I have the same guitar, except mine was the SC-450Plus VB. Anyway I had the same problem with the tuners, ended up replacing them with a set of Wilkenson Deluxe, Kluson like tuners. The big problem for me was the stop bar tail piece. First time changing strings the studs came out, they had been shimmed with a couple slivers of wood. I put it all back together and ended up with a severe lean forward on the studs. So I looked around youTube found Phillip McNight's channel. In a video he said to wrap the studs in glue soaked newspaper and pound them into the guitar. It worked. Guitar has been fine for the last 3 years.
If you like trying out budget guitars, try a 10S Guitars GF Goldtop Vintage Relic. They're MIC as well, like the Harley Benton guitars. They use mahogany bodies, mahogany necks (with a long neck tenon), ebony fretboards, real mother of pearl inlays, real bone nut, figured maple tops, Grover tuners, Nitrocellulose Lacquer finishes, double-binding, Epiphone brand humbuckers... But they do use cheap chrome-plated hardware. They're not bad for the money. Very good playing guitars, too. I just bought one about a month ago off of Reverb, and other than an immediate need for a proper setup, pickup adjustment, and new Ernie Ball strings, it's been a great guitar. I'm enjoying playing it. The last couple videos on my channel feature it.
I have heard a lot of good things about 10S. The only problem is that I am not a big fan of reliced guitars. I don't hate them, but would it would have to play and sound exceptionally great for me to buy one. That said, I'm in the process of deciding my next 6 string acquisition. 10S is on the list of possibilities.
@@grumpymikeguitar Cool deal. If you do, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it. I like relic guitars, but I also figured that if the finish wasn't perfect (sub-$500 guitar), nobody would ever look close enough to know once they see the finish is rubbed off anyway. So, imperfect finish + relic job = not obvious to your average person. Plus, I've always wanted a real 59 Les Paul, but unless I win the lottery, that won't ever happen. Also, one I got was built to damn-near R9 (1959) Les Paul Goldtop specs but with only the single bridge humbucker, not the standard dual setup (neck & bridge). But I'm a simple dude, I don't ever really use tone controls or neck pickups with my playing, so I collect single humbucker guitars. 👍🏻
Nice work - enjoyed it! The guitar sounded amazing - you hadn't commented on the tones you got out of playing it in your summation....but I loved the tones . I've been a Fender/Gibson/PRS player forever. I've now started to really appreciate the quality of low to mid-priced guitars. I've obtained a few of the Epiphone "designed by Gibson" instruments of late- they're stunning! Build/Sound/Looks...man! Now, with your help, I'm heading toward even lower priced instruments. I've built a couple kits (335, Stratocaster) that weren't too expensive - however I put in new everything. Your evaluation of the vintage Les Paul described two major flaws that I think, can be properly remedied. Maybe because I've built kits I feel more comfortable replacing a few things. I subscribed - like your approach. Thanks
Good review and honesty appreciated. I do think that as a modding platform a few more hundred would get you a very decent guitar and you would be well below something.... uh... authentic. Well below and I think that is the point for most HB fans. I have 3 btw and a Gibson as well. Good to see you back at it. Thanks
Mike, I bought the same finished HB guitar last year during the first UK lockdown and didn’t have any problems with mine except microphonic pickups and hum. Was easily sorted with some of that crimson guitars shielding paint.👍
With the $10K of amps and fuzz boxes behind you, a cigarbox would sound good. I have exact model, shipped to my door from China by way of Thomann by way of Miami to here $200.
Gibson are fine guitars. I’ve had hb. Guitars and moved them on. I’ve still got my Gibson and fenders. They just have a generic sound. Ok for some. Not for me. Like having cubic zircon and diamonds. Both sparkle but…………………..
Nice, thorough review! I agree it's a great looking guitar, too. I did have the same nut/tuner trouble with my Epiphone Les Paul Special VE (sub $200). I replaced with a graphite nut and Hipshot locking tuners. Huge improvement for under $100! So yes, a disappointing issue to have right out of the box.
I may be a bit late but I thank you for this review, I really couldn’t find a actually good one and then I stumbled on yours. I’m only 17 years old and my first guitar was a very cheap stratocaster from amazon. I get along well with it as a beginner and it makes fun, now I thought of saving on a Harley Benton that is exactly this one since I’m a huge fan of the Les Paul "Single Cut“ Design. I do think it’s a good guitar for the price even tho I don’t have it yet but I hope to have enough money soon that I can sacrifice for it xD
Hi Mike thx for this honest review. I like your style so I subscribed. I bought this guitar for somethings around 140 bucks which clearly is an affordable price. It came with the cons but also with the pros 😉 But I have to say that I'm having a lot of fun playing on it. As a beginner isn't it all that matters? Thus I'm happy with it. Take care!
Todays price is $219.68 Canadian, a tusq nut is $9.95, Grover tuners $ 80.00, and you have a really nice guitar for under $ 400.00 which includes delivery and customs fees. Or you can pay $ 800.00 for an Epiphone.
when you do dance in your g-string that's the thing no one wants to see or hear 🤣🤣😅😆... it sounded like you said that which I thought was halirous because it sounded like normal like you were talking about the weather. and what I was thinking was did he just say what I thought he said? when you do a dance in your g-string 🤣🤣🤣..... do little dance🎶 make a little love🎶 get down tonight🎶🎵🎶.😅🤣🤣🤣
Off hand, I can't really remember. It's been a while since I made this video and I don't have the guitar anymore. Pretty sure it's whatever I said in the video. I'll have to go back and rewatch it.
Hey, Grumpy! I love that A, G, D riff you played during the tone test. Gonna have to steal it :) It's cool how you keep upping the quality of your videos. Hopefully, when the world isn't so crazy, we can get together, share some bourbon and jam a little. Have a day.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm just kind of learning this RUclips stuff as I go. Always trying to make it better. I look forward to being able to crack open a bottle with you. 🎸🤘🎸
Fair review, and probably very accuate. I've been supriesed by where you find good quality within the HB range. The "Tele" Fusion is pretty much flawless. The TE-20 is suprisiangly good. I spent 10 minutes setting it up, replaced some hardware to black just for the looks, planned to swap the pickups but didn't as they sound fine. For the price it's silly good. The DC-custom is OK. Nothing bad, nothing really goo, just bland. The TE-90qm is pretty nice, and it sounds really good, but there is just something missing to make it a good guitar. Perhaps it would come to life with different gauge strings?
How do they compare to Epiphones? You can get an Epiphone for 400, or spend 700 on an upgraded one (that many people say needs upgrading and set-up after buying. What's the overall best mod options for someone who wants a workhorse on stage?
Just my opinion, but I think the Harley Bentons stack up very well against the Epiphones. As far as mods go, it really seems to depend on which model you buy. The first mod I do to any guitar I buy is straplocks (I prefer Dunlop). Beyond that, if the nut is plastic, replace it with graphite or bone. If the tuning machines Don't feel solid, replace them. As for the pups, it really depends on how you feel about the stock pups. Again, just my opinion, but a $150 H.B. with $200 worth of upgrades blows a stock $400 Epi away.
He sure knows how to drag out a review. Can we not get down to business? Probably why it took 3 tries. Can't seem to correctly even review. Alot of unsure comments things like I will talk later or Im not sure or I think......more on that later. Goodbye. 🙄🤕
I bought one of these for $156 plus $80 shipping. It was listed as a B Stock. I didn't really care. I just wanted the least expensive option I could get. Arrived in about a week and I can't find anything wrong with it to list it as a B stock, probably just a customer return. I was surprised at the quality of the build and components used. I don't really use coil splits and at a gig they would be a pain to use during songs as the knobs don't easily pull, but other than that, the thing played great right out of the box with very minimal tuning. I'm thinking about stripping the plastic finish off of it, throwing some dimarzio's in it and installing grovers. I think it has a chance to be a real player based on the build quality. You're right, it will never be an R9, but Ive played a lot of Epi's, Tributes and Studio's that have more issues than this one. For me, the big issue with all of these import guitars is the poly finish. Sure they look great, but I'm really not into wood guitars covered with a thick sheet of plastic. This isn't really a nitro debate, I've stripped two Gibson's, a 78 Marauder and a 98 DC, that had really thick (and beat) black finishes, and the resonance on both of them improved tremendously. They both turned into super buys for under $1000 and a bunch of hobby labor.
The most fun moment for any patriotic American is proving the absolute supremacy of the Les Paul. Forget all the other instruments from Gibson and other manufacturers, only the LP the Superior remains... My first assessment of this heavyweight misunderstanding has not changed in 45 years - thanks to the logo, absolutely mediocre goods are sold ten times more expensive.
Congrats! Very honest and detailed review :). In your opinion, should i buy this guitar if i'm trying to replicate that characteristic Jimmy Page live tone? Even if i sound dumb with this question, but just to have an idea about: that's the tone that i'm trying to get near to, should i buy it? Thank you, and rock on!!
Howdy Samuele, trying to replicate someone's tone is a tricky thing. Tone comes from the entire signal chain, starting at your fingers and ending at the speaker cab. Although this is a nice guitar, relitive to its price, I'm not sure the pickups would be capable of getting you to your goal. That said, this is a great starting point for a modding project. The right set of pups just might get you there.
@@grumpymikeguitar Thanks for the answer! Anyway the fact is that i already came very very close to his tone with my double neck harley benton 612, and that's quite surprising because all i used is my guitar and amplitube 4 with his exact same gear! Now my question is: can i still have get that tone or that new guitar will change things a little bit? that's all, and again thanks for your reply and your time! :)
I have the lemon burst version, the tuners where also loose, and this is a year later... some QC issues there obviously, that said, I just whipped out a number 1 pozi and tightened them up. I mentioned this to Thomann, and they gave me a $70 dollar credit to buy grovers... thats good customer service, I hadn't even asked and they gave me credit.
I just got one of these and not really happy with it, the tuners were not put on straight, the frets were really rough and scratchy, the pickups were off center pushing the scratch plate way out and the high e string was not even over the pickup pole. The bolt that holds the pickguard on was that long so dug into the guitar body causing a dent in the finish and apart from the buzzing frets had really messy print on the selector switch. It had also been put through quality control!!! I wont buy another Harley Bbenton Gguitar thats for sure.
Harley Bentons seem to be a bit hit and miss. Of The 4 that I bought, this one was certainly the worst. The others, however, weren't too bad and the P90 gold top is still one of my favorite guitars.
Does anyone know what model Epiphone would this guitar most closely relate to? I have a Model 100 that I have modded and it plays awesome. It’s a bolt on; is it worth looking at this for a neck through?
I don't think I would be disappointed with a guitar that needs new tuners at this price point if the pickups didn't need replacing and from what has been said the pick ups do sound fine. The nut trouble also isn't a deal breaker. In fact even your reveiw tells me I should get this guitar or the sc 550 2. I like the finish on this one better. I also think If I do want better pickups and say put some greeny buckers or mojo tines or better yet some Tone Riders for a lot cheaper.. I think I would be pleased.
It is certainly a worthy guitar, especially for anyone who knows how to do all the necessary tweaks and upgrades. Remember, however, that the most likely buyer of a guitar like this is a beginner who just wants a good guitar to play, not to work on. Even then, I don't think this one would be a poor choice. All of the Harley Bentons I've tried have been very good for their price point.
Hi Mike, the Grappa guy here. I bought one of these in december but it arrived with a cracked neck (transportation damage). I was reimboursed and I got a second one (LD model - I'm a lefty there is only one model for us), but this again was faulty so it went back... I'm waiting to finally get the right one, and it's february already. Bad luck right?
Hey Nicola. I’ve had my eyes on this beautiful guitar in a lefty for a while now but I’m hesitant given the mixed feedback on product quality. Was the neck cracked on the second one too? They don’t have very good customer service it seems. However it was nice to know they reimbursed you. Would you be kind enough to update us on the 3rd time lucky? Thanks, Jack
@@jpierre9347 Sorry I can't upload pictures. First guitar was a 450 plus LH HoneyBurst but when I sent it back they were out of stock so they reimboursed me. I then ordered the LemonDrop color. Both of them did not have the sticker and the QC black booklet from Thomann. The second one had the tuners misaligned and strings were touching. My guess these two did not undergo Thomann QC because of the festivities season overwork they must have had. As of today they have opened a new order to send me a new 450, LD the only model available for lefties.
I appreciate your in-depth review of this guitar Mike. Not sure whether to buy this one or the J & D LS100. Or do I spend more money and look at the more expensive Vintage reissued V100CS or the Epiphone Les Paul Classic worn heritage or the Cort CR100, all of which look great too. Any advice welcome; I want it for hard/classic rock style playing.
Hi Steve, thanks for checking out the video. For the money the HB's are pretty good. That said, I think Epiphone has been knocking it out of the park. Unfortunately, I really can't speak about the J&D and Vintage. Ultimately, I would opt to spend a little more on the Epi. Of corse, it all comes down to what your budget will allow. Cheers
Great video. I like your style.Good looking woodshed too. I think I'm gonna order one of these in Lemon Drop. Been considering an Epiphone for a long time and I'm happy to hear you feel they're comparable. Also I live overseas on a budget and shipping from Thomann will be easy for me. Thanks for the great vid!!
I did not measure either of them before making adjustments. I normally adjust pup height by ear. That said, there did not seem to be a noticeable difference. I should also point out that a new set of Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys made a vast improvement to the tone. I did the review with the strings that came on the guitar and they seemed a bit dead.
Yes indeed, and if I keep it (because one of the 4 Harley Bentons I bought will be given away) it will play and around really good too, after I get done with the mods and setup.
Sadly, I have no experience with the CR250. However, my understanding is that the Cort guitars are really pretty good. I wouldn't be surprised if the CR250 is better bang for the buck.
If you don't mind, how do you find the neck? Is it wide? The width of the neck at the nut, is it really 43 mm as they say on the Thomann website? I'm asking you because I have bough four Harley Benton guitars from Thomann, and all four had the wrong neck specs listed on the website.
I apologize for missing your question. On mine, the width at the nut is not 43mm, it is 41.9mm. I have a feeling 43mm is just a generic spec they give for LP style guitars. It is a little skinnier than my Gibson and feel quite comfortable to play, so I'm good with it. Still, Thomann really should list the correct specs. Again, I am sorry I missed you question.
@@grumpymikeguitar thank you for the reply. I honestly like more wide and meaty necks, I guess the way Gibson necks are. BTW, I also bought two Harley Benton ST-62 from them. You need baby hands to play those guitars, the width of the neck at the nut is 40.9 mm, the string spacing is way too narrow.
Well played! Is that an Orange Crush mini in the background? What's your opinion on it? I was considering this one for the size, but I'm dubious about it because of the size. I know, ironic. Thanks.
No no no, thank you. I really appreciate the sub. I'm glad you enjoy the content. I'll have more coming as soon as I work out some computer difficulties.
I've got the tobacco burst version and it took Thomann 2 goes to get me a decent one, in fairness to them the first was damaged in transit (bent bridge, cracked paint and unplayable). The second however is great, I always planned to upgrade the tuners but on mine although they feel cheap, they tune easily and stay in tune better than most of my other guitars (better than Gibson SG and PRS SE). I guess it's luck of the draw as for this price QC won't be the best. Thomann offered me money off and replacement parts to fix it myself or a new guitar. I opted for a new guitar and couldn't be happier with it. Great review :)
Yes, that is the problem with cheap parts. They are often hit or miss. Im glad you are enjoying yours. After all, that's what it's all about. Thanks for the sub.
Of the 4 HB guitars I bought, none of them had twisted necks. As for undevel frets, none of them were any worse than many of the guitars I've purchased, all of which cost cost considerably more than the HB's.
@@grumpymikeguitar it's costing me $400 to repair with a luthier, can't send it back as that would cost me $250. First time I have ever bought a guitar without playing it first which was based on all the really bad reviews on YT, basically only total amateur guitarists would own such a piece of garbage...
Sounds a lot like the repairs I'm having to do to my Squier HSS Strat. The reality is, you can spend 10 times the cost of an HB and still get a bad one. Just ask some Gibson owners. Sorry the one you got sucked. Maybe you should have just sent it back.
That is your prerogative. However, maybe using it as a platform to learn how to do your own repairs would be far more beneficial to you in the long run. Personally, I think smashing guitars is just dumb. As John Hyatt put it, "It breaks my heart to see those stars smashing a perfectly good guitar." Again, if the neck is truly twisted, it should have been sent back. As for unlevel frets, it's a super easy thing to fix if you take the time to learn how to do it.
I will say this. I use it to accent other effects, namely a BBE Soul Vibe. As a stand alone chorus, I think you can do better. That said, it is under 40 bucks.
Hey!!! I'm terribly sorry. I though you were commenting on a different video. Sometimes the RUclips app can get a bit confusing. To answer your question, the SC 450 Plus Vintage is not nearly as good as the other Harley Bentons I bought, however, for the price, it does have potential if you are willing and able to do what needs to be done. Of course, that does mean putting a little extra $ into it, but not too much. I think a beginner might do better with a different Harley Benton model. And, someone who is adept at modding would fi d it perfectly acceptable. Again, sorry I confused which video you were commenting on.
@@grumpymikeguitar it's okey my friend don't worry Btw i think im gonna buy harley benton sc custom active vb if you have ever heard about it It's a good deal for the price
@@grumpymikeguitar the word online is that most of the silverburts where SC-II or HB-450 are discounted due to Major finish issues. Not easy to do a tearburst on the fly.
Nice color, I like how the outside burst matches all the back of the guitar, only thing I'd do to her is to swap those humbuckers to a pair of dimarzio cream types
I have the same guitar, except mine was the SC-450Plus VB. Anyway I had the same problem with the tuners, ended up replacing them with a set of Wilkenson Deluxe, Kluson like tuners.
The big problem for me was the stop bar tail piece. First time changing strings the studs came out, they had been shimmed with a couple slivers of wood. I put it all back together and ended up with a severe lean forward on the studs. So I looked around youTube found Phillip McNight's channel. In a video he said to wrap the studs in glue soaked newspaper and pound them into the guitar. It worked. Guitar has been fine for the last 3 years.
The old batches of the SC-450Plus had problems of that kind. Newer batches are better, with better tuners and stable studs.
"there is one area Harley Benton may have Gibson beat" ...price?
The HB's have Gibson beat with the heel joint as well.
@@grumpymikeguitar Yes, just joking, great review!
If you like trying out budget guitars, try a 10S Guitars GF Goldtop Vintage Relic. They're MIC as well, like the Harley Benton guitars. They use mahogany bodies, mahogany necks (with a long neck tenon), ebony fretboards, real mother of pearl inlays, real bone nut, figured maple tops, Grover tuners, Nitrocellulose Lacquer finishes, double-binding, Epiphone brand humbuckers... But they do use cheap chrome-plated hardware. They're not bad for the money. Very good playing guitars, too. I just bought one about a month ago off of Reverb, and other than an immediate need for a proper setup, pickup adjustment, and new Ernie Ball strings, it's been a great guitar. I'm enjoying playing it.
The last couple videos on my channel feature it.
I have heard a lot of good things about 10S. The only problem is that I am not a big fan of reliced guitars. I don't hate them, but would it would have to play and sound exceptionally great for me to buy one.
That said, I'm in the process of deciding my next 6 string acquisition. 10S is on the list of possibilities.
@@grumpymikeguitar Cool deal. If you do, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it. I like relic guitars, but I also figured that if the finish wasn't perfect (sub-$500 guitar), nobody would ever look close enough to know once they see the finish is rubbed off anyway. So, imperfect finish + relic job = not obvious to your average person. Plus, I've always wanted a real 59 Les Paul, but unless I win the lottery, that won't ever happen.
Also, one I got was built to damn-near R9 (1959) Les Paul Goldtop specs but with only the single bridge humbucker, not the standard dual setup (neck & bridge). But I'm a simple dude, I don't ever really use tone controls or neck pickups with my playing, so I collect single humbucker guitars. 👍🏻
End of november ill have one in my hands 140 for a guitar like this omg im in and gonna buy maybe one more
Nice work - enjoyed it! The guitar sounded amazing - you hadn't commented on the tones you got out of playing it in your summation....but I loved the tones . I've been a Fender/Gibson/PRS player forever. I've now started to really appreciate the quality of low to mid-priced guitars. I've obtained a few of the Epiphone "designed by Gibson" instruments of late- they're stunning! Build/Sound/Looks...man! Now, with your help, I'm heading toward even lower priced instruments. I've built a couple kits (335, Stratocaster) that weren't too expensive - however I put in new everything. Your evaluation of the vintage Les Paul described two major flaws that I think, can be properly remedied. Maybe because I've built kits I feel more comfortable replacing a few things. I subscribed - like your approach. Thanks
Good review and honesty appreciated. I do think that as a modding platform a few more hundred would get you a very decent guitar and you would be well below something.... uh... authentic. Well below and I think that is the point for most HB fans. I have 3 btw and a Gibson as well. Good to see you back at it. Thanks
That's cool lick you're playing here! This guitar sounds great, in every configuration that you put it in! What a crisp, clear tone!
Mike,
I bought the same finished HB guitar last year during the first UK lockdown and didn’t have any problems with mine except microphonic pickups and hum.
Was easily sorted with some of that crimson guitars shielding paint.👍
With the $10K of amps and fuzz boxes behind you, a cigarbox would sound good. I have exact model, shipped to my door from China by way of Thomann by way of Miami to here $200.
Gibson are fine guitars. I’ve had hb. Guitars and moved them on. I’ve still got my Gibson and fenders. They just have a generic sound. Ok for some. Not for me.
Like having cubic zircon and diamonds. Both sparkle but…………………..
I've seen several reviews for this particular HB. This is by far the most detailed and honest analysis. Thanks Mike!
Nice, thorough review! I agree it's a great looking guitar, too. I did have the same nut/tuner trouble with my Epiphone Les Paul Special VE (sub $200). I replaced with a graphite nut and Hipshot locking tuners. Huge improvement for under $100!
So yes, a disappointing issue to have right out of the box.
I may be a bit late but I thank you for this review, I really couldn’t find a actually good one and then I stumbled on yours. I’m only 17 years old and my first guitar was a very cheap stratocaster from amazon. I get along well with it as a beginner and it makes fun, now I thought of saving on a Harley Benton that is exactly this one since I’m a huge fan of the Les Paul "Single Cut“ Design. I do think it’s a good guitar for the price even tho I don’t have it yet but I hope to have enough money soon that I can sacrifice for it xD
Hi Mike thx for this honest review. I like your style so I subscribed.
I bought this guitar for somethings around 140 bucks which clearly is an affordable price. It came with the cons but also with the pros 😉
But I have to say that I'm having a lot of fun playing on it.
As a beginner isn't it all that matters? Thus I'm happy with it.
Take care!
Todays price is $219.68 Canadian, a tusq nut is $9.95, Grover tuners $ 80.00, and you have a really nice guitar for under $ 400.00 which includes delivery and customs fees. Or you can pay $ 800.00 for an Epiphone.
pro trick : you can watch series on flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching loads of movies recently.
@Abdullah Andy Definitely, I have been watching on flixzone} for since december myself :D
when you do dance in your g-string that's the thing no one wants to see or hear 🤣🤣😅😆... it sounded like you said that which I thought was halirous because it sounded like normal like you were talking about the weather. and what I was thinking was did he just say what I thought he said? when you do a dance in your g-string 🤣🤣🤣..... do little dance🎶 make a little love🎶 get down tonight🎶🎵🎶.😅🤣🤣🤣
😂🤣😂🤣😂
Is the fretboard made of pau ferro, not laurel?
Off hand, I can't really remember. It's been a while since I made this video and I don't have the guitar anymore. Pretty sure it's whatever I said in the video. I'll have to go back and rewatch it.
Hey, Grumpy! I love that A, G, D riff you played during the tone test. Gonna have to steal it :) It's cool how you keep upping the quality of your videos. Hopefully, when the world isn't so crazy, we can get together, share some bourbon and jam a little. Have a day.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm just kind of learning this RUclips stuff as I go. Always trying to make it better.
I look forward to being able to crack open a bottle with you. 🎸🤘🎸
A good, honest review.
grumpy now you know as bad it may be just send it to me .you just one cool guy.
Fair review, and probably very accuate.
I've been supriesed by where you find good quality within the HB range. The "Tele" Fusion is pretty much flawless.
The TE-20 is suprisiangly good. I spent 10 minutes setting it up, replaced some hardware to black just for the looks, planned to swap the pickups but didn't as they sound fine. For the price it's silly good.
The DC-custom is OK. Nothing bad, nothing really goo, just bland.
The TE-90qm is pretty nice, and it sounds really good, but there is just something missing to make it a good guitar. Perhaps it would come to life with different gauge strings?
How do they compare to Epiphones? You can get an Epiphone for 400, or spend 700 on an upgraded one (that many people say needs upgrading and set-up after buying.
What's the overall best mod options for someone who wants a workhorse on stage?
Just my opinion, but I think the Harley Bentons stack up very well against the Epiphones. As far as mods go, it really seems to depend on which model you buy. The first mod I do to any guitar I buy is straplocks (I prefer Dunlop). Beyond that, if the nut is plastic, replace it with graphite or bone. If the tuning machines Don't feel solid, replace them. As for the pups, it really depends on how you feel about the stock pups.
Again, just my opinion, but a $150 H.B. with $200 worth of upgrades blows a stock $400 Epi away.
He sure knows how to drag out a review. Can we not get down to business? Probably why it took 3 tries. Can't seem to correctly even review. Alot of unsure comments things like I will talk later or Im not sure or I think......more on that later. Goodbye. 🙄🤕
Don't let the door hit you in the ass.
@@grumpymikeguitar 😂😂😂
So at that price point do you think with a set good tuners and a bone nut. Would it make a better then good guitar??
Absolutely. H.B.'s are, at the very least, an excellent modding platform.
I bought one of these for $156 plus $80 shipping. It was listed as a B Stock. I didn't really care. I just wanted the least expensive option I could get. Arrived in about a week and I can't find anything wrong with it to list it as a B stock, probably just a customer return.
I was surprised at the quality of the build and components used. I don't really use coil splits and at a gig they would be a pain to use during songs as the knobs don't easily pull, but other than that, the thing played great right out of the box with very minimal tuning. I'm thinking about stripping the plastic finish off of it, throwing some dimarzio's in it and installing grovers. I think it has a chance to be a real player based on the build quality.
You're right, it will never be an R9, but Ive played a lot of Epi's, Tributes and Studio's that have more issues than this one. For me, the big issue with all of these import guitars is the poly finish. Sure they look great, but I'm really not into wood guitars covered with a thick sheet of plastic. This isn't really a nitro debate, I've stripped two Gibson's, a 78 Marauder and a 98 DC, that had really thick (and beat) black finishes, and the resonance on both of them improved tremendously. They both turned into super buys for under $1000 and a bunch of hobby labor.
The most fun moment for any patriotic American is proving the absolute supremacy of the Les Paul. Forget all the other instruments from Gibson and other manufacturers, only the LP the Superior remains... My first assessment of this heavyweight misunderstanding has not changed in 45 years - thanks to the logo, absolutely mediocre goods are sold ten times more expensive.
Thank you for your honesty. Great video!
Congrats! Very honest and detailed review :). In your opinion, should i buy this guitar if i'm trying to replicate that characteristic Jimmy Page live tone? Even if i sound dumb with this question, but just to have an idea about: that's the tone that i'm trying to get near to, should i buy it? Thank you, and rock on!!
Howdy Samuele, trying to replicate someone's tone is a tricky thing. Tone comes from the entire signal chain, starting at your fingers and ending at the speaker cab. Although this is a nice guitar, relitive to its price, I'm not sure the pickups would be capable of getting you to your goal.
That said, this is a great starting point for a modding project. The right set of pups just might get you there.
@@grumpymikeguitar Thanks for the answer! Anyway the fact is that i already came very very close to his tone with my double neck harley benton 612, and that's quite surprising because all i used is my guitar and amplitube 4 with his exact same gear! Now my question is: can i still have get that tone or that new guitar will change things a little bit? that's all, and again thanks for your reply and your time! :)
I have the lemon burst version, the tuners where also loose, and this is a year later... some QC issues there obviously, that said, I just whipped out a number 1 pozi and tightened them up. I mentioned this to Thomann, and they gave me a $70 dollar credit to buy grovers... thats good customer service, I hadn't even asked and they gave me credit.
That's rockin' axe Mike! \m/
Hi Mike like you're review s but if you don't like this laspaul how bout selling it to me.Your great can do review s with out bad words Thanks .
I just got one of these and not really happy with it, the tuners were not put on straight, the frets were really rough and scratchy, the pickups were off center pushing the scratch plate way out and the high e string was not even over the pickup pole. The bolt that holds the pickguard on was that long so dug into the guitar body causing a dent in the finish and apart from the buzzing frets had really messy print on the selector switch. It had also been put through quality control!!! I wont buy another Harley Bbenton Gguitar thats for sure.
Harley Bentons seem to be a bit hit and miss. Of The 4 that I bought, this one was certainly the worst. The others, however, weren't too bad and the P90 gold top is still one of my favorite guitars.
Does anyone know what model Epiphone would this guitar most closely relate to? I have a Model 100 that I have modded and it plays awesome. It’s a bolt on; is it worth looking at this for a neck through?
Nice guitar really! for this price i'd go for it
That's a lot of guitar for a very small amount of money. Good review
Steve Roberts the drummer?
@@guitmickify No. Steve Roberts the grandfather.
I don't think I would be disappointed with a guitar that needs new tuners at this price point if the pickups didn't need replacing and from what has been said the pick ups do sound fine. The nut trouble also isn't a deal breaker. In fact even your reveiw tells me I should get this guitar or the sc 550 2. I like the finish on this one better. I also think If I do want better pickups and say put some greeny buckers or mojo tines or better yet some Tone Riders for a lot cheaper.. I think I would be pleased.
It is certainly a worthy guitar, especially for anyone who knows how to do all the necessary tweaks and upgrades. Remember, however, that the most likely buyer of a guitar like this is a beginner who just wants a good guitar to play, not to work on. Even then, I don't think this one would be a poor choice. All of the Harley Bentons I've tried have been very good for their price point.
Good honest review Mike,I have a lot of guitars but who knows ;-0) \m/
Hi Mike, the Grappa guy here. I bought one of these in december but it arrived with a cracked neck (transportation damage). I was reimboursed and I got a second one (LD model - I'm a lefty there is only one model for us), but this again was faulty so it went back... I'm waiting to finally get the right one, and it's february already. Bad luck right?
Sorry to hear that. Hopefully, everything will work out. Ease keep me updated.
Hey Nicola. I’ve had my eyes on this beautiful guitar in a lefty for a while now but I’m hesitant given the mixed feedback on product quality. Was the neck cracked on the second one too? They don’t have very good customer service it seems. However it was nice to know they reimbursed you. Would you be kind enough to update us on the 3rd time lucky? Thanks, Jack
@@jpierre9347 Sorry I can't upload pictures. First guitar was a 450 plus LH HoneyBurst but when I sent it back they were out of stock so they reimboursed me. I then ordered the LemonDrop color. Both of them did not have the sticker and the QC black booklet from Thomann. The second one had the tuners misaligned and strings were touching. My guess these two did not undergo Thomann QC because of the festivities season overwork they must have had. As of today they have opened a new order to send me a new 450, LD the only model available for lefties.
@@jpierre9347 I received it today. I made a couple of videos of it, check it out.
@@grumpymikeguitar received it today. Hope you can check the video. Let me know... you can have a sneak peak of the grappa as well ;)
Hell gibsons dont stay in tube all that good top wrap the bridge
Thank you for this i am looking in to buying one great in depth review and it will help with my decision.
I appreciate your in-depth review of this guitar Mike. Not sure whether to buy this one or the J & D LS100. Or do I spend more money and look at the more expensive Vintage reissued V100CS or the Epiphone Les Paul Classic worn heritage or the Cort CR100, all of which look great too. Any advice welcome; I want it for hard/classic rock style playing.
Hi Steve, thanks for checking out the video. For the money the HB's are pretty good. That said, I think Epiphone has been knocking it out of the park. Unfortunately, I really can't speak about the J&D and Vintage. Ultimately, I would opt to spend a little more on the Epi. Of corse, it all comes down to what your budget will allow. Cheers
@@grumpymikeguitar Thanks Mike, appreciate your input 🙂
Great video. I like your style.Good looking woodshed too. I think I'm gonna order one of these in Lemon Drop. Been considering an Epiphone for a long time and I'm happy to hear you feel they're comparable. Also I live overseas on a budget and shipping from Thomann will be easy for me. Thanks for the great vid!!
I guess making videos ain’t easy..and that..is why ...they make beer ! Keep on keeping on my man you’re doing great 👍😎🎸
Thanks for the Video. Keep em coming! Let's just be good 🤘
Is there a difference in pickup heights between this and your CST24HB? That might be a partial culprit for tone differences
I did not measure either of them before making adjustments. I normally adjust pup height by ear. That said, there did not seem to be a noticeable difference. I should also point out that a new set of Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys made a vast improvement to the tone. I did the review with the strings that came on the guitar and they seemed a bit dead.
I like your channel, it deserves more followers
Hey , it looks pretty good :0)
Yes indeed, and if I keep it (because one of the 4 Harley Bentons I bought will be given away) it will play and around really good too, after I get done with the mods and setup.
Cort CR250 OR Harley Benton 450 PLUS CB?
Sadly, I have no experience with the CR250. However, my understanding is that the Cort guitars are really pretty good. I wouldn't be surprised if the CR250 is better bang for the buck.
Keep on going driving grumpy Mike we love you keep plugging away
21:33 "once your G-string goes out of tune..." LMBO!
🤣
If you don't mind, how do you find the neck? Is it wide? The width of the neck at the nut, is it really 43 mm as they say on the Thomann website? I'm asking you because I have bough four Harley Benton guitars from Thomann, and all four had the wrong neck specs listed on the website.
I apologize for missing your question. On mine, the width at the nut is not 43mm, it is 41.9mm. I have a feeling 43mm is just a generic spec they give for LP style guitars. It is a little skinnier than my Gibson and feel quite comfortable to play, so I'm good with it. Still, Thomann really should list the correct specs.
Again, I am sorry I missed you question.
@@grumpymikeguitar thank you for the reply. I honestly like more wide and meaty necks, I guess the way Gibson necks are. BTW, I also bought two Harley Benton ST-62 from them. You need baby hands to play those guitars, the width of the neck at the nut is 40.9 mm, the string spacing is way too narrow.
why didnt you send it back and get a better one thats why the have a 3 year warrenty
Because fixing the issues myself is way easier than shipping it all the way back to Germany.
@@grumpymikeguitar true
Sound start at 24.33
Thats not a deal breaker
I like guitar
Thanks mike
Watching it at x1.5 speed. Makes it ever so easier to listen to.
Not gonna lie, Phil McKnight brought me here. 🤗
Not gonna lie. I'm glad you're here. Welcome!
Third time is a charm!
Sounds ok
Well played! Is that an Orange Crush mini in the background? What's your opinion on it? I was considering this one for the size, but I'm dubious about it because of the size. I know, ironic. Thanks.
It is a Crush 10 that I bought in NY almost 20 years ago.
@@grumpymikeguitar very nice! Thanks for taking the time to reply. I appreciate that, and, really enjoy your channel. New sub!
No no no, thank you. I really appreciate the sub. I'm glad you enjoy the content. I'll have more coming as soon as I work out some computer difficulties.
@@grumpymikeguitar Awesome! Looking forward to it.
Sounds good to me, does the Gibson have coil split, if not that's another con for the HB😂
I've got the tobacco burst version and it took Thomann 2 goes to get me a decent one, in fairness to them the first was damaged in transit (bent bridge, cracked paint and unplayable). The second however is great, I always planned to upgrade the tuners but on mine although they feel cheap, they tune easily and stay in tune better than most of my other guitars (better than Gibson SG and PRS SE). I guess it's luck of the draw as for this price QC won't be the best. Thomann offered me money off and replacement parts to fix it myself or a new guitar. I opted for a new guitar and couldn't be happier with it. Great review :)
Yes, that is the problem with cheap parts. They are often hit or miss. Im glad you are enjoying yours. After all, that's what it's all about. Thanks for the sub.
Stay clear of HB guitars as the necks are twisted and all the frets are different heights, cheap rubbish guitars...
Of the 4 HB guitars I bought, none of them had twisted necks. As for undevel frets, none of them were any worse than many of the guitars I've purchased, all of which cost cost considerably more than the HB's.
@@grumpymikeguitar it's costing me $400 to repair with a luthier, can't send it back as that would cost me $250. First time I have ever bought a guitar without playing it first which was based on all the really bad reviews on YT, basically only total amateur guitarists would own such a piece of garbage...
Sounds a lot like the repairs I'm having to do to my Squier HSS Strat. The reality is, you can spend 10 times the cost of an HB and still get a bad one. Just ask some Gibson owners.
Sorry the one you got sucked. Maybe you should have just sent it back.
@@grumpymikeguitar I'll use it once or twice then smash it on stage...
That is your prerogative. However, maybe using it as a platform to learn how to do your own repairs would be far more beneficial to you in the long run. Personally, I think smashing guitars is just dumb. As John Hyatt put it, "It breaks my heart to see those stars smashing a perfectly good guitar."
Again, if the neck is truly twisted, it should have been sent back. As for unlevel frets, it's a super easy thing to fix if you take the time to learn how to do it.
Is it worth buying it?
I will say this. I use it to accent other effects, namely a BBE Soul Vibe. As a stand alone chorus, I think you can do better. That said, it is under 40 bucks.
Hey!!! I'm terribly sorry. I though you were commenting on a different video. Sometimes the RUclips app can get a bit confusing.
To answer your question, the SC 450 Plus Vintage is not nearly as good as the other Harley Bentons I bought, however, for the price, it does have potential if you are willing and able to do what needs to be done. Of course, that does mean putting a little extra $ into it, but not too much.
I think a beginner might do better with a different Harley Benton model. And, someone who is adept at modding would fi d it perfectly acceptable.
Again, sorry I confused which video you were commenting on.
@@grumpymikeguitar it's okey my friend don't worry
Btw i think im gonna buy harley benton sc custom active vb if you have ever heard about it
It's a good deal for the price
Was this a B-stock?
No
@@grumpymikeguitar lol. In which case I'll order a B-stock and not be disappointed.
Not at all a bad idea. For the most part, b-stocks are going to be finish issues. A great way to save a few bucks.
@@grumpymikeguitar the word online is that most of the silverburts where SC-II or HB-450 are discounted due to Major finish issues. Not easy to do a tearburst on the fly.
Nice color, I like how the outside burst matches all the back of the guitar, only thing I'd do to her is to swap those humbuckers to a pair of dimarzio cream types