I own about 20 guitars ranging from part-made junk to high end classics. I bought a Harley Benton out of curiosity a while back and I was so shocked by the quality that I instantly bought myself a few more. A little setup was needed, but not anything that I couldn't do myself. I wouldn't want to use the words "entry level guitars" or "beginners' guitars" for HB instruments anymore. They have developed into a quality brand and still kept the prices down. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for HB.
Great video. I am a Charvel fan also. But I did just discover Harley Benton and bought their Tele TE 20 HH for like $84. While it does have its shortcomings, like sharp fret ends, extremely high action when I received it, and less than impressive pickups. But come on, it was $84! I did a setup, truss rod adjustment, Ernie Ball strings, replaced the tuners with a locking set, and wow. It is amazing. It holds its own against my guitars that were 10x the price. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a PRS or a Charvel. But again, $84.00! I will definitely check out the fusion next! Thanks for the video, man!
I've got two Fusions, a T style in sparkle green and an S Style HSS in dark pink. Love them both. I was too cheap to get a Charvel, so now I have two guitars for less than the price of one. Great video, btw.
@@JackTaylorGuitars Yeah really insightful video, playing was great too. Just subscribed. Keep 'em coming, I know how much work it is to make one of these things.
You're a true legend mate, thank you! I'm stoked to have you here 🤘 And I'm glad you enjoyed them. I am still incapable of filming without making a huge mess of it 😂
This appeared in my recommended randomly and I'm glad it did... take this as a compliment: something about this video was strangely pleasing to watch (: Good job over all and very informative
Great video Jack! I've owned a Harley Benton Fusion II FR since December 2020, and it's an amazing guitar gor the pricetag, and a great guitar overall. The neck was indeed thick (22.16mm @ 1st fret, 23.44mm @ 12th fret), but once I shaved it down to 20mm/22mm, and rolled the fretboard, the guitar was completely transformed. I also installed an EMG 81/85 set, since this was the sound I was going for. One last thing worth mentioning, is that they use a full-steinless steel Floyd Rose 1000 in their FR models. The cheapest two-humbucker guitar you can currently find, equipped with a FR1000 is Cort X-500, which costs more than twice the money. To sum my experience up, if you are aware that the neck may need some care to fit your hands, and that you may also need to swap pickups to suit your taste, the Fusion series is a no-brainer.
That's some quality info mate, thanks so much for sharing! Sounds like you've got a real beast on your hands there now. Appreciate you watching and commenting dude 🤘
Good honest review, nice to see the comparison with the inspiration behind this series. I know a few guitarists that look down their nose at budget brands but I guess it's their loss. The outtakes were a nice touch too, subscribed!
I really appreciate the kind words mate, thank you so much! It’s definitely their loss, you’re completely right. Thanks again dude, nice to have you around 🤘
Not dumb for making this video. Smart is more like it mate. Very helpful. Just ordered the sparkle tele. Playing 15+ years and got many charvel level axes. But this thing, I just HAVE to try. Hoping for the best 😅
Mate, I appreciate that! Thanks so much for checking out the video 🤘 The teles look ace man, it’s well worth a go! Hope you enjoy your new gear day my dude 👊
Nice video, I'm an ibanez rg man but there is something special about those charvel necks for sure, they just feel pure quality, you got a sub, keep up the great work
My dude, thanks so much 🤘I do love an RG myself. I actually have a video about an Iron Label in the works that you might enjoy! Thanks for the support man, it means a lot. Take care mate!
Thanks man, for watching and for the suggestion. I really appreciate it! If I do another video like this in future I'll bang some lead tones in there too. Cheers bro 🤘
This is awesome bro..idk how I missed it..been busy few days..I am all about the affordable guitars and I'm looking to score used or new at much lower prices than my current lineup..I have what I want..I want to learn to really work on them by trial and errors and just diving in..I know enough to start .the information is out there..cuz having a sizable collection of anything especially guitars comes with it's own maintenance costs..part of the game if u play correctly...can really save a fortune over a decade working on your own guitars..and if u choose make a fortune working on other people's stuff..this was an eye opener man.. affordable doesn't mean cheaply made anymore..there's diamonds in the rough lying in the corner of many shops still to this day as far as used guitars go especially...and dude..we are the grateful ones...you bust your ass and we enjoy the fruits of your labors...lol...so thank you man🤘😜🎸🎶
My dude, thank you so much. I always appreciate your comments man. You’re absolutely right on all of it. I’m big on like being your own guitar tech. I’m not an expert by any means but I want to do a series of videos to help people do just that if people are interested. I’m also part way through filming a mod project video. Don’t know how good it’ll be but hopefully it’ll be interesting! Thanks again bro, I can’t thank you enough for the continued support 🙏🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars right up my alley and many others as well brother..we all crave constant mental stimuli...at least the intelligent ones..lol .so anything that results in me learning new things especially about guitar I'm all in...more please.. 😂
I have sold alot of my guitars to buy Harley Benton stuff. I have sold Fender, Gibson, Reverend, Peavey, Guitars from obscure japanese brands from the 70's,... And just bought a range of HB guitars. They are that good. Now i have alot of options and a bass, banjo and baritone acoustic guitar. These HB are great and if you know how to setup a guitar and to change pickups the best value u can get even compared to the used market. I love Harley Benton and i turn all my friends to them :)
Thank you my dude! I know I joke around but it's not weird to like a middle pickup at all, they've got a place. It's just not for me 😂 And yeah Charvel do make a fantastic neck. Thanks again man 🤘
I thought about getting a Harley Benton. It looks like a great value for the dollar but you’re correct that it will not be as good as the more expensive ones or at least shouldn’t be but you never know. Great video.
Thanks so much mate, I’m glad you enjoyed! If you’re in the market for a Harley Benton and you see one that you really like, I’d give it a chance. I’m definitely in the market for another, probably an Amarok 7 or one of the new Fusion EMGs. Appreciate you dude, thanks again!
From my experience with those HB fusions, they have a weak spot which is the 5 way switch (very cheap and I noted a lot of users complain it fails quite quicky). Mine failed also but it's an easy fix if you know basic soldering
Thanks for the tip off Karol! I appreciate that 🙌 So far, touch wood, I haven’t had any issues personally but it’s good to look out for. Appreciate you watching!
@@1972Georges it’s not very complicated, Mate. The hardest part is not burning yourself and being willing to practice on a guitar you don’t care about damaging a little bit as you learn. There are great, free resources for guitar wiring.
My Fusion 3 (HSS Matt blue) had a bad paint job and super rough stainless feel frets. Wouldn't accept that on a 200€ guitar. Very probably a lemon, but since I couldn't try it first and sending it back is such a hassle I just decided to stay away from the Fusion 3s. Since I would have to set it up and change the pickups, the price difference to something like a Charvel or mid range Ibanez shrinks drastically. PS: loved the outtakes
Ah that sucks mate, always a bad time when you get a dud. But yeah, it's a totally valid point, taking the risk on getting one if you can't try it first. Appreciate you watching and commenting man, thank you! 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars Totally does, kills all the excitement instantly. I've played a Harley Benton Tele a mate owned that was under 150€ and absolutely brilliant, so it was very likely bad luck. Just annoying things go through QC like this. Great video and great playing, I'm subscribing for those backing tracks ;)
It really is mate. I’ve got a new HB coming for the channel actually so we’ll see what that one’s like! Cheers dude, I appreciate it! I haven’t made one in a while but maybe I’ll get back to it. 🤘
For me, HB it is a no-brainer; getting a Charvel in my country its just unthinkable for me, while HB gives me the chance to access to some really nice features for the bang. I've got my Fusion III HH EB OCT like a month ago and I love it. It's really easy to setup and S&H went incredibly fast and well. Thank you for your honest review, way to go!
That’s awesome man! I completely agree, the opportunity to get a guitar that genuinely holds up against the bigger brands makes so much sense. I’m glad you love yours! And thank you for checking out the video dude, I really appreciate it 🤘
Great review , thanks . In my humble opinion both guitars had great tone and were unique to one another in how they sounded , but for me i preferred the sound of the Harley Benton . I'm sure that the build quality on the Charvel is better but for just over £300 i can't think of another guitar that beats the HB . Thanks again , keep em coming .
33?! That’s confidence in the brand if ever I saw it 😁 From what I’ve experienced, it’s definitely deserved. I really appreciate you checking it out man and the kind words consider your experience with them 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars I know and 136 guitars altogether, think I’ve got a problem lol 😂. I have an SC-DLX Gotoh which is a great guitar and about £280 from Thomann atm.
Maybe but there’s worse problems to have dude! The Gotoh axes do look great, I’d love to have a play on one of those. Thought I’ve got my eye on the Amarok 7 or the Fusion T EMG right now…
Ordered the hsh version fusion lll roasted version. Cant wait 👏👌 thanks for the review. The charvel is at least double the price but shure not 2 times as good as even better at all…
Glad you enjoyed the video mate, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the guitar more! The Charvel is a killer guitar and I think it’s correctly priced but it’s not twice as good as the HB. Definitely a big step up but I think it’s closer than it would seem to most if you took the labels off. Thanks again dude! 🤘
This was great video man. I still have Ibanez RG 565 from 91-92 that I bought 30 years ago. Been looking for something similar but don’t want to spend $2000. Been considering the fusion 3 or max fusion
Thanks so much bro, I'm stoked you enjoyed it! That sounds like a killer guitar dude. The fusions are awesome, for sure, but I'd say the playing experience is much more vintage feeling. Aside from the stainless frets and stuff the feel of the guitar, particularly the neck, is a very vintage feeling thing mainly due to how thick it is. Definitely worth a try at the price if you don't mind a chunky neck but if you only like thin necks I'd stay away, personally. Thanks again man, I appreciate it 🤘
what a good video!! I loved the comparison, and Ive been seeing these harley benton guitars all around youtube but never really trusted them so much because of the price... It was too low to be THAT good as people said. Now i think Ill give them a try!
Thank you mate, I'm stoked you enjoyed it! For the money dude, I don't think you can go wrong but there's definitely a sweet spot with Harley Benton. The realllly cheap stuff is what it is but when you start getting up the line a bit to the stuff with good materials they're honestly super good. Thanks again for watching🤘
@@nicolasfuentes2155 Thanks so much Nicolás, I’m really glad you liked the video! They’re both great guitars, that’s for sure. It all comes down to your budget. If you can save a little more then definitely pick up a Charvel but you wouldn’t be disappointed with the Fusion 3 either. Hope that helps and thanks again mate 🤘
Bro I just got a Squier 50s classic vibes stratocaster, and if you haven't yet try one. I'm SUPER impressed with this guitar, and I'm not a strat guy usually.. the tones are so smooth
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Just something I noticed. There's quite a bit of string buzz on the Charvel (8:05). I don't think it's your techinique. I just bought a HB and have owned several Charvels, so I'm interested to see how they work for me.
No need to thank me man, I enjoy doing this! Thank you for watching though and the kind words, it means a huge amount to me! Oh yeah, I had the Charvel set up with ridiculously low action. It really wasn't happy with cleans but for some gainy lead stuff it was killer. I hope you enjoy the HB mate and thanks again!
Harley Benton really are on point atm. I wasn’t a fan of the roswell but pickups in the TE52 vintage, but a set of quarter pounders fixed that! Fusion T EMG is on my list
They’re doing great stuff mate that’s for sure. The Fusion T EMG is a great mid tier guitar at low end prices. Highly recommend it! Thanks for checking out the video man 🤘
Funny, I have always hated Charvel necks. I have 3 Charvels and have replaced the necks on all of them with more C-shaped necks that are .85 at the first and .95 at the 12th fret. The stock necks to me are just too skinny and give me hand pain. I'm going to have to try this Harley Benton. If it is slightly chunkier than a Fender Player it might be goldilocks for me. Especially if that's the only. major differentiator between these and the Charvel. Thanks for the excellent in-depth review!
That's really interesting man! But if the hurt your hands you've done the right thing. Maybe give a HB a try. I'd say they're quite a bit chunkier than a fender, at least the modern ones, but I guess it depends what era we're talking about. Anyway, thanks for watching man, I appreciate it 🤘
I agree with most of your points. Had a Fusion III for a while but ended up selling it. Here’s my 2 cents: It’s absolutely great for the price, the features are like no other guitar in that $300 range. That said, the pickups aren’t great, the tremolo was not recessed (so you can’t pull up much) there were lots of paint issues in transitions and cavities in mine (satin shell pink), and coming from an Ibanez RG, I wish the neck was thinner and the fretboard flatter. Personally, having the single coil in the middle (had a HSS) got in the way for me, and I kept having an issue of the high E being too close to the edge of the fretboard and sliding out of the fretboard which got annoying and wasn’t totally fixed even after changing the nut, getting it setup by a luthier and making sure the neck was sitting nice in the pocket without moving sideways and ending up misaligned with the bridge. It definitely needs a pro setup, since it came with the frets super scratchy out of the box (I would take any guitar to a luthier after making sure I like it anyway). I think the single advantage would be the SS frets, but I haven’t had any issues with nickel frets even in guitars with 15+ years anyway. On the other hand, I have tried some Charvel models and liked the neck a looooot more. The SD pickups are also better, and the Gotoh 510 is surely a lot more solid than the Wilkinson tremolo. I might get a HH one when they hopefully come with new colors next year.
Honestly, all HB have to do with the Fusion IV is put in a recessed Gotoh-510 and it puts huge pressure on it's more expensive competitors. With the Gotoh trem it'll probably be about $450-$500 range which is still a great price if it had they trem on it. I'd buy one immediately. Also, exchange the split coil feature for a 5-way switch as the split feature is overrated imo.
Thank you for this video! I'm actually in the market for a Harley Benton fusion as a mod platform for an extra super strat beside my Dk24 😅 Looking forward to see your future videos and to start transforming that HB soon! :)
I’m really glad you enjoyed it mate but it should be me thanking you for watching. It means a lot man! That’s awesome. I’m sure you’ll have a ton of fun with it. The bones on them are great and if you’re looking to chuck some new hardware in it I’m sure you’ll have a blast! Thanks again mate, all the best 🤘
My thumbnail shows some guitars I built. Sadly HB put an end to that. Who could compete with the quality/price ratio? That said, I bought a 1st gen Fusion HH with the Floyd. Outstanding offering! I bought it to do research on the competition and kept it. I DID swap in some Seymor Duncans but other than that, Still stock. The quality was amazing and set up was spot on. I play it often and have to admit...I rarely have to top off tuning. It's first gen so some of the features aren't as modern (locking tuners, Roasted neck) But still has Grovers and a Canadian maple neck. I have lots of guitars but my Fusion is right at the top below my Ibanez.
It’s cool that you liked the HB so much mate but it’s definitely a shame that it ended your building! Do you ever think about building more just for the fun of it?
@@JackTaylorGuitars I still do repairs and have some unfinished projects. I have a Les Paul kit that will get the full on high end build. I just can't do mid priced guitars because of HB's $3-400 offerings. The mass production quality with CNC machines blow little guys like me out of the water.
First time catching you, and well done…I own quite a few guitars, and 2 Harley Benton’s, that yes I did a bit of work too, but there great guitars with a little care..and any other brands all have some that make me want to play more, or just set it aside…
I play HSS strats\superstrats and I get what you mean. Neck pickup awesome for cleans, but low output, then the humbucker, not much else, never use the middle pickup much either. Then I play humbuckers and I miss the brighter cleans. So I like humbuckers with split function. I have a Harley Benton SG style I got for 140€ (used, like new) with the same pickups and the same coil split function and it sounds GREAT and covers more styles than a HSS Strat. Then again I love the Telecaster bridge, for me that's something unique ;)
I agree about the chunkiness of the HB neck. So I have thinned the neck a bit to be a combination of a MusicMan Cuttlas and a PRS Custom neck (by sanding). Still I much prefer my MM Cutlass to the HB (despite also changing the PU with two SD). But for the money, it is an astounding looking guitar with great specs.
Interesting! Another couple of folks have mentioned thinning down the necks themselves too. That’s a brave move dude! I wouldn’t have the guts to do it 😂 You’re totally right though, for the cost I think it’s hard to find other guitars that compete with HB. Thanks for checking out the video man 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars My father was a joiner, so I have some (but not much) skills. My hands were shaking when I started:=). But it turned out this was much more easy and safe to do than it seamed. It helps if one has some electric tools but it is not super necessary. And the oiling at the end is just the most magic part of this.... In fact, I will do it AGAIN these days!, because I was too cautious and did not take away enough wood. This time, I recon, it will take my like 2 hours work all together.
@@clemensspark9689 Ah I see! That’s really cool man, tons of respect for going for it. Maybe I’ll have a go in the future if I need to. Thanks for the info mate 🤘
Very interesting comparison! I don't know why but the neck on my Charvel San Dimas feels better than on any other guitar I have. Even compared to more expensive ones (PRS, Jackson USA, etc.)
Charvel any day! A guitar can't be judged on tone alone...feel is what it's about. You want a precision instrument, get a Charvel. You're a good salesman though.
Thanks for watching the video man, I appreciate it! If it was a straight choice between the two, money no object, I’d pick my Charvel too. It’s one of the best guitars I own. I just wanted to show how much I think of the Harley Benton by putting it against something similar that absolute nails it. And hopefully next time I’ll actually get paid 😂
Harley Benton has a multi year warranty you might still ba able to return it or get credit from HB they are really good at customer care. i have the Fusion III
Is there any difference between this Harley Benton and the metallic green one? Do these have the tremolo thats no good for beginners.? I've never played before so sorry if these are stupid questions.
They're not stupid questions mate, you've gotta learn somewhere! This one does have a tremolo which might be a little bit more difficult to maintain, but there are models with fixed bridges which would be easier. That's what I'd be looking for if I was new to guitar! If you have any other questions dude let me know 🤘
I have quite a few Harley Bentons as well as some high end Gibsons, my favourite HB I have is the Fusion T 25th followed by the SC Custom, Im a LP and Tele player at heart and I am going to buy the traditional Tele 25th as if I don't I will be kicking myself when they stop selling them, when you buy something like a Charvel 30 to 40% of the price is going to the distributor, whereas HB go from the factory to Thomann so those costs don't come into the price
I wish HBs for $2-300 were available as a 1st guitar in 1982. My Hondo strat was an abomination. Beautiful Charvel i tried to love superstrats but Im a 24 3/4" player. I have found an Ibanez S series Prestige I can keep. The thin smaller body and Ibanez neck w xtra jumbo frets make bending more like a Gibson for me.
Mate, I can totally relate! Even in like 2003 when I started my first Carlsbro strat was complete garbage 😂 New players have such great choices now which I think is awesome! Thank you dude. I have to agree, I love a shorter scale length myself (though I sat right now with a 26.5” seven string in my lap 😬). The S series are great guitars. I bet that’s a beauty! Thanks for watching and commenting, I appreciate it a ton!
Been an Ibanez player since the 80's but sometimes i try different brands, and right now i'm eyeballing a Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH FR, a Jackson Pro Dinky DK2 and a Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR. Trying to deside if the Charvel and Jackson are worth the 3 times higher price tag. 🤔 Maybe i just have to order them all and compare them!? 😅
Ordering them all is one way to do it mate 😂 The fusions are great, absolutely. And if you’re not wanting to spend a great deal then absolutely grab one. If money isn’t an issue though, a Charvel DK would be my pick every time. Nothing compares to a Charvel neck. That’s just my take though! Appreciate you watching dude, thank you 🤘
I own a Fusion II in the HSH configuration. I also own four other HB's. I just don't have the extra cash to buy expensive guitars, regardless of my ability on it. So the quality Harley Benton is putting out for the price is literally tailor made for my situation. That makes them my brand of choice. To be fair, they totally have a few duds in the line up from the quality control and build quality standpoint, but do your research on the Fusion, Amarok, CST 24, and a few other gems in their lineup and you won't be disappointed at all.
That makes perfect sense to me dude! It’s not all about flash gear, just about good gear. I do really want to try and Amarok too. Thanks for watching and commenting mate 🤘
I have the same Harley benton but replaced the Pickups with Fishman Fluence Classics. It now plays and sounds as good as my Les Paul with boutique PAF's in them
@@JackTaylorGuitars Yeah, I know right? Was already happy with it with the stock pickups, but with the Fluence it's world class. Very cool to see that the body and neck type seem the same as Charvel
This is exactly the video that I was looking for. I own 3 higher end guitars, Schecter solo 6, Godin session and a CMG Diane and wanted a Charvel, but wanted to stay under 500.00. From what ive seen and heard, the higher end Harley Bentons play and sound great. How is the Harley holding up?
I’m stoked it helped you mate! Higher end HBs are great guitars for the money. Mines holding up super well, doesn’t get as much play anymore but it’s a very good guitar. Appreciate you checking out the video, thanks mate 🤘
Hey Jack, thanks for posting this in depth comparison. I've been thinking of getting DK22 for some time. I got to try one at a local store and the neck really is smooth as butter and fast. The only knock against the Dk22s I keep reading is on tuning stability issues. Have you noticed that over time? and if so is there anything to help with that issue. Thanks
Hey mate, no problem, I hope it helped some! The tuning stability on my DK was absolutely solid. I personally never had an issue though I did tend to keep the nut lubricated. Thanks for watching dude 🤘
I bought that exact model many months ago (only in a different color) as my first electric guitar. I think beginners like me are spoiled to be able to play such a great guitar without breaking the bank.
I think we’re all spoiled dude! It’s definitely a great time for affordable instruments right now. Thanks for watching mate, keeping enjoying the Fusion 🤘
I've been looking into the HB fusion, and this video was so helpful! Have you had any chance to check out the HSH FBB Roasted? I'd love to hear your opinion! Cheers!
I appreciate that mate, thank you so much! I’m glad it helped 🤘 I have seen that guitar but not played one though I’d expect it to feel very similar to my sparkly one. It looks great though, I’d have no reservations about getting my hands on one!
superstrats are my kind of guitar, i agree with you, 2 splittable humbuckers with 6 tones are more usable to me in live situation than a 3 pickup guitar, i cant help notice in some videos though there is a huge drop in volume on the harley when you split the coils, and i wish they would just make a black one, hat silver is too bling for me, the harley wins out with the stainless steel frets, i gig my guitars and wear out nickel frets in no time, stainless steel frets eliminate that problem, in fact i wont buy a guitar now unless it has stainless steel frets these days.
Yeah man, I'm with you on that. The HB pickups do drop in output when split but overall it's the more versatile option and the frets is a huge plus! Thanks for checking out the video mate, I appreciate it 🤘
you are welcome, im going to buy one of these at some point. im curious to see how it holds up again my ibanez AZ prestige, the harley is a quarter of the price but i bet its not quarter of the guitar
@@JackTaylorGuitars hi Jack, well i bought one, the HH floyd with roasted maple neck in bengal burst, it looks stunning, even thought its a veneer its arguably better looking than the top on my PRS, i wish i could send you a pic of it, but in comparison with the AZ which is a prestige and costs almost 2 grand, ive done a few gigs now with the HB and here is what ive learned, the hb is noticably heavier when strapped on and the back of the body is less contoured so it doesnt fit into the body as well as the ibanez, the pickups are a lot hotter on the ibanez, this is very noticabe at home but not so much in a live situation, the neck on the ibanez fits my hand better, i like its wider fret board more but the hb does hold its own and now that i have it set up its pretty amazing for the money, in time i may change the pickups but for now i have to say i enjoy playing it, so much so that i may buy the black one with the ebony fretboard and regular trem
I own several guitars and about 5 of them are Harley Benton's. The key take away from my experience and in my own opinion would be this: 1. Best value around for guitars 2. They all need to be professionally setup 3. The electronics are sub par, pickups are mostly sub par especially for metal. Roswell pickups are really some of the worst but the Tesla's are decent. 4. The paint is good but you will see small imperfections especially if the guitar has binding, you will find specs of dirt in the clear on the tops of the guitars 5. Customer support will go above and beyond for you if there's a problem.
That’s some really helpful info mate, thanks for dropping it here for people! Always good to have multiple opinions when you’re making a decision. I’ve got two HBs and the setup point held true for the cheaper of the two, but the fusion only needed minor adjustments. All good if you do your own work but obviously we don’t all like to faff with guitars haha. The pickups are definitely not a metal pickup, that’s for sure. Fully agree. Totally not hot enough for that but for anything less gainy I’ve had some great tones from the Roswells but at that price I wasn’t expecting much else. Thanks for checking the video out mate and getting involved. I massively appreciate it!
All guitars need a set-up. It need not be "professional", there is nothing skilled about turning screws. Cheap Harley Benton usually have poor (unlevel) fretwork and require more than a set-up: I had to do some levelling on every one of mine (except the fretless bass that had a nut too high…). This seems not to apply to their stainless steel models. A model named Fusion is not targeted at Metal. Roswell pick-ups may be fine for other purposes. Those with metal covers are intentionally on the "warmer" (duller) side. I also had funny experiences with some of the electronics. The R-458 had humbuckers with coils wired in parallel instead of in series.
@@Leo_ofRedKeep I'm not experienced in setting up guitars but I lump fret leveling in with that, I also have only ever bought Stainless Steel frets on my Harley Bentons and most of them required fretwork to some degree. When it comes to what an electric guitar is targeted as I kind of see that as B.S. I get where you are coming from but the Fusion line is their top of the line so to speak, and I'm a firm believer that the guitar shape or title doesn't define it's purpose or genre of music. I have a Harley Benton Tele that has a HH configuration that I put Fishman Fluence Moderns in and super low action, let me tell ya it is one of the most versatile guitars and I use it for many different styles of playing. I will double down on my claim about Roswills being some of the worst pickups on the planet because they are.
@@nick_UponTheFallen Set-up is everything that's an adjustment, usually reversible. Fret levelling is part of the build process or, in case of a worn out instrument, a repair. If a hastily made guitar needs levelling when new, this is finishing a cheap job so a proper set-up can be done. There is a habit amongst musician of associating a coloured tone with certain styles and a more neutral clarity with the edge of "Metal" chugging. This is why you get active pick-ups on the "Metal looking" Amarok and "rounder" Roswell humbuckers on the Fusion. I trust we could be happy with active pick-ups for anything but the buying public is so tied down in fantasised beliefs that manufacturers have to satisfy them and offer what they can sell.
It sounds like a good price mate! If you’re happy with the condition and price yourself then why not 🤘 Thanks for checking out the video too, I appreciate it!
The HB has medium jumbos but the Charvel has jumbos so the medium jumbos aren't quite as tall by a fraction but, in practice, I didn't find it made a huge difference. Hope that helps dude and thanks for watching! 🤘
Gotta say the Harley is well able to hold its own , sounds just as good … Harley Benton have changed the game that’s for sure more bang for less buck …. Winning
I always screw the middle pickup way down! Everyone has different tastes of course but I really don’t like stainless frets, gives it a little but of a ‘zing’ sound which I hate.
Man, I keep meaning to do that! I appreciate the reminder 😁 Exactly dude, it’s all about taste. I can’t deny that they do have something extra to ally going on that might not be to everyone’s liking. Definite pros and cons to both. Thanks for checking the video out mate, it means a lot. I hope you enjoyed it!
I bought a HB roasted maple fusion and its fantastic in that I have low action and no buzz anywhere (maybe I got lucky). So next I thought wow cool more roasted maple lets a get a charvel DK24 for over twice the price! Unfortunatley despite what I thought would be the case I havent been able to get low action without a buzz due I suspect high frets in some places. So for me anyway the Fusion wins the day and is better playing then my Mexican humbucker strat infact the best playing and feeling bolt on neck guitar I own.
I really appreciate you checking out the video man, thank you! My fusion was the same as yours, easy to set up with a nice low action and no buzz. I have a slight bit of buzz on the DK22 but I have squeezed as much out of it as I can so it’s intentional at this point. Could well be high frets though on yours. I’ve had a good experience with all the Charvels I’ve owned but maybe I’m the lucky on here? Lol Honestly man, I don’t think I’d buy an American fender over a Mexican. My mim strat is great too. Modded to oblivion right now but that’s because it was worth the upgrades in the first place. I’m glad yours is the same! Thanks again mate!
@@JackTaylorGuitars Yeah maybe the QC on my DK24 wasn't up to par as much as others have been. They are made in Mexico by Fender I assume in the same factory as my Mex Strat which feels nicer than the charvel with no problems. Also the first thing I noticed is the neck is much thinner compared the fatter Fusion which is closer to the Ibanez AZ neck which personally I like.
Charvel sounded better but not nearly 3 times better IMO. Maybe it was just recorded louder. Nice riff and guitars look great. Your fingers also appear unfairly long for the stretches.
I fully agree with you dude, it’s a better guitar but like is it 3x better? I dunno, I don’t think so! Settings we’re exactly the same for the demo, I put the difference down to slightly higher output pickups. Thanks for checking out the video dude and yeah, my fingers are fairly long for my size 🤣 Cheers mate 🤘
I own that Charvel and it makes almost every guitar in my collection sound great in comparison, it is a horrible sounding guitar. I hate the Duncans especially the rail in the bridge, the neck is nice but has no SS frets. Really the only things i love about my Charvel are the looks and the Gotoh trem!
If harley benton used Seymour Duncan pickups they would be close to the price of a charvel. I know because i bought Seymour duncans for my harley benton lol
Why on earth didn't you send the guitar back to Thomann if there was damage? It's the easiest thing in the world. I've done it myself with no problems.
Oh yeah, if it was anything worse than some tiny pressure cracks in the finish it would have obviously gone back but, on the grand scheme of things, it's not like HB has any resale value and I'll be keeping it anyway 'cause it was a birthday gift. Cheers for checking out the video mate 🤘
You’re absolutely right. The HB has a really flexible sound, suited to a lot of different stuff. The Charvel is definitely more suited to loads of gain! Appreciate you watching mate, thank you 🤙
Hey man, great video. I’ve been looking at so many guitars, used to work in the ,used industry, played everything from £89 terrible stuff to £15k custom strats. Had 13 guitars went down to 3, kept an 82 squire which is awesome, I have an 8 string schecter and a Taylor acoustic. I’ve been trying to find a 24 fret hard tail and it is just so hard, wanting a normal strat shape not a super strat shape, no FR or anything. Almost impossible, Charvel do one but I consider them well over priced, the new PRS silver sky (prefer the SE) is an awesome shape, but 22 frets, I’m with you on no stupid middle pick up. Left really looking at esp sn, or music man jp6. Shouldn’t be this hard. Good comparison, I like some HBs but the headstock shape sucks.
Mate, thank you so much! I’m stoked you enjoyed it 🤘 You know what, I can’t think of a 24 fret hard tail off the top of my head that fits the bill. You’re right, it shouldn’t be that hard! Possibly the LTD Josh Middleton signature, though it’s a tunomatic but recessed? Might not be 24 frets now I think about it. Sick guitar though. Think you’re spot on with your current picks. There is something about the headstock shape, looks a bit like a bird? 😂 But it has grown on me. Thanks again man, I really appreciate it.
That 1982 Squier is awesome I bet! You probbably already know this but the first few years 82-83 were basically USA bodies and necks assembled in Japan to keep labour costs down and make a more affordable guitar to the masses. I have a battered late 80's Korean Squier which definetly feels solid for a then budget instrument!
@@johnsiggers1682 apologies, it was late with the typos lol. Its a 1998 squire strat which are basically the same as the japanese ones from that time,. Full size alder strat body, 42" nut, small (normal) Fender headstock, slimmer C, (still stays in tune perfectly, no matter what tuning i'm in) It's very similar to the Jeff Beck strat (same scale length, radius etc) (which I love which is why i bought it) Makes it hard to buy well, basically what is another one of these on the spec sheet costing £900 or so. Obviously getting a little 'reliced' now which on squires they call damage, on Fenders they call 'relic' ;) Trying to find a HH one.
Thanks so much for checking out the video 🤘 You can’t really go wrong by picking the Harley Benton in my opinion, it’ll serve you right in most scenarios!
The story is that 16 year old me saw a music video with a drummer who had a Zildjian tattoo in the same place and thought ‘woah that’s cool af!’ 31 year old me doesn’t necessarily share that opinion 😂 But we all do dumb stuff as kids, or at least that’s what I tell myself!
Wrong the Crap Rosewell Humbuckers are not more versatile and did I mention they are also crap. Then coil splitting seriously coil splitting is a joke.
I think you might have misunderstood dude. I said no one makes better necks than Charvel in my opinion; in relation to the actual neck, profile etc. Nothing about the frets. Thanks for checking out the video 🤘
I own about 20 guitars ranging from part-made junk to high end classics. I bought a Harley Benton out of curiosity a while back and I was so shocked by the quality that I instantly bought myself a few more. A little setup was needed, but not anything that I couldn't do myself. I wouldn't want to use the words "entry level guitars" or "beginners' guitars" for HB instruments anymore. They have developed into a quality brand and still kept the prices down. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for HB.
Fully agree with that dude. Thanks for checking out the video and the comment mate 🤘
Great video. I am a Charvel fan also. But I did just discover Harley Benton and bought their Tele TE 20 HH for like $84. While it does have its shortcomings, like sharp fret ends, extremely high action when I received it, and less than impressive pickups. But come on, it was $84! I did a setup, truss rod adjustment, Ernie Ball strings, replaced the tuners with a locking set, and wow. It is amazing. It holds its own against my guitars that were 10x the price. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a PRS or a Charvel. But again, $84.00! I will definitely check out the fusion next! Thanks for the video, man!
Thanks so much for watching and for the comment mate! 🤘
I've got two Fusions, a T style in sparkle green and an S Style HSS in dark pink. Love them both. I was too cheap to get a Charvel, so now I have two guitars for less than the price of one. Great video, btw.
I can’t blame you for that mate, sounds like a good decision to me! Cheers dude, I appreciate that 👊
@@JackTaylorGuitars Yeah really insightful video, playing was great too. Just subscribed. Keep 'em coming, I know how much work it is to make one of these things.
I personally prefer my 2 Fusion strat's to the Charvel DK24 i had which had alot of issues although iam sure I just got a bad one!
Alright, told you I would check the rest of your videos out...
You clearly deserve a sub, keep it up man ! Enjoyed the take-outs at the end haha
You're a true legend mate, thank you! I'm stoked to have you here 🤘 And I'm glad you enjoyed them. I am still incapable of filming without making a huge mess of it 😂
This appeared in my recommended randomly and I'm glad it did... take this as a compliment: something about this video was strangely pleasing to watch (:
Good job over all and very informative
My dude, that’s incredibly kind of you to say. Thank you so much! 🤘
You shouldn't be baffled because we watch your videos, they're truly great, man. Keep up the good work!
Ah mate, you’re far too kind. Thank you, that means a lot to me 🤘
Great video Jack! I've owned a Harley Benton Fusion II FR since December 2020, and it's an amazing guitar gor the pricetag, and a great guitar overall.
The neck was indeed thick (22.16mm @ 1st fret, 23.44mm @ 12th fret), but once I shaved it down to 20mm/22mm, and rolled the fretboard, the guitar was completely transformed. I also installed an EMG 81/85 set, since this was the sound I was going for.
One last thing worth mentioning, is that they use a full-steinless steel Floyd Rose 1000 in their FR models. The cheapest two-humbucker guitar you can currently find, equipped with a FR1000 is Cort X-500, which costs more than twice the money.
To sum my experience up, if you are aware that the neck may need some care to fit your hands, and that you may also need to swap pickups to suit your taste, the Fusion series is a no-brainer.
That's some quality info mate, thanks so much for sharing! Sounds like you've got a real beast on your hands there now. Appreciate you watching and commenting dude 🤘
Good honest review, nice to see the comparison with the inspiration behind this series. I know a few guitarists that look down their nose at budget brands but I guess it's their loss. The outtakes were a nice touch too, subscribed!
I really appreciate the kind words mate, thank you so much! It’s definitely their loss, you’re completely right. Thanks again dude, nice to have you around 🤘
Not dumb for making this video. Smart is more like it mate. Very helpful. Just ordered the sparkle tele. Playing 15+ years and got many charvel level axes. But this thing, I just HAVE to try. Hoping for the best 😅
Mate, I appreciate that! Thanks so much for checking out the video 🤘 The teles look ace man, it’s well worth a go! Hope you enjoy your new gear day my dude 👊
Nice video, I'm an ibanez rg man but there is something special about those charvel necks for sure, they just feel pure quality, you got a sub, keep up the great work
My dude, thanks so much 🤘I do love an RG myself. I actually have a video about an Iron Label in the works that you might enjoy! Thanks for the support man, it means a lot. Take care mate!
Nice comparison!
What I would've liked though was a comparison of some solo tones as well.
Thanks man, for watching and for the suggestion. I really appreciate it! If I do another video like this in future I'll bang some lead tones in there too. Cheers bro 🤘
This is awesome bro..idk how I missed it..been busy few days..I am all about the affordable guitars and I'm looking to score used or new at much lower prices than my current lineup..I have what I want..I want to learn to really work on them by trial and errors and just diving in..I know enough to start
.the information is out there..cuz having a sizable collection of anything especially guitars comes with it's own maintenance costs..part of the game if u play correctly...can really save a fortune over a decade working on your own guitars..and if u choose make a fortune working on other people's stuff..this was an eye opener man.. affordable doesn't mean cheaply made anymore..there's diamonds in the rough lying in the corner of many shops still to this day as far as used guitars go especially...and dude..we are the grateful ones...you bust your ass and we enjoy the fruits of your labors...lol...so thank you man🤘😜🎸🎶
My dude, thank you so much. I always appreciate your comments man.
You’re absolutely right on all of it. I’m big on like being your own guitar tech. I’m not an expert by any means but I want to do a series of videos to help people do just that if people are interested. I’m also part way through filming a mod project video. Don’t know how good it’ll be but hopefully it’ll be interesting!
Thanks again bro, I can’t thank you enough for the continued support 🙏🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars right up my alley and many others as well brother..we all crave constant mental stimuli...at least the intelligent ones..lol .so anything that results in me learning new things especially about guitar I'm all in...more please.. 😂
Funny seeing that Charvel in the Harley Benton 25 Anniversary color :) I am definitel going to grab a Fusion III Anni!
I hope you love it mate! Thanks for checking out the video 🤘
I have sold alot of my guitars to buy Harley Benton stuff.
I have sold Fender, Gibson, Reverend, Peavey, Guitars from obscure japanese brands from the 70's,... And just bought a range of HB guitars. They are that good. Now i have alot of options and a bass, banjo and baritone acoustic guitar. These HB are great and if you know how to setup a guitar and to change pickups the best value u can get even compared to the used market. I love Harley Benton and i turn all my friends to them :)
Absolutely mate, couldn't agree with you more! I'd love to get some others on the channel. Thanks for watching and for the insight dude 🤘
I do like the look of that Harley Benton! I’m weird as I love middle single coil pickups. Charvel necks are lovely. Great video!
Thank you my dude! I know I joke around but it's not weird to like a middle pickup at all, they've got a place. It's just not for me 😂 And yeah Charvel do make a fantastic neck. Thanks again man 🤘
I thought about getting a Harley Benton. It looks like a great value for the dollar but you’re correct that it will not be as good as the more expensive ones or at least shouldn’t be but you never know. Great video.
Thanks so much mate, I’m glad you enjoyed! If you’re in the market for a Harley Benton and you see one that you really like, I’d give it a chance. I’m definitely in the market for another, probably an Amarok 7 or one of the new Fusion EMGs. Appreciate you dude, thanks again!
@@JackTaylorGuitars If you make a video about the amarok, plsssssss tell us how the neck feels.
From my experience with those HB fusions, they have a weak spot which is the 5 way switch (very cheap and I noted a lot of users complain it fails quite quicky). Mine failed also but it's an easy fix if you know basic soldering
Thanks for the tip off Karol! I appreciate that 🙌 So far, touch wood, I haven’t had any issues personally but it’s good to look out for. Appreciate you watching!
I always have to bring my guitars to the shop for stuff like that. 😞
@@1972Georges it’s not very complicated, Mate. The hardest part is not burning yourself and being willing to practice on a guitar you don’t care about damaging a little bit as you learn. There are great, free resources for guitar wiring.
My Fusion 3 (HSS Matt blue) had a bad paint job and super rough stainless feel frets. Wouldn't accept that on a 200€ guitar. Very probably a lemon, but since I couldn't try it first and sending it back is such a hassle I just decided to stay away from the Fusion 3s.
Since I would have to set it up and change the pickups, the price difference to something like a Charvel or mid range Ibanez shrinks drastically.
PS: loved the outtakes
Ah that sucks mate, always a bad time when you get a dud. But yeah, it's a totally valid point, taking the risk on getting one if you can't try it first. Appreciate you watching and commenting man, thank you! 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars Totally does, kills all the excitement instantly. I've played a Harley Benton Tele a mate owned that was under 150€ and absolutely brilliant, so it was very likely bad luck. Just annoying things go through QC like this.
Great video and great playing, I'm subscribing for those backing tracks ;)
It really is mate. I’ve got a new HB coming for the channel actually so we’ll see what that one’s like!
Cheers dude, I appreciate it! I haven’t made one in a while but maybe I’ll get back to it. 🤘
For me, HB it is a no-brainer; getting a Charvel in my country its just unthinkable for me, while HB gives me the chance to access to some really nice features for the bang. I've got my Fusion III HH EB OCT like a month ago and I love it. It's really easy to setup and S&H went incredibly fast and well. Thank you for your honest review, way to go!
That’s awesome man! I completely agree, the opportunity to get a guitar that genuinely holds up against the bigger brands makes so much sense. I’m glad you love yours! And thank you for checking out the video dude, I really appreciate it 🤘
Great review. Very thoughtful and well considered.
I’m really glad you enjoyed it mate. Thank you so much! 🤘
Great review , thanks . In my humble opinion both guitars had great tone and were unique to one another in how they sounded , but for me i preferred the sound of the Harley Benton . I'm sure that the build quality on the Charvel is better but for just over £300 i can't think of another guitar that beats the HB . Thanks again , keep em coming .
I fully agree mate, it's ridiculous how close it gets for a fraction of the cost. Thanks for watching and the kind words mate 🤘
Hi Jack
I’ve had 33 Harley Benton’s including Fusion, lots of them on my channel.
Great value for money.
Nice vid
33?! That’s confidence in the brand if ever I saw it 😁 From what I’ve experienced, it’s definitely deserved.
I really appreciate you checking it out man and the kind words consider your experience with them 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars I know and 136 guitars altogether, think I’ve got a problem lol 😂.
I have an SC-DLX Gotoh which is a great guitar and about £280 from Thomann atm.
@@JackTaylorGuitars trade you a sub 😉
Maybe but there’s worse problems to have dude! The Gotoh axes do look great, I’d love to have a play on one of those. Thought I’ve got my eye on the Amarok 7 or the Fusion T EMG right now…
@@JackTaylorGuitars nice! Amarok is great looking guitar
Ordered the hsh version fusion lll roasted version. Cant wait 👏👌 thanks for the review. The charvel is at least double the price but shure not 2 times as good as even better at all…
Glad you enjoyed the video mate, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the guitar more! The Charvel is a killer guitar and I think it’s correctly priced but it’s not twice as good as the HB. Definitely a big step up but I think it’s closer than it would seem to most if you took the labels off. Thanks again dude! 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars as fare as I know the fusion come with rolled edges as well. Same as the Charvel.
Yeah they are man. I wouldn’t say the rolled edges on my fusion are as comfortable as the Charvel but it’s definitely nice to have!
@@JackTaylorGuitars Great! Thanks!
This was great video man. I still have Ibanez RG 565 from 91-92 that I bought 30 years ago. Been looking for something similar but don’t want to spend $2000. Been considering the fusion 3 or max fusion
Thanks so much bro, I'm stoked you enjoyed it! That sounds like a killer guitar dude. The fusions are awesome, for sure, but I'd say the playing experience is much more vintage feeling. Aside from the stainless frets and stuff the feel of the guitar, particularly the neck, is a very vintage feeling thing mainly due to how thick it is. Definitely worth a try at the price if you don't mind a chunky neck but if you only like thin necks I'd stay away, personally. Thanks again man, I appreciate it 🤘
what a good video!! I loved the comparison, and Ive been seeing these harley benton guitars all around youtube but never really trusted them so much because of the price... It was too low to be THAT good as people said. Now i think Ill give them a try!
Thank you mate, I'm stoked you enjoyed it! For the money dude, I don't think you can go wrong but there's definitely a sweet spot with Harley Benton. The realllly cheap stuff is what it is but when you start getting up the line a bit to the stuff with good materials they're honestly super good. Thanks again for watching🤘
Get the one with EMG'S if you don't need a wiggle stick. It's awesome!
thank you sooo much for this comparison, ive been looking both of this guitars, plus the hss version of the fusion 3... this is really useful
i think im gonna save money for one or two extra months lol
@@nicolasfuentes2155 Thanks so much Nicolás, I’m really glad you liked the video! They’re both great guitars, that’s for sure. It all comes down to your budget. If you can save a little more then definitely pick up a Charvel but you wouldn’t be disappointed with the Fusion 3 either. Hope that helps and thanks again mate 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars Maybe you could check Soloking guitars, they have some “charvel-ish” models too
@@JackTaylorGuitars Its been a week and a half since i got a dk24 HH matte blue frost, best money ive ever spend haha
Bro I just got a Squier 50s classic vibes stratocaster, and if you haven't yet try one. I'm SUPER impressed with this guitar, and I'm not a strat guy usually.. the tones are so smooth
Hey bro! Congrats on the NGD! They’re ace aren’t they? Really good guitars. I’m glad you’re enjoying it my dude 🤘
Squier is a great brand too. It sounds almost like Fender for lik 1/4 of the price
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Just something I noticed. There's quite a bit of string buzz on the Charvel (8:05). I don't think it's your techinique.
I just bought a HB and have owned several Charvels, so I'm interested to see how they work for me.
No need to thank me man, I enjoy doing this! Thank you for watching though and the kind words, it means a huge amount to me!
Oh yeah, I had the Charvel set up with ridiculously low action. It really wasn't happy with cleans but for some gainy lead stuff it was killer. I hope you enjoy the HB mate and thanks again!
Harley Benton really are on point atm. I wasn’t a fan of the roswell but pickups in the TE52 vintage, but a set of quarter pounders fixed that!
Fusion T EMG is on my list
They’re doing great stuff mate that’s for sure. The Fusion T EMG is a great mid tier guitar at low end prices. Highly recommend it! Thanks for checking out the video man 🤘
I've just come across your channel, great content, man, keep it up!
Bro, that’s super kind of you, thank you! It really means a lot 🤘Cheers mate!
Funny, I have always hated Charvel necks. I have 3 Charvels and have replaced the necks on all of them with more C-shaped necks that are .85 at the first and .95 at the 12th fret. The stock necks to me are just too skinny and give me hand pain. I'm going to have to try this Harley Benton. If it is slightly chunkier than a Fender Player it might be goldilocks for me. Especially if that's the only. major differentiator between these and the Charvel. Thanks for the excellent in-depth review!
That's really interesting man! But if the hurt your hands you've done the right thing. Maybe give a HB a try. I'd say they're quite a bit chunkier than a fender, at least the modern ones, but I guess it depends what era we're talking about. Anyway, thanks for watching man, I appreciate it 🤘
I agree with most of your points. Had a Fusion III for a while but ended up selling it. Here’s my 2 cents: It’s absolutely great for the price, the features are like no other guitar in that $300 range.
That said, the pickups aren’t great, the tremolo was not recessed (so you can’t pull up much) there were lots of paint issues in transitions and cavities in mine (satin shell pink), and coming from an Ibanez RG, I wish the neck was thinner and the fretboard flatter. Personally, having the single coil in the middle (had a HSS) got in the way for me, and I kept having an issue of the high E being too close to the edge of the fretboard and sliding out of the fretboard which got annoying and wasn’t totally fixed even after changing the nut, getting it setup by a luthier and making sure the neck was sitting nice in the pocket without moving sideways and ending up misaligned with the bridge. It definitely needs a pro setup, since it came with the frets super scratchy out of the box (I would take any guitar to a luthier after making sure I like it anyway). I think the single advantage would be the SS frets, but I haven’t had any issues with nickel frets even in guitars with 15+ years anyway.
On the other hand, I have tried some Charvel models and liked the neck a looooot more. The SD pickups are also better, and the Gotoh 510 is surely a lot more solid than the Wilkinson tremolo. I might get a HH one when they hopefully come with new colors next year.
Appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment bro! Thank you 🤘👊
Honestly, all HB have to do with the Fusion IV is put in a recessed Gotoh-510 and it puts huge pressure on it's more expensive competitors. With the Gotoh trem it'll probably be about $450-$500 range which is still a great price if it had they trem on it. I'd buy one immediately. Also, exchange the split coil feature for a 5-way switch as the split feature is overrated imo.
This is a solid way to look at it. Those additions would for sure make it an even better proposition!
Thank you for this video!
I'm actually in the market for a Harley Benton fusion as a mod platform for an extra super strat beside my Dk24 😅
Looking forward to see your future videos and to start transforming that HB soon! :)
I’m really glad you enjoyed it mate but it should be me thanking you for watching. It means a lot man!
That’s awesome. I’m sure you’ll have a ton of fun with it. The bones on them are great and if you’re looking to chuck some new hardware in it I’m sure you’ll have a blast!
Thanks again mate, all the best 🤘
My thumbnail shows some guitars I built. Sadly HB put an end to that. Who could compete with the quality/price ratio? That said, I bought a 1st gen Fusion HH with the Floyd. Outstanding offering! I bought it to do research on the competition and kept it. I DID swap in some Seymor Duncans but other than that, Still stock. The quality was amazing and set up was spot on. I play it often and have to admit...I rarely have to top off tuning. It's first gen so some of the features aren't as modern (locking tuners, Roasted neck) But still has Grovers and a Canadian maple neck. I have lots of guitars but my Fusion is right at the top below my Ibanez.
It’s cool that you liked the HB so much mate but it’s definitely a shame that it ended your building! Do you ever think about building more just for the fun of it?
@@JackTaylorGuitars I still do repairs and have some unfinished projects. I have a Les Paul kit that will get the full on high end build. I just can't do mid priced guitars because of HB's $3-400 offerings. The mass production quality with CNC machines blow little guys like me out of the water.
Right, I see what you mean mate!
First time catching you, and well done…I own quite a few guitars, and 2 Harley Benton’s, that yes I did a bit of work too, but there great guitars with a little care..and any other brands all have some that make me want to play more, or just set it aside…
Thank you so much dude! I’m glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the thoughtful comment 🤘
Excellent comparison video Jack. New suscriber here...
That’s really kind of you to say mate, thanks very much! Happy to have you around 🤘
Excellent video, top man ! 👌😍🎸👌🔥🔥🔥
Thanks so much mate, I’m really glad you enjoyed it! 🤘
I play HSS strats\superstrats and I get what you mean. Neck pickup awesome for cleans, but low output, then the humbucker, not much else, never use the middle pickup much either. Then I play humbuckers and I miss the brighter cleans. So I like humbuckers with split function. I have a Harley Benton SG style I got for 140€ (used, like new) with the same pickups and the same coil split function and it sounds GREAT and covers more styles than a HSS Strat. Then again I love the Telecaster bridge, for me that's something unique ;)
Absolutely mate, I fully agree with that! Cheers for watching dude, I appreciate it 🤘
I agree about the chunkiness of the HB neck. So I have thinned the neck a bit to be a combination of a MusicMan Cuttlas and a PRS Custom neck (by sanding). Still I much prefer my MM Cutlass to the HB (despite also changing the PU with two SD). But for the money, it is an astounding looking guitar with great specs.
Interesting! Another couple of folks have mentioned thinning down the necks themselves too. That’s a brave move dude! I wouldn’t have the guts to do it 😂 You’re totally right though, for the cost I think it’s hard to find other guitars that compete with HB. Thanks for checking out the video man 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars My father was a joiner, so I have some (but not much) skills. My hands were shaking when I started:=). But it turned out this was much more easy and safe to do than it seamed. It helps if one has some electric tools but it is not super necessary. And the oiling at the end is just the most magic part of this.... In fact, I will do it AGAIN these days!, because I was too cautious and did not take away enough wood. This time, I recon, it will take my like 2 hours work all together.
@@clemensspark9689 Ah I see! That’s really cool man, tons of respect for going for it. Maybe I’ll have a go in the future if I need to. Thanks for the info mate 🤘
That harley benton is just a perfect guitar to mod just amazing man, great video make me laf and make me learn.
Thanks so much dude! I'm just glad you enjoyed it, that's all I can ask for 🤘
Very interesting comparison!
I don't know why but the neck on my Charvel San Dimas feels better than on any other guitar I have. Even compared to more expensive ones (PRS, Jackson USA, etc.)
Glad you enjoyed it man, thanks for watching!
You’re right. Charvels have the best necks, I’ll die on that hill 😂 Cheers 🤘
Charvel any day! A guitar can't be judged on tone alone...feel is what it's about. You want a precision instrument, get a Charvel. You're a good salesman though.
Thanks for watching the video man, I appreciate it! If it was a straight choice between the two, money no object, I’d pick my Charvel too. It’s one of the best guitars I own. I just wanted to show how much I think of the Harley Benton by putting it against something similar that absolute nails it.
And hopefully next time I’ll actually get paid 😂
@@JackTaylorGuitars you do have an affiliate link in the description to get paid yes?
How do the tremolos compare stability wise?
Both are stable and return to zero well mate. I prefer the feel and design of the Gotoh but the Wilkinson is still really good! Thanks for watching 🤘
Harley Benton has a multi year warranty you might still ba able to return it or get credit from HB they are really good at customer care. i have the
Fusion III
Cheers Alan! I have thought about it but, at this point, it doesn’t bother me too much. Appreciate you watching mate, thank you 🤘
I've got the same guitar but in b;ack with a ebony finger board and its a total killer to play it does give my jackson sdx a run for money
I know right! Awesome guitars. Thanks for watching dude 🤘
Would be interested to hear the 25th anniversary Harley Benton Fusion III versus the Charvel.
I don’t know much about the anniversary model actually! Can’t imagine there’s a huge difference but we’ll see. Thanks for checking out the video 🤘
Is there any difference between this Harley Benton and the metallic green one? Do these have the tremolo thats no good for beginners.? I've never played before so sorry if these are stupid questions.
They're not stupid questions mate, you've gotta learn somewhere! This one does have a tremolo which might be a little bit more difficult to maintain, but there are models with fixed bridges which would be easier. That's what I'd be looking for if I was new to guitar! If you have any other questions dude let me know 🤘
I have quite a few Harley Bentons as well as some high end Gibsons, my favourite HB I have is the Fusion T 25th followed by the SC Custom, Im a LP and Tele player at heart and I am going to buy the traditional Tele 25th as if I don't I will be kicking myself when they stop selling them, when you buy something like a Charvel 30 to 40% of the price is going to the distributor, whereas HB go from the factory to Thomann so those costs don't come into the price
You're completely right mate! I hope you get a hold of the 25th and enjoy it. Cheers dude! 🤘
I wish HBs for $2-300 were available as a 1st guitar in 1982. My Hondo strat was an abomination. Beautiful Charvel i tried to love superstrats but Im a 24 3/4" player. I have found an Ibanez S series Prestige I can keep. The thin smaller body and Ibanez neck w xtra jumbo frets make bending more like a Gibson for me.
Mate, I can totally relate! Even in like 2003 when I started my first Carlsbro strat was complete garbage 😂 New players have such great choices now which I think is awesome!
Thank you dude. I have to agree, I love a shorter scale length myself (though I sat right now with a 26.5” seven string in my lap 😬). The S series are great guitars. I bet that’s a beauty! Thanks for watching and commenting, I appreciate it a ton!
Been an Ibanez player since the 80's but sometimes i try different brands, and right now i'm eyeballing a Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH FR, a Jackson Pro Dinky DK2 and a Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR. Trying to deside if the Charvel and Jackson are worth the 3 times higher price tag. 🤔 Maybe i just have to order them all and compare them!? 😅
Ordering them all is one way to do it mate 😂 The fusions are great, absolutely. And if you’re not wanting to spend a great deal then absolutely grab one. If money isn’t an issue though, a Charvel DK would be my pick every time. Nothing compares to a Charvel neck. That’s just my take though! Appreciate you watching dude, thank you 🤘
I own a Fusion II in the HSH configuration. I also own four other HB's. I just don't have the extra cash to buy expensive guitars, regardless of my ability on it. So the quality Harley Benton is putting out for the price is literally tailor made for my situation. That makes them my brand of choice. To be fair, they totally have a few duds in the line up from the quality control and build quality standpoint, but do your research on the Fusion, Amarok, CST 24, and a few other gems in their lineup and you won't be disappointed at all.
That makes perfect sense to me dude! It’s not all about flash gear, just about good gear. I do really want to try and Amarok too. Thanks for watching and commenting mate 🤘
I have the same Harley benton but replaced the Pickups with Fishman Fluence Classics. It now plays and sounds as good as my Les Paul with boutique PAF's in them
Mate, I would do that mod in a heartbeat. You’ve got a sick guitar there now! Thanks for watching dude 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars Yeah, I know right? Was already happy with it with the stock pickups, but with the Fluence it's world class. Very cool to see that the body and neck type seem the same as Charvel
This is exactly the video that I was looking for. I own 3 higher end guitars, Schecter solo 6, Godin session and a CMG Diane and wanted a Charvel, but wanted to stay under 500.00. From what ive seen and heard, the higher end Harley Bentons play and sound great. How is the Harley holding up?
I’m stoked it helped you mate! Higher end HBs are great guitars for the money. Mines holding up super well, doesn’t get as much play anymore but it’s a very good guitar. Appreciate you checking out the video, thanks mate 🤘
@@JackTaylorGuitars You just got a subscriber.
That’s kind of you dude, I’m happy to have you around!
Hey Jack, thanks for posting this in depth comparison. I've been thinking of getting DK22 for some time. I got to try one at a local store and the neck really is smooth as butter and fast. The only knock against the Dk22s I keep reading is on tuning stability issues. Have you noticed that over time? and if so is there anything to help with that issue. Thanks
Hey mate, no problem, I hope it helped some! The tuning stability on my DK was absolutely solid. I personally never had an issue though I did tend to keep the nut lubricated. Thanks for watching dude 🤘
Charvel is lovely to play. Silky smooth playing.
Absolutely dude! Thanks for checking out the video 🤘
I bought that exact model many months ago (only in a different color) as my first electric guitar. I think beginners like me are spoiled to be able to play such a great guitar without breaking the bank.
I think we’re all spoiled dude! It’s definitely a great time for affordable instruments right now. Thanks for watching mate, keeping enjoying the Fusion 🤘
Good comparison!
Thanks so much mate, I'm really glad you enjoyed it! 🤘
Honestly sound-wise I thought the HB had the edge as a recording instrument.
I do really like the pickups in the HB too man. People are hit and miss on them but I reckon they’re very good! Cheers my dude 🤘
I've been looking into the HB fusion, and this video was so helpful! Have you had any chance to check out the HSH FBB Roasted? I'd love to hear your opinion! Cheers!
I appreciate that mate, thank you so much! I’m glad it helped 🤘 I have seen that guitar but not played one though I’d expect it to feel very similar to my sparkly one. It looks great though, I’d have no reservations about getting my hands on one!
Great video! what do you think about the HSS Shell pink fusion 3?
Cheers Bruno! I appreciate that 🤘 Love the Shell Pink option, looks absolutely awesome. Would definitely play one 😁
Yeah if you only play neck and bridge pickups, a p90 neck and humbucker bridge is amazing for that.
Sounds like a great combo mate! Thanks for watching the video, it means a lot 👊
superstrats are my kind of guitar, i agree with you, 2 splittable humbuckers with 6 tones are more usable to me in live situation than a 3 pickup guitar, i cant help notice in some videos though there is a huge drop in volume on the harley when you split the coils, and i wish they would just make a black one, hat silver is too bling for me, the harley wins out with the stainless steel frets, i gig my guitars and wear out nickel frets in no time, stainless steel frets eliminate that problem, in fact i wont buy a guitar now unless it has stainless steel frets these days.
Yeah man, I'm with you on that. The HB pickups do drop in output when split but overall it's the more versatile option and the frets is a huge plus! Thanks for checking out the video mate, I appreciate it 🤘
you are welcome, im going to buy one of these at some point. im curious to see how it holds up again my ibanez AZ prestige, the harley is a quarter of the price but i bet its not quarter of the guitar
I’d be really interested to know your thoughts on that man!
@@JackTaylorGuitars hi Jack, well i bought one, the HH floyd with roasted maple neck in bengal burst, it looks stunning, even thought its a veneer its arguably better looking than the top on my PRS, i wish i could send you a pic of it, but in comparison with the AZ which is a prestige and costs almost 2 grand, ive done a few gigs now with the HB and here is what ive learned, the hb is noticably heavier when strapped on and the back of the body is less contoured so it doesnt fit into the body as well as the ibanez, the pickups are a lot hotter on the ibanez, this is very noticabe at home but not so much in a live situation, the neck on the ibanez fits my hand better, i like its wider fret board more but the hb does hold its own and now that i have it set up its pretty amazing for the money, in time i may change the pickups but for now i have to say i enjoy playing it, so much so that i may buy the black one with the ebony fretboard and regular trem
I own several guitars and about 5 of them are Harley Benton's. The key take away from my experience and in my own opinion would be this:
1. Best value around for guitars
2. They all need to be professionally setup
3. The electronics are sub par, pickups are mostly sub par especially for metal. Roswell pickups are really some of the worst but the Tesla's are decent.
4. The paint is good but you will see small imperfections especially if the guitar has binding, you will find specs of dirt in the clear on the tops of the guitars
5. Customer support will go above and beyond for you if there's a problem.
That’s some really helpful info mate, thanks for dropping it here for people! Always good to have multiple opinions when you’re making a decision.
I’ve got two HBs and the setup point held true for the cheaper of the two, but the fusion only needed minor adjustments. All good if you do your own work but obviously we don’t all like to faff with guitars haha.
The pickups are definitely not a metal pickup, that’s for sure. Fully agree. Totally not hot enough for that but for anything less gainy I’ve had some great tones from the Roswells but at that price I wasn’t expecting much else.
Thanks for checking the video out mate and getting involved. I massively appreciate it!
I couldn't agree with you more , which is why I've gone back to Fender and Epiphone. Problem is no one wants to buy Harley Benton's.
All guitars need a set-up. It need not be "professional", there is nothing skilled about turning screws.
Cheap Harley Benton usually have poor (unlevel) fretwork and require more than a set-up: I had to do some levelling on every one of mine (except the fretless bass that had a nut too high…). This seems not to apply to their stainless steel models.
A model named Fusion is not targeted at Metal. Roswell pick-ups may be fine for other purposes. Those with metal covers are intentionally on the "warmer" (duller) side.
I also had funny experiences with some of the electronics. The R-458 had humbuckers with coils wired in parallel instead of in series.
@@Leo_ofRedKeep I'm not experienced in setting up guitars but I lump fret leveling in with that, I also have only ever bought Stainless Steel frets on my Harley Bentons and most of them required fretwork to some degree. When it comes to what an electric guitar is targeted as I kind of see that as B.S. I get where you are coming from but the Fusion line is their top of the line so to speak, and I'm a firm believer that the guitar shape or title doesn't define it's purpose or genre of music. I have a Harley Benton Tele that has a HH configuration that I put Fishman Fluence Moderns in and super low action, let me tell ya it is one of the most versatile guitars and I use it for many different styles of playing. I will double down on my claim about Roswills being some of the worst pickups on the planet because they are.
@@nick_UponTheFallen Set-up is everything that's an adjustment, usually reversible. Fret levelling is part of the build process or, in case of a worn out instrument, a repair. If a hastily made guitar needs levelling when new, this is finishing a cheap job so a proper set-up can be done.
There is a habit amongst musician of associating a coloured tone with certain styles and a more neutral clarity with the edge of "Metal" chugging. This is why you get active pick-ups on the "Metal looking" Amarok and "rounder" Roswell humbuckers on the Fusion.
I trust we could be happy with active pick-ups for anything but the buying public is so tied down in fantasised beliefs that manufacturers have to satisfy them and offer what they can sell.
There is a used Fusion III near me for $260 USD. Good buy?
It sounds like a good price mate! If you’re happy with the condition and price yourself then why not 🤘 Thanks for checking out the video too, I appreciate it!
Are the frets on the Fusion as big as the ones on the DK22?
The HB has medium jumbos but the Charvel has jumbos so the medium jumbos aren't quite as tall by a fraction but, in practice, I didn't find it made a huge difference. Hope that helps dude and thanks for watching! 🤘
Thanks for the info!@@JackTaylorGuitars
You’re totally welcome dude!
A Charvel Pro Mod looks like it would be a closer comparison than a DK
Yeah maybe dude in some ways but I this is what I had and thought it would be interesting! Thanks for watching 🤘
Anybody else notice when the RUclipsr says anything about the like button it lights up
Yeah, I've noticed that! You get a little animation when you click it or subscribe too. YT getting gamified! Appreciate you watching, thank you 🤘
Gotta say the Harley is well able to hold its own , sounds just as good … Harley Benton have changed the game that’s for sure more bang for less buck …. Winning
Completely agree mate, it really does a great job of keeping up! Cheers for watching dude 🤘
Nice video!
Cheers Colin mate! Appreciate that! 🤘
I always screw the middle pickup way down! Everyone has different tastes of course but I really don’t like stainless frets, gives it a little but of a ‘zing’ sound which I hate.
Man, I keep meaning to do that! I appreciate the reminder 😁
Exactly dude, it’s all about taste. I can’t deny that they do have something extra to ally going on that might not be to everyone’s liking. Definite pros and cons to both.
Thanks for checking the video out mate, it means a lot. I hope you enjoyed it!
This was exactly what I needed today man.. LMFAO 🤣🤘... pissing myself man..
Dude, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the support as always. Hope you’re keeping well overall though man 🤘
Decent video subscribed
Hey that's cool of you mate, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it 🤘
I bought a HB roasted maple fusion and its fantastic in that I have low action and no buzz anywhere (maybe I got lucky). So next I thought wow cool more roasted maple lets a get a charvel DK24 for over twice the price! Unfortunatley despite what I thought would be the case I havent been able to get low action without a buzz due I suspect high frets in some places. So for me anyway the Fusion wins the day and is better playing then my Mexican humbucker strat infact the best playing and feeling bolt on neck guitar I own.
I really appreciate you checking out the video man, thank you! My fusion was the same as yours, easy to set up with a nice low action and no buzz. I have a slight bit of buzz on the DK22 but I have squeezed as much out of it as I can so it’s intentional at this point. Could well be high frets though on yours. I’ve had a good experience with all the Charvels I’ve owned but maybe I’m the lucky on here? Lol
Honestly man, I don’t think I’d buy an American fender over a Mexican. My mim strat is great too. Modded to oblivion right now but that’s because it was worth the upgrades in the first place. I’m glad yours is the same! Thanks again mate!
@@JackTaylorGuitars Yeah maybe the QC on my DK24 wasn't up to par as much as others have been. They are made in Mexico by Fender I assume in the same factory as my Mex Strat which feels nicer than the charvel with no problems. Also the first thing I noticed is the neck is much thinner compared the fatter Fusion which is closer to the Ibanez AZ neck which personally I like.
Charvel sounded better but not nearly 3 times better IMO. Maybe it was just recorded louder. Nice riff and guitars look great. Your fingers also appear unfairly long for the stretches.
I fully agree with you dude, it’s a better guitar but like is it 3x better? I dunno, I don’t think so! Settings we’re exactly the same for the demo, I put the difference down to slightly higher output pickups. Thanks for checking out the video dude and yeah, my fingers are fairly long for my size 🤣 Cheers mate 🤘
Floored by how much better the HB sounded.
Thanks for checking out the video mate! It’s definitely an interesting hearing them both side by side 🤘
I own that Charvel and it makes almost every guitar in my collection sound great in comparison, it is a horrible sounding guitar. I hate the Duncans especially the rail in the bridge, the neck is nice but has no SS frets. Really the only things i love about my Charvel are the looks and the Gotoh trem!
If harley benton used Seymour Duncan pickups they would be close to the price of a charvel. I know because i bought Seymour duncans for my harley benton lol
Who knows man, I've got no idea what trade prices are like. HBs with duncans out the box though? That'd be great! Thanks for watching mate 🤘
Excellent video, mate. TBH though, "post-Brexit stupidity" alone was worthy of a sub, lol.
Keep up the good work.👍
Thanks so much mate, I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🤘
Lol Solid review mate 👍
Cheers bro, I appreciate you checking it out 🤘
Why on earth didn't you send the guitar back to Thomann if there was damage? It's the easiest thing in the world. I've done it myself with no problems.
Oh yeah, if it was anything worse than some tiny pressure cracks in the finish it would have obviously gone back but, on the grand scheme of things, it's not like HB has any resale value and I'll be keeping it anyway 'cause it was a birthday gift. Cheers for checking out the video mate 🤘
The HB just sounds more well rounded.
You’re absolutely right. The HB has a really flexible sound, suited to a lot of different stuff. The Charvel is definitely more suited to loads of gain! Appreciate you watching mate, thank you 🤙
@@JackTaylorGuitars Great playing and performance! Bravo!
Sorry dude but tbe Charvel,s tone blows tbe HB away both in clean and distortion ,so sparkly !
No need to apologise man! This video was so you could make up your own mind. Thanks for checking it out and I hope you enjoyed it 🤘
Hey man, great video. I’ve been looking at so many guitars, used to work in the ,used industry, played everything from £89 terrible stuff to £15k custom strats. Had 13 guitars went down to 3, kept an 82 squire which is awesome, I have an 8 string schecter and a Taylor acoustic. I’ve been trying to find a 24 fret hard tail and it is just so hard, wanting a normal strat shape not a super strat shape, no FR or anything. Almost impossible, Charvel do one but I consider them well over priced, the new PRS silver sky (prefer the SE) is an awesome shape, but 22 frets, I’m with you on no stupid middle pick up. Left really looking at esp sn, or music man jp6. Shouldn’t be this hard. Good comparison, I like some HBs but the headstock shape sucks.
Mate, thank you so much! I’m stoked you enjoyed it 🤘 You know what, I can’t think of a 24 fret hard tail off the top of my head that fits the bill. You’re right, it shouldn’t be that hard! Possibly the LTD Josh Middleton signature, though it’s a tunomatic but recessed? Might not be 24 frets now I think about it. Sick guitar though.
Think you’re spot on with your current picks. There is something about the headstock shape, looks a bit like a bird? 😂 But it has grown on me. Thanks again man, I really appreciate it.
That 1982 Squier is awesome I bet! You probbably already know this but the first few years 82-83 were basically USA bodies and necks assembled in Japan to keep labour costs down and make a more affordable guitar to the masses. I have a battered late 80's Korean Squier which definetly feels solid for a then budget instrument!
@@johnsiggers1682 apologies, it was late with the typos lol. Its a 1998 squire strat which are basically the same as the japanese ones from that time,. Full size alder strat body, 42" nut, small (normal) Fender headstock, slimmer C, (still stays in tune perfectly, no matter what tuning i'm in) It's very similar to the Jeff Beck strat (same scale length, radius etc) (which I love which is why i bought it) Makes it hard to buy well, basically what is another one of these on the spec sheet costing £900 or so. Obviously getting a little 'reliced' now which on squires they call damage, on Fenders they call 'relic' ;) Trying to find a HH one.
Quite easy to modify the headstock shape on the Harley Benton’s, it’s what I’ve done to the 3 I currently own mate!
The HB sounds better clean, and overdriven, they are indistinguishable.
Thanks for checking the video out and commenting man 🤘
I love chavel but the harly benton wins on that one
Thanks so much for checking out the video 🤘 You can’t really go wrong by picking the Harley Benton in my opinion, it’ll serve you right in most scenarios!
Omg, just frigging play it
I was gonna play a different guitar today mate but if you insist! Appreciate you watching dude 🤘
I don't know how much I should trust a guy who has epiphone tattooed on his forearm.
That’s entirely up to you my dude! You don’t want to know where I’ve got my Squier tattoo 😉
@@JackTaylorGuitars Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Epiphone or any brand. but why do you get a tattoo of a guitar brand?
The story is that 16 year old me saw a music video with a drummer who had a Zildjian tattoo in the same place and thought ‘woah that’s cool af!’
31 year old me doesn’t necessarily share that opinion 😂 But we all do dumb stuff as kids, or at least that’s what I tell myself!
Wrong the Crap Rosewell Humbuckers are not more versatile and did I mention they are also crap. Then coil splitting seriously coil splitting is a joke.
Thanks for watching mate 🤘 Sucks that you didn’t like yours though!
Lol Harley Benton and the Fusions sounds like a 50's doo wop group.
It really does mate 😂
WRONG...ORMSBY FRETS ARE BETTER THAN CHARVEL ANYDAY
I think you might have misunderstood dude. I said no one makes better necks than Charvel in my opinion; in relation to the actual neck, profile etc. Nothing about the frets. Thanks for checking out the video 🤘
Haha, I loved bloopers part. It was as I looking myself making videos. 😁
Used to have, sparkly beast, moded it, played, sold it…sadly. 🫠
Thank you mate, I really appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed it 😁