor cost has completely changed the guitar industry forever and made it possible to put a great guitar in anyone's hand because of the low prices..

Kids!

Razzle · Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:30 am

That’s a great take @RedMan

I actually was looking at a HB the other day, had SS frets, and a roasted neck I think, Floyd, 24 frets, maple board, very unusual set of features. It was purple (of course). Seemed good for $350. But it’s not in stock.

I had looked at HBs before but nothing had caught my eye. First time one did for me.

dabbler · Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:59 am

I have a couple of HB guitars, and I agree they are a good value. Actually, though I spend a lot more time on bass these days. Fortunately HB does basses too!

OMB · Thu Dec 17, 2020 12:51 pm

Sideways guitar pics always bug me...

OMB · Thu Dec 17, 2020 12:52 pm

...and

Mossman · Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:02 pm

Those look sweet! My HB Jazz Bass (JB-75) made a believer out of me... I just wish it wasn't so damn heavy (the body is made of Northern Ash). It cost $66 to ship, but I received it in five days, and since the bass itself only cost $155, it was still cheaper than an SX (and Rondo had zero full scale basses available at the time).

mighty_duck · Thu Dec 17, 2020 4:53 pm

Got in while flat shipping was still around $30. Even made a little profit on the "Deko" models that would occasionally come on (and were mostly fine).
Even with the current higher shipping, they still might have the best bang for buck PRS copies out there.

Tglo · Sat Dec 19, 2020 8:49 am

Thanks to OMB for the upright pics.
When I saw them in my gallery they were fine.
But I was standing on my head.

SamIV · Sat Dec 19, 2020 9:41 am

I bought one of their PRS semi-hollow copies, and it had its issues. When it first arrived, I was a bit enamored with the looks of it and put aside its issues. The longer I owned it, the more they bugged me. The binding in the F holes was the worst I have ever seen on a guitar. I took a file to them and cleaned them up the best I could, but it it still looked looked like a rookie job. It played ok after a fret level and set up, but the bridge was always cocked and it bugged me.

In the end, I traded it to someone for a Korean made Epiphone Les Paul custom that has seen it’s bit of play wear, but it plays so much better. And I am not really an LP fanboy, but this thing plays so well. Glad these HB’s worked out well for most of you, and it worked out in the end for me.

Sat Dec 19, 2020 10:48 am

I've been buying HBs since the feeding frenzy first started in 2015 and the build quality has only gotten better and more consistent. The most recent ones from Indonesia are amazing. I miss the flat rate shipping but the consolidated shipping cost for a couple of Juniors via UPS was around $75 and they were here in three days without any time spent in US Customs limbo...

mkgearhead · Sat Dec 19, 2020 1:37 pm

I've got 4 HB and they're all really good. I swapped out the bridge and pickups on the Paradise Flame CST-24 but the other 3 are stock and I haven't seen a need to upgrade anything.

peskypesky · Sat Dec 19, 2020 1:42 pm

Harley Benton EX-76 Classic
$369

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_ben ... ghw_an.htm

peskypesky · Sat Dec 19, 2020 1:53 pm

Harley Benton SC-450 P90 GT Classic
$163

P90 GT Classic Series – Thomann United States - Brave.jpg[/attachment]

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_ben ... series.htm

Tglo · Sat Dec 19, 2020 2:27 pm

mkgearhead wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 1:37 pm I've got 4 HB and they're all really good. I swapped out the bridge and pickups on the Paradise Flame CST-24 but the other 3 are stock and I haven't seen a need to upgrade anything.

31703B01-81D1-4B71-BE12-A896318E7ED7.jpeg
120997211_5120645287961012_4611558850708321401_o.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_5346.jpg
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How do you like the Harley Benton p90s. Also do you have the pickups from the custom 24 and if so would you sell them.

mkgearhead · Sat Dec 19, 2020 2:40 pm

Tglo wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 2:27 pm
mkgearhead wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 1:37 pm I've got 4 HB and they're all really good. I swapped out the bridge and pickups on the Paradise Flame CST-24 but the other 3 are stock and I haven't seen a need to upgrade anything.

31703B01-81D1-4B71-BE12-A896318E7ED7.jpeg
120997211_5120645287961012_4611558850708321401_o.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_5346.jpg
thumbnail_IMG_5403.jpg
How do you like the Harley Benton p90s. Also do you have the pickups from the custom 24 and if so would you sell them.

The blue one has Roswells and the Goldtop are unbranded. Both sound good. I put the pickups from the Custom 24 in this oddball: