A bit off topic, but I bought the HB Travel acoustic, the copy of the Martin. Costs absolutely flumpence, and I hear it played by someone else every week at the open mike, and it just blows every other plugged in acoustic away for sound.
@@pheemchoonz241 Not at all mate - I know the exact one you're talking about, I got to try one out at a guys house I was buying another Guitar from (HB CST24) and it was a great wee acoustic! I thought about grabbing one several times 😀👍
What a great review, with valuable info. The gig part was awesome to demonstrate. Quite surprised you didn't talk about volume and tone pots (apart from push/pull)? Seems they satisfied you. I'm a strat guy, having several of various pickups, colors, brands, including the HB 25th anniversary. I also have a HB Fusion 2 HSH in which I replaced the pickups because of Roswell darkness. I would be interested in your comparison HB Fusion with ST Modern Plus. I'm a bedroom player and still have room enough to accomodate a HB ST Modern Plus in LakePlacidBlue, which color is missing in my collection, haha ✌
Thank ya kindly sir! 😀🙏 The HB 25th might be the best Benton Strat they've made (Even though I've never tried one - I like the specs) I did eventually get the comparison done of the Fusion ii and the ST Modern Here: ruclips.net/video/wcdNfAuozSs/видео.html ST Modern (I hope) will be better (QC wise) in the 2nd run, I'd hold off unless you're handy with set up/minor repairs etc 👍 Cheers again mate 🙏
@@stevecassidyguitar allright, I saw your comparison of Fusion and STModern, thanks. STModern not for me, the Fusion2 I have is better, I'll stick to it. And I did subscribe 😁
Honest, perceptive, talented, and Scottish! What more could you ask for? Thank you Steve. I look forward to checking out your band next time i'm in Galsgow.
Thank ya kindly sir! 😀🙏 We hail from Dundee - I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to come that far. 😜 Nothing too exciting going on here. We do have a Greggs tho 🤷♂️ 😜
It sounded good in your hands and, indeed, good specs! However, I'm totally with you and your recommendations at the end and I've wondered why they're taking so long to think about it. 🎸🎸
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏 I think that's at least 5 of us on board for a Harley Benton ST Standard Plus now 😁👍 Hopefully that's enough for them to consider it 🤷♂️ Maybe we need like.. two more 🤔 😜
Brilliant as usual, awesome video, well done Steve ... great to see you playing more (as you're really really good). Mucho enjoyo as they say somewhere in the universe.
Aww mate! Thank ya kindly! 😀🙏 I did these wee playing clips on 5 Guitars (for future comparisons) and no Joke it took me 2 entire days - with up to 30+ takes each! 😂🙈 I massively struggle with the camera on
Excellent Mr C! I did look at this guitar but I like the dust to settle and see if any issues arise! I agree that HB needs to sort out string trees and the machine heads (very stiff have not got any better over time on my HB), l have the HB ST62 Hot Rod Strat with a hot rails at the bridge sounds great! I also have a HB Fusion ll and have still not changed the Roswell harsh sounding pickups!!… Anyway keep up the good work Mr C looking forward to the next video!🙂
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀👍 See somewhere inbetween the ST62 Hot Rod and the ST Modern is what I'm hoping for. Would love to see Harley Benton get that Fender Neck feel nailed down - like the Jets have
Hi Steve, this is a great review and very informative for potential buyers based on your objective findings and your subjective thoughts about these guitars. I also bought a ‘first run’ ST Modern Plus LPB and agree entirely with your comments and some. I was really looking forward to receiving this guitar but it came not only with the issues you outlined but a whole lot more! Here goes, the fret work was terrible, 9 out of the 22 frets were high causing fretting out and fret buzz. The rout on the neck pocket was poorly aligned resulting in a high action no matter how high or low the bridge pins or saddles were adjusted. This could have been remedied with a large neck shim in the factory (Even Fender still have to shim some of their necks when necessary in the factory). There was a lacquer crack at the neck pocket (cosmetic I know but does affect re-sale value). The lower edge of the pickguard was damaged and scuffed. The fretboard edges had been worked on by running a blade or sanding block along them, resulting in 2 angular edges on both the bass and treble side. The pickguard cut-away for the bridge was asymmetrical, on closer inspection under the pickguard 2 of the screw holes had been double drilled and left unfilled. I assume this was an attempt in the factory to realign the pickguard. Bottom line is the ST Modern I received should not have passed QC in the factory. I requested a return from Thomann and shipped the guitar back to them a couple of weeks ago. Still waiting for a refund but Thomann customer service is usually excellent so hopefully will get refunded soon. I agree entirely about the string trees, they’re a tuning disaster. Bottom line is any point of friction between the bridge and tuners adds to tuning instability. I just can’t understand why HB haven’t put staggered locking tuners onto the ST Modern’s ( as they did on the Fusion’s) which makes string trees redundant. In my opinion if they were going for a compound radius 9.5” - 12” would suit more players. Interestingly, in the same week I ordered the ST Modern I saw that a big UK retailer had the Jet JS-600’s on sale for £269 so I bought one and for me it’s an all round better guitar than the ST Modern. The 9.5” roasted maple neck on the Jet JS-600 is superb.
Thank ya kindly sir! 😀🙏 Sorry to hear about your issues with this guitar and thank you for sharing them in detail. This will definitely be useful for anyone reading this 😎👍 Although I've just watched Elmo K's review vid of his and he gave the trem some serious abuse and it stayed in tune! Maybe I'll need to eat my hat on the string tree complaints 🙈
Yeah I'm not sure how much difference it would make - possibly not a lot 😂🤷♂️ I'm not a fan of the pickups as/is personally. You're right it would be a great vid idea, but I won't be keeping the guitar and would rather not hack it to bits before selling it 😂
There we go! I'd like to see one too 😁👍 How cool would that be... A Fiebird with the Harley Benton treatment - Roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, locking tuners, a good selection of cool colours etc. It would be the only one like it on the market! 😀
@@basti-fantasti Either via email which you can find on the channel page, I don't think YT lets me add emails into comments. Or.. Via Instagram @stevecassidyguitar 😀👍
Thanks for your job mate! You pointed out the same things I think about this guitar. I definitely agree on the comment about the "strat-style" we would like to have! HSH routed alder body with HSS standard config, roasted maple neck with 22 SS frets, decent bridge, locking tuners, graphite nut and roller string trees. Flame are useless, is better to spend money on a fine filed nut and good fretjob with no buzz or sharp edges. You also hit the point about saving money removing crappy cables or high end strings on a guitar that's not entry level and maybe add some nice feature like a switch for neck + bridge pickup config. I'm not so picky about fretboard radius, for that reason I would also save money on a simpler standard 9.5" or max 12" radius instead of a. compound. Only one thing i disagree: I like push-pull switch because you can easily understand in wich configuration you are even during a jig when you may almost not hear your sound on the stage.
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏 and thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts in detail 😎👍 So that makes 4 of us now who like the Idea of an ST "Standard" Plus - I hope if that's enough for them to make it happen 😂👍 Maybe we need like... 2 more 😜
Just ordered the new ST Modern which has a 12 to 16 radius.. Will see how it compares to my Squier Contemporary Special which is 12 Radius and SSS but the Bridge pickup can never be used alone.
Nice one mate! I think that's a brilliant buy for the price 😎👌 If I liked the neck profile I'd definitely have one on order too 👍👍 Always fancied the Squier contemporary strat in skyburst 🤩
Good review. I bought a black one from the first batch. This has the laurel fretboard, FYI. My experience: tuning stability is amazing - so the nut must be OK; not keen on the look of the string trees - but they must be working well for the stability to be good; sustain is also exceptional - which I'm putting down to the bridge; Elixir strings went straight in the bin - the frets need polishing, so the dellivery strings are placeholders, also I use 9/42s; pickguard is non-standard and I want SSS - thanks for making it that much harder; pickups seem pretty decent on mine - but the HSS means you can't get a true position 2 tone; output jack actually feels it's good quality - for once; weight is a bit on the heavy side; flame and roasting of the neck is barely visible - but the neck and frets feel great; fret side dots - didn't want them and they're not great unless you're standing under a UV light; looks "meh", slightly odd - the lower cutout is weird and beveled on the back which helps access when, exactly? When you're playing it behind your head?! Overall: it feels great, plays great, has great sustain, and has great tuning stability. I'm keeping it, but it needs modding (SSS pickups, single ply pickguard, 6-way switch, red knobs and switch tip, and better string trees!)
Good honest review. I did two reviews on the st modern too (you may have seen it) and can completely agree with all of the criticisms especially those glow in the dark side dots... disaster…Totally invisible on a dark stage. Great guitar but it’s not 100% perfect yet. And yes I’d love a 9.5 inch radius neck. I like the neck but prefer my fender any day of the week.
Thank Ya kindly mate 😀🙏. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the side dots are not ideal 😎👍 Also agree on preferring the Fender feel, that's what I'm getting from the Jet Guitars - They've completely nailed the Fender feel. Exact same profile as the old USA Standard Fender, I compared with my 2004 US strat 👍 ruclips.net/video/GVidRT0SaLg/видео.html It's at 5:25 (Save ya watching the whole thing 😜) I'll go check out your vid now 😀👍
Hey man, I like the content you give a good "Feel" for what you like about a guitar. A lot of others just do the stats and avoid giving and opinion but what is the point? Far be it from me to tell you how to play or make content but I was messing with Tonocracy and watching this at the same time. I thought I heard some delay in your signal chain. If you used something like Tonocracy for your playing portion to sample tone, it's something easy to show on screen exactly what your signal chain is, so you don't get lots of questions on that. It's also repeatable as it's all free. So if I see you play this, I can download the same amp model, same fx, and compare what I've got. So if you're saying, wow this is bright. But I play with my (X-Guitar) and it's not, that helps in comparative process. Oh wow that guitar has a really bright tone on an amp model that I use a lot. Again, I like it how it is but it would be cool to see your whole signal chain and maybe comments about how that person sets up, or tweaks they found helpful instead of "What kind of FX is that?"
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀👍 In earlier vids, I used to mention what I was using for tones/sounds etc, but It just seems so irrelevant as everyones rigs are different, then there's the youtube compression etc. But what you're suggesting sounds like it could actually be a solid solution - cheers for the heads up 😀👍 I'd love to look into it, but I'm trying to find ways to make the vids take less time these days 😅 and I never look forward to learning new tech 😜 Once again - cheers tho - you've put ti on the radar 😎👍
All solid points. I've been loving this guitar though. I didn't realize the neck pickup position which is kind of a bummer for that strat tone, also the pickups seem a bit on the noisy side, but all good. I put 9's on mine and the tension feels great. This is my second most expensive feeling guitar next to my $1500 Schecter. Feels amazing in my hands. I've picked up Fenders twice the price that just do not feel good and the frets are sharp as hell. Good vid!
Thank ya kindly mate 😀🙏 If you like the neck pickup tone as/is - it's all good 😀👍 Just forget about the placement, it might not even make that much of a difference 🤷♂️ (but I reckon it would 😜)
Great info, how does this compare to Jet Js400, neck feel, finish, pickups etc? Changing trem, tuners etc on Jet, youll be close to price of HB. Cheers
Cheers mate! 🙏 Well, the most important thing for me is the neck feel, and I much prefer the C profile and 9.5" radius on the Jet. I also prefer the Stock pickups on the Jet (well... maybe not the humbucker 😜), and I also prefer the stock trem on the Jet, although I'd maybe replace the saddles (if they have the casting hump issue that some of them have). The Jet's nut is also cut perfectly (on mine). So on the Jet, I would change the bridge humbucker, Say £40 for an Irongear or something, The Tuners, £35 for a set of JIN HO lockers, roller string trees, £5, and maybe £20 for a set of SS Black saddles. So about £100 all in. But with the ST Modern, I'd personally want to change all the pickups, £100 ish? probably have the cavity re-routed to get the neck pickup closer to the neck, then a Custom pickguard made £40, new nut and string trees, potentially a fret level. Mines isn't too bad, I've maybe got 2 or 3 high spots, but if you read the other comments on this vid, loads of reports of poor fret jobs being reported 😬 So with the suggested mods total costs would be around (if you did all the work yourself) Jet £300 ish HB £550 ish Hope this helps, It's actually been useful to me as I've pretty much got a chance to write out the comparison vid idea right here - cheers! 😂👍
@@stevecassidyguitar thanks very much. I've just received my replacement Jet but the flame neck on HB was drawing me to it. Good to hear the your thoughts, I don't think HB is for me and the Jet will do fine. Mine has hump saddles so will change them. Slight buzz on B string
Thank ya kindly mate 😀👍 I probably will space out some of the comparison vids, as it's all the same playing clips and maybe a bit OTT on the HSS strat content 😂🙈
Cheers mate! I've been trying my best to get more gig clips. Weve been playing mainly weddings recently and unfortunately it can be tricky to film anything as i don't think it's appropriate to set up tripods, cameras etc on the band during someones wedding 😬 But I am still trying to 😀👍 In the meantime... I've got load of clips from a festival we did a couple of months ago here: ruclips.net/video/S2dwd9meLBk/видео.html
Bit of a late comment, but I ordered one of these a couple of months ago in seafoam green. Stunning guitar. Great specs. However, there were flaws galore. The humbucker literally fell into the cavity. A handful of frets were far too high, leading to choking. There was a 2.5cm scratch in the fretboard, which the strings got stuck in. The nut was passable, at best. The string trees, I agree, were shite. Oh, and there was damage on the tuning pots, as if someone dropped a screwdriver on it. It was such a shame, as the neck was wonderful and played beautifully. The rounded stainless steel frets are wonderful. The price is superb. But the quality control issues are, honestly, unforgivable at any price. This shouldn’t have been shipped. I complained to Thomann and got the money back. I have a contact there and, apparently, Thomann have now stopped temporarily the sale of them to fix the quality issues. (For a while, there was a 18wk wait time on ALL of them. It now seems to have reduced a bit.) This was a conscious decision, almost a recall, kind of thing.
Wow! I didn't know about that last part! 😯 (Thanks for sharing!) I'm not surprised you had so many issues, a lot of people have been chiming in with the same experience. I think HB might have been trying out a new factory with these. Teething problems like this on a first run in a new factory are not uncommon. Good on HB for (hopefully) addressing the QC. But still not a good look for them overall 😬
Never seen a Valiant guitar before and learnt something new about that trussrod access method, very clever detail that. Really like the sounds from this HB and I was thinking of getting that Jet hss like you demoed in Placid Blue but now I'm not so sure😂
Yeah, the Valiant stuff looks amazing - Pricey though 🤑 The crazy thing is, you could get the Harley Banton AND the Jet for less than the price of a new Fender Player 🤯
I've not mate. Only ever tried the Alan Entwistles on a Soloking MS1. The single coils were XS62N and a dark star humbucker. I really didn't like those. But I have heard good things about their other models. Will kep an eye out - cheers.
I did a short demo of the neck pickup on my channel if you want to check out how it sounds. I'm not trying to build a channel I just occasionally post things up.
Check out the Jet Js-450. I got mine for 300 Euros, they might have gotten more expensive. The neck feels great, locking tuners,... doesn't look like the pictures, but feels great for a budget guitar.
Agreed mate! I checked one out here: ruclips.net/video/YEmcosDBqBI/видео.html I've since sold that one (too heavy) but have recently got another one that's nice and light 😁👌
I've seen a few guitarists use a small amount plumbers tape on tremolo arms when screwing them in to keep it from swinging too much. Never needed to myself.
Another great in-depth video Steve 👍 keep em coming!!! I got cut off your live stream last night 😔 never had the chance to say congrats on achieving 3k subs 🎉🎉🎉
I fix screw in trem arms with plumbers tape. Feel like push in for a couple of gigs, then you have to put new tape on. Cheap effective. With the trad string trees, lube them underneath with your favourite guitar lube, or, yep, fit the rollers or graphite. Graphite probably best. Cheers !
Cheers for the trem tip sir - I've heard of that one over the years but never tried it 👍 and agreed... Graphtech String trees all the way for me 😃👍 I always prefer a more permanent solution 😁👍
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏 If you're not sure... I'd maybe hold off until the next load comes back in stock, and check more reviews once people start getting the new ones in their hands again 👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Yeah the rolled fretboard thing is disappointing, poor communication because that was teased when these were revealed at that guitar show like 8 months ago
@@legoarmo Yeah I remember watching that too, and wondering wether they meant rolled fretboard edges or rounded fret ends like the Earts. It sounded like they were saying rolled edges iirc, but I noticed, it looked like rounded fret ends - would be great if it was both. But... mines are slightly rolled 😂🤷♂ and they say in that same facebook post that "they aren't rolled it was a mistake" AND "they are slightly rolled tho" 😂🤷♂
I'm on that 22nd fret EVERY SONG, EVERY DAY, ALL THE TIME! I NEEED IT! 🧐 Ok.. maybe you've got a point 😂😜 But I do have a strong preference for 22 frets. I used to feel the same way about 24 frets. I can't go any lower tho - where will it end? I'll end up exclusively playing ukulele! 😜
Still alot more bang for bucks than my player series. Still regretting not sending her back to Thomann for a classic vibe. 50th birthday present from my Mum so it's stayed. Spends lots and lots of time..erm..lives in it's case. More I watch your playing...you are obscenely talented a chara..🎸
Aww mate! Thank ya so much! 😀🙏 It's a shame you've not got on with the player series too much. Which one do you have? If I had to chose between a Fender player strat and ST Modern and they were the same price... Even though the ST blows the Fender out of the water with the crazy specs... I'd still chose the Fender. The Neck feel is waaay more comfortable to me and the single coils are some of the best I've ever hear, I'm always looking for used sets to put into other guitars 😀. I wonder if there's any mods/changes/upgrades you could make to yours that you'd want to play it more 🤔 I undersand the dilemma of being "stuck" with a guitar you don't play because it was a sentimental gift. But some mods/changes could bring it back to life 😀👍 I remember I was falling out of love with my USA strat about 15+ years ago, put a black pickguard on it and was head over heels for it again 😍 Sometimes even just a great set up from a tech could do the job. Anyway soz... I'm rambling 🙈
Fender player SSS polar white. Bought from Thomann in 2019. Bridge is not what I expected. Poor quality. Disappointed at the time. The pickups are very nice and the neck is okay but frets weren't level on arrival. Strong magnetic pull on those single coils. Spring in top E was broken. Don't know how they managed that...took it out and she's still fine. As a gift, I've kept her. The positive from all my fiddling is that my 25" guitars are to E flat.
@@greenslider Polar White is probably my favourite colour strat from the Player series - looks super classy with the Maple board too 😎👍 Sorry to hear about the issues, I'd chuck a Gotoh 510 Trem on there and have a tech level the frets and set up. Probably an expense you could do without, but that could be a killer guitar! 😀
Very cool Steve, Thankyou. Interesting Guitar. Looks amazing and that Neck WOW, stunning. I am a bit of a fan of this 'color scheme' and also 'White with Tortoise shell pickguard', although I own Neither .... That might have to change, lol. All the Best. Cheers
I have a lefty version, the FBB one. It is a really good looking guitar. In fact they used the one they send me for the product shots on the Thomann website. Stunning neck. But looks can be deceiving, the fretwork was atrocious. Lots of uneven frets, string buzz everywhere. In the end I had to perform a fret levelling on the guitar. Neck feels nice. The whole 12-16 radius neck, I don't notice it. Perhaps I should have returned it, but I was already outside the return window and I kind of enjoy tinkering with a guitar. You sort of expect that a cheap HB guitar needs some work, but this is a EUR440 guitar, not a EUR169 TE-52, (that one is next in line for a fret levelling 😀).
Yeesh! 😬 Sorry to hear that mate. We're getting a lot of comments here saying the same thing about the uneven frets too. I think mines also has a couple of high spots, but I'm used to playing with an "acceptable amount of buzzing" anyway 😜
Thats a decent lookin geetar right there and as a lot of em are... great modding platforms! :) Personally like a flat neck so the radius'd be spot on, but 100% on the string trees. Same goes for wiring components... it doesn't cost a fortune to buy in cts pots (especially in bulk) puretone jacks are reasonable, the only mega pricey bit is a top notch 5 way. I dont mind it costing an extra 50-60 to get components that'll last a lifetime especially when 9/10 times the pickups are first to go. Them glow in dark dots are great but gimicky, against that board black plastic'd be enough, hell even dabs of paint. Personally prefer nickel frets, ss is an absolute arse to sort but do feel great for longer. Its a great looking geetar that needs modding the hell out of 😈 Great vid as always sir :)
Thank ya kindly mate! 😃🙏 I think Harley Benton probably thought with this one, that no-one would need to upgrade anything on it. But us guitar players are a weird and diverse bunch - impossible to please everyone. But to be fair, even though it's not for me, they've did an incredible job with this one 😎👍
Nice one Steve! These came too late for my 'strat gas' i had until march.....since then i've been on a singlecut 'binge', mainly b-stock Bentons which have all become great playing instruments. Been trying out Temu pickups....becoming a master at waxpotting....😂 Have a great weekend, love from Switzerland👊🏼 PS: Babicz trem is excellent, i put one in a Jet JS-300 (black with now all gold hardware and Tonerider) In my opinion the best sounding strat i have ever heard and played.....🤫😉
Thank ya mate! 😀🙏 I wonder if i'll ever grow out of this strat phase 🤔 Probably not! 😆👍 Have you discovered any TEMU pickups worth recommending? (Without having to Wax pot them 😁)
@@stevecassidyguitar I have not yet tested the Humbuckers with a lot of gain or volume, but they sound quite good for around 18.-! I have 2 sets of humby sized P-90's (chrome and gold) and they squealed and whistled like hell with some dirt. Waxpotting is really easy though....get some paraffin wax granules, heat to about 70 deg. celsius and submerge the pickup upside down in the fluid wax. Wait until no more bubbles rise and take it out...i layed them on a papertowel on top of some big ice cubes to cool quicker so no wax leaked out of the cover. Clean with Naptha ( Zippo lighter fluid) Good as new!👌🏼 They then stop squealing. They have a clear sound clean and sound great with dirt ( i nearly like them more than the P-90 in my HB SC Special) although they are mor e of a Tele bridge pup construction wise....I put them in my HB SC-450 plus GT (see on my channel)😉
It is simple maths.... To keep the price low the "premium" features are the budget ones.... No wonder you found the issues on the higher spec parts, like tuners.... There is nothing wrong with the guitar just bear these things in mind...😊 Thx for the video
Thank ya mate 👍 Someone made a great point here in the comments here yesterday, we're forgetting the main reason for the low price is the lack of middlemen with Thomann/Harley Benton. If Harley Bentons were available from other retailers, they'd probably be twice the price 🤔
Great video as always 😋👍⭐️🎉 Especially liked your remarks on the lack of aftermarket stuff from HB and others like the mentioned scratch plates. I love modding guitars to my likes and quite frankly it has become a big part of the fun for me. But it’s like you say a pain in the backside that you actually need to buy higher priced guitars to then have access to the aftermarket range of fitting parts. But modding a higher priced guitar doesn’t make a lot of sense in my opinion. Not to mention loosing big bucks when reselling. Therefore I definitely share your opinion: There’s a HUGE MARKET for the Harley Bentons, Fazleys and Earts! So bring out the stuff and roll in the cash guys 😂
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏 Yeah I can't get my head round why HB, Jet, Fazley, Eart etc... don't offer thier pickguards seperately, people have been asking for this for a while, and they obviously can get them at the factories - seems just as simple as ordering more 🤷♂️. I think the first company to do this will sell a boatload, then other brands might follow suit. Well... that's what I'm hoping for anyway 😜 Totally agree on your points Re modding too sir 😎👍
Can you make a video of this HB against a fender player?? I want to buy a strat but I'm unsure between these two. What would you recommend? Is the HB worth it for the price difference compared to the Fender?
I've actually got a Fender Player ii strat right here and I've played a few of the 1st Gen players too. To be honest... This Harley Bentons specs and quality blows Fender out of the water. But... I much prefer the Fender neck profile and pickups, and the neck is THE most important part for me. If you've not heard of Jet Guitars yet - check this out; ruclips.net/video/GVidRT0SaLg/видео.html These guys are doing Fender better than Fender imo (except for pickups 😜) for about 1/4th the price 👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Thank you very much for the feedback, I'm going to watch your videos regarding Jet guitars to see if I can decide, especially because I don't care much about the name on the headstock but rather the quality of the instrument, especially because I'm a beginner. I didn't know about your channel until the beginning of this week, but you definitely gained another subscriber!!
@@stevecassidyguitar Its the hametown gene, mate!! Tbf though, if you were a one-guitar guy like a lot of those players with "sig" models of their axe, you could really buy one of these and never need to upgrade again in your life, save maybe a pickup change to individual taste. Hats off to HB!
@@EddieG1888 😂👍 Definitely - Talsk about raising the bar. Can't see anyone beating these specs for the price. And by the time the competition catches up, HB will probably raise the bar again! Solid Gold Guitars for 99p wi a Flake!
I have in the past - That could be worth trying on this one - great shout! 😀👍 But yeah, they're 25.5" scale according to the spec sheet, but as I say it felt too tight so I measured it myself to make sure and right enough it is 25.5". It doesn't make any sense as to me as to why it feels tighter, it was the same on the Eart, and those necks are very similar. Could just be my mind playing tricks on me - Or something else to do with the neck spec 🤷♂️. But on my Fender strats and Jets, the strings feel a lot more malleable. I use Elixir 9-42's on everything
@@GuitarQuackery The main thing for me is that slinky, smooth, slippery feel under the fingertips, and they stay like that for longer than any other strings I've tried. (Which isn't all other strings - open to suggestions 😀👍)
@@stevecassidyguitar There's an old Chinese proverb... just kidding... no, seriously... there is one: "There's no such thing as Elixir strings." I am not 100% sure, but I believe the actual strings are made by D'Addario, the coated by "Elixir" which is an offshoot of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. I believe, they came up with the idea of coating guitar strings but they do not make the actual strings. The Elixir Nanoweb and Optiweb strings are wrapped with a teflon tape. But only the 3 wound strings are coated. If you look at the individual string packages, you will notice that only the E, A, D string packages are labeled as coated, but not the G, B, E (for an electric set). So the G, B, E are not even coated. That's 50% of the strings in the set. The G, B, E are simply electroplated, to protect against premature corrosion. By comparison, the D'Addario XS strings are all coated. The E, A, D are wrapped, just like the 3 wound strings in a set of Elixir strings. But the G, B, E are also electroplated and coated on top. But the coating on those is different than on the wound strings. It is a liquid coating, which is the same exact coating used on D'Addario XT strings. So, to recap, I believe the actual strings on a set of Elixir are actually D'Addario strings, sold to Elixir as plain strings, without any coating. And then Elixir coats the 3 wound strings and don't really advertise the fact that only 3 of the 6 strings are coated. But if you look at the "fine print" (the individual paper packages) you will see that only the wound strings are labeled as coated. But D'Addario uses two different coating on a set of XS strings, so that the plain strings are also coated. They can do that, because they make the actual strings themselves. Meaning, they pull the actual wire and they coat the string wire before they put the ball ends on, to make it into a string. Elixir cannot put a liquid coating on the ready-made plain strings, because that's not how the coating machine works. I guess Elixir could have ordered ready-coated plain strings from D'Addario, but I guess they are saving on costs by ordering non-coated strings. And, again, the wound XS strings are wrap coated in the exact same way as Elixir wound strings, and the actual strings are made (to the best of my knowledge) by the same company on the same actual machines. Lastly, the D'Addario plant is not far from me and and I had the pleasure of visiting the factory. So, I saw with my own eyes how they make their strings: how they pull the wire, coat the wire, wind the strings, package, etc. D'Addario also makes Fender branded and Gibson branded strings, BTW.
I was planning on doing a comparison to the JS450 as it's closer in price and specs with the locking tuners and "name brand" bridges. You raise a good point tho sir 👍 In the 450 vid I'll definitely give the 400 a well deserved shout out too - it's only fair 😁👍
@@Jaimellex Really!?! You emailed them and they said no? 😃 Mind you.. PRS say's he'll never do SS frets either. 🤷♂ I've had SS frets installed on my modded JS400. Loving it! 😎👌
@@stevecassidyguitar yeah, I sent several dms and emails imploring for SS frets. I got a reply saying “not at this point” lol. Really feels like they’re dropping the ball in comparison to the new HB guitars
@@Jaimellex Ah! Ok Not at this point doesn't mean "never" tho 😁 Thanks for sharing this mate - Very useful info 😃👍 It's gonna be hard for any brand who has distribution costs to keep up with Harley Benton, in terms of pricing tho. It will become a choice of making a profit or winning the "spec wars". What I've very recently started to notice is (like right now 😂) the brands who are doing the SS frets for around £400 and less, seem to be quite hit and miss with the QC, The Harley Benton ST Modern's are having thier QC re-addressed as we speak, the first run was a bit of a disaster, even though I got "a good one", I had 3 EARTS, 1 was a complete dud, I had 2 Solokings, 1 had terrible fretwork. I've moved on almost all of my Harley Bentons, the 3 Earts are gone, returned both the Solokings. All my Jets are keepers. Nothing scientific here - just thing out loud. Cheers for reading - if you got this far 😂😂👍
I know that this one has flamed maple neck and stainless steel frets, but i was wondering... Between this one or Jet JS-400, which one would you choose?
That's an easy one 😁 I prefer the Jet JS400. Just because of the neck profile. I find the C shaped 9.5" radius far more comfortable. I don't enjoy the flatter radius fretboards or D shaped necks. It's all about the neck 😎👍
@@matepuljiz Not only the same necks - They're the sma e Guitar! 😃 Made in same factory, with the exact same specs, by the same team 😃👍 The only difference is the brand names on the headstocks and tuners 😁 I have 2 Phynica 720's and play them all the time. I've been gigging both of them allsummer while my no 1 Jet was away getting a refret
Really liking this guitar but wish they would do a HH configuration like this with same colors but add a yellow and with the changes you suggested. I like the C shape neck 9.5 radius roasted maple neck locking tuners and better string trees. I would be happy with just a Wilkinson tremlo bridge. 🎸🤘🏻
It does mate! Just double checked it now for ya - Nice n' clean from 1 - 4/5 then it starts to snarl from about 5 onwards, nice gradual saturation on it too. Only checked the bridge humbucker and I'm using a Fender mustang modelling amp 👍 Front Page News! "Robson Gets a Strat!" 😁👍
Push/push pot fail Far quicker than a push/pull pot. Thanks for the informative vid. Im still sitting on the fence though, in the back of my head i keep hearing "ya get what ya pay for". 👍
I've heard this a lot, but yet to experience it any of my guitars with push/push pots. A few of them have been in for over 10 years, but only 1 of them gets regular use. No doubt it will fail tomorrow now since I've jynxed it 😂
Good question sir! 😁 I actually wasn't planning on making that comparison, I was gonna go with the JS450 as it's closer to this in price and specs (as they both have locking tuners and name brand trems). I'd have to say the ST Modern blows the Jet out of the water in terms of specs - on paper. But for me, I way prefer the neck profile and feel on the Jet, I also prefer the Jet pickups on both the 400 and 450, but there's not a lot in it there, I don't LOVE the Jet pickups either, but really dislike the ST Modern set. 😜
Thank ya mate 😀🙏 Well.. It's different. Although I'll say I do slightly prefer the neck profile on the Fusion. But HSS strats are my preference over any HH Guitars. Both are great though imo 👍
The main thing I didn't like with the ST Modern is that the fret wire is really low. I was expecting it to be high but it's very low, compare with the Fusion and the ST 25th. For me the ST 25th feels better. I wish it wasn't gold but hey.
Medium Jumbo is the biggest fretwire I'm comfortable with. Super Jumbo isn't for me. Even thought he Fusions come with ""medium Jumbo" they feel a bit bigger than that to me. The fretwire on the ST Modern feels exactly these same as on the EARTS I've tied too. The size doesn't bother me, but I could see why it would be a no go for some 👍
i was going to pick up one from the first batch but they actually sold out really quick.. based on all these reviews.. - not worth including the cable or the elixir strings - they should improve the string trees - fix the rubbers/foam under the humbucker - change the push pull knob for push push or a toggle switch - maybe find some solution for the side dots? seems like not too much work if you like the guitar to be fair, but they could definitely improve these points
That's a great synopsis mate 😀👍 Pretty much nailed it. I forgot to mention the Humbucker rubber/spring upgrade 🙈 I fixed mine straight after the unboxing
A lot of people have been asking for that. I think Harley Benton are pretty great at listening to what thier customers want - so I think there's a good chance we might see something like that, in the not too distant future 😀👍
A really excellent review touching on a few things that were not mentioned in the other reviews I watched, esp your ideas about what they could improve -which I think was the most thorough, though others mentioned many of the same things. To be honest, when I learned these guitars were being made by Gnomes in a wee Highland village with primitive tools, while drinking fine single malts, I thought you'd love them. But, you didn't, and I have to agree it would be better to wait for the next version. Hopefully somebody at HB will watch these reviews and make some changes. Still, for the price, a really good option for people looking for an HSS s-stype guitar that won't break the bank.
Thank ya kindly mate for taking the time to write and for your kind words 😀🙏 Glad you found it informative 👍 I was not aware of this Highland origin story tho! I've changed my mind now - I take it all back! 😂👍
Comparison between the jet might be fitting. The location of the neck pickup of the St modern plus would be a deal breaker for me. Strats need that smooth creaminess. Something vintage that shouldn't change.
Yeah - I would probably want to re-route the cavities and move things around for better placement - would mean a new pickguard too tho 😅 The Jet one is in the Queue - Cheers 😀👍
I personally don't like any type of tremolos other than with a locking nut Floyd Rose full floating. But I was impressed with yours staying in tune. But you are so right on that pickup placement. I would definitely get a new pick plate designed for it to move the pickup into the right place. I'm sure its a swimming pool under that plate. I do love HSS guitars. Very versatile with the right pickups. But these guitars are not my taste. I like the neck until you get to the eagle bill headstock. That has always been a turnoff for me on these guitars.
That was a bit of a fluke in that trem clip - 99% of the time it goes way out of tune 🙈 Have you ever tried a Gotoh 510 trem on a guitar? I've got one on a Charvel - 2 point trem that behaves like a Floyd, amazing! 😀👌 The body on this HB is routed for HSH, so there would be space to move the pickup closer, but would still need a custom pickguard made :/
@@stevecassidyguitar Ah, I was shocked about that trem, but no I have not tried the 2 point trems and I live so far away from any town or cities I don't get to go to stores hardly at all being over 100 miles to the nearest one worth a dang. I'm kind of a radical player and I go pretty crazy sometimes and really need to have the guitar stay in tune, so I stick with what I know has worked for me for 39 years. If I ever get the chance, I will try it out though.
I still prefer the Jets in terms of neck feel and pickups (the important stuff 😁), but in terms of specs you get for the money, Jet don't offer anything (yet) with flame roasted maple necks, compound radius fretboards (even though I don't like them 😜) Stainless Steel frets with ball end edges, and glow in the dark side dots - I didn't like the side dots either, but no doubt they're a premium feature. Jet has a new Elite series on the way, and as far as I know they don't have any of the above specs, and they're going to be priced higher than the ST Modern Plus 😬
@@stevecassidyguitar I'm surprised you prefer the Jet pickups, as they're ceramic I believe. I've had a couple of guitars with decent ceramics, but in general they haven't sounded as good as alnicos to my ears.
@@peskypesky Soz - I should have specified - just the "Single coils". The Humbucker on the Jet is also a bit "meh" 😂 But yeah the Cermaic single coils on the Jet sound more "authentic" strat to my ears than the ST Modern which of course... sounds more modern 😜
I love Harley benton, I currently own 2 models. The st170 rosewood, this is the older version with Wilkinson pickups, real rosewood fretboard and the old style font on the headstock. I love it no mods needed, well I need to do the tone mod to control the bridge pickup but apart from that it is a perfect strat. I bought it back in 2015,when I was just kinda getting into guitar. My other HB is an SC-DLX gotoh. It is amazing and more or less has the same specs as an sc-550 II but was a lot cheaper. I don't think it's sold anymore, both were b-stock guitars and look, feel and play fantastic for the prices. The only downside I would say is that the st170 has a cheap looking and feeling pickguard but that is my only complaint. P. S: I love Harley benton coated strings, whenever I make a purchase I always but loads of strings, I fit them on all my guitars.
Nice one mate! Thanks for sharing 😀👍 Same here Re the Harley Benton Coated strings - I always add a few packs to any order too - cheap as chips! Admittedly, they're not as good as Elixirs, and the do leave some black residue on the finger tips after the first couple of hours playtime, but once that's gone the strings start to slick up and feel great! That feeling doesn't last as long as the Elixirs either tho, but still great for a few quid 😎👍
I hear ya mate - That's a smart move if you like the features of the ST Modern. For me I'd prefer the Fender Player neck. But I recently had a Player ii strat in and that needed the nut fixed too. Inconsistent QC is rife across the board these days
I'm not sure if the thinner trem block has any detriment here 🤷♂️ If anything I'm glad it's not adding as much to the overall weight 😜 The neck on this one is too thin for me as/is 😂 I'm guessing you prefer a more Ibanez/Charvel thin profile?
Great shout sir! 😀👍 I think the closest thing they have is the "Big Tone" but it would be cool to see some of the other smaller bodied Gretsch(i) represented 😎👍
I'm not sure mate never investigated it much further, possibly. It's weird, as the saddles are one of the main selling factors of this unit tho 🤷♂️ I think the Wilkinson on the Fusions is a better choice imo 😬🤷♂️
Hi Steve, I'm not too bothered about the comparison vids TBH I don't think I'd want to get hold of any kind of ST guitar these days. I do own a Harley Benton guitar and as it's the only HB I've ever played I suppose it must be my favourite HB because I do like it a lot. I've got the SC 450 P90 GT which is the HB take on a LP gold top with P90s. I took the chance and got a "B" grade one, it was just £108 at the time. It plays nicely I really like that "Creamy" tone for want of a better word when you whack it over to the neck pickup. Well worth a shot if you ever fancied trying something different to what you usually play.
Thank ya for both the feedback and the recomendation mate! I am still keeping an eye out for a single cut I can get on with. Love the idea of a p90 one too 😀👍 I was planning on waiting to see if HB brought out a new SC 550 in a colour I liked - If they don't might give your one a go. £180 is crazy tho eh? 🤯 Apologies in advance thouigh - there is A LOT of strat vids incoming 🙈 I'll try my best to mix it up a bit though 👍
Nothing wrong with Strat vids mate. I played one for years. I dropped into the single cut thing sort of by accident because I went about eight years without touching an electric guitar at all thinking a nice Takamine acoustic was all I needed, and then started to miss bending the strings a bit. I bought a cheap "Partscaster" from a guy locally thinking it would be just fine to play at my dining table recording tunes for YT that not too many click on but quite honestly it just didn't seem like half the guitar I had back in the day. I went for the HB because having never owned a Gibson the comparison with the old Fender wouldn't be there. I love the guitar but it has made me want to go all in and get a proper Gibson.
Steve some constructive criticism: I personally feel youre asking too much (and too long) for subscribes, likes, comments and so on. It comes off as a bit desperate to be honest. Otherwise great stuff ofcourse, love your channel!
Constructive criticism always welcome and appreciated mate! Thank you! 😀🙏 It's such a tricky one to navigate, and I do struggle with this. I try to follow all the advice from the "Grow your Channel" Niche Videos. So many things to consider... They say put something in the first 30 seconds, (Before 90% of views drop) They say make sure you say it verbally, and it's most effective after something informative or amusing. Thay also say put it at the end - the viewers who have stayed to the end are more likely to take an action. Likes and comments or... "engagement" are the currency on RUclips and it can be a case of "If you don't ask, you don't get". "Desperate" might not be too far from the truth either 😂👍 I really do want to make a proper go of this RUclips thing. It's now 20 months of practically full time hours i've put into this, I'd love for this to be an earner one day, and be able to quit one of my jobs. If i've not got to a certian point by the end of next year, I'll have to think about wether I'll continue as it does take a lot of time away from family etc. I reckon it's probably impossible to grow and not piss anyone off at the same time - unfortunately 😕 Anyway mate - still do appreciate your feedback 🙏
My 1979 Les Paul deluxes have never let me down, never even needed to take the truss rod covers off, never looked back at purchasing these quality guitars, ....... Spend good money on quality guitars and you will have them forever, no dopey modding this and modding that and throwing good money away when you could of put that money towards a real guitar.
So is this a good guitar or a curate's egg?🤔 HB seem to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (until they get to their third production runs🤔). I still have a System 1 Contemporary Strat (Twin HBs), I also had another (SSS), I fitted SD Quarter Pounders, that had a very good maple neck, but the string tension was higher than others with same scale length and 9-42's. I sold it, it was a cracking guitar with the SDs fitted, I've fitted SDs to most of my guitars. I'm guessing in a year or two, these budget guys will give the big names an even bigger run for their money? I do hope that their workers are treated well though 🤞👍💜💜
@@stevecassidyguitar Understood. The neck is probably the number one priority. It's a much better guitar than budget guitars were when I was a kid too!!👍✌️✌️
Not for me all this fancy trems and flame necks. I prefer a vintage style strat. I'm out of guitar action for a while due to dislocating my shoulder and tearing ligaments, tendons and rotator cuff 😢😢. So getting my gtar fix on RUclips for the time being. Going to watch your back catalogue of vids 😊😊 Gtar and top quality Scottish banter, what more do you need 😉😎
@@stevecassidyguitar yeh new one bud. Going to order myself a couple of music theory books and finally learn theory. I don't know any scales or keys etc. I learnt to play by ear. I can fly up and down the neck for fun but always wanted to learn theory as I always get peeps asking me for lessons.
@@derekjohnson5720 Great stuff mate! 😀👍 Well... the making the best of a bad situation part 😬👍 Rick Beatos, did a great vid a year or 2 ago you might find useful - It's something like "as much music theory I can teach you in an hour" or something - But it's a great primer - I'd recommend it 👍
100! Mate - If I liked the neck, it would be almost the perfect Guitar! I'd happily change the pickups, string trees, Maybe even Re-rout the pickup channels and a new pickguard, to get the neck pickup closer to the neck😅👍
@@sjrice76 😂👍 Nah mate! you're actually helping a lot with commenting early 😀 RUclips see's it as more engagement and it helps with the algorithm to push it out to more people - apparently 🤷♂ So thank you! 😀🙏
@@BudgetPedalChap HA! Soz mate! 😂🙈 We always need "just one more" HSS strat 👹 I thought this review might be too negative and put people off - wasn't aiming to do that tho
I wrote elsewhere too that this is becoming excruciating.. Trying to avoid the "order and send back" -limbo as a seasoned intermediate player who needs somewhat proper strat for tones. If I see someone seriously playing, they are wielding a Fender and hardly ever anything else. Fender is weird company with their price vs. specs, compared to what these other brands do. I guess JET JS-400 it is then?
At £370 is this still a buget friendly guitar lol. Ha, i got that from some live stream last night i watched. I mean, i paid 200 in 1987 for a total pile of crap called a Washburn. This looks to be good enough to gig with right away.
Ha! 100% mate! It's borderline "Budget" (for me) definitely getting close to "mid range" prices 😜 But if this had Fender/Schecter/Ibanez/Yamaha/Suhr etc on the headstock, it would be at least £2k easy with these specs
It's certainly close! Although I don't find the necks on either of them confortable - I still prefert he Charvel, and think it's probably worth the extra cost too 😬 I didn't expect I'd say that until just now 😂
@@stevecassidyguitar Perhaps S type designers will name it a Cassidy mod? If guitar manufacturers don wanna do it maybe string manufacturers could fund it? Heck - it would work a charm on T type guitars too. Get some intellectual property ownership on that idea - quick
@@Alan-zf2tt Ha! Has a nice ring to it 😂🙈 But nah... that sounds like actual real work. But If someone else does it, I'm more than happy to buy em tho 😁👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Nah ... drink more beer so you get a beer belly. The guitar will be nicely tilted so you will easily see the dots on the neck ... 🙂
@@johnmoser1162 I've got the beer belly already - bought and paid for 😜👍 Are we both talking about the "side dots" though yeah? 🤔 Not the fretboard inlays.
Hey man ive got to say i still love mine the little imperfections are easy to forget imo just to get this outcome which is a guitar i hold high even next to usa prs s, i personally haven't played a mexican fender as good as this or a jet or a fazley or any squier or other brands, the classic vibe series is ok at best, they seem to have this great reputation i dont get it and they are almost £400, my thoughts on the string tree issue that is giving you sleepless nights❤ lol they are using a different factory than the Indonesian factory who used the better string trees? I like the pickups, position 4 is great fir spanky cleans no?A bit long winded this but my point is specs aside this is a special instrument imo nothing comes close, have thought about this as ive owned so so many stratocasters, only thing that came close was the fusions, Harley Benton take a bow!!!!
Barely slept a wink last night thinking about those string trees! 🤣👌 Yeah these are made in China, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same Factory as the Solokings or Earts, almost identical neck feel. No doubt about it tho mate - the St modern is a beast! Super high quality - can totally feel it in the hand. Sounds like you might prefer the flatter radius and D profile necks, as the Fender, Jet and Squire's are all (mostly) C shaped 9.5 inchers. Em the opposite 🤓 But Yes indeed - yer right sir, Mr Benton has completely nailed the specs, for the people that prefer the more modern feel 😎👌
@stevecassidyguitar I like most radius apart from the 7.25, on paper I wasn't sure I'd like this radius on this as it's a weird one as you say but it works somehow 😬
@stevecassidyguitar the string tension u mention on certain guitars, I get it on my partcaster, it has 9s on it and it's a 12" radius fender roasted neck, I often thought it was maybe cause the bridge isn't floating? It's quite enjoying?
First time watching your vids. Your glasses are the coolest thing I've seen in a good while! Really would love to see more lefty options for this one, but I won't complain... HB does way better than most brands, for us southpaws. The pickguard option is huge, been saying it for years with other budget brands. You don't even have to make them... just take a sec to create a template and make it publicly downloadable. At least then we can have an aftermarket pickguard company make them for us. Easy peasy! I've got the HB TE-90FL and it's one of my favorite guitars at the moment. Subscribed! well done.
Thank you mate! 😀🙏 That's a great idea Re - Dowloading the templates 😎👍 Even though it makes more sense for us, I think they'd be less likely to go that route, as there's very little to no profit there 😜
@@stevecassidyguitar I'm willing to bet that the brand who knows they are a good base for mods, and includes the template (and makes it known), will see folks gravitate their way!
@@stevecassidyguitar Well I just got an AIO S4... and LOVE IT, but it needs a new pickguard, so if we could start there please! Not sure if you've tried one, but worth a visit! They setup every guitar once received in the States, would already be 'opened' for tracing! Nice to chat Steve! Thanks!
@@SteveWilgeroth Had never heard of them until now. Some impressive looking guitars they've got there 😎👌 I'm not seeing enough roasted maple fretboards though - That's my bag 😜 Congrats on the new axe though bud 😃👍
I was going to mod a Mim SSS strat to be a HSS... but this HB with stainless frets makes me just want to get it instead and perhaps change the humbucker, ez pz EDIT: The fender also needs a fret crowning, otherwise I'd probably just mod it tbh (it's 20 years old).
If yuo're not aware mate - check out Jet Guitars JS400. It's my number one guitar, (it's had a few upgrades) HSS strat, no SS frets, but it's a toal Fender Killer and cheap as chips 😀👍
@@stevecassidyguitar I haven't but I will check it out! thanks for showing me things I wasn't aware of! MiM fenders are great but so are so many other options now in 2024!
@@billybob-b7t Not to plug my own vids or anything.. 😜But you might find this one interesting if you're on the hunt for an HSS strat 😁👍 ruclips.net/video/GVidRT0SaLg/видео.html
@@billybob-b7t Not to plug my own vids or anything 😜 ... but... If you're on the hunt for an HSS strat you might find this one interesting ruclips.net/video/GVidRT0SaLg/видео.html 😁👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Hey bud, I watched that video, Awesome work. I'm now wondering about the js600! Have you tried it? I think I might go for it. I don't care about headstock because I'm not gigging (something tells me if you apply for a spot and don't have certain headstocks they might dismiss you off the bat). I just want the most bang for my buck, spec wise. I might end up making a HSS part caster, but I couldn't see making one CHEAPER with everything I want on it than the JS600 Thanks for everything!
Hi. I had to return mine. The quality check was a total joke. But, not funny… The guitar was a mess and not even playable. The bridge wasnt even mounted correctly. And a lot of other stuff. Very dissapointing.
This one is not in my wheelhouse, but for those that want one here's my gripe; crappy cable, trem block, string trees and "bad idea" glow in the dark side dots. Having to ajust playing a Strat because of the bridge saddles? C'mon, Harley Benton. Stop choosing performance spots to cheap out on and add 30 more euros to the cost. Sheesh, talk about penny foolish and pound silly! Great demo, Steve. I went off on a rant there.
Yeah it's a cheap guitar worth about what it costs but made so its spec sheet reads like it's an expensive guitar. Kind of like those fake rolex watches you get, excepting it's not actually pretending to be the expensive brand just to be the same as it, yet it's clearly not.
100% agree Harley Benton should make a st vintage plus, same material but sss fat50s like pickups, decent string tree(s) 9.5 radius, drop the bells and whistles like fluorescent dots , elixir strings , but keep the price under 400 and They will own fender in a couple of years. Thanks for the detailed straight forward review!
Bonkers Specs! 🤯 What's your favourite Harley Benton models? 😀 (If any?)
🫳⌨⬇
My favorite model is fusion T HH OCT EB great guitar
A bit off topic, but I bought the HB Travel acoustic, the copy of the Martin. Costs absolutely flumpence, and I hear it played by someone else every week at the open mike, and it just blows every other plugged in acoustic away for sound.
@@jonatanronaldgonzalezariza18 Oh yeah - The Fusions are fantastic! 😀👍
@@pheemchoonz241 Not at all mate - I know the exact one you're talking about, I got to try one out at a guys house I was buying another Guitar from (HB CST24) and it was a great wee acoustic! I thought about grabbing one several times 😀👍
Fusion 2 excellent neck and Roswell pickups.
I really appreciate your honesty Steve !
Really interesting and helpful video ! Thank you for sharing !
Thank ya kindly mate 😃🙏
Cheers for watching and commenting 🙏
What a great review, with valuable info. The gig part was awesome to demonstrate.
Quite surprised you didn't talk about volume and tone pots (apart from push/pull)? Seems they satisfied you.
I'm a strat guy, having several of various pickups, colors, brands, including the HB 25th anniversary. I also have a HB Fusion 2 HSH in which I replaced the pickups because of Roswell darkness. I would be interested in your comparison HB Fusion with ST Modern Plus. I'm a bedroom player and still have room enough to accomodate a HB ST Modern Plus in LakePlacidBlue, which color is missing in my collection, haha ✌
Thank ya kindly sir! 😀🙏
The HB 25th might be the best Benton Strat they've made (Even though I've never tried one - I like the specs)
I did eventually get the comparison done of the Fusion ii and the ST Modern
Here:
ruclips.net/video/wcdNfAuozSs/видео.html
ST Modern (I hope) will be better (QC wise) in the 2nd run, I'd hold off unless you're handy with set up/minor repairs etc 👍
Cheers again mate 🙏
@@stevecassidyguitar allright, I saw your comparison of Fusion and STModern, thanks. STModern not for me, the Fusion2 I have is better, I'll stick to it.
And I did subscribe 😁
Honest, perceptive, talented, and Scottish! What more could you ask for? Thank you Steve. I look forward to checking out your band next time i'm in Galsgow.
Thank ya kindly sir! 😀🙏
We hail from Dundee - I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to come that far. 😜
Nothing too exciting going on here.
We do have a Greggs tho 🤷♂️
😜
It sounded good in your hands and, indeed, good specs! However, I'm totally with you and your recommendations at the end and I've wondered why they're taking so long to think about it. 🎸🎸
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏
I think that's at least 5 of us on board for a Harley Benton ST Standard Plus now 😁👍 Hopefully that's enough for them to consider it 🤷♂️ Maybe we need like.. two more 🤔
😜
Brilliant as usual, awesome video, well done Steve ... great to see you playing more (as you're really really good). Mucho enjoyo as they say somewhere in the universe.
Aww mate! Thank ya kindly! 😀🙏 I did these wee playing clips on 5 Guitars (for future comparisons) and no Joke it took me 2 entire days - with up to 30+ takes each! 😂🙈
I massively struggle with the camera on
Excellent Mr C! I did look at this guitar but I like the dust to settle and see if any issues arise! I agree that HB needs to sort out string trees and the machine heads (very stiff have not got any better over time on my HB), l have the HB ST62 Hot Rod Strat with a hot rails at the bridge sounds great! I also have a HB Fusion ll and have still not changed the Roswell harsh sounding pickups!!… Anyway keep up the good work Mr C looking forward to the next video!🙂
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀👍
See somewhere inbetween the ST62 Hot Rod and the ST Modern is what I'm hoping for. Would love to see Harley Benton get that Fender Neck feel nailed down - like the Jets have
Great full honest review and yes please on the comparison with the JET JS450, you know I'm a huge fan of the JET 😀
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏
Will very likely doa comparison with the Jet - I'm a fan too 😁👍
Hi Steve, this is a great review and very informative for potential buyers based on your objective findings and your subjective thoughts about these guitars. I also bought a ‘first run’ ST Modern Plus LPB and agree entirely with your comments and some. I was really looking forward to receiving this guitar but it came not only with the issues you outlined but a whole lot more! Here goes, the fret work was terrible, 9 out of the 22 frets were high causing fretting out and fret buzz. The rout on the neck pocket was poorly aligned resulting in a high action no matter how high or low the bridge pins or saddles were adjusted. This could have been remedied with a large neck shim in the factory (Even Fender still have to shim some of their necks when necessary in the factory). There was a lacquer crack at the neck pocket (cosmetic I know but does affect re-sale value). The lower edge of the pickguard was damaged and scuffed. The fretboard edges had been worked on by running a blade or sanding block along them, resulting in 2 angular edges on both the bass and treble side. The pickguard cut-away for the bridge was asymmetrical, on closer inspection under the pickguard 2 of the screw holes had been double drilled and left unfilled. I assume this was an attempt in the factory to realign the pickguard. Bottom line is the ST Modern I received should not have passed QC in the factory. I requested a return from Thomann and shipped the guitar back to them a couple of weeks ago. Still waiting for a refund but Thomann customer service is usually excellent so hopefully will get refunded soon.
I agree entirely about the string trees, they’re a tuning disaster. Bottom line is any point of friction between the bridge and tuners adds to tuning instability. I just can’t understand why HB haven’t put staggered locking tuners onto the ST Modern’s ( as they did on the Fusion’s) which makes string trees redundant. In my opinion if they were going for a compound radius 9.5” - 12” would suit more players. Interestingly, in the same week I ordered the ST Modern I saw that a big UK retailer had the Jet JS-600’s on sale for £269 so I bought one and for me it’s an all round better guitar than the ST Modern. The 9.5” roasted maple neck on the Jet JS-600 is superb.
Thank ya kindly sir! 😀🙏
Sorry to hear about your issues with this guitar and thank you for sharing them in detail. This will definitely be useful for anyone reading this 😎👍
Although I've just watched Elmo K's review vid of his and he gave the trem some serious abuse and it stayed in tune!
Maybe I'll need to eat my hat on the string tree complaints 🙈
It’s definitely one of the best looking guitars HB have put out. Sounds decent too. Great review Steve
Thank ya mate! 😀🙏 But yeah it's definitely a winner in the looks department 🤩👍 Zero complaints there
I've been really liking this guitar so far. But I'm curious how the neck pickup would sound in the right position. Maybe a new video idea? 😜
Yeah I'm not sure how much difference it would make - possibly not a lot 😂🤷♂️
I'm not a fan of the pickups as/is personally. You're right it would be a great vid idea, but I won't be keeping the guitar and would rather not hack it to bits before selling it 😂
Thanks for the very informative review! What is the brand of your glasses? Love them!
Thanks for watching mate! 😃🙏
YES! Harley Benton should totally make "Firebird" version.....max. 3.5kgs....please🙏🏼😁
There we go! I'd like to see one too 😁👍 How cool would that be... A Fiebird with the Harley Benton treatment - Roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, locking tuners, a good selection of cool colours etc. It would be the only one like it on the market! 😀
we 100% want HB pickguards. we want more colors! I've had to end up building my own pickguard for my HB ST Modern Plus
Glad to hear it! I think that makes 2 of us 😂🙈 - Hopefully that's enough for them to start selling them 😜👍
Great review 👍🏼 I love my HB ST Modern Plus in SFG. I made a new pickguard Pearl/Violet. Next I’ll be changing are the electronic and the pickups
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏 Would love to see it with that pickguard - sounds cool! 😎👍
@@stevecassidyguitarHow can I send you a pic?
@@basti-fantasti Either via email which you can find on the channel page, I don't think YT lets me add emails into comments. Or.. Via Instagram @stevecassidyguitar 😀👍
Thanks for your job mate!
You pointed out the same things I think about this guitar.
I definitely agree on the comment about the "strat-style" we would like to have!
HSH routed alder body with HSS standard config, roasted maple neck with 22 SS frets, decent bridge, locking tuners, graphite nut and roller string trees.
Flame are useless, is better to spend money on a fine filed nut and good fretjob with no buzz or sharp edges.
You also hit the point about saving money removing crappy cables or high end strings on a guitar that's not entry level and maybe add some nice feature like a switch for neck + bridge pickup config.
I'm not so picky about fretboard radius, for that reason I would also save money on a simpler standard 9.5" or max 12" radius instead of a.
compound.
Only one thing i disagree: I like push-pull switch because you can easily understand in wich configuration you are even during a jig when you may almost not hear your sound on the stage.
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏
and thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts in detail 😎👍
So that makes 4 of us now who like the Idea of an ST "Standard" Plus - I hope if that's enough for them to make it happen 😂👍 Maybe we need like... 2 more 😜
Just ordered the new ST Modern which has a 12 to 16 radius.. Will see how it compares to my Squier Contemporary Special which is 12 Radius and SSS but the Bridge pickup can never be used alone.
Nice one mate! I think that's a brilliant buy for the price 😎👌
If I liked the neck profile I'd definitely have one on order too 👍👍
Always fancied the Squier contemporary strat in skyburst 🤩
Good review. I bought a black one from the first batch. This has the laurel fretboard, FYI.
My experience:
tuning stability is amazing - so the nut must be OK;
not keen on the look of the string trees - but they must be working well for the stability to be good;
sustain is also exceptional - which I'm putting down to the bridge;
Elixir strings went straight in the bin - the frets need polishing, so the dellivery strings are placeholders, also I use 9/42s;
pickguard is non-standard and I want SSS - thanks for making it that much harder;
pickups seem pretty decent on mine - but the HSS means you can't get a true position 2 tone;
output jack actually feels it's good quality - for once;
weight is a bit on the heavy side;
flame and roasting of the neck is barely visible - but the neck and frets feel great;
fret side dots - didn't want them and they're not great unless you're standing under a UV light;
looks "meh", slightly odd - the lower cutout is weird and beveled on the back which helps access when, exactly? When you're playing it behind your head?!
Overall:
it feels great, plays great, has great sustain, and has great tuning stability.
I'm keeping it, but it needs modding (SSS pickups, single ply pickguard, 6-way switch, red knobs and switch tip, and better string trees!)
Nice one mate! Thank you for sharing your experience with yours in so much detail 😀🙏 Great points well made sir 👍
Good honest review. I did two reviews on the st modern too (you may have seen it) and can completely agree with all of the criticisms especially those glow in the dark side dots... disaster…Totally invisible on a dark stage. Great guitar but it’s not 100% perfect yet. And yes I’d love a 9.5 inch radius neck. I like the neck but prefer my fender any day of the week.
Thank Ya kindly mate 😀🙏. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the side dots are not ideal 😎👍 Also agree on preferring the Fender feel, that's what I'm getting from the Jet Guitars - They've completely nailed the Fender feel. Exact same profile as the old USA Standard Fender, I compared with my 2004 US strat 👍
ruclips.net/video/GVidRT0SaLg/видео.html
It's at 5:25 (Save ya watching the whole thing 😜)
I'll go check out your vid now 😀👍
Hey man, I like the content you give a good "Feel" for what you like about a guitar. A lot of others just do the stats and avoid giving and opinion but what is the point?
Far be it from me to tell you how to play or make content but I was messing with Tonocracy and watching this at the same time. I thought I heard some delay in your signal chain. If you used something like Tonocracy for your playing portion to sample tone, it's something easy to show on screen exactly what your signal chain is, so you don't get lots of questions on that. It's also repeatable as it's all free. So if I see you play this, I can download the same amp model, same fx, and compare what I've got. So if you're saying, wow this is bright. But I play with my (X-Guitar) and it's not, that helps in comparative process. Oh wow that guitar has a really bright tone on an amp model that I use a lot.
Again, I like it how it is but it would be cool to see your whole signal chain and maybe comments about how that person sets up, or tweaks they found helpful instead of "What kind of FX is that?"
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀👍
In earlier vids, I used to mention what I was using for tones/sounds etc, but It just seems so irrelevant as everyones rigs are different, then there's the youtube compression etc.
But what you're suggesting sounds like it could actually be a solid solution - cheers for the heads up 😀👍
I'd love to look into it, but I'm trying to find ways to make the vids take less time these days 😅 and I never look forward to learning new tech 😜
Once again - cheers tho - you've put ti on the radar 😎👍
All solid points. I've been loving this guitar though. I didn't realize the neck pickup position which is kind of a bummer for that strat tone, also the pickups seem a bit on the noisy side, but all good. I put 9's on mine and the tension feels great. This is my second most expensive feeling guitar next to my $1500 Schecter. Feels amazing in my hands. I've picked up Fenders twice the price that just do not feel good and the frets are sharp as hell. Good vid!
Thank ya kindly mate 😀🙏 If you like the neck pickup tone as/is - it's all good 😀👍 Just forget about the placement, it might not even make that much of a difference 🤷♂️ (but I reckon it would 😜)
Wow the ST Standard Plus SSS is a great idea! Thumb up!
Great Stuff mate! 😀 That makes 3 of us here now - I hope that's enough for them to consider it 😂👍
@@stevecassidyguitar 💯
Great info, how does this compare to Jet Js400, neck feel, finish, pickups etc? Changing trem, tuners etc on Jet, youll be close to price of HB. Cheers
Cheers mate! 🙏
Well, the most important thing for me is the neck feel, and I much prefer the C profile and 9.5" radius on the Jet. I also prefer the Stock pickups on the Jet (well... maybe not the humbucker 😜), and I also prefer the stock trem on the Jet, although I'd maybe replace the saddles (if they have the casting hump issue that some of them have). The Jet's nut is also cut perfectly (on mine).
So on the Jet, I would change the bridge humbucker, Say £40 for an Irongear or something, The Tuners, £35 for a set of JIN HO lockers, roller string trees, £5, and maybe £20 for a set of SS Black saddles. So about £100 all in.
But with the ST Modern, I'd personally want to change all the pickups, £100 ish? probably have the cavity re-routed to get the neck pickup closer to the neck, then a Custom pickguard made £40, new nut and string trees, potentially a fret level. Mines isn't too bad, I've maybe got 2 or 3 high spots, but if you read the other comments on this vid, loads of reports of poor fret jobs being reported 😬
So with the suggested mods total costs would be around (if you did all the work yourself)
Jet £300 ish
HB £550 ish
Hope this helps, It's actually been useful to me as I've pretty much got a chance to write out the comparison vid idea right here - cheers! 😂👍
@@stevecassidyguitar thanks very much. I've just received my replacement Jet but the flame neck on HB was drawing me to it. Good to hear the your thoughts, I don't think HB is for me and the Jet will do fine. Mine has hump saddles so will change them. Slight buzz on B string
@@stevecassidyguitar a comparison video would be great
@@tadge74 Nice! Hope you get the buzzing sorted mate 👍
@@stevecassidyguitar it masks my shite playing, 🤣. It's only minor, I can live with it.
Great review Steve, fantastic guitar for the money, you should do a few comparison vids 👍🎸😄
Thank ya kindly mate 😀👍 I probably will space out some of the comparison vids, as it's all the same playing clips and maybe a bit OTT on the HSS strat content 😂🙈
Great video of Coconut Groove, you guys rock 👍
Thank ya Muggs! 🙏 That was another fun gig! 😀
More of the gig stuff, please!!...
Cheers mate! I've been trying my best to get more gig clips. Weve been playing mainly weddings recently and unfortunately it can be tricky to film anything as i don't think it's appropriate to set up tripods, cameras etc on the band during someones wedding 😬 But I am still trying to 😀👍
In the meantime... I've got load of clips from a festival we did a couple of months ago here:
ruclips.net/video/S2dwd9meLBk/видео.html
Bit of a late comment, but I ordered one of these a couple of months ago in seafoam green. Stunning guitar. Great specs.
However, there were flaws galore. The humbucker literally fell into the cavity. A handful of frets were far too high, leading to choking. There was a 2.5cm scratch in the fretboard, which the strings got stuck in. The nut was passable, at best. The string trees, I agree, were shite. Oh, and there was damage on the tuning pots, as if someone dropped a screwdriver on it.
It was such a shame, as the neck was wonderful and played beautifully. The rounded stainless steel frets are wonderful. The price is superb.
But the quality control issues are, honestly, unforgivable at any price. This shouldn’t have been shipped.
I complained to Thomann and got the money back. I have a contact there and, apparently, Thomann have now stopped temporarily the sale of them to fix the quality issues. (For a while, there was a 18wk wait time on ALL of them. It now seems to have reduced a bit.) This was a conscious decision, almost a recall, kind of thing.
Wow! I didn't know about that last part! 😯 (Thanks for sharing!)
I'm not surprised you had so many issues, a lot of people have been chiming in with the same experience. I think HB might have been trying out a new factory with these. Teething problems like this on a first run in a new factory are not uncommon. Good on HB for (hopefully) addressing the QC. But still not a good look for them overall 😬
Never seen a Valiant guitar before and learnt something new about that trussrod access method, very clever detail that.
Really like the sounds from this HB and I was thinking of getting that Jet hss like you demoed in Placid Blue but now I'm not so sure😂
Yeah, the Valiant stuff looks amazing - Pricey though 🤑
The crazy thing is, you could get the Harley Banton AND the Jet for less than the price of a new Fender Player 🤯
Hey Steve have you tried Entwistle AS57 pickups? They're my new favourite. Very clear. I have them in my Eart, have totally improved the guitar.
I've not mate. Only ever tried the Alan Entwistles on a Soloking MS1. The single coils were XS62N and a dark star humbucker. I really didn't like those. But I have heard good things about their other models. Will kep an eye out - cheers.
I did a short demo of the neck pickup on my channel if you want to check out how it sounds. I'm not trying to build a channel I just occasionally post things up.
Check out the Jet Js-450. I got mine for 300 Euros, they might have gotten more expensive. The neck feels great, locking tuners,... doesn't look like the pictures, but feels great for a budget guitar.
Agreed mate! I checked one out here:
ruclips.net/video/YEmcosDBqBI/видео.html
I've since sold that one (too heavy) but have recently got another one that's nice and light 😁👌
I've seen a few guitarists use a small amount plumbers tape on tremolo arms when screwing them in to keep it from swinging too much. Never needed to myself.
Ah yeah - I've heard of this fix too. If this one was a keeper, I'd give that a go 😁👍
I always put plumber's teflon tape on my screw-in trems. It makes a huge difference.
Another great in-depth video Steve 👍 keep em coming!!! I got cut off your live stream last night 😔 never had the chance to say congrats on achieving 3k subs 🎉🎉🎉
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏 Cheers for the support and watching the vids commenting etc - It goes a long way towards helping the channel grow😀🙏
I fix screw in trem arms with plumbers tape. Feel like push in for a couple of gigs, then you have to put new tape on. Cheap effective. With the trad string trees, lube them underneath with your favourite guitar lube, or, yep, fit the rollers or graphite. Graphite probably best. Cheers !
Cheers for the trem tip sir - I've heard of that one over the years but never tried it 👍
and agreed... Graphtech String trees all the way for me 😃👍
I always prefer a more permanent solution 😁👍
Great video! Thank you, Steve🎉
Thank ya for watching mate 😀🙏
Great review 👍 Tempted by this one but still unsure, got too many guitars haven't I
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏
If you're not sure... I'd maybe hold off until the next load comes back in stock, and check more reviews once people start getting the new ones in their hands again 👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Yeah the rolled fretboard thing is disappointing, poor communication because that was teased when these were revealed at that guitar show like 8 months ago
@@legoarmo Yeah I remember watching that too, and wondering wether they meant rolled fretboard edges or rounded fret ends like the Earts. It sounded like they were saying rolled edges iirc, but I noticed, it looked like rounded fret ends - would be great if it was both. But... mines are slightly rolled 😂🤷♂ and they say in that same facebook post that "they aren't rolled it was a mistake" AND "they are slightly rolled tho" 😂🤷♂
Thanks Steve. How much do you make use of a 22nd let alone 23rd fret? Also, I'm curious if you miss the second tone knob.
I'm on that 22nd fret EVERY SONG, EVERY DAY, ALL THE TIME! I NEEED IT! 🧐
Ok.. maybe you've got a point 😂😜
But I do have a strong preference for 22 frets.
I used to feel the same way about 24 frets. I can't go any lower tho - where will it end? I'll end up exclusively playing ukulele! 😜
La comparaison avec la jet m'intéresse.🤘🎸🇲🇫
merci mon ami, je vais essayer de terminer celui-là bientôt 😀👍
Still alot more bang for bucks than my player series. Still regretting not sending her back to Thomann for a classic vibe. 50th birthday present from my Mum so it's stayed. Spends lots and lots of time..erm..lives in it's case. More I watch your playing...you are obscenely talented a chara..🎸
Aww mate! Thank ya so much! 😀🙏
It's a shame you've not got on with the player series too much. Which one do you have?
If I had to chose between a Fender player strat and ST Modern and they were the same price... Even though the ST blows the Fender out of the water with the crazy specs... I'd still chose the Fender. The Neck feel is waaay more comfortable to me and the single coils are some of the best I've ever hear, I'm always looking for used sets to put into other guitars 😀.
I wonder if there's any mods/changes/upgrades you could make to yours that you'd want to play it more 🤔 I undersand the dilemma of being "stuck" with a guitar you don't play because it was a sentimental gift. But some mods/changes could bring it back to life 😀👍
I remember I was falling out of love with my USA strat about 15+ years ago, put a black pickguard on it and was head over heels for it again 😍 Sometimes even just a great set up from a tech could do the job.
Anyway soz... I'm rambling 🙈
Fender player SSS polar white. Bought from Thomann in 2019. Bridge is not what I expected. Poor quality. Disappointed at the time. The pickups are very nice and the neck is okay but frets weren't level on arrival. Strong magnetic pull on those single coils. Spring in top E was broken. Don't know how they managed that...took it out and she's still fine. As a gift, I've kept her. The positive from all my fiddling is that my 25" guitars are to E flat.
@@greenslider Polar White is probably my favourite colour strat from the Player series - looks super classy with the Maple board too 😎👍 Sorry to hear about the issues, I'd chuck a Gotoh 510 Trem on there and have a tech level the frets and set up. Probably an expense you could do without, but that could be a killer guitar! 😀
@@stevecassidyguitar A plan.I'll give it a go in the autumn and let ye know. 🎸
Very cool Steve, Thankyou. Interesting Guitar. Looks amazing and that Neck WOW, stunning. I am a bit of a fan of this 'color scheme' and also 'White with Tortoise shell pickguard', although I own Neither .... That might have to change, lol. All the Best. Cheers
Thank ya mate! 😀🙏 Yeah - a tort guard would be a great shout for this one too - Nice one - Cheers! 🍻
Totally agree with you.
Tahnk ya sir - Me too 😂👍
I have a lefty version, the FBB one. It is a really good looking guitar. In fact they used the one they send me for the product shots on the Thomann website. Stunning neck.
But looks can be deceiving, the fretwork was atrocious. Lots of uneven frets, string buzz everywhere. In the end I had to perform a fret levelling on the guitar.
Neck feels nice. The whole 12-16 radius neck, I don't notice it.
Perhaps I should have returned it, but I was already outside the return window and I kind of enjoy tinkering with a guitar. You sort of expect that a cheap HB guitar needs some work, but this is a EUR440 guitar, not a EUR169 TE-52, (that one is next in line for a fret levelling 😀).
Yeesh! 😬 Sorry to hear that mate. We're getting a lot of comments here saying the same thing about the uneven frets too. I think mines also has a couple of high spots, but I'm used to playing with an "acceptable amount of buzzing" anyway 😜
@@stevecassidyguitar it plays fine now, so still happy with it!
Great work man! FLAME ON
Ha! Cheers mate! thanks for the permission to use your clip 😎🙏
Thats a decent lookin geetar right there and as a lot of em are... great modding platforms! :)
Personally like a flat neck so the radius'd be spot on, but 100% on the string trees. Same goes for wiring components... it doesn't cost a fortune to buy in cts pots (especially in bulk) puretone jacks are reasonable, the only mega pricey bit is a top notch 5 way. I dont mind it costing an extra 50-60 to get components that'll last a lifetime especially when 9/10 times the pickups are first to go.
Them glow in dark dots are great but gimicky, against that board black plastic'd be enough, hell even dabs of paint.
Personally prefer nickel frets, ss is an absolute arse to sort but do feel great for longer.
Its a great looking geetar that needs modding the hell out of 😈
Great vid as always sir :)
Thank ya kindly mate! 😃🙏
I think Harley Benton probably thought with this one, that no-one would need to upgrade anything on it. But us guitar players are a weird and diverse bunch - impossible to please everyone. But to be fair, even though it's not for me, they've did an incredible job with this one 😎👍
Nice one Steve! These came too late for my 'strat gas' i had until march.....since then i've been on a singlecut 'binge', mainly b-stock Bentons which have all become great playing instruments. Been trying out Temu pickups....becoming a master at waxpotting....😂 Have a great weekend, love from Switzerland👊🏼
PS: Babicz trem is excellent, i put one in a Jet JS-300 (black with now all gold hardware and Tonerider) In my opinion the best sounding strat i have ever heard and played.....🤫😉
Thank ya mate! 😀🙏
I wonder if i'll ever grow out of this strat phase 🤔 Probably not! 😆👍
Have you discovered any TEMU pickups worth recommending? (Without having to Wax pot them 😁)
@@stevecassidyguitar I have not yet tested the Humbuckers with a lot of gain or volume, but they sound quite good for around 18.-! I have 2 sets of humby sized P-90's (chrome and gold) and they squealed and whistled like hell with some dirt. Waxpotting is really easy though....get some paraffin wax granules, heat to about 70 deg. celsius and submerge the pickup upside down in the fluid wax. Wait until no more bubbles rise and take it out...i layed them on a papertowel on top of some big ice cubes to cool quicker so no wax leaked out of the cover. Clean with Naptha ( Zippo lighter fluid) Good as new!👌🏼 They then stop squealing. They have a clear sound clean and sound great with dirt ( i nearly like them more than the P-90 in my HB SC Special) although they are mor e of a Tele bridge pup construction wise....I put them in my HB SC-450 plus GT (see on my channel)😉
@@gearViewmirror Ah Nice! I'll check it out - cheers 😀👍
It is simple maths.... To keep the price low the "premium" features are the budget ones.... No wonder you found the issues on the higher spec parts, like tuners.... There is nothing wrong with the guitar just bear these things in mind...😊 Thx for the video
Thank ya mate 👍 Someone made a great point here in the comments here yesterday, we're forgetting the main reason for the low price is the lack of middlemen with Thomann/Harley Benton. If Harley Bentons were available from other retailers, they'd probably be twice the price 🤔
Great video as always 😋👍⭐️🎉
Especially liked your remarks on the lack of aftermarket stuff from HB and others like the mentioned scratch plates.
I love modding guitars to my likes and quite frankly it has become a big part of the fun for me.
But it’s like you say a pain in the backside that you actually need to buy higher priced guitars to then have access to the aftermarket range of fitting parts.
But modding a higher priced guitar doesn’t make a lot of sense in my opinion. Not to mention loosing big bucks when reselling.
Therefore I definitely share your opinion:
There’s a HUGE MARKET for the Harley Bentons, Fazleys and Earts!
So bring out the stuff and roll in the cash guys 😂
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏
Yeah I can't get my head round why HB, Jet, Fazley, Eart etc... don't offer thier pickguards seperately, people have been asking for this for a while, and they obviously can get them at the factories - seems just as simple as ordering more 🤷♂️.
I think the first company to do this will sell a boatload, then other brands might follow suit. Well... that's what I'm hoping for anyway 😜
Totally agree on your points Re modding too sir 😎👍
Can you make a video of this HB against a fender player?? I want to buy a strat but I'm unsure between these two. What would you recommend? Is the HB worth it for the price difference compared to the Fender?
I've actually got a Fender Player ii strat right here and I've played a few of the 1st Gen players too.
To be honest... This Harley Bentons specs and quality blows Fender out of the water. But... I much prefer the Fender neck profile and pickups, and the neck is THE most important part for me.
If you've not heard of Jet Guitars yet - check this out;
ruclips.net/video/GVidRT0SaLg/видео.html
These guys are doing Fender better than Fender imo (except for pickups 😜) for about 1/4th the price 👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Thank you very much for the feedback, I'm going to watch your videos regarding Jet guitars to see if I can decide, especially because I don't care much about the name on the headstock but rather the quality of the instrument, especially because I'm a beginner.
I didn't know about your channel until the beginning of this week, but you definitely gained another subscriber!!
@@tiagomarques6141 No worries mate! and welcome to the channel! 😀 Thank ya for the sub 🙏
Happy guitar hunting 😁👍
That is insane value for money!
I know mate - absolutely bonkers! I still managed to find stuff to complain about tho, coz emma pure moany bas! 😂🙈
@@stevecassidyguitar Its the hametown gene, mate!!
Tbf though, if you were a one-guitar guy like a lot of those players with "sig" models of their axe, you could really buy one of these and never need to upgrade again in your life, save maybe a pickup change to individual taste. Hats off to HB!
@@EddieG1888 😂👍 Definitely - Talsk about raising the bar. Can't see anyone beating these specs for the price. And by the time the competition catches up, HB will probably raise the bar again! Solid Gold Guitars for 99p wi a Flake!
Have you ever tried 9-46 gauge on Fender scale necks?
Does this guitar have a 25.5" scale neck? I'm asking, since you say strings feel tighter.
I have in the past - That could be worth trying on this one - great shout! 😀👍
But yeah, they're 25.5" scale according to the spec sheet, but as I say it felt too tight so I measured it myself to make sure and right enough it is 25.5". It doesn't make any sense as to me as to why it feels tighter, it was the same on the Eart, and those necks are very similar. Could just be my mind playing tricks on me - Or something else to do with the neck spec 🤷♂️. But on my Fender strats and Jets, the strings feel a lot more malleable. I use Elixir 9-42's on everything
@@stevecassidyguitar Quick question. Why do you use Elixir strings?
@@GuitarQuackery The main thing for me is that slinky, smooth, slippery feel under the fingertips, and they stay like that for longer than any other strings I've tried. (Which isn't all other strings - open to suggestions 😀👍)
@@stevecassidyguitar There's an old Chinese proverb... just kidding... no, seriously... there is one: "There's no such thing as Elixir strings."
I am not 100% sure, but I believe the actual strings are made by D'Addario, the coated by "Elixir" which is an offshoot of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. I believe, they came up with the idea of coating guitar strings but they do not make the actual strings.
The Elixir Nanoweb and Optiweb strings are wrapped with a teflon tape. But only the 3 wound strings are coated. If you look at the individual string packages, you will notice that only the E, A, D string packages are labeled as coated, but not the G, B, E (for an electric set). So the G, B, E are not even coated. That's 50% of the strings in the set.
The G, B, E are simply electroplated, to protect against premature corrosion.
By comparison, the D'Addario XS strings are all coated.
The E, A, D are wrapped, just like the 3 wound strings in a set of Elixir strings. But the G, B, E are also electroplated and coated on top. But the coating on those is different than on the wound strings. It is a liquid coating, which is the same exact coating used on D'Addario XT strings.
So, to recap, I believe the actual strings on a set of Elixir are actually D'Addario strings, sold to Elixir as plain strings, without any coating. And then Elixir coats the 3 wound strings and don't really advertise the fact that only 3 of the 6 strings are coated. But if you look at the "fine print" (the individual paper packages) you will see that only the wound strings are labeled as coated.
But D'Addario uses two different coating on a set of XS strings, so that the plain strings are also coated. They can do that, because they make the actual strings themselves. Meaning, they pull the actual wire and they coat the string wire before they put the ball ends on, to make it into a string. Elixir cannot put a liquid coating on the ready-made plain strings, because that's not how the coating machine works.
I guess Elixir could have ordered ready-coated plain strings from D'Addario, but I guess they are saving on costs by ordering non-coated strings.
And, again, the wound XS strings are wrap coated in the exact same way as Elixir wound strings, and the actual strings are made (to the best of my knowledge) by the same company on the same actual machines.
Lastly, the D'Addario plant is not far from me and and I had the pleasure of visiting the factory. So, I saw with my own eyes how they make their strings: how they pull the wire, coat the wire, wind the strings, package, etc.
D'Addario also makes Fender branded and Gibson branded strings, BTW.
i would like to see a versus against the Jet JS400. I mean its the half of the price and with a few cheap upgrades can be as good as the HB
I was planning on doing a comparison to the JS450 as it's closer in price and specs with the locking tuners and "name brand" bridges. You raise a good point tho sir 👍
In the 450 vid I'll definitely give the 400 a well deserved shout out too - it's only fair 😁👍
Getting stainless steel frets for that price it's a stretch. Jet has no plans of adding these (I've emailed them lol).
@@Jaimellex Really!?! You emailed them and they said no? 😃
Mind you.. PRS say's he'll never do SS frets either. 🤷♂
I've had SS frets installed on my modded JS400. Loving it! 😎👌
@@stevecassidyguitar yeah, I sent several dms and emails imploring for SS frets. I got a reply saying “not at this point” lol. Really feels like they’re dropping the ball in comparison to the new HB guitars
@@Jaimellex Ah! Ok Not at this point doesn't mean "never" tho 😁
Thanks for sharing this mate - Very useful info 😃👍
It's gonna be hard for any brand who has distribution costs to keep up with Harley Benton, in terms of pricing tho.
It will become a choice of making a profit or winning the "spec wars".
What I've very recently started to notice is (like right now 😂) the brands who are doing the SS frets for around £400 and less, seem to be quite hit and miss with the QC, The Harley Benton ST Modern's are having thier QC re-addressed as we speak, the first run was a bit of a disaster, even though I got "a good one", I had 3 EARTS, 1 was a complete dud, I had 2 Solokings, 1 had terrible fretwork.
I've moved on almost all of my Harley Bentons, the 3 Earts are gone, returned both the Solokings.
All my Jets are keepers.
Nothing scientific here - just thing out loud. Cheers for reading - if you got this far 😂😂👍
I know that this one has flamed maple neck and stainless steel frets, but i was wondering...
Between this one or Jet JS-400, which one would you choose?
That's an easy one 😁 I prefer the Jet JS400. Just because of the neck profile. I find the C shaped 9.5" radius far more comfortable. I don't enjoy the flatter radius fretboards or D shaped necks.
It's all about the neck 😎👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Jet JS-400 and Fazley Phynica FSST-720 have same neck profile and fretboard radius?
@@matepuljiz Not only the same necks - They're the sma e Guitar! 😃 Made in same factory, with the exact same specs, by the same team 😃👍 The only difference is the brand names on the headstocks and tuners 😁
I have 2 Phynica 720's and play them all the time. I've been gigging both of them allsummer while my no 1 Jet was away getting a refret
Am I the only one hearing Begbie from Trainspotting? “Hey Rent Boy, Ya bring me down a f***fing smoke” 😂. great review, mate.
😆👍 Believe it or not, that's me trying to "tone down" my accent for the camera too 😆
Thank ya kindly mate 😀🙏
Really liking this guitar but wish they would do a HH configuration like this with same colors but add a yellow and with the changes you suggested. I like the C shape neck 9.5 radius roasted maple neck locking tuners and better string trees. I would be happy with just a Wilkinson tremlo bridge. 🎸🤘🏻
It's got specs for days! Not so much to my tastes - but I'm weird and picky strat guy 😜
I have about the same taste as you do when it comes to specs. Like you the specs are really good just not the kind of specs I would like see.🎸🤘🏻
What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend Steve ❤😊
Thank ya so much mate! 😀🙏 Hope you have a great weekend to sir! 🥳
Ooh... I'm torn. I'm not into strats, but this guitar sounds great & the specs look amazing. Does it clean up from the volume control?
It does mate! Just double checked it now for ya - Nice n' clean from 1 - 4/5 then it starts to snarl from about 5 onwards, nice gradual saturation on it too. Only checked the bridge humbucker and I'm using a Fender mustang modelling amp 👍
Front Page News! "Robson Gets a Strat!"
😁👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Just emailed you about this guitar, mate
@@JRobsonGuitar Just mailed ya back! 👍
You and natalie imbruglia - ruclips.net/video/VV1XWJN3nJo/видео.html
So called "black light" i.e ultraviolet light might solve the problem of charging if there is one in the light set. :)
Good point sir 😎👍
Excellent video and playing. As usual!
Aww - Thank ya Kindly mate! Much appreciated 😀🙏
Push/push pot fail Far quicker than a push/pull pot.
Thanks for the informative vid. Im still sitting on the fence though, in the back of my head i keep hearing "ya get what ya pay for". 👍
I've heard this a lot, but yet to experience it any of my guitars with push/push pots. A few of them have been in for over 10 years, but only 1 of them gets regular use. No doubt it will fail tomorrow now since I've jynxed it 😂
How does it compare to the Jet JS400?
Good question sir! 😁 I actually wasn't planning on making that comparison, I was gonna go with the JS450 as it's closer to this in price and specs (as they both have locking tuners and name brand trems).
I'd have to say the ST Modern blows the Jet out of the water in terms of specs - on paper.
But for me, I way prefer the neck profile and feel on the Jet, I also prefer the Jet pickups on both the 400 and 450, but there's not a lot in it there, I don't LOVE the Jet pickups either, but really dislike the ST Modern set. 😜
Great video .....this is guitar is better than fusion T HH?????
Thank ya mate 😀🙏 Well.. It's different. Although I'll say I do slightly prefer the neck profile on the Fusion. But HSS strats are my preference over any HH Guitars. Both are great though imo 👍
@@stevecassidyguitaryes mi friend i have two fender stratocaster and my sounds prefer is stratocaster and semihollow also i have dangelico
@@jonatanronaldgonzalezariza18 Same here mate - I love strats and semi-hollows too! 😀👍
The main thing I didn't like with the ST Modern is that the fret wire is really low. I was expecting it to be high but it's very low, compare with the Fusion and the ST 25th. For me the ST 25th feels better. I wish it wasn't gold but hey.
Medium Jumbo is the biggest fretwire I'm comfortable with. Super Jumbo isn't for me. Even thought he Fusions come with ""medium Jumbo" they feel a bit bigger than that to me.
The fretwire on the ST Modern feels exactly these same as on the EARTS I've tied too. The size doesn't bother me, but I could see why it would be a no go for some 👍
i was going to pick up one from the first batch but they actually sold out really quick.. based on all these reviews..
- not worth including the cable or the elixir strings
- they should improve the string trees
- fix the rubbers/foam under the humbucker
- change the push pull knob for push push or a toggle switch
- maybe find some solution for the side dots?
seems like not too much work if you like the guitar to be fair, but they could definitely improve these points
That's a great synopsis mate 😀👍 Pretty much nailed it. I forgot to mention the Humbucker rubber/spring upgrade 🙈 I fixed mine straight after the unboxing
They making a tele version of this ?
A lot of people have been asking for that. I think Harley Benton are pretty great at listening to what thier customers want - so I think there's a good chance we might see something like that, in the not too distant future 😀👍
@@stevecassidyguitar that would be awesome , a nashville or p90 neck would be great ، thanks for the info
A really excellent review touching on a few things that were not mentioned in the other reviews I watched, esp your ideas about what they could improve -which I think was the most thorough, though others mentioned many of the same things. To be honest, when I learned these guitars were being made by Gnomes in a wee Highland village with primitive tools, while drinking fine single malts, I thought you'd love them. But, you didn't, and I have to agree it would be better to wait for the next version. Hopefully somebody at HB will watch these reviews and make some changes. Still, for the price, a really good option for people looking for an HSS s-stype guitar that won't break the bank.
Thank ya kindly mate for taking the time to write and for your kind words 😀🙏 Glad you found it informative 👍
I was not aware of this Highland origin story tho! I've changed my mind now - I take it all back! 😂👍
@@stevecassidyguitar That's a good thing. The Brownies were making plans.
@@wlkalong Wtf!? Lol😂🤷♂🤣
Comparison between the jet might be fitting. The location of the neck pickup of the St modern plus would be a deal breaker for me. Strats need that smooth creaminess. Something vintage that shouldn't change.
Yeah - I would probably want to re-route the cavities and move things around for better placement - would mean a new pickguard too tho 😅
The Jet one is in the Queue - Cheers 😀👍
I paused a Neil Schon interview to watch this.... i guess i'm more of a fan of this guy than I thought....#sorryneil 🎸😆
What!?! 😀
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏
Neil and I have been bitter rivals for many many years 😂😜
@@stevecassidyguitar You guys need to jam it out! and shred those differences! or just go your 'separate ways' 😬😅🤣
@@apidyahex9213 😂👌
He rarely responds to my call outs anymore. We'll have to have a shred off one day - it could happen - Don't stop Believing! 💪
I personally don't like any type of tremolos other than with a locking nut Floyd Rose full floating. But I was impressed with yours staying in tune. But you are so right on that pickup placement. I would definitely get a new pick plate designed for it to move the pickup into the right place. I'm sure its a swimming pool under that plate. I do love HSS guitars. Very versatile with the right pickups. But these guitars are not my taste. I like the neck until you get to the eagle bill headstock. That has always been a turnoff for me on these guitars.
That was a bit of a fluke in that trem clip - 99% of the time it goes way out of tune 🙈
Have you ever tried a Gotoh 510 trem on a guitar? I've got one on a Charvel - 2 point trem that behaves like a Floyd, amazing! 😀👌
The body on this HB is routed for HSH, so there would be space to move the pickup closer, but would still need a custom pickguard made :/
@@stevecassidyguitar Ah, I was shocked about that trem, but no I have not tried the 2 point trems and I live so far away from any town or cities I don't get to go to stores hardly at all being over 100 miles to the nearest one worth a dang. I'm kind of a radical player and I go pretty crazy sometimes and really need to have the guitar stay in tune, so I stick with what I know has worked for me for 39 years. If I ever get the chance, I will try it out though.
@@DreidMusicalX If it ain't broke... Keep Dive Bombin' 😜👍
You say in this video that there's nothing close to this HB, but what about the Jets?
I still prefer the Jets in terms of neck feel and pickups (the important stuff 😁), but in terms of specs you get for the money, Jet don't offer anything (yet) with flame roasted maple necks, compound radius fretboards (even though I don't like them 😜) Stainless Steel frets with ball end edges, and glow in the dark side dots - I didn't like the side dots either, but no doubt they're a premium feature.
Jet has a new Elite series on the way, and as far as I know they don't have any of the above specs, and they're going to be priced higher than the ST Modern Plus 😬
@@stevecassidyguitar I'm surprised you prefer the Jet pickups, as they're ceramic I believe. I've had a couple of guitars with decent ceramics, but in general they haven't sounded as good as alnicos to my ears.
@@peskypesky Soz - I should have specified - just the "Single coils". The Humbucker on the Jet is also a bit "meh" 😂
But yeah the Cermaic single coils on the Jet sound more "authentic" strat to my ears than the ST Modern which of course... sounds more modern 😜
I love Harley benton, I currently own 2 models. The st170 rosewood, this is the older version with Wilkinson pickups, real rosewood fretboard and the old style font on the headstock. I love it no mods needed, well I need to do the tone mod to control the bridge pickup but apart from that it is a perfect strat. I bought it back in 2015,when I was just kinda getting into guitar.
My other HB is an SC-DLX gotoh. It is amazing and more or less has the same specs as an sc-550 II but was a lot cheaper. I don't think it's sold anymore, both were b-stock guitars and look, feel and play fantastic for the prices. The only downside I would say is that the st170 has a cheap looking and feeling pickguard but that is my only complaint.
P. S: I love Harley benton coated strings, whenever I make a purchase I always but loads of strings, I fit them on all my guitars.
Nice one mate! Thanks for sharing 😀👍
Same here Re the Harley Benton Coated strings - I always add a few packs to any order too - cheap as chips! Admittedly, they're not as good as Elixirs, and the do leave some black residue on the finger tips after the first couple of hours playtime, but once that's gone the strings start to slick up and feel great! That feeling doesn't last as long as the Elixirs either tho, but still great for a few quid 😎👍
I'd take this over a fender player cause whats bad is cheaper to fix than buy the fender.
I hear ya mate - That's a smart move if you like the features of the ST Modern. For me I'd prefer the Fender Player neck. But I recently had a Player ii strat in and that needed the nut fixed too. Inconsistent QC is rife across the board these days
With this guitar Fender can close their factories!
It's crazy eh? 😆👍
I think it will still be a long time before people can get over the brand name bias though 😜👍
I wish the block of the bridge was thicker. An the neck thinner.
I'm not sure if the thinner trem block has any detriment here 🤷♂️ If anything I'm glad it's not adding as much to the overall weight 😜 The neck on this one is too thin for me as/is 😂
I'm guessing you prefer a more Ibanez/Charvel thin profile?
Also, I'd love to see a Gretsch alike!
Great shout sir! 😀👍
I think the closest thing they have is the "Big Tone" but it would be cool to see some of the other smaller bodied Gretsch(i) represented 😎👍
Can the bridge saddles be changed to regular strat ones?
I'm not sure mate never investigated it much further, possibly. It's weird, as the saddles are one of the main selling factors of this unit tho 🤷♂️ I think the Wilkinson on the Fusions is a better choice imo 😬🤷♂️
nice playing too
Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏
Hi Steve, I'm not too bothered about the comparison vids TBH I don't think I'd want to get hold of any kind of ST guitar these days. I do own a Harley Benton guitar and as it's the only HB I've ever played I suppose it must be my favourite HB because I do like it a lot. I've got the SC 450 P90 GT which is the HB take on a LP gold top with P90s. I took the chance and got a "B" grade one, it was just £108 at the time. It plays nicely I really like that "Creamy" tone for want of a better word when you whack it over to the neck pickup. Well worth a shot if you ever fancied trying something different to what you usually play.
Thank ya for both the feedback and the recomendation mate! I am still keeping an eye out for a single cut I can get on with. Love the idea of a p90 one too 😀👍 I was planning on waiting to see if HB brought out a new SC 550 in a colour I liked - If they don't might give your one a go. £180 is crazy tho eh? 🤯
Apologies in advance thouigh - there is A LOT of strat vids incoming 🙈 I'll try my best to mix it up a bit though 👍
Nothing wrong with Strat vids mate. I played one for years. I dropped into the single cut thing sort of by accident because I went about eight years without touching an electric guitar at all thinking a nice Takamine acoustic was all I needed, and then started to miss bending the strings a bit. I bought a cheap "Partscaster" from a guy locally thinking it would be just fine to play at my dining table recording tunes for YT that not too many click on but quite honestly it just didn't seem like half the guitar I had back in the day. I went for the HB because having never owned a Gibson the comparison with the old Fender wouldn't be there. I love the guitar but it has made me want to go all in and get a proper Gibson.
@@Reeldin58 Good on ya mate - You deserve it 😀👍
nice, I was waiting for that video:)
Glad to hear it! 😀🙏 Sorry it took so long, but needed to get gig footage and spend a bit more time with the guitar 👍
@@stevecassidyguitar hopefully the player ii review video will be out soon haha:P
@@TheGoodSon89 Uhmm... I'll do my best! 😂😅👍
Steve some constructive criticism: I personally feel youre asking too much (and too long) for subscribes, likes, comments and so on. It comes off as a bit desperate to be honest.
Otherwise great stuff ofcourse, love your channel!
Constructive criticism always welcome and appreciated mate! Thank you! 😀🙏
It's such a tricky one to navigate, and I do struggle with this.
I try to follow all the advice from the "Grow your Channel" Niche Videos.
So many things to consider...
They say put something in the first 30 seconds, (Before 90% of views drop)
They say make sure you say it verbally, and it's most effective after something informative or amusing.
Thay also say put it at the end - the viewers who have stayed to the end are more likely to take an action.
Likes and comments or... "engagement" are the currency on RUclips and it can be a case of "If you don't ask, you don't get".
"Desperate" might not be too far from the truth either 😂👍
I really do want to make a proper go of this RUclips thing.
It's now 20 months of practically full time hours i've put into this, I'd love for this to be an earner one day, and be able to quit one of my jobs. If i've not got to a certian point by the end of next year, I'll have to think about wether I'll continue as it does take a lot of time away from family etc.
I reckon it's probably impossible to grow and not piss anyone off at the same time - unfortunately 😕
Anyway mate - still do appreciate your feedback 🙏
I have an older HB ST62. SSS...I think it's the best $200 I've ever spent on an electric guitar.
Nice one mate 😎👍
Heard great reports about the ST62's 😃👍
My 1979 Les Paul deluxes have never let me down, never even needed to take the truss rod covers off, never looked back at purchasing these quality guitars, ....... Spend good money on quality guitars and you will have them forever, no dopey modding this and modding that and throwing good money away when you could of put that money towards a real guitar.
So is this a good guitar or a curate's egg?🤔
HB seem to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (until they get to their third production runs🤔).
I still have a System 1 Contemporary Strat (Twin HBs), I also had another (SSS), I fitted SD Quarter Pounders, that had a very good maple neck, but the string tension was higher than others with same scale length and 9-42's. I sold it, it was a cracking guitar with the SDs fitted, I've fitted SDs to most of my guitars.
I'm guessing in a year or two, these budget guys will give the big names an even bigger run for their money? I do hope that their workers are treated well though 🤞👍💜💜
It's probably an amazing Guitar! and I'm just salty because I don't like the neck profile 😂🙈 Otherwise I may have looked past the other imperfections.
@@stevecassidyguitar Understood. The neck is probably the number one priority. It's a much better guitar than budget guitars were when I was a kid too!!👍✌️✌️
Push-push on Strat knobs, push-pull on knurled Tele knobs. IT SHOULD BE THE LAW.
😂👌
I thought it WAS the law - been expecting to hear about Mr Bentons arrest any day now 🤷♂️
Cool guitar 🎸😎👍
Thank ya Maria! 😀🙏 Always massively appreciate you helping out with the comments early doors - it really does help loads! 🙏
Not for me all this fancy trems and flame necks. I prefer a vintage style strat. I'm out of guitar action for a while due to dislocating my shoulder and tearing ligaments, tendons and rotator cuff 😢😢. So getting my gtar fix on RUclips for the time being. Going to watch your back catalogue of vids 😊😊 Gtar and top quality Scottish banter, what more do you need 😉😎
Aww mate! Total bummer! Is this a new injury? 😬 Sorry to hear that mate, but thank ya so much for the support on the channel and kind words sir 🫡
@@stevecassidyguitar yeh new one bud. Going to order myself a couple of music theory books and finally learn theory. I don't know any scales or keys etc. I learnt to play by ear. I can fly up and down the neck for fun but always wanted to learn theory as I always get peeps asking me for lessons.
@@derekjohnson5720 Great stuff mate! 😀👍 Well... the making the best of a bad situation part 😬👍
Rick Beatos, did a great vid a year or 2 ago you might find useful - It's something like "as much music theory I can teach you in an hour" or something - But it's a great primer - I'd recommend it 👍
@@stevecassidyguitar cheers pal, i will give it a watch tomorrow 👍 👌
Sounds like it just falls short of being a keeper for you?
Always listen until the end of the video!
100! Mate - If I liked the neck, it would be almost the perfect Guitar! I'd happily change the pickups, string trees, Maybe even Re-rout the pickup channels and a new pickguard, to get the neck pickup closer to the neck😅👍
@@sjrice76 😂👍 Nah mate! you're actually helping a lot with commenting early 😀 RUclips see's it as more engagement and it helps with the algorithm to push it out to more people - apparently 🤷♂
So thank you! 😀🙏
Well I might just have to pick one of these up 😂😂😂 damn it, I've got no more space for guitars
@@BudgetPedalChap HA! Soz mate! 😂🙈 We always need "just one more" HSS strat 👹
I thought this review might be too negative and put people off - wasn't aiming to do that tho
Another great review Steve, but that front pickup placement just doesnt look right, and the more i look at it, the more i notice it.
Thank ya mate! 😀🙏 Same here - once I spotted it I couldn't unsee it 🙈 Soz for ruining it for ya 😬
I wrote elsewhere too that this is becoming excruciating.. Trying to avoid the "order and send back" -limbo as a seasoned intermediate player who needs somewhat proper strat for tones. If I see someone seriously playing, they are wielding a Fender and hardly ever anything else. Fender is weird company with their price vs. specs, compared to what these other brands do.
I guess JET JS-400 it is then?
At £370 is this still a buget friendly guitar lol. Ha, i got that from some live stream last night i watched. I mean, i paid 200 in 1987 for a total pile of crap called a Washburn. This looks to be good enough to gig with right away.
Ha! 100% mate! It's borderline "Budget" (for me) definitely getting close to "mid range" prices 😜
But if this had Fender/Schecter/Ibanez/Yamaha/Suhr etc on the headstock, it would be at least £2k easy with these specs
im like 420 thats so rad
🤣👍 Glad to hear it mate 👌
Charvel killer?
It's certainly close! Although I don't find the necks on either of them confortable - I still prefert he Charvel, and think it's probably worth the extra cost too 😬 I didn't expect I'd say that until just now 😂
@stevecassidyguitar Yes. HB necks are a tad thick. A few small tweaks, and they are hard to beat. Love Charvel.
I hope they take up your ideas - especially about swappable pick guards. SSS to HSS to HH with coil taps anyone? Nae bother! Done!
I hope so too! 🤞 Would love to be able to buy pickguards from Harley Benton, Jet, Eart etc 😀👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Perhaps S type designers will name it a Cassidy mod?
If guitar manufacturers don wanna do it maybe string manufacturers could fund it?
Heck - it would work a charm on T type guitars too.
Get some intellectual property ownership on that idea - quick
@@Alan-zf2tt Ha! Has a nice ring to it 😂🙈 But nah... that sounds like actual real work. But If someone else does it, I'm more than happy to buy em tho 😁👍
If you need to see the dots during a gig, then you need a lot more rehearsal .... 🙂
Yes I do 🤓👍 I'll start rehearsing blindfolded then - Thanks for the tip 😃👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Nah ... drink more beer so you get a beer belly. The guitar will be nicely tilted so you will easily see the dots on the neck ... 🙂
@@johnmoser1162 I've got the beer belly already - bought and paid for 😜👍
Are we both talking about the "side dots" though yeah? 🤔 Not the fretboard inlays.
@@stevecassidyguitar Yes ... the side dots. If the belly tilts your guitar, you never need to use them.
So lets go beering tonight !
@@johnmoser1162 😂🙈
Hey man ive got to say i still love mine the little imperfections are easy to forget imo just to get this outcome which is a guitar i hold high even next to usa prs s, i personally haven't played a mexican fender as good as this or a jet or a fazley or any squier or other brands, the classic vibe series is ok at best, they seem to have this great reputation i dont get it and they are almost £400, my thoughts on the string tree issue that is giving you sleepless nights❤ lol they are using a different factory than the Indonesian factory who used the better string trees? I like the pickups, position 4 is great fir spanky cleans no?A bit long winded this but my point is specs aside this is a special instrument imo nothing comes close, have thought about this as ive owned so so many stratocasters, only thing that came close was the fusions, Harley Benton take a bow!!!!
Barely slept a wink last night thinking about those string trees! 🤣👌
Yeah these are made in China, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same Factory as the Solokings or Earts, almost identical neck feel.
No doubt about it tho mate - the St modern is a beast! Super high quality - can totally feel it in the hand. Sounds like you might prefer the flatter radius and D profile necks, as the Fender, Jet and Squire's are all (mostly) C shaped 9.5 inchers. Em the opposite 🤓
But Yes indeed - yer right sir, Mr Benton has completely nailed the specs, for the people that prefer the more modern feel 😎👌
@stevecassidyguitar I like most radius apart from the 7.25, on paper I wasn't sure I'd like this radius on this as it's a weird one as you say but it works somehow 😬
@@si-borg_guitars Works for you Mutant fingers! 😜
😘😘
@@stevecassidyguitar 😆😅🤣
@stevecassidyguitar the string tension u mention on certain guitars, I get it on my partcaster, it has 9s on it and it's a 12" radius fender roasted neck, I often thought it was maybe cause the bridge isn't floating? It's quite enjoying?
Just go down the guitar shop and buy the guitar you want. My ST62 was a disaster.
Bummer - Sorry to hear that mate 😬👎. Thomann do have a pretty good returns policy tho to be fair
OMG... 'Affinity' trem bar dilemma .... I use PTFE on the thread... Adjust according to taste!
Ah! That sounds worth trying- cheers! 😀👍
HB vs Jet?
Potentially 😁👍 Got a boatload of vids still to make from the ST Modern 🙈
First time watching your vids. Your glasses are the coolest thing I've seen in a good while! Really would love to see more lefty options for this one, but I won't complain... HB does way better than most brands, for us southpaws. The pickguard option is huge, been saying it for years with other budget brands. You don't even have to make them... just take a sec to create a template and make it publicly downloadable. At least then we can have an aftermarket pickguard company make them for us. Easy peasy! I've got the HB TE-90FL and it's one of my favorite guitars at the moment.
Subscribed! well done.
Thank you mate! 😀🙏
That's a great idea Re - Dowloading the templates 😎👍 Even though it makes more sense for us, I think they'd be less likely to go that route, as there's very little to no profit there 😜
@@stevecassidyguitar I'm willing to bet that the brand who knows they are a good base for mods, and includes the template (and makes it known), will see folks gravitate their way!
@@SteveWilgeroth I think you could be on to something there. It would be great if a brand tried it so we could find out 😀👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Well I just got an AIO S4... and LOVE IT, but it needs a new pickguard, so if we could start there please! Not sure if you've tried one, but worth a visit! They setup every guitar once received in the States, would already be 'opened' for tracing! Nice to chat Steve! Thanks!
@@SteveWilgeroth Had never heard of them until now. Some impressive looking guitars they've got there 😎👌 I'm not seeing enough roasted maple fretboards though - That's my bag 😜
Congrats on the new axe though bud 😃👍
I was going to mod a Mim SSS strat to be a HSS... but this HB with stainless frets makes me just want to get it instead and perhaps change the humbucker, ez pz
EDIT: The fender also needs a fret crowning, otherwise I'd probably just mod it tbh (it's 20 years old).
If yuo're not aware mate - check out Jet Guitars JS400. It's my number one guitar, (it's had a few upgrades) HSS strat, no SS frets, but it's a toal Fender Killer and cheap as chips 😀👍
@@stevecassidyguitar I haven't but I will check it out! thanks for showing me things I wasn't aware of!
MiM fenders are great but so are so many other options now in 2024!
@@billybob-b7t Not to plug my own vids or anything.. 😜But you might find this one interesting if you're on the hunt for an HSS strat 😁👍
ruclips.net/video/GVidRT0SaLg/видео.html
@@billybob-b7t Not to plug my own vids or anything 😜 ... but... If you're on the hunt for an HSS strat you might find this one interesting
ruclips.net/video/GVidRT0SaLg/видео.html
😁👍
@@stevecassidyguitar Hey bud, I watched that video, Awesome work.
I'm now wondering about the js600! Have you tried it? I think I might go for it.
I don't care about headstock because I'm not gigging (something tells me if you apply for a spot and don't have certain headstocks they might dismiss you off the bat).
I just want the most bang for my buck, spec wise. I might end up making a HSS part caster, but I couldn't see making one CHEAPER with everything I want on it than the JS600
Thanks for everything!
Hi. I had to return mine. The quality check was a total joke. But, not funny… The guitar was a mess and not even playable. The bridge wasnt even mounted correctly. And a lot of other stuff. Very dissapointing.
Yeeesh! 😬 Sorry to hear that mate - thank you for sharing 🙏
Looks like I got lucky. We can add yours to the list of reports of bad examples 🙈
This one is not in my wheelhouse, but for those that want one here's my gripe; crappy cable, trem block, string trees and "bad idea" glow in the dark side dots. Having to ajust playing a Strat because of the bridge saddles? C'mon, Harley Benton. Stop choosing performance spots to cheap out on and add 30 more euros to the cost. Sheesh, talk about penny foolish and pound silly! Great demo, Steve. I went off on a rant there.
Ha! The Rants are contagious! 🤣👌
Thank ya tho mate! 🙏
and yeah... I think the Wilkinson trem on the fusions is a better choice imo
Yeah it's a cheap guitar worth about what it costs but made so its spec sheet reads like it's an expensive guitar. Kind of like those fake rolex watches you get, excepting it's not actually pretending to be the expensive brand just to be the same as it, yet it's clearly not.
100% agree Harley Benton should make a st vintage plus, same material but sss fat50s like pickups, decent string tree(s) 9.5 radius, drop the bells and whistles like fluorescent dots , elixir strings , but keep the price under 400 and They will own fender in a couple of years. Thanks for the detailed straight forward review!
Thank you mate! 😀🙏
and that's great at least there's 2 of us down for the ST Vintage/Standard Plus 😜👍