And here's the links to the different parts for all you people on phones, enjoy :) 00:00 Hello! 00:26 Intro and what we’re doing today 01:23 Some specs and info on both guitars 04:55 Today’s rig Amp on the Clean Channel 05:22 Clean reference chords 05:33 Country strummed chords 06:12 Country rock picking sounds 06:27 Country picked ballad riff 06:53 Poppy indie ringing chords 07:19 Indie barre chords 07:55 Indie picked arpeggios Amp on the Crunch channel 08:32 Groovy classic rock riff 09:24 Airbourne inspired classic rock riff 09:46 AC/DC inspired classic rock riff 10:10 Hendrix inspired classic rock riff 10:43 Indie octave chords riff 11:29 Indie rock rhythm chords riff 12:02 Droning indie rock riff 12:27 Kings Of Leon inspired indie rock riff Amp on the Lead Channel 12:57 Classic hard rock riff 13:31 Airbourne inspired classic hard rock riff 14:11 Pop punk riff 14:36 Green Day inspired punk rock riff 15:04 Foo Fighters inspired rock riff 15:36 Alt rock rhythmic chords with open strings 16:28 Alt rock riff 16:56 Progressive rock riff (Drop D) 17:25 Chunky modern hard rock power chords (Drop D) Clean Channel with Revv G3 distortion pedal (Drop D tuning) 18:11 Metal chugging riff 18:46 Hardcore rhythm chugging riff 19:06 Mastodon inspired modern metal riff 19:27 Hardcore punk riff 19:57 Metalcore riff 20:18 Lead sounds 20:41 Classic metal riff 21:45 My thoughts - there’s plenty to say today! 22:22 Looks 23:56 Build quality 26:04 Playability and that Vintage V120 neck 26:59 Weights 27:42 Sounds and pickup differences 30:02 Which one should you buy? 33:00 Thanks and goodbye
Bro..I know this was 2yrs ago but you nailed this comparison! Very informative. You gave me everything I would want to make a choice between the two....great job
The Harley Benton SC Junior has a wilder top end which is more invigorating. The Vintage whilst still good, I feel the top end has a roll off, it sounds almost compressed?
Good ear: Trev Wilkinson does do some extra wiring 'magic' to the pickup used in this guitar, which reduces the hum. It also, to a very small extent, reduces that bark and honk you get from the uppers mids and highs of a true P90, so I guess that's what you're hearing!
Thanks for another interesting comparison, Rich. I like the looks of the Vintage very much with the visible mahogany grain, but sonically, I clearly prefer the brighter, more open and biting HB. That would probably be the deal-breaker for me. Maybe it's because of the stacked pickup?
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I agree - I reckon the stacked P90 fills out the Vintage's low end and also tames it slightly around the edges. It's pretty smooth. The HB is certainly more aggressive and biting, and that becomes more and more obvious as you wind up the gain. And then there's the neck profile factor! For me, that's the decision maker with these two... normal, or super chunky!
The Vintage is really impressive! It sounds like my old Ibanez that is noiseless but in which way I do not no as it may be using the tiny transformer method.
@@RichWordsMusic Yes very helpful, so thanks a lot! I think I´ll go for the Benton. Somehow sounded a bit more "dirty" no so "rounded". Difficult to describe maybe a bit more "vintage" than the Vintage.
@@Retrophy Awesome, glad to hear it! Yes, I know what you mean... In a way the SC Junior has a little more quirkiness for some sounds. Less rounded, exactly, as opposed to the Wilkinson's fullness. It is hard to put into words, but the ears don't lie ;) Enjoy the HB when you get it!
Great comparison review. To my ear the HB was slightly less hot, but the more prominent top end perhaps gives the impression of more gain? Love the woody lower mids in the Vintage too, a little less clarity but nice for rock riffs. It's hard to add top end, but of course you can roll it off on the HB and all single pick up players need to get acquainted with the Tone & Vol controls, so the HB with it's extra clarity and available top end may be more versatile. (I aged the bright white tuner buttons on my HB Fat. Lightly sand, then apply some brown shoe polish, leave a while then buff off).
Thanks! You might just be right about the HB and the output/high end... I need a multi-meter or something to test it for real. Ultimately, I guess it's all a out how you use the guitar, and with a Junior, it's definitely wise to get to know how your Tonew and Volume pots work. It opens up so many more sounds. You can dial the HB back very well for more neck pickup-esque sounds too (I did a bit of that in the dedicated SC Junior video). Good tip on aging those tuner buttons too, and I'm glad it wasn't only me who noticed that! Might try that tip with mine :)
Another really engaging video Rich. What surprised me is that the Harley Benton, which I think has Alnico magnets, was more higher end and had more punch, while the Vintage with the stacked P90 was more low end, yet has ceramic magnets..I have the Vintage gold top, which has similar. Would have expected the opposite.
Thanks again, glad you enjoyed this one too! I think it's because of the windings in the stacking on the WIlkinson P90... some people say the hum-cancelling stuff can suck a little life out of a P90. I disagree (I love that pickup!) but I guess it does take a way a little bit of its bark and snarl! And the HB's pickup has that in spades.
Yep, if I was one of the traditional expensive brands I'd be getting more than a little worried at this point! You can't sell on nostalgia and brand name power forever...
Hmm, interesting question. The only way you will know is if you try the other guitar too. But, realistically, I think for a price of around $1,500 (that's what I guess the '89 is) it's definitely worth a try. That's not a bad price on what is now a 'vintage' guitar... and if it's in decent condition it'll probably appreciate in value over time too. I say give it a try! And report back if you do, I'd love to hear your thoughts :)
Glad you enjoyed it and found it useful Mike! The SC is a great guitar indeed, and nigh-on impossible to beat in terms of value for money. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for this kind of guitar. Thanks for watching!
Nice! Good comparison! Cool that you mention the stacked pickup details, quite interesting. Both guitars hold very good high gain for what you did and indeed HB has more top end, but I think also more hum, but still holds quite good.
Thanks man! It is interesting how you can do high gain really well with these kinds of pickups... I think most people (including me!) never expected that. But P90s for metal is certainly a thing :) Cheers for watching again!
@@RichWordsMusic Indeed ,unexpected. Thanks to you for the nice content, you are definitely generating some content that is not redundant :) Nice ideas man!
That would be a shame... I thought they had distribution in the USA? Edit: officially, they should do - RBI Music. Maybe you could contact them and see if there's any V1230s out there? Here's as link I found: vintageguitarsus.com/pages/rbi-music
What is the actual thickness of the neck at 1st and 12th fret? Can't seem to find this info anywhere....I read that the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson had a chunky neck but to me it was fairly slim....so now looking for actual numbers. The harley Benton SC junior is way too thin for me....
Hmm, I'd have to ask the guitar's owner for that info. You're right, it's not on the Vintage/JHS website or anything. You could also try dropping them an email I suppose. The V120m is a really chunky neck though, way bigger than the SC Junior's. I've not tried the Epi inspired by Gibson LP necks but I assume the Vintage will be considerably chunkier than them too. It's really big - the biggest I've played on a recent guitar. (The only bigger neck I've ever played was on a 1956 LP Junior!)
@@RichWordsMusic thanks for the reply. I've contacted vintage but no reply yet. No luck on forums nor some retailers.....if I ever get to try one somewhere I'll make sure I bring the verniers with me 😅
@@guesstimator77 Ha ha, I guess it's the kind of thing most people don't really ask for or measure themselves. Like me they'll just say "it's a massive neck"! I'll ask around a bit more and if I get the info I'll let you know. And if you do, please be so kind as to let me know here! Cheers :)
@@RichWordsMusic Just got a v120. Neck is 22.3 thick 42.5 wide first fret and 24.5 thick 52.4 wide 12th fret. I like the neck (neraly as much as the Hb special) and the fret finish better than the Hb. The v120 to me wins in the bridge and nut department, absolutely fantastic. Now the bad stuff the Wilkinson pickup sucks big time compared to standard Roswell....it's neither fish nor flesh....it just has no magic to it. Unfortunately my model came with damaged paint job and bridge is slightly off to one side causing high e fret fall off ...looking i to getting a replacement. I prefer the playability of the v120 but for the price I was expecting higher quality.
@@guesstimator77 Thanks for the info, and I'm sad to hear you've had some stuff you're not happy with. Did you buy a new one? How disappointing one came through QC with a damaged finish and the bridge off-center like that. Hopefully the replacement will be better (and I hope the one you had was a one-off). I personally am a big fan of the Wilkinson semi-stacked P90, although it is a personal thing of course! Fingers crossed you get a replacement V120 you're happier with ASAP!
it´s astonishing - the much cheaper HB sounds more agressive and sharper. the look like of the vintage is my favourite. the sunburst looks very sophisticated. i must say that i own the HB and it´s a very dynamic response in every stile you play. the guitar is made in high quality and i like the thin neck with jumbo frets. for 200 euros a little wonder.
I agree with everything you wrote there Klaus! The aggressiveness of the HB really comes out as you increase the gain, and it is always super dynamic and a joy to play. There is an HB model in Vintage Sunburst, but I think the Vintage wins on looks too... if you don't see the headstock, it could be a much more expensive guitar ;) Isn't it amazing what we can buy for €200 these days, compared to 10 or 20 years ago?
Well, to my ears, the Vintage sounds more rounder compared to the sharper sounding HB. Especially at the higher gain Part the perceived increase in the Bass Region let the Vintage Sound better to my ears.
@@andiebetjemann7920 Yes, I agree - the Vintage has a fuller sound, and I think it comes out more the more gain you use too. If you want that really aggressive modern metal sound with less bass, the SC Junior would win, but for me, the Vintage is a more pleasant tone :)
Thanks a lot! The Epiphone 2020 LP Junior is on my list for sure - it looks great! I'll try and get one in somehow and demo it for the channel, and shoot it out against these guitars as well :)
If you were to ask me today, I'd say the SC Junior. For the price, it's basically impossible to beat, and plus it has the neck shape which will appeal to basically everyone, whereas the neck on the Vintage might be too fat for some!
Thanks for the in depth review. I'm currently looking at those types go guitars. Would you say the Vintage is a bit overpriced? It's almost at the same price point as the Epiphone Les Paul JR. What do You think of comparing the Vintage with the Epiphone?
No problem, glad you enjoyed it! That's a good question. I've not tried a modern Epiphone Les Paul Junior, but I bet they're decent. (I have a 2020 Epi SG and that's really good.) The Vintage is certainly close in terms of price, but I am a huge fan of it. I think your best bet would be to try both guitars in person (if you can!) and choose the one that feels best to you. At this price point, weight might also be a factor, but overall, I don't think you'll be disappointed with either. I will see if I can find an Epi near me to try soon and then I can let you know. I'd love the chance to comparwe the two guitars if it were possible!
I wouldn't say Vintage guitars are overpriced. They feel more like a pro instrument in the hand than my HB. E.g.My Vintage V6 strat fretboard is very smooth when bending strings, the HB is a little rough. The HB will wear in over time i guess. Both are good guitars, but I'd place them in different leagues to be honest. A modded HB would get closer. Compared to other makes, like a Squier CV series, you might expect a copy like the Vintage to be much cheaper, it's not! But i think the vintage holds its own in the comparison and comes with the wonderful Wilkinson tremelo and pickups to boot.
My Vintage turned up with a little fret sprout up the high end of the board and I was surprised that no attempt had been made to set the intonation..it now intones perfectly on every string after moving the fat E end of the bridge a whole 7 millimetres away from the nut. . . very surprising because this very guitar was used in a RUclips video where the tester commented that "you can't get perfect intonation on these bridges" .. it turns out that by adjusting it you can. I also have the burst and love the fat neck (now I've taken the surface gloss off). I weighed mine and it's 9 pounds.. hefty).. the fretboard is now slick on the back and along the frets. I've also had great experiences with Harley Benton.
Interesting info! And wow, 7mm is quite a move - I'm guessing the previous owner either didn't know how, or care to, make such adjustments in the name of perfect intonation. It's certainly easier on guitars with individually intonatable strings, but every guitar (or at least 99.9% of them, barring damage!) can be made to be as good as perfect. I like your idea of sanding down the big neck. If I ever own a Vintage like this myself, that's what I will do. The HB might also benefit from that, although I've experienced no stickiness so far. For the money though, and maybe with a little TLC if necessary, both these guitars are excellent. Thanks for watching!
@@RichWordsMusic the V120 was brand new from a dealer. The ad with the guitar in did mention they set up all guitars...might send them a guide to intoning a wrapover.. ...before I finally sanded the neck I gave it a rub over with pan scourer (foam with a layer of green abrasive) which did me for a day or two.. but it's now like graphite on ice.
@@glynnsmith4560 It was new?! Wow, surprised to hear that. Doesn't speak well for the dealer in question. I'm sort of scared to overdo it on necks when it comes to sanding off finish. Might have to just give it a try one day...
This is the most complete and coolest review of the guitars. I plan to purchase HB. But i am confused..Some people on internet said HB guitars are just for beginner. And... Can intermediate players use it as main weapon to play live?
Thanks Milhad, I'm happy you enjoyed the video! And sure, anyone can use a Harley Benton. Yes, they are cheap - so anyone can afford them, and that makes them a great choice for beginners - but if you have one and love it, there is nothing stopping you playing it live!
Hi. They used to be quite variable quality,but now seem a lot more consistant. I think there's some confusion in how people talk about cheap guitars, by saying they're great beginners guitars (assuming if you're more experienced you'll get pay more), rather than just saying this is a good but inexpensive guitar. Anyway, I've played a number of years and have two Harley Benton s. They are both good guitars, play well and sound good. They certainly compare very well with guitars costing two or three times more. They don't feel cheap, but they also don't feel exceptional. My Vintage V6 strat, feels more "premium". I'd be happy playing the HB live, it's fine, a descent usable guitar.
great review Rich. now if you haven't already need to do a DC version review. bought a couple of Hamer DC's and they're pretty nice and sound great. The Vintage DC i am waiting for and looking at Eastman DC. They sound phenomenal w/Lollar dogear.
Cheers! Ooh, the DC version has to happen one day. The DC Fat I've got covered, but I need to do one with the 'real' P90. I also really want to do the SC-Special with the two P90s! They look amazing. Eastman guitars look wonderful, and I want to try some of them out soon! Rock on my friend, good to see you back in the comments here :)
I used to own a V120. Now i got a second hand sc Junior. And my SC Junior has at the lower side of the fretboard the same flaw as your guitar. Despite this, i prefer the SC over the v120.
Interesting... I think a whole batch must have had this flaw! Someone else commented to say theirs had it as well. Doesn't affect what is a fantastic guitar, though - there's some real magic in those SC Juniors! Enjoy yours :)
Yes, the Black Spirit is great, and very versatile too! And it works really well with both of these guitars. I love the Vintage, but the neck is massive... some days I like it, sometimes it feels too big!
Hmm, I can't answer you with 100% certainty there as I don't have the Vintage any more (I borrowed it from a friend). But I do believe they're the same, yes. They certainly look very similar in the video. Can anyone else help here?
Sounds more then fine to me , especially at the price. Sure I’d probably rather the Gibson but there’s no I’m paying that much more for such a similar guitar , even if I was loaded with cash I wouldn’t. Which I’m definitely not unfortunately.
Yeah, for cleaner stuff it's more of a taste thing. I do think the Wilkinson has a bit more fullness than the Roswell for rock stuff, but they're both great pickups and when you're not A/Bing them directly you'd never know.
There was a bee's DICK in it really Richie! Both sounded almost the same. Both HB & Vintage had same amount of mid range bark and trebles! Only the Vintage/Wilkinson had a bit more low end girth, otherwise they were the SAME in the other frequency ranges! Cheers! \m/
He he, it's kipper's dick where I come from. English, what a language. But yeah, apart from that Wilkinson girth, there really wasn't much in it. Both sound great. (I would, by the way, also hazard a guess that Trev Wilkinson's wisdom was sought when designing the Roswell pickup range. That's pure guesswork, though - I will need to ask him about that.)
Interesting. I don't find the HB board too hard, but I guess it's all down to personal preference. The Vintage's board is very rosewood-esque in feel - apparently Trev Wilkinson really went out of his way to find the material that was closest to rosewood in terms of feel, tone and response. To me, it feels just like rosewood! I'd say try one in person if you can, as that's the only way to know if you like it. Let me know your thoughts when you have!
Wow both are amazing guitar...hmmm...the hb..got more clear, sharp,brighter sound ...but the vintage got more quality spects.,.. really difficult to choose to those two..
Yes, they are both surprisingly good for the money! So it can be hard to make a choice... for me, they both have some magic to them! I hope you manage to find the one that works best for you :)
@@PooNinja He he, I do need a mutlimeter. By the way, I swear I replied to this before but it must've got lost in the ether... bizarre. I remember asking you on what cheap multimeter I should buy. Anyway, I've since seen my local DIY place has some, so once we're allowed to go shopping normally again I can go and have a look!
@@RichWordsMusic Fluke is sweet, Klein is fine, but any meter should should be ok for just reading ohms, A true RMS meter is preferred if your gonna be looking at voltages, but I don’t think you’ll need that. Have a great week Sir
How would you describe the frets? Is there a difference in height? I have a vintage and the frets are quite low. Thx for the vidéo it's just the one i needed.
Thanks, glad you found the video useful! I would describe the frets as being very similar... the HB ones are maybe a tiny bit wider (but in practice no different to play), and height-wise they look and feel the same to me. Hope that helps :)
I know what you mean - I've yet to come across an HB guitar with a genuinely fat neck. The Aeolus's is the closest I've seen, and that's only mildly chunky! I guess brands like this want to cater to first-time and younger players predominantly, and so thinner necks are probably easier to get to grips with. That's my guess, anyway ;)
Ha ha, decisions decisions! Well, I think the big factor here is the neck. The neck on the Vintage is pretty massive! On the HB SC Junior it's very standard. So if you have a favored neck type, I'd go that way. Also, maybe try the Vintage if you can, and if you like it, buy it (and haggle down!). You won't get to try the HB until after you buy it and it ships, which is always a risk even though Thomann has a great refund/shipping policy. If you try the Vintage and it connects with you, you've found your guitar. Hope that helps and doesn't result in any more confusion ;)
Ah, I was thinking in European prices - could well be for you it's a bigger difference. How much are they both in Canada? Might make the decision easier though, at the end of the day...
@@RichWordsMusic the Les Paul Jr is $1900 plus taxes and the Harley Benton bought though Thomann is like $250 plus taxes and shipping costs. It’s no brainer for me.
@@benallmark9671 Oh, I thought you were talking about the Vintage V120, not the Gibson! Yes, the Gibson is not far from 10x the cost... and I'm sure it won't be 10x the guitar!
HB for top end. Vintage wins on bass end. Value for money is HB. I like a thinner neck as I have short fat fingers, so HB wins for me. In truth, not much between these two in tone terms at all unless you factor in price.
Yep, for me the tonal differences are less significant than the neck profile and price arguments. And I can totally see why the HB wins for you in that context - the neck on the Vintage is really rather chunky. Factor in the HB being way cheaper and you've got a clear winner!
It's funny, Trev Wilkinson says it is a P90, but because it's stacked, I do agree with you in a way. It's kind of cheating ;) But this one sounds nothing like any other stacked ones I've tried - it sounds just like a P90 to me!
And here's the links to the different parts for all you people on phones, enjoy :)
00:00 Hello!
00:26 Intro and what we’re doing today
01:23 Some specs and info on both guitars
04:55 Today’s rig
Amp on the Clean Channel
05:22 Clean reference chords
05:33 Country strummed chords
06:12 Country rock picking sounds
06:27 Country picked ballad riff
06:53 Poppy indie ringing chords
07:19 Indie barre chords
07:55 Indie picked arpeggios
Amp on the Crunch channel
08:32 Groovy classic rock riff
09:24 Airbourne inspired classic rock riff
09:46 AC/DC inspired classic rock riff
10:10 Hendrix inspired classic rock riff
10:43 Indie octave chords riff
11:29 Indie rock rhythm chords riff
12:02 Droning indie rock riff
12:27 Kings Of Leon inspired indie rock riff
Amp on the Lead Channel
12:57 Classic hard rock riff
13:31 Airbourne inspired classic hard rock riff
14:11 Pop punk riff
14:36 Green Day inspired punk rock riff
15:04 Foo Fighters inspired rock riff
15:36 Alt rock rhythmic chords with open strings
16:28 Alt rock riff
16:56 Progressive rock riff (Drop D)
17:25 Chunky modern hard rock power chords (Drop D)
Clean Channel with Revv G3 distortion pedal (Drop D tuning)
18:11 Metal chugging riff
18:46 Hardcore rhythm chugging riff
19:06 Mastodon inspired modern metal riff
19:27 Hardcore punk riff
19:57 Metalcore riff
20:18 Lead sounds
20:41 Classic metal riff
21:45 My thoughts - there’s plenty to say today!
22:22 Looks
23:56 Build quality
26:04 Playability and that Vintage V120 neck
26:59 Weights
27:42 Sounds and pickup differences
30:02 Which one should you buy?
33:00 Thanks and goodbye
Bro..I know this was 2yrs ago but you nailed this comparison! Very informative. You gave me everything I would want to make a choice between the two....great job
now this is how guitar reviews should be done. outstanding!
Cheers Mike, I try my best to make them as helpful as I can! Rock on!
I absolutely agree.
outstandingly detailed review without a trace of waffle. Spot-on.
Thanks a lot, I'm really glad you enjoyed it and I got the right balance of playing and explaining :) Cheers!
Amazing guitar comparison. After I’ve watched this video, I have decided to go for HB SC Junior. Thanks again
Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it and I hope you love the SC Junior! It's a bit of a magical guitar, this one :) I love mine!
The Harley Benton SC Junior has a wilder top end which is more invigorating. The Vintage whilst still good, I feel the top end has a roll off, it sounds almost compressed?
Good ear: Trev Wilkinson does do some extra wiring 'magic' to the pickup used in this guitar, which reduces the hum. It also, to a very small extent, reduces that bark and honk you get from the uppers mids and highs of a true P90, so I guess that's what you're hearing!
Thanks for another interesting comparison, Rich. I like the looks of the Vintage very much with the visible mahogany grain, but sonically, I clearly prefer the brighter, more open and biting HB. That would probably be the deal-breaker for me. Maybe it's because of the stacked pickup?
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I agree - I reckon the stacked P90 fills out the Vintage's low end and also tames it slightly around the edges. It's pretty smooth. The HB is certainly more aggressive and biting, and that becomes more and more obvious as you wind up the gain. And then there's the neck profile factor! For me, that's the decision maker with these two... normal, or super chunky!
A very useful and informative review. Thank You.
Thanks Paul, glad you enjoyed it and found it useful!
You did it! Good stuff, Rich! I would be happy with either, sound wise. 👍🏼👍🏼
Yes, it's here! I agree, overall they're both great sounds-wise... so you pick a normal neck or a massive one and you're good to go! Cheers :)
The Vintage is really impressive! It sounds like my old Ibanez that is noiseless but in which way I do not no as it may be using the tiny transformer method.
Yes, the Vintage punches above its weight for sure! Which Ibanez model was that? Would be interested to learn more about that...
How did you know? I am currently looking at both of these guitars!
I had a feeling! Actually no idea, I guess we got lucky with the timing 👍 Hope it's helpful anyway!
@@RichWordsMusic Yes very helpful, so thanks a lot! I think I´ll go for the Benton. Somehow sounded a bit more "dirty" no so "rounded". Difficult to describe maybe a bit more "vintage" than the Vintage.
@@Retrophy Awesome, glad to hear it! Yes, I know what you mean... In a way the SC Junior has a little more quirkiness for some sounds. Less rounded, exactly, as opposed to the Wilkinson's fullness. It is hard to put into words, but the ears don't lie ;) Enjoy the HB when you get it!
Great comparison review. To my ear the HB was slightly less hot, but the more prominent top end perhaps gives the impression of more gain?
Love the woody lower mids in the Vintage too, a little less clarity but nice for rock riffs.
It's hard to add top end, but of course you can roll it off on the HB and all single pick up players need to get acquainted with the Tone & Vol controls, so the HB with it's extra clarity and available top end may be more versatile.
(I aged the bright white tuner buttons on my HB Fat. Lightly sand, then apply some brown shoe polish, leave a while then buff off).
Thanks! You might just be right about the HB and the output/high end... I need a multi-meter or something to test it for real. Ultimately, I guess it's all a out how you use the guitar, and with a Junior, it's definitely wise to get to know how your Tonew and Volume pots work. It opens up so many more sounds. You can dial the HB back very well for more neck pickup-esque sounds too (I did a bit of that in the dedicated SC Junior video). Good tip on aging those tuner buttons too, and I'm glad it wasn't only me who noticed that! Might try that tip with mine :)
I prefer the HB!
I imagine you'd dig the extra bite, yes :)
Another really engaging video Rich. What surprised me is that the Harley Benton, which I think has Alnico magnets, was more higher end and had more punch, while the Vintage with the stacked P90 was more low end, yet has ceramic magnets..I have the Vintage gold top, which has similar. Would have expected the opposite.
Thanks again, glad you enjoyed this one too! I think it's because of the windings in the stacking on the WIlkinson P90... some people say the hum-cancelling stuff can suck a little life out of a P90. I disagree (I love that pickup!) but I guess it does take a way a little bit of its bark and snarl! And the HB's pickup has that in spades.
These cheaper guitars are getting better and better. Gibson!!!!! Take notice.
Yep, if I was one of the traditional expensive brands I'd be getting more than a little worried at this point! You can't sell on nostalgia and brand name power forever...
I own that same V120 and enjoy it. I have an opportunity to buy an ‘89 LP jr with a p90. Will I appreciate the difference? Is it wort $1K more???
Hmm, interesting question. The only way you will know is if you try the other guitar too. But, realistically, I think for a price of around $1,500 (that's what I guess the '89 is) it's definitely worth a try. That's not a bad price on what is now a 'vintage' guitar... and if it's in decent condition it'll probably appreciate in value over time too. I say give it a try! And report back if you do, I'd love to hear your thoughts :)
Many thanks Rich. Great comparison video.
I'm certainly looking very seriously at Harley Benton Junior SC in the 'burst' colour.
Thanks again.
Glad you enjoyed it and found it useful Mike! The SC is a great guitar indeed, and nigh-on impossible to beat in terms of value for money. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for this kind of guitar. Thanks for watching!
Nice! Good comparison! Cool that you mention the stacked pickup details, quite interesting. Both guitars hold very good high gain for what you did and indeed HB has more top end, but I think also more hum, but still holds quite good.
Thanks man! It is interesting how you can do high gain really well with these kinds of pickups... I think most people (including me!) never expected that. But P90s for metal is certainly a thing :) Cheers for watching again!
@@RichWordsMusic Indeed ,unexpected. Thanks to you for the nice content, you are definitely generating some content that is not redundant :) Nice ideas man!
@@marcomostroso Thanks man, glad you're still enjoying it ;)
So it is not possible to get the intonation right on the Vintage ???
It is, but you have a little bit more precision with the Harley Benton because you can intonate each string individually.
Unfortunately, we can’t get the V120 in the states
That would be a shame... I thought they had distribution in the USA?
Edit: officially, they should do - RBI Music. Maybe you could contact them and see if there's any V1230s out there? Here's as link I found: vintageguitarsus.com/pages/rbi-music
What is the actual thickness of the neck at 1st and 12th fret? Can't seem to find this info anywhere....I read that the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson had a chunky neck but to me it was fairly slim....so now looking for actual numbers. The harley Benton SC junior is way too thin for me....
Hmm, I'd have to ask the guitar's owner for that info. You're right, it's not on the Vintage/JHS website or anything. You could also try dropping them an email I suppose. The V120m is a really chunky neck though, way bigger than the SC Junior's. I've not tried the Epi inspired by Gibson LP necks but I assume the Vintage will be considerably chunkier than them too. It's really big - the biggest I've played on a recent guitar. (The only bigger neck I've ever played was on a 1956 LP Junior!)
@@RichWordsMusic thanks for the reply. I've contacted vintage but no reply yet. No luck on forums nor some retailers.....if I ever get to try one somewhere I'll make sure I bring the verniers with me 😅
@@guesstimator77 Ha ha, I guess it's the kind of thing most people don't really ask for or measure themselves. Like me they'll just say "it's a massive neck"! I'll ask around a bit more and if I get the info I'll let you know. And if you do, please be so kind as to let me know here! Cheers :)
@@RichWordsMusic Just got a v120. Neck is 22.3 thick 42.5 wide first fret and 24.5 thick 52.4 wide 12th fret. I like the neck (neraly as much as the Hb special) and the fret finish better than the Hb. The v120 to me wins in the bridge and nut department, absolutely fantastic. Now the bad stuff the Wilkinson pickup sucks big time compared to standard Roswell....it's neither fish nor flesh....it just has no magic to it. Unfortunately my model came with damaged paint job and bridge is slightly off to one side causing high e fret fall off ...looking i to getting a replacement. I prefer the playability of the v120 but for the price I was expecting higher quality.
@@guesstimator77 Thanks for the info, and I'm sad to hear you've had some stuff you're not happy with. Did you buy a new one? How disappointing one came through QC with a damaged finish and the bridge off-center like that. Hopefully the replacement will be better (and I hope the one you had was a one-off). I personally am a big fan of the Wilkinson semi-stacked P90, although it is a personal thing of course! Fingers crossed you get a replacement V120 you're happier with ASAP!
I just put bare knuckle pick ups in my Harley Bentons and you don't worry about the pick ups again
Sounds like pickup replacement could be a plan then...
it´s astonishing - the much cheaper HB sounds more agressive and sharper. the look like of the vintage is my favourite. the sunburst looks very sophisticated. i must say that i own the HB and it´s a very dynamic response in every stile you play. the guitar is made in high quality and i like the thin neck with jumbo frets. for 200 euros a little wonder.
I agree with everything you wrote there Klaus! The aggressiveness of the HB really comes out as you increase the gain, and it is always super dynamic and a joy to play. There is an HB model in Vintage Sunburst, but I think the Vintage wins on looks too... if you don't see the headstock, it could be a much more expensive guitar ;) Isn't it amazing what we can buy for €200 these days, compared to 10 or 20 years ago?
Well, to my ears, the Vintage sounds more rounder compared to the sharper sounding HB. Especially at the higher gain Part the perceived increase in the Bass Region let the Vintage Sound better to my ears.
@@andiebetjemann7920 Yes, I agree - the Vintage has a fuller sound, and I think it comes out more the more gain you use too. If you want that really aggressive modern metal sound with less bass, the SC Junior would win, but for me, the Vintage is a more pleasant tone :)
@@RichWordsMusic
The HB is more towards a Tele, the Vintage more towards the LesPaul.
@@andiebetjemann7920 Yep, that's a good comparison! I can agree wit that.
Awesome review my friend , thanks.
Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent review. I would like to see you compare these models to the 2020 Epiphone Les Paul Junior.
Thanks a lot! The Epiphone 2020 LP Junior is on my list for sure - it looks great! I'll try and get one in somehow and demo it for the channel, and shoot it out against these guitars as well :)
Bro, which one do you think is better? Because I would like to buy one of them 👀
If you were to ask me today, I'd say the SC Junior. For the price, it's basically impossible to beat, and plus it has the neck shape which will appeal to basically everyone, whereas the neck on the Vintage might be too fat for some!
Thanks for the in depth review. I'm currently looking at those types go guitars. Would you say the Vintage is a bit overpriced? It's almost at the same price point as the Epiphone Les Paul JR. What do You think of comparing the Vintage with the Epiphone?
No problem, glad you enjoyed it! That's a good question. I've not tried a modern Epiphone Les Paul Junior, but I bet they're decent. (I have a 2020 Epi SG and that's really good.) The Vintage is certainly close in terms of price, but I am a huge fan of it. I think your best bet would be to try both guitars in person (if you can!) and choose the one that feels best to you. At this price point, weight might also be a factor, but overall, I don't think you'll be disappointed with either. I will see if I can find an Epi near me to try soon and then I can let you know. I'd love the chance to comparwe the two guitars if it were possible!
Is Epiphone you're referring to the set neck Jr. or the cheaper bolt on neck with a humbucker? Two very different beasts.
I wouldn't say Vintage guitars are overpriced. They feel more like a pro instrument in the hand than my HB. E.g.My Vintage V6 strat fretboard is very smooth when bending strings, the HB is a little rough. The HB will wear in over time i guess. Both are good guitars, but I'd place them in different leagues to be honest. A modded HB would get closer. Compared to other makes, like a Squier CV series, you might expect a copy like the Vintage to be much cheaper, it's not! But i think the vintage holds its own in the comparison and comes with the wonderful Wilkinson tremelo and pickups to boot.
My Vintage turned up with a little fret sprout up the high end of the board and I was surprised that no attempt had been made to set the intonation..it now intones perfectly on every string after moving the fat E end of the bridge a whole 7 millimetres away from the nut. . . very surprising because this very guitar was used in a RUclips video where the tester commented that "you can't get perfect intonation on these bridges" .. it turns out that by adjusting it you can. I also have the burst and love the fat neck (now I've taken the surface gloss off). I weighed mine and it's 9 pounds.. hefty).. the fretboard is now slick on the back and along the frets.
I've also had great experiences with Harley Benton.
Interesting info! And wow, 7mm is quite a move - I'm guessing the previous owner either didn't know how, or care to, make such adjustments in the name of perfect intonation. It's certainly easier on guitars with individually intonatable strings, but every guitar (or at least 99.9% of them, barring damage!) can be made to be as good as perfect. I like your idea of sanding down the big neck. If I ever own a Vintage like this myself, that's what I will do. The HB might also benefit from that, although I've experienced no stickiness so far. For the money though, and maybe with a little TLC if necessary, both these guitars are excellent. Thanks for watching!
@@RichWordsMusic the V120 was brand new from a dealer. The ad with the guitar in did mention they set up all guitars...might send them a guide to intoning a wrapover..
...before I finally sanded the neck I gave it a rub over with pan scourer (foam with a layer of green abrasive) which did me for a day or two.. but it's now like graphite on ice.
@@glynnsmith4560 It was new?! Wow, surprised to hear that. Doesn't speak well for the dealer in question. I'm sort of scared to overdo it on necks when it comes to sanding off finish. Might have to just give it a try one day...
This is the most complete and coolest review of the guitars. I plan to purchase HB. But i am confused..Some people on internet said HB guitars are just for beginner.
And... Can intermediate players use it as main weapon to play live?
Thanks Milhad, I'm happy you enjoyed the video! And sure, anyone can use a Harley Benton. Yes, they are cheap - so anyone can afford them, and that makes them a great choice for beginners - but if you have one and love it, there is nothing stopping you playing it live!
Hi. They used to be quite variable quality,but now seem a lot more consistant. I think there's some confusion in how people talk about cheap guitars, by saying they're great beginners guitars (assuming if you're more experienced you'll get pay more), rather than just saying this is a good but inexpensive guitar. Anyway, I've played a number of years and have two Harley Benton s. They are both good guitars, play well and sound good. They certainly compare very well with guitars costing two or three times more. They don't feel cheap, but they also don't feel exceptional. My Vintage V6 strat, feels more "premium". I'd be happy playing the HB live, it's fine, a descent usable guitar.
great review Rich. now if you haven't already need to do a DC version review. bought a couple of Hamer DC's and they're pretty nice and sound great. The Vintage DC i am waiting for and looking at Eastman DC. They sound phenomenal w/Lollar dogear.
Cheers! Ooh, the DC version has to happen one day. The DC Fat I've got covered, but I need to do one with the 'real' P90. I also really want to do the SC-Special with the two P90s! They look amazing. Eastman guitars look wonderful, and I want to try some of them out soon! Rock on my friend, good to see you back in the comments here :)
I used to own a V120. Now i got a second hand sc Junior. And my SC Junior has at the lower side of the fretboard the same flaw as your guitar. Despite this, i prefer the SC over the v120.
Interesting... I think a whole batch must have had this flaw! Someone else commented to say theirs had it as well. Doesn't affect what is a fantastic guitar, though - there's some real magic in those SC Juniors! Enjoy yours :)
I guess the black spirit is pretty nice sounding amp. I have a slight preference for the vintage
Yes, the Black Spirit is great, and very versatile too! And it works really well with both of these guitars. I love the Vintage, but the neck is massive... some days I like it, sometimes it feels too big!
Very nice demo and comparison style!!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
do both guitars have the same headstock angle?
i've been thinking of getting one. but the headstock thingy kept me.
Hmm, I can't answer you with 100% certainty there as I don't have the Vintage any more (I borrowed it from a friend). But I do believe they're the same, yes. They certainly look very similar in the video. Can anyone else help here?
@@RichWordsMusic thanks for the response Sir.
The Vintage stacked P90 sounds better but at lower output. The HB sounds fine to me
Sounds more then fine to me , especially at the price. Sure I’d probably rather the Gibson but there’s no I’m paying that much more for such a similar guitar , even if I was loaded with cash I wouldn’t. Which I’m definitely not unfortunately.
Yeah, for cleaner stuff it's more of a taste thing. I do think the Wilkinson has a bit more fullness than the Roswell for rock stuff, but they're both great pickups and when you're not A/Bing them directly you'd never know.
There was a bee's DICK in it really Richie! Both sounded almost the same. Both HB & Vintage had same amount of mid range bark and trebles! Only the Vintage/Wilkinson had a bit more low end girth, otherwise they were the SAME in the other frequency ranges!
Cheers! \m/
He he, it's kipper's dick where I come from. English, what a language. But yeah, apart from that Wilkinson girth, there really wasn't much in it. Both sound great. (I would, by the way, also hazard a guess that Trev Wilkinson's wisdom was sought when designing the Roswell pickup range. That's pure guesswork, though - I will need to ask him about that.)
Harley Benton for me there. Listened with headphones on as well.
The SC Junior is a fine sounding guitar indeed! And of course, we all hear everything in our own way. For me it seems to change weekly :)
I find the HB fretboard to feel much harder and not as comfortable as rosewood. Is the Vintage fretboard closer to rosewood?
Interesting. I don't find the HB board too hard, but I guess it's all down to personal preference. The Vintage's board is very rosewood-esque in feel - apparently Trev Wilkinson really went out of his way to find the material that was closest to rosewood in terms of feel, tone and response. To me, it feels just like rosewood! I'd say try one in person if you can, as that's the only way to know if you like it. Let me know your thoughts when you have!
Wow both are amazing guitar...hmmm...the hb..got more clear, sharp,brighter sound ...but the vintage got more quality spects.,.. really difficult to choose to those two..
Yes, they are both surprisingly good for the money! So it can be hard to make a choice... for me, they both have some magic to them! I hope you manage to find the one that works best for you :)
Love the horn honk 🤣
No multi meter? Even a VOM could give you a impedance.
@@PooNinja He he, I do need a mutlimeter. By the way, I swear I replied to this before but it must've got lost in the ether... bizarre. I remember asking you on what cheap multimeter I should buy. Anyway, I've since seen my local DIY place has some, so once we're allowed to go shopping normally again I can go and have a look!
@@RichWordsMusic Fluke is sweet, Klein is fine, but any meter should should be ok for just reading ohms, A true RMS meter is preferred if your gonna be looking at voltages, but I don’t think you’ll need that.
Have a great week Sir
@@PooNinja Thanks for the advice man, have a good one and see you on CatPick Fridays!
Actually both sound great
I totally agree, both are fantastic at what they do! Juniors are simple beasts and shouldn't need to be super expensive...
How would you describe the frets? Is there a difference in height? I have a vintage and the frets are quite low. Thx for the vidéo it's just the one i needed.
Thanks, glad you found the video useful! I would describe the frets as being very similar... the HB ones are maybe a tiny bit wider (but in practice no different to play), and height-wise they look and feel the same to me. Hope that helps :)
@@RichWordsMusic thank you
Great Video.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
I would always prefer the fat neck, unfortunately HB´s necks are always thin no matter which model you choose.
I know what you mean - I've yet to come across an HB guitar with a genuinely fat neck. The Aeolus's is the closest I've seen, and that's only mildly chunky! I guess brands like this want to cater to first-time and younger players predominantly, and so thinner necks are probably easier to get to grips with. That's my guess, anyway ;)
I was going to pickup a secondhand vintage for 250 euros but now I like the Harley in this video ahhh, confused, both are great sounding here.
Ha ha, decisions decisions! Well, I think the big factor here is the neck. The neck on the Vintage is pretty massive! On the HB SC Junior it's very standard. So if you have a favored neck type, I'd go that way. Also, maybe try the Vintage if you can, and if you like it, buy it (and haggle down!). You won't get to try the HB until after you buy it and it ships, which is always a risk even though Thomann has a great refund/shipping policy. If you try the Vintage and it connects with you, you've found your guitar. Hope that helps and doesn't result in any more confusion ;)
$100 more ? Here in Canada it’s a larger price gap then that.
Ah, I was thinking in European prices - could well be for you it's a bigger difference. How much are they both in Canada? Might make the decision easier though, at the end of the day...
@@RichWordsMusic the Les Paul Jr is $1900 plus taxes and the Harley Benton bought though Thomann is like $250 plus taxes and shipping costs. It’s no brainer for me.
@@benallmark9671 Oh, I thought you were talking about the Vintage V120, not the Gibson! Yes, the Gibson is not far from 10x the cost... and I'm sure it won't be 10x the guitar!
HB for top end. Vintage wins on bass end. Value for money is HB. I like a thinner neck as I have short fat fingers, so HB wins for me. In truth, not much between these two in tone terms at all unless you factor in price.
Yep, for me the tonal differences are less significant than the neck profile and price arguments. And I can totally see why the HB wins for you in that context - the neck on the Vintage is really rather chunky. Factor in the HB being way cheaper and you've got a clear winner!
The v120 isn't p90 it's p100
It's funny, Trev Wilkinson says it is a P90, but because it's stacked, I do agree with you in a way. It's kind of cheating ;) But this one sounds nothing like any other stacked ones I've tried - it sounds just like a P90 to me!
Very first!
Consider yourself the victor of today Michiel, well done!
Now watch the video ;)
@@RichWordsMusic nah
@@StudioChimiel Dammit, that's how everyone reacts!
@@RichWordsMusic Well.... ok then....