Harley Benton SC400 (Dirt Cheap Les Paul)
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- Опубликовано: 3 авг 2024
- Harley Benton SC400 (Dirt Cheap Les Paul)
This is the cheapest Les Paul I've ever seen. It's such an affordable guitar, it's ridiculous. But the thing is that even though something is really budget friendly, that doesn't necessarily mean it's worth it. A guitar should after all feel good to play so that it inspires playing. If it doesn't, then it's just a waste of money. Today we see if the Harley Benton Single Cut 400 is wort the money.
Enjoy!
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If one keeps their mind on how affordable that LP is, and that a poverty-stricken kid can end up with an LP copy, Harley Benton should be awarded much praise. 🤨
I've just received mine and it's not a Gibson but I love my guitar I'm really happy to play it it looks lovely I'm proud to play it
Totally agree with you, most people I know are guitar elitists who consider guitar should be worth at least couple thousand of dollars before they even consider taking it in their hands .. HB actually gives opportunity to everyone to afford an electric guitar .. i wish them a bright future and to break trough to top guitar manufacturers/sellers one day!
@@ArturGordonPim how right you are fuck WHAT the purist thinks it’s about how the instrument works for the beholder and how the beholder can make it work there’s plenty of nuances to playing and how it is rigged fuck WHAT other people or SNOBS think fuckin enjoy your axe
True. Guitars are expensive in countries that have weaker currencies. example, half of malaysia's population are earning MYR 2500. but a good epiphone les paul is MYR 2000. Harley Benton SC 500 is MYR 970. Not cheap but affordable.
@@azrisyafiq Harley benton is oftentimes the only choice for guitar-lovers in developing and undeveloping countries.
Thanks! Sounds fine to me and I love flat black guitars. Definitely gonna order one.
Thanks for doing this review this is the guitar I bought in a bundle for $329 because it was least expensive left-handed when I can find my neck is different it's a composite so that's one difference other than that it's pretty much the same.
As a beginner I can't really say much about how good it is but I appreciate videos like this.
1x Harley Benton SC-400LH SBK Classic Series
Availability: Due in stock on 01.10.2021
Harley Benton SC-400 Satin Black Classic Series, lefthand electric guitar, basswood body with arched top, set maple C-shape neck, roseacer fretboard, fretboard radius 350mm, crown inlays, 22 frets, 628mm scale, 43mm nut width, double action trussrod, 2 x classic open humbucker pickups, controls: 2 x volume, 2 x tone, 3-way toggle pickup selector switch, chrome hardware, tune-o-matic bridge, closed closed diecast tuners, 010-046 strings, finish: satin black.
Item no. 362537
I got a Harley Benton DC Custom and a "B stock" SC450 plus a couple of years ago having been a Strat guy for 40+ years. I can honestly say that the DC Custom is straight-up awesome and is rapidly becoming my go-to guitar. I've never been swayed by brand names in the slightest and have always had the mindset that if it feels right in my hands then that's all that matters, regardless of make or price so I totally get where you're coming from. Quite a lot of "gear snobs" I know have taken the mick out of my "lowly" imitation guitars but I don't care. I took the chance (essentially buying blind) and I got 2 great quality guitars for bargain basement prices. Winner. Great channel. Love and respect from the UK
Cheers!
I think it is kind of innovative that they can make the Maple fretboard look like Ebony. I guess that Ebony wood is sort of endangered. If the only real thing wrong with the guitar is that the nut needs a little pencil lead to stay in tune, it looks like a deal. Model T black is good color. You certainly played it well - Thanks for the video.
I believe it's sometimes up to chance which fretboard material is used on those HBs, Roseacer and Amaranth can both look like Ebony but it isn't always that pitch black you would expect from Ebony. I have seen it a couple of times on different Hbs, the look on the photos is pretty much what you expect to get according to its description, but in fact it turns out to be a slightly different colour when you hold it in your hands. I think thats due to a lot of changes in the manufactured batches, or upgrades, that Thomann gets from the factory, so each can turn out slightly different. Again, inconsistencies that are somehow unavoidable with mass produced cheap guitars.
And thank you :)
Wait. The fretboard isn’t maple? The neck is maple. The fretboard is roseacer.
its so refreshing to find honesty. so many others have raved about this model. imo, such an inexpensive guitar at this price point that gets a rave review I would not believe and ide stay away unless youre handy and want to start replacing parts.
Thanks!
I have the goldtop version of this that I got in a deal (swapped a cheap zoom multi fx for it). I didn't play it much at first and found the neck really thick and fat (yes, possibly clunky too). I had to do a few minor jobs to it straight away (better nut, couple of high frets, etc) to get it playable. It hung on the wall for quite a while until I thought I should play it at least a bit! To my suprise I've gradually got used to the chunky, clunky neck and have actually started to enjoy playing it now, but it took a while! It actually sounds very good, especially for classic rock tones. Considering what I would realistically get for it - prob very little! I'll be keeping it..
Great review, as always. Thanks for sharing and keep posting 👍🏻
Thanks, will do!
I bought mine because I wanted to see what a $107 guitar could be like, and I’ve never had a LP style guitar. Fret sprout yes, had to work on that. Stays in tune, doesn’t buzz. Volume and tone pots are very non linear but with my dialed in clean tone, I play the hell out of it. Very happy but I’ve never had a high quality guitar, so I think it’s great. Oh yeah by the way, you gotta put good strings on it.
Just wanted to throw in my experience with this SC 400 that i received. I have zero fret issues, inspection tag says QC was inspected on 22.01.2022. I love the feel of the neck, the satin neck is what i love(i hate glossy necks, my hands get sticky). Sounds just fine, neck was adjusted correctly, cheap HB strings on it (they will be swapped and they are pretty high). One of the tone knobs nuts was loose (2 mins and retightened it by holding the pot inside). The strings were overtightened, which is fine. I paid €129 for mine inc. shipping to me in Germany. Sounds just fine, plays fine. As you mentioned several times, test before you buy or make sure you can return it, guitars are individuals and you are basing everything you review on what you have-/received. Value for money, the one i received is very decent. Tuners are also just fine, no tuning issues. If i were to keep it, id change the nut and the pots and maybe repaint it to my taste. I have tried fender player series strats (€800+) that had issues and tries two Squiers that were just...aweful. Such individuals are these instruments they certainly are!
I love the way you review guitars
You explain everything well
Dont change the way you review
I have one request can you please review the sterling sub silo 3?
Maybe at some point, although no plans at the moment to do so. I actually have videos done all the way to August. Planning on trying to write some music during the summer, and not thinking about making videos too much.
Thanks for the honest review. Hard to find people that will give a honest fair review for HB guitars. I have the SC 450 plus. It's a decent guitar, but it has tuning stability issues too. I chalked that up to being an LP style guitar.
Cheers :)
I changed the nut on mine for a better one, that seemed to have cured the problem. Maybe the tuners could be improved too.
Thanks for the review. I was about to buy this. Steering clear.
Killer review brother.
Sounds fantastic to my ears 😎
Good review as always! Now let's see a Vox Mini Superbeetle review. That would be rad! 🤙
Thanks!
Nice chops man!
Appreciate it!
It's not bad for a first electric guitar. You play very well. Polished👍👍
Thanks!
Bought the SC-450 BLK which is I think the same as this one with a different finish. It was my first LP after spending years on different Strat and i loved instantly the thick neck which suited my large hands better than any Strat. I then ordered an Epiphone Classics, ready to investigate more into LP guitars and the Epiphone was buzzing like crazy and the neck was much slimmer. Pickups were cleaner and better though. So I sent it back and will give better pickups to this Harley-Benton.
If you have large hands and like baseball bat as a neck this one is for you but the pickups are dull.
Sounded fine. The reverby, jazzy stuff about 4 minutes into the vid sounded really good. Not just your playing, but the guitar also. You hit those light strings a bit hard. Maybe go up in gauge on the low end. Nice demo vid, nonetheless. As you mention, a lot is subjective.I have four different electrics I play with four different neck types and I have to give my hand about 3-5 minutes to get used to any one of them when first playing them. It's just the way it is.
I just bought my Harley Benton SC-400 SGT Solid Gold Top March 2023, and I freakin' love it. I HIGHLY recommend it if you have the same reasons as me: 1) Satin neck. I mean seriously, who actually likes a glossy/nitro/poly neck? Nobody, people just put up with it because it looks shiny. 2) Full body, no belly cut. This just fits my body better than a belly cut guitar because belly cut guitars angle away and slide down my leg when playing. I constantly have to push it back into place. Standing with a strap is not an issue either way. 3) Black neck with big trapezoid inlays. This is my personal preference. 4) Looks awesome! I have the gold top and in my opinion it looks really, really good. Personal preference. 5) I wanted a LP style guitar that sounds good, and believe me this sounds good for any style you want to play. To each their own. One other thing... the guitar that I received has a perfect neck, no fret sprout, very well setup from the factory, and it plays as smooth as silk. I've owned about 10 other guitars of various makes and models and this is by far my favorite.
Man, you do those arpeggios so fucking good man! ♥️🤟♥️🤟
Thanks :)
Honestly i like the sound. Can't say anything about the feel obviously.
O_o
Fair enough.
They are very good guitars. May need new tuners though.
Mine sounds good but be prepared to get used to the feel of the SC-400, very fat necks on these.
@@alanknott363 I love fat necks!
5:55 if your wondering if it’s a great guitar… 👌🏾
I have one exactly like it love it great guitar for the money on beatable for the price I feel
Cool!
I think the sc-450 plus which is just a bit more expensive (around 170 euros) is a better deal honestly
Guitar must be 10x better than my first guitar !
My first one was probably way worse than that even.
@@Stefan- Mine was some kinda telecaster shaped 60 Japanese guitar ! Was pretty bad !
@@malcolmhardwick4258 My first electric was a hardtail stratcopy by Harmony that i bought used from a neighbour, i actually still have it although it was probably over 35 years since i played it, i keep it just as memorabilia. I got a Japanese made Fender strat 35 years ago which was a world of difference and i still have that one as well. I did have an awful acoustic before that which was really my first guitar, but it was soon disposed of and i got a much better one.
sounds good
Amazingly talented. Great teacher as well. Thank you. Are u able to give private lessons? I’m in Toronto Canada. Willling to do online lessons
Thanks! I don't do those at the moment, sorry.
Buenas, Elmo amigo tocas tan sumamente bien, que incluso a un palo de escoba le sacarías buenos sonidos, eres un sensei de las seis cuerdas o siete lo que gustes,
Good review as always. Love walk this way by aerosmith. Grew up on them in the 70s and I'm a huge fan of Joe Perry. 🤟♥️ Is life getting back to normal there?
You keeping the Nueral DSP? 🤣
Hope you're well my friend.
Things are getting more normal yeah.
And yeah, I am keeping the Quad Cortex.
@@MrPolevaulter Cool
I think I love it I beat it sounds super playing gospel music.but you make them all your demos sound great.
Cheers :)
I have the same guitar now for 6 or 7 years and never had issiue with tuning
I have one of these...shipped to my house all for 190...hated the pickups...but i changed em out for some probuckers coil split off a guy that ripped em out of an epi les paul...for 50...great improvement..its a decent guitar for the money..but the electronics had to go
Yeah, same with the SC-550 which I tried earlier. It's great with new pickups.
Good upgrade platforms for the money if you're prepared to put in the effort and do the work.
Hey this guy! I was just wondering for your opinion on a question I have. So currently i have a squier bullet strat (hss) and now I want a duel humbucker guitar ( like a lp type) and I was just wondering if you think I should get one of these sc-400s for my first lp style guitar, or should I save up for a more expensive one, such as the sc-450 plus or a sc-550? Cheers Mate!
I think you should save up. The SC-550 is WAAAY better than this.
Awesome! Thanks mate
As a luthier I've never played a brand new guitar that did hold tune for the first few days out of the box. New strings need settling and, so does the woodwork 👍
Hi. Which reverb and delay are you using? Sounds great. Greetz from the Netherlands
Strymon Timeline delay. If I was using a reverb it was a Boss RV something or other.
Much like my CST I don't get why they don't just leave the fret boards as plane maple.
Because do you know how ugly is an Les Paul with maple fretboard
@@kikkelihousu5643 Well this ain't exactly pretty either :D
these matte black doesn`l look cheap for me. it doesn`t look totally black. more dark grey. i ordered the one with the gold top. this man is playing metal things in high speed. i don´t like high speed playing it´s changeable. i like the
Elmo! I'd love to see you review and play a Godin Session. Godin makes amazing guitars for the money. So they say anyways. :)
I have a Godin fretless bass which is very nice :)
Sounds as dark as deadwood to these ears - resonant it ain’t. That aside, it’s hard to believe that a major supplier can put these out and warranty them for so little money. A teenage me would have been delighted at being able to get a through-neck LP for so little.
Yep. Uninspiring. But back when I was starting out this would have been a very good budget guitar.
Dull pick-ups, as most cheap humbuckers. It has nothing to do with resonance.
It is normal on Gibson headstock type of guitars that they are not entirely fine when it comes to staying in tune. On the two guitars i gig with i use the "string butler" and it helps allot. Recommended!
sound s pretty good where can you find one
Thomann.
This one against the epiphone special II, would epi just kill it?
My girlfriend doesn't stay in tune without my nurse sauce. 🤣🤣🤣🤪🤣 Sorry, couldn't resist. 🤪🤣
:D
Considering the SC 450 series are the same price as this right now I am inclined to agree with your sentiment. The 450 come in a broader array of finishes, have better hardware/electronics and by reviews seem to be better finished/refined. The matte black finish is a grease/fingerprint magnet, the uncovered pickups don't look the part as much as covered ones (preference depending) and the tones are decent but nothing memorable. I guess if someone is a fan of matte black guitars and likes the more raw finish then this isn't a bad option but to me, it just looks cheap.
enjoy your video
Thanks!
I've said it before and I stand buy it, making a Fender style guitar cheaply will always result in a better instrument than trying to do Gibson on the cheap! Cheap Gibson copies are almost always a disaster!... Except my Ibanez AS53, that's blummin amazing for the price!
A flat top LP with a bolted neck and sculpted heel would be a good compromise. You miss some of the appeal, but the guitar is playable, or they should stick to imitating the LP Junior, that might work. Although with these pickups, no thanks.
@@dimebolso938 that's the thing, a strat or tele can be fairly forgiving of crummy pickups and hardware, but a les paul pretty much demands good parts or it just becomes a muddy mess! Using simpler construction and putting the money into the pickups would make a much better instrument!
My IYV is outstanding, and I'd put those Xavier flame topped ones up against a Gibson any day. Depending on the Gibson, they might lose that shootout.
Probably some truth to that.
@@oncameramastery The mud is in the pick-ups and nowhere else.
🔴Sounds great. Thanks for te video! Do you know how much it weighs?🔴
Sorry, no.
try sx stratocasters PLS
Acer is the botanical name for maple.
With all the accolades Harley Benton has been getting all over the place, it sounds like they decided to put it in neutral and coast a while. In the meantime they're putting out crappier and crappier planks.
Like I was remarking on a different video, I think brands like HB, Chapman and Solar have a few good runs to hype the brand, then the factory cuts all the corners to focus on Ibanez, PRS SE and stuff like that.
This model has been available since July 2015. It was always cheap and prejudiced ignorants were always willing to show how little they know about things they decided to dislike.
Seems they've changed models a bit now.
@@Leo_ofRedKeep I actually have an HB TE-20 telecaster-type that I really love playing. I also hear a lot of good things about their Amarok line. (REALLY good things. Glenn Fricker loves his.) So I’m not prejudiced at all. I own one of their cheapest and it’s great. However, their Stratocaster types are getting bad reviews across the board. One guy (who I’m guessing was British, said they were “pants”.)
@@MrPolevaulter I watch the site pretty closely. That charcoal burst one you reviewed was out of stock for months. I was pretty shocked to see it actually being played. It made me do a double take on the date. 🙂
what is the sound play in start video?
!!!!!!!! INTERESTING !!!!!!!!!!!!
Would you recommend it for pop punk?
You can’t try a Gibson (replica) without Gary Moore’ing it 😂😂😂
:D
👍🏻👍🏻
Every time I see your videos reviewing budget guitars all I see you doing is bashing them. There are people who cant afford a 3,000 Gibson. Budget guitars have their place.
This isn't budget, it's bottom of the barrel. There are so many LP-like guitars out there.
3000$ is cheaper than a car. If you can afford a car, you can afford a guitar
Your absolutely right Juan. Budget guitars have their place. But if you've only seen me bash budget guitars, then you haven't watched many of them. I reviewed the bigger brother of this, the SC-550, and it was so good I kept it. I also liked the Squier Bullet Tele, and the Indio Classic Strat (both of which are cheaper than this).
Thanks for the effort to try to redeem these HBs, I hope your the wall your head is banging against is well padded. I wonder what does the apparently burnt almost to a crisp, 'thermally treated' maple fretboard feel like- richlite, actual maple or greasy ashes?
Thanks! I have a couple of better Harley Bentons coming up on the channel :)
I own a SC450 P90 and this guitar really worth it. (158€).
i love matte black. matte black everything i say! i dont think it looks cheap.
Seeing you holding an LP is odd. (I have a classic Gibson LP Studio. (Read as about 20 years old and headstock not broken, still sounds great)
If you take care a gibson, you won’t break the headstock off. I know, ive broken one of my two gibsons headstocks off.
It feels a bit odd too :D
It comes with 10 to 46 strings? I only see 6
Haha :D
It’s funny because everyone else that has tested this against a Gibson and ALL loved it, there was practically no difference at all in the sound, sounded almost exactly the same
It could be because you’re new to guitars ??? My roommate has one. And must say it sounds glorious !
@@salimel4835 I’ve been doing laying guitar for around 15 years
@@GappyDanZgibson arent worth the prices thats for sure. I ordered that sc 400. I hope its good.
If you don't like it just send it to me I'll be glad to use it.
The video told me to subscribe so I did lol
Thanks :)
I would just grab an EC256. Never been disappointed with a mid level LTD.
Not tried one of those.
Do you think it's a good guitar for someone who has no idea about guitars, but wants to learn how to play one, and also can't afford something better?
It might be, although I'd say there are better options.
720p in 2021 , really elmo?
Should be 1080
@@MrPolevaulter at least,btw thx for katana vids,ı bought a mk2 with your reviews
@@Ma1sto Don't know how that whole 720p thing happened. Strange. Thanks for the heads up.
Video quality was chosen according to guitar quality :D
@@damasterkarej :D
Looks and sounds amazing to me. Maybe Im more of a cave man. I will order one.
That fretboard looks like shiz.
The pickups are way too hot.
Great playing!!!!
Thanks, Sir Elmo!!!
Cheers!
129 euros now
Este es el problema , un buen guitarrista toca con cualquier cosa y le saca sonido luego la cojo yo y suena como una patata ya sea una harley benton o una gibson les paul que tenido unas cuantas . Si tienes talento con la guitarra la sacaras sonido otra cosa sera el tacto y la comodidad pero yo como inepto de la guitarra me encanta como suena esta harley benton y desafina ? Para mi no es problema , para tocar en casa es igual . Gracias señor eres un monstruo de la guitarra. 💪
Es mejor una tussen JT220?
I don't know.
1:47 👍😂
how much is it in us
Don't know, what with import charges and all.
"nut sauce"
Not the most objective review is it? It's a cheap guitar that may or not appeal to a player however putting your own personal view on a guitar & coming up with pretty lame excuses of why you don't like it (ok tuning issues are valid but you didn't even check why it may have tuning problems) means the review is just you not liking a guitar on the looks & possibly the sound (although you said it sounded ok). Of course there are many cheap guitars that may serve a person better (whether they cost more or less than this) but to say the guitar "doesn't vibe with me or inspire me" is a very weak argument to make against a guitar. People when reviewing things should really think about what the target market is for this & it isn't going to be a person who not only hates the colour of a guitar (lol) but also own far far more expensive ones.
Dirt cheap .. and he makes it sounds better then i make my most expensive guitar sound
dude's tone, playing and hairline retreating in real time.
Let's see the video where you do better.....won't hold my breath waiting, it's never gonna happen is it?😂
BLACK BLACK!!!Now johnny!!!
Classic :D
@@MrPolevaulter suit you sir
I’m not crazy about that fiddle either….NO HB for me, I’m sticking with my Gibson, Fender, & Martin! 🤟🏻🎸😎☮️❤️
Everyone have no money for expensive guitars. And I stay with Ibanez mainly and my custom Aurora Jem.
Fair enough :)
Great! More for the rest of us.
Let’s be perfectly clear, this may be a Les Paul ‘lookalike’ but a ‘Les Paul it IS NOT!
well lets see.. $3000 vs $ 25 or so?? ya think?? Now add CTS pots, better tuners, and pickups.. and sound test em BLIND.. then report back.
Clene accounts is not good for stage stage management.
Sounds dirty or muddy, ditch it and fire up the strat
We need to admit, this guitar sounds awful.
The bass in basswood is pronounced ba-ss, not bay-ss. It's like the fish bass, not the bass guitar.
Thank you for playing this piece of crap so that my opinion of HB doesn't change. Even your playing was putting me off, that's how uninspiring it obviously is.
Brutal quality and sound.
I dislike Epiphone, but at least they're not completely sad and embarrassing.
Thanks! I was a bit unsure of that.
This is LOWEST tier HB! I sense a snob!
@@DMSProduktions I sense a lack of workmanship, effort and respect for the beginner. Glarry can ship a better guitar at half the cost. This has no reason to exist.
@@dimebolso938 For that model, you are probably justified, but HB DO make some very good instruments for the money, but this 1 proably IS lacklustre!
Glarrys are pretty rough around the edges for the price also!