Fact.No guitar plays itself,so...But whrn you get hooked,you are a junkie.once a junkie,always a junkie.I confirm this,but hey,I don't believe in reincarnation(poor me),so I put my forces in music....there are much worst hobbies(don't tell my bad half this,I live for them....Keep on dreaming girl,'cause when you stop dreaming is time to DIE
Great review John! I've recently bought this beauty and I'm very pleased with it! The Roswell pickups sound really good and I love the slim neck. No flaws and perfect setup. It's my 5th Harley Benton guitar and it doesn't bother me to say that I play these guitars more often than my Gibson LP Studio 2014. The Harley Bentons are fine instruments, considering their price. Your review made me choose the Harley Benton. Keep up the good work!
Regarding the volume and tone knobs, Thomann has a large selection of replacement knobs and for a few additional dollars (pounds, euros) order something that is more to your liking. Because of Thomann's flat rate shipping charge if you order new knobs with the guitar they are shipped for free. I ordered a set of SC Style knobs in amber to replace the Tele style knobs that came on my CST24T and they make a world of difference.
Hi John, I think it's really great what you are doing. Showing us nice guitars while helping a good cause. These Harley Bentons are awesome guitars, I own 2 myself (SC-1000 and CST 24). If you don't need a Fender, Gibson or PRS, or just want something different, try them.
Awesome review! I have one in white with gold hardware. I love it so much, definitely one of my favorites in the collection. I believe the body is modeled more towards the ESP Viper than the Gibson SG
Got a couple of days behind on my 'must see' YT videos, and John's channel was the first I came to. Another fantastic looking, and sounding, Harley Benton guitar! I thought I had decided on getting a Telecaster copy, but I'm loving this SG!! I would never have thought of 'Vietnam' for quality guitars, but this one speaks (and looks) for itself. Incredible playing too, as always. Thanks John!!
I always think of 2 fellow Scotsman in Angus Young of ACDC (As if you needed to be told that) & Jack Bruce.. As they both used Gibsons early range, Jack with the Gibson EB 1 & 3 Bass & Angus with the Gibson SG Series... The word iconic comes to mind when I see these guitar's in that style... I hope you raise as much as possible for that guitar & as you know all to well even I was surprised when you said it didn't need setting up, if only all their guitars were like that... All the best to everyone over the weekend who watches Johns RUclips Channel & again I hope this guitar raises plenty in the way of donations to Zoe's Place... 🎸
Well John as far as i am concerned, i think the guitar looks and sounds great, and for the price, Hell yea, great review, and playing as always, Thank You John, Cheers
John some of the custom line Harley Benton’s are massive value for money and in some instances they will hold there value if not make a little. The Strat/tele stuff won’t hold price but are value for money when considering some of the poor quality issues squire are seeming to have at the moment from the Indonesian factory. Harley Benton are churning out so many new models that is something to keep an eye on when buying another. Another great video marra
I bought this guitar from Thomann about six months ago and have been quite happy with it. Paid $174 for it and also ordered the HB Mighty 5th tube amp for $133. So for around $300 I have a pretty good setup with my cab. After watching John play now I know I have to up my game lol.
Sounds good and looks better than my Epi SG tbh, my SG was set-up perfectly as well it's the first guitar I have never had to mess about with, I just got the Epi over the HB because I prefer the two volume knob set-up, coil tap etc. Missed you, I could have sworn I had the little bell clicked.
Been looking at gibson sg's for weeks (got that time to buy another guitar itch ) Stumbled upon the Harley Benton SG & with some research noticed they are made in the same factory as esp ltd's..Mahogany body & Set neck etc...For the price I quickly ordered one today & sure I'll do some upgrades BUT this is just a quality guitar without a doubt
I am thinking of having Santa pop a Harley Benton DC-Custom Cherry into my stocking this year so came looking for a review. I'm so glad I found yours! Your opinions matched my expectations based upon my HB SC450.When you began to play it, I was sold! Your playing is top notch sir! Happy Christmas 2018!
i bought my first Harley Benton over a year ago and i loved it right from the start i changed the tuners to what i always use and bam !!... perfect guitar
Hi John, when I said in my last message I hope you get another video out quickly I didn’t think it would be this quick. I’ll end up with writers cramp if you keep this pace up. Joking aside though you’ve created another great video, very informative as usual, great playing, as usual , and once again for an excellent cause. I hope to be moving to County Durham in the next few weeks, and would like to meet up with you at some time and hand you some contributions if that could be arranged. All the best till next time, just make it a couple of days longer between videos you’ll be a senior citizen yourself one day and you’ll know what I mean then.
Bill here. I like your donations program, very cool idea. I hope you end up helping a lot of children. By the way, you really should get into some guitar lessons, as in. Teach me how to play like that. You are very very good!
Writing the comment before watching the video: YES!! I love this guitar!! Glad you reviewed it, the sound is outstandingly Rock and Roll, gonna watch now...
Hi John,mmmmmmmm,Nice guitar,nicer price.....all said through gritted teeth,as i sit with my shiny new epi sg 400 pro in my hands !!!!!! GGGGGRRRRRR !!!!!! Nah,it`s all good mate,i should have taken the plunge on the Harley Benton. Just watch you don`t get any major splinters in all of yer fretting fingers when playing that HB DC Custom :) :) :) Good stuff as always mate.
Great video JR. Nearly bought one of these but went for a second hand Epi. Hmm.... not sure that was the right choice now. I would be very interested in what you think of the new higher end HB Fusions. They seem to have a crazy features for the price. Thanks again.
I'm curious about those guitars too. The fact that they have stainless steel frets at that price is amazing. Definitely going to look at reviewing on of those.
New subscriber to your channel and I've gotta say, excellent video and awesome how you have this all set up plus for an amazing charity!!! If the world had a few more like you... Love the HB review and GREAT PLAYING AS WELL!!! Thank you!!!
i see and hear you are sweeping very nicely.... can you do a lesson on it? maybe some basic exercises? or have you already done one? i like the new intro
I think ever guitar player wants to own an SG,,, and it is either the first axe you buy, or the last you will ever own, but you have to have one !!! Lol !!! TY John, just luv this channel ! 😁🖒✌
I have noticed that in (virtually?) every HB DC Custom video, the player is seated, as opposed to standing. Could this be because of the guitar's rather extreme neck dive? I think so. I recently bought one, and loved the tonality, finish and general quality build of the guitar, but then I put on a strap and stood up, whoa! neck dive. I know SG guitars suffer from this, as I once had a Gibson SG Standard. I think the problem is with the Grover tuners, which I believe are very heavy, solid made machines, and the longer 24 fret neck.
Hey John. Really loving these Harley Benton reviews. I have HB Les Paul copy and it is a great guitar with Wilkinson humbuckers. It needed a good setup when i received it 4 years ago but after that it plays great. In your demos what software do you use for the drum tracks? They sound really good. Keep the reviews coming.
That is definitely a lot of guitar for a little bit of money! The Grover tuners are expensive to buy, let alone all the rest of the parts! I don't think you could build one yourself that cheap! Well worth it!👍😎🎸🎶
Hi John, those Roswell Alnico V's sound great, altough it's not crancked up a lot. Normally an SG has Alnico II 's installed. I hope to start soon on the Tokai. Have all the parts almost. BTW.. one is missing. Still no envelop in my postbox. I think something went wrong ? Cheers and thanks mate.
Hi John. Why don't you fly to the Thomann warehouse. There you could try all the Bentons. Calculate the cost for a weekend stay and plane tickets. I would sponsor that.
With only master volume and tone knobs, rather than one pair for each pickup, the this Harley Benton looks like competition for the Epiphone SG Special rather than for the G-310 and G-400, especially given its price point. How does it stack up against the former?
After playing my DC-Custom again for +2 hours, i had to come back to this video.... and specially to your comment on the "Gibson style headstock tuning issues" Its funny how big G cant get it right to this date(minTune/G-force...), but my HB stays perfectly in tune for days and days, tuned it last time a week ago (Drop D) and its still there! What does that say about Gibson? "we don´t give a F_ck about our products nor customers"?!! :D
It's all in how the nut slots are cut. This guitar is perfect in that regard, but I've played a couple of Gibsons lately (a LP studio & a 335) that were lacking in this regard.
@@JRobsonGuitar Same observations here, i was planing to buy the real thing, but after testing 3 different G SG´s i noticed quality & tuning issues in all 3 guitars that did not justify the approx 1000€ price tag... Luckily i decided to try the HB brand and what a guitar i got for 155€!! I have a CST-24 too, but that turned out to be a lemon with bad neck issues... My observations is that the HB Custom range(DC/SC) are the best HB guitars and come with Grovers!
What is that kind of chord bending from 3:18 to 3:30 called? I heard it on Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton records, but never found out how it is done. I have the cheapest HB "Student" DC, and even that is a pretty good guitar.
It's just a unison bend. Pick a note on the B string then go 2 frets higher on the G string. If you play both strings together while bending the G string up a tone, you'll get that sound.
Very interesting and informative video john ,I do own a Epiphone SG and have big problems with neck dive how did you find the body to neck weight ratio with the Harley Benton? Thank Lee
Hey.I bought a CST 24 P90,but I will change the nut,tuners?....I like this guitars,but you need to upgrade at least the nut and some tuners for start...any thoughts?
I think the nut on all CST24 guitars is graphite so I wouldn't rush to replace that... Might just need the slots adjusting. The tuners are OK but I replaced them on my CST24 with some higher ratio Vansons. All in, my guitar owes me about £300 which is still a great price for what it feels/plays/sounds/looks like 👍
@@JRobsonGuitar yeah,I know it's graphite,but is reylly bad slotted.When you hear(pin) when tuning,you know it needs to be worked on it.OK,first I'll try to open it up a bit,but...great guitars for the price,but you still need to put in some work or cash(luthier).I am happy with it,nice sounding P90s.They should give you sth for all the good words and praises from you.I watch your vids and so I decided to try them out.Now I am more into all genres and want a clearity of a single coil.Yes,I've got a fender st.,but would want the tele.TE-52 or any sugestions?Every tip from you is taken seriously.thx a lot,keep on rockin'.greetings from SloveNIA(ita-slo border)
The Harley Benton DC Custom is a clear SG copy. Yes, the newer versions do have a different upper cut horn than the Gibsons, and these are similar to the LTD. But that doesn't mean the HB is copy of the LTD, which itself is a take on the SG. The reason for the horns being similar in the HB and LTD (any many other) versions is easy: Gibson doesn't allow the horns to be like on the SG. The headstock on the HB is also a take on the Gibson headstock, not the LTD headstock. If it were a LTD copy, it would have no pickguard and feature a very different upper body front "cut" (where the right arm sits).
@@ssm445 The DC Custom is 100 percent not a copy of a Gibson, its a copy of a LTD Viper and even Vintage V6 style, they do it like this so they bypass having issues with Gibson. If they copy a different guitar that is already copying something else, they avoid the wrath of Gibson because if anything Gibson will chance LTD and Vintage which they have tried many times. The SC Customs are a direct copy of the LTD ones too, who again re ripping off a design by a different company. The Viper 1000 Deluxe 2008 Model is near identical with a scratchplate to boot. www.amazon.co.uk/LTD-VIPER-DELUXE-OLYMPIC-WHITE/dp/B003EJXGSC Thats what it looks like.
About as well as a Gibson SG. Black Sabbath & classic metal stuff is fine, but for more modern drop tuned stuff you might be better going with something with active pickups.
Any one in the US be very careful buying a brand that does not have in country sales and service. If you have a problem with your purchase it can turn into disaster. Shipment back to China or the EU for service if they don't cover it is very expensive. Its also asking for damage in transit and insurance claims that may involve more than one country. How are you going to handle that?
Wonder why the Gibson "copies" are better set up than the Fender type...? Strange. As to the slight flaws in the cosmetics...for £150 who cares.. But we really must stop calling these guitars copies...because they ain't. Not really. As you probably know the new owners of gibson are getting their knicks in a twist because Dean are "copying" their designs. No they ain't....The gibson open book head stock was present on instruments well before gibson used it...as in fact was the Fender head stock shape. The Les Paul shape body was is not unique to gibson either, a chap whose name escapes me built an electric guitar with that body shape before gibson came up with it. Apparently it was taken to gibson with a view to them building the thing and they said no. This also tells us Les Paul wasn't the only one experimenting with and building pick ups at the time. The SG is simply a double cut out body as is the strat...which is uncannily similar it just has an elongated top horn. Isn't the Telecaster about the same shape as a Les Paul..? So is this HB a copy or just a guitar..?
Don't mess 1:1 with the epiphone plz... on the epiphone, you got 2 tone and 2 volume knobs with coilsplitting... and gibson pickups.. they call probucker alnico 5 wich are from gibson..
So.... people give you money. You buy guitars so you can use them for content for your RUclips channel. then you sell them and give the money to a charity. For example, someone gives you £300 you go out any buy a £300 guitar, you then use it on your channel (possibly making revenue from RUclips) then you sell it as a used item for less than the original £300. So the charity will get less that what was originally donated and you also possibly make some money yourself. If people want to help the charity they would be better off just giving it direct. or am i missing something?
Actually, I have NEVER sold a guitar for the charity for less than the purchase price. The one item which didn't sell at all (a Blackstar Fly 3 amp), I bought and gave away as a competition prize. So far, donations to the GoFundMe page are at around £1100, which I have turned into over £1600 of donations to a charity I am proud to support. All of this information is in the public domain as I regularly publish accounts for money in/money out & money sent to the charity. I make next to no money out of this once you take shipping costs of sending the guitar on to its new owner into account. I do these videos because a) I enjoy it and b) it generates new clients for my tuition business. The RUclips ad revenue covers the aforementioned shipping costs and the time I put in making the videos and doing the set ups on the guitars. So yes... You ARE missing something.
For £150 you won't get any guitar made of mahogany - that's the cost price for just the mahogany that would make the guitar. The blurb might say it's mahogany, but it isn't.
It is advertised as mahogany. It looks like mahogany. It feels like mahogany in terms of weight. It sounds like mahogany. I'm happy to assume that it is mahogany. Are Thomann breaking the law by advertising it as mahogany when you have proof that it isn't?
That depends on what you think 'mahogany' means. Historically, and botanically, it was applied to the wood of just three closely-related trees. All of these timbers are on the CITES index, and basically unavailable. However, the term 'mahogany' has been used for a variety of timbers - at least eighteen different species - used in the timber industry. Some of these are closely related to the original Swietenia mahoganies, others less so. Harley Benton are quite open about using thermally-treated maple (roseacer) instead of the now-unavailable rosewood - the Thomann site identifies roseacer fretboards as such. I see no reason why they would lie about the use of mahogany. What they are doing is taking advantage of the looser commercial terminology that over the years has led to the acceptance of the term 'mahogany' for a range of reddish-brown hardwoods of similar properties. My guess is that HB use African mahogany, or one of the more distantly related woods (Philippine Mahogany/Meranti, or Sapele/Sapele Mahogany) that are marketed as mahoganies but don't come from the same family or even the same order. Technically you're correct - HB isn't using 'true' mahogany. But in commercial terms, you're ignoring the fact that 'mahogany' has long been shorthand for 'a mahogany-like hardwood'. Anyone with the least familiarity with timber and CITES would know that you aren't going to see Swietenia mahogany on any £150 guitar. My own opinion is that companies should be obliged to give the genus or at least the family of wood involved. True mahogany (Honduran, Mexican, Cuban) would be Swietania genus: the closely related African mahogany would be Khaya genus. Both of these genuses belong to the same family, the Meliaceae, and so 'African mahogany' has been accepted for years. This would allow buyers to see clearly when they are getting a mahogany-like wood, not 'true' mahogany. There's a useful overview of the usage of 'mahogany' in the timber trade here, for anyone interested: The Wood Database www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/mahogany-mixups-the-lowdown/
You surely don't think a guitar-sized blank of an 'ordinary species' of mahogany costs £150.00, do you? Bet your local timber supplier loves selling to you. Does he drive a Bentley?
He's not far out - in fact, rather conservative - for genuine mahogany blanks of instrument-making quality. For example, this supplier will sell you a body blank of Honduras Mahogany for £119.40, including VAT. A neck blank is £90.00, including VAT. It's hard to get and requires special licenses. Most timber suppliers wouldn't bother: too little money for too much effort. shop.exotichardwoods.co.uk/honduras-mahogany-single-piece-body-blank.html
6 лет назад+2
Comparing personal sales to factory sales prices doesn't make any sense.
Up until now I have never really liked SG's but a combination of your superb playing and an excellent tone has swayed my opinion ! Harley Benton rock.
Fact.No guitar plays itself,so...But whrn you get hooked,you are a junkie.once a junkie,always a junkie.I confirm this,but hey,I don't believe in reincarnation(poor me),so I put my forces in music....there are much worst hobbies(don't tell my bad half this,I live for them....Keep on dreaming girl,'cause when you stop dreaming is time to DIE
i realize I'm kind of randomly asking but does anyone know a good site to watch newly released series online ?
Great review John! I've recently bought this beauty and I'm very pleased with it! The Roswell pickups sound really good and I love the slim neck. No flaws and perfect setup. It's my 5th Harley Benton guitar and it doesn't bother me to say that I play these guitars more often than my Gibson LP Studio 2014. The Harley Bentons are fine instruments, considering their price. Your review made me choose the Harley Benton. Keep up the good work!
The SG is actually one of two Gibson electric guitars I like.
The other is the Firebird.
Just as expected after watching: this is currently my favorite HB guitar hands down. Thanks for the review John! I look forward to more in the future!
Regarding the volume and tone knobs, Thomann has a large selection of replacement knobs and for a few additional dollars (pounds, euros) order something that is more to your liking. Because of Thomann's flat rate shipping charge if you order new knobs with the guitar they are shipped for free. I ordered a set of SC Style knobs in amber to replace the Tele style knobs that came on my CST24T and they make a world of difference.
Hi John, I think it's really great what you are doing. Showing us nice guitars while helping a good cause. These Harley Bentons are awesome guitars, I own 2 myself (SC-1000 and CST 24). If you don't need a Fender, Gibson or PRS, or just want something different, try them.
Love your effortless playing John. Top man. 👊🏻
Awesome review! I have one in white with gold hardware. I love it so much, definitely one of my favorites in the collection. I believe the body is modeled more towards the ESP Viper than the Gibson SG
Got a couple of days behind on my 'must see' YT videos, and John's channel was the first I came to. Another fantastic looking, and sounding, Harley Benton guitar! I thought I had decided on getting a Telecaster copy, but I'm loving this SG!! I would never have thought of 'Vietnam' for quality guitars, but this one speaks (and looks) for itself. Incredible playing too, as always. Thanks John!!
I always think of 2 fellow Scotsman in Angus Young of ACDC (As if you needed to be told that) & Jack Bruce..
As they both used Gibsons early range, Jack with the Gibson EB 1 & 3 Bass & Angus with the Gibson SG Series...
The word iconic comes to mind when I see these guitar's in that style...
I hope you raise as much as possible for that guitar & as you know all to well even I was surprised when you said it didn't need setting up, if only all their guitars were like that...
All the best to everyone over the weekend who watches Johns RUclips Channel & again I hope this guitar raises plenty in the way of donations to Zoe's Place... 🎸
HB uses pickups with the extra red/white leads. So if you really wanted coil tap, you could wire it yourself. I did it on my HB SC-550.
I thought the 550 had a split? I know the sc custom does
@@aidenbolte8354 The custom does, but not the 550. At least, not when I bought mine last year.
Well John as far as i am concerned, i think the guitar looks and sounds great, and for the price, Hell yea, great review, and playing as always, Thank You John, Cheers
Daaaaamn your phrasing is spot on, excellent playing!
John some of the custom line Harley Benton’s are massive value for money and in some instances they will hold there value if not make a little. The Strat/tele stuff won’t hold price but are value for money when considering some of the poor quality issues squire are seeming to have at the moment from the Indonesian factory. Harley Benton are churning out so many new models that is something to keep an eye on when buying another. Another great video marra
I bought this guitar from Thomann about six months ago and have been quite happy with it. Paid $174 for it and also ordered the HB Mighty 5th tube amp for $133. So for around $300 I have a pretty good setup with my cab. After watching John play now I know I have to up my game lol.
Sounds good and looks better than my Epi SG tbh, my SG was set-up perfectly as well it's the first guitar I have never had to mess about with, I just got the Epi over the HB because I prefer the two volume knob set-up, coil tap etc.
Missed you, I could have sworn I had the little bell clicked.
Great review and nice guitar 👍 John.. brilliant work towards Zoe, s place too mate take a bow 👏
Been looking at gibson sg's for weeks (got that time to buy another guitar itch ) Stumbled upon the Harley Benton SG & with some research noticed they are made in the same factory as esp ltd's..Mahogany body & Set neck etc...For the price I quickly ordered one today & sure I'll do some upgrades BUT this is just a quality guitar without a doubt
Nice one for that. Just the kind of review I need as I'm looking for an SG, but haven't got the funds to justify buying a Gibson/Epiphone right now.
I am thinking of having Santa pop a Harley Benton DC-Custom Cherry into my stocking this year so came looking for a review. I'm so glad I found yours! Your opinions matched my expectations based upon my HB SC450.When you began to play it, I was sold! Your playing is top notch sir! Happy Christmas 2018!
Same to you, mate. All the best 👍
i bought my first Harley Benton over a year ago and i loved it right from the start i changed the tuners to what i always use and bam !!... perfect guitar
Hi John, when I said in my last message I hope you get another video out quickly I didn’t think it would be this quick. I’ll end up with writers cramp if you keep this pace up. Joking aside though you’ve created another great video, very informative as usual, great playing, as usual , and once again for an excellent cause. I hope to be moving to County Durham in the next few weeks, and would like to meet up with you at some time and hand you some contributions if that could be arranged. All the best till next time, just make it a couple of days longer between videos you’ll be a senior citizen yourself one day and you’ll know what I mean then.
Nice one, mate. Drop me an email & we'll sort something out.
Excellent video, to-the-point, by someone who shows he knows what he is talking about. I have seen two thus far, both equally high-graded.
Bill here. I like your donations program, very cool idea. I hope you end up helping a lot of children. By the way, you really should get into some guitar lessons, as in. Teach me how to play like that. You are very very good!
Writing the comment before watching the video: YES!! I love this guitar!! Glad you reviewed it, the sound is outstandingly Rock and Roll, gonna watch now...
Wow... Harley Benton dose it again! I hope they can continue the tend.
Thank you for the review John.
Great sounding guitar... but also excellent playing by John.
Bought a custom DC custom in White. I have HB & Epis both good. Both quality guitars..
Finally a review of the DC-Custom, i have owned one since February and absolutely love it, its the one with Wilkinson pickups.
Really love this video. Comprehensive review and great cause. Awesome work
Hi John,mmmmmmmm,Nice guitar,nicer price.....all said through gritted teeth,as i sit with my shiny new epi sg 400 pro in my hands !!!!!! GGGGGRRRRRR !!!!!!
Nah,it`s all good mate,i should have taken the plunge on the Harley Benton.
Just watch you don`t get any major splinters in all of yer fretting fingers when playing that HB DC Custom :) :) :)
Good stuff as always mate.
Great video JR. Nearly bought one of these but went for a second hand Epi. Hmm.... not sure that was the right choice now. I would be very interested in what you think of the new higher end HB Fusions. They seem to have a crazy features for the price. Thanks again.
I'm curious about those guitars too. The fact that they have stainless steel frets at that price is amazing. Definitely going to look at reviewing on of those.
What a great review , and also what a fabulous quality SG for 150 quid! Can't fault the cause either ;)
New subscriber to your channel and I've gotta say, excellent video and awesome how you have this all set up plus for an amazing charity!!! If the world had a few more like you... Love the HB review and GREAT PLAYING AS WELL!!! Thank you!!!
Great playing and great review John, thanks
It’s hard to find a bad review of Harley Benton right across the Internet . I m really tempted by this guitar
I really don't care for the SG style guitars but you've done a good job with this one, I gave mine to my son.
Hey John, thanks for the great review !!!
i see and hear you are sweeping very nicely.... can you do a lesson on it? maybe some basic exercises? or have you already done one?
i like the new intro
Cheers mate... Here you go: ruclips.net/video/sKwD3EcXTw0/видео.html
I think ever guitar player wants to own an SG,,, and it is either the first axe you buy, or the last you will ever own, but you have to have one !!! Lol !!! TY John, just luv this channel ! 😁🖒✌
Cheers 😁👍🍺
wonderful guitar the SG, but I hate the neck diving. I had an Epiphone SG400pro but sold it after one year...
I have noticed that in (virtually?) every HB DC Custom video, the player is seated, as opposed to standing. Could this be because of the guitar's rather extreme neck dive? I think so. I recently bought one, and loved the tonality, finish and general quality build of the guitar, but then I put on a strap and stood up, whoa! neck dive. I know SG guitars suffer from this, as I once had a Gibson SG Standard. I think the problem is with the Grover tuners, which I believe are very heavy, solid made machines, and the longer 24 fret neck.
Hey John. Really loving these Harley Benton reviews. I have HB Les Paul copy and it is a great guitar with Wilkinson humbuckers. It needed a good setup when i received it 4 years ago but after that it plays great. In your demos what software do you use for the drum tracks? They sound really good. Keep the reviews coming.
That is definitely a lot of guitar for a little bit of money! The Grover tuners are expensive to buy, let alone all the rest of the parts! I don't think you could build one yourself that cheap! Well worth it!👍😎🎸🎶
Hi John, those Roswell Alnico V's sound great, altough it's not crancked up a lot. Normally an SG has Alnico II 's installed. I hope to start soon on the Tokai. Have all the parts almost. BTW.. one is missing. Still no envelop in my postbox. I think something went wrong ? Cheers and thanks mate.
Is that a new headstock logo? It's different than the one in the pictures. I like it!!
Hi John. Why don't you fly to the Thomann warehouse. There you could try all the Bentons. Calculate the cost for a weekend stay and plane tickets. I would sponsor that.
Adore this SG
Love my Black One
Graphite nut? Graphite is black. GREAT playing my friend, and a great review! Did it come strung with 10's or 9's please?
Cheers! Probably a graphite compound nut. Oh, and it's a set of 10s 😀
I agree, the knobs looks really bad in an SG guitar
half the price of an SG, Twice the guitar !
With only master volume and tone knobs, rather than one pair for each pickup, the this Harley Benton looks like competition for the Epiphone SG Special rather than for the G-310 and G-400, especially given its price point. How does it stack up against the former?
I like a master volume & tone and they are much more accessible than the standard SG layout. Compared to the Epiphone 400, it's pretty much of a par.
John you are a very good man, may god bless you always.
Excellent Review well balanced review
Great playing!
After playing my DC-Custom again for +2 hours, i had to come back to this video....
and specially to your comment on the "Gibson style headstock tuning issues" Its funny how big G cant get it
right to this date(minTune/G-force...), but my HB stays perfectly in tune for days and days,
tuned it last time a week ago (Drop D) and its still there!
What does that say about Gibson? "we don´t give a F_ck about our products nor customers"?!! :D
It's all in how the nut slots are cut. This guitar is perfect in that regard, but I've played a couple of Gibsons lately (a LP studio & a 335) that were lacking in this regard.
@@JRobsonGuitar Same observations here, i was planing to buy the real thing, but
after testing 3 different G SG´s i noticed quality & tuning issues in all 3 guitars that did not justify the approx 1000€ price tag... Luckily i decided to try the HB brand and what a
guitar i got for 155€!! I have a CST-24 too, but that turned out to be a lemon with bad neck issues... My observations is that the HB Custom range(DC/SC) are the best HB guitars
and come with Grovers!
What is that kind of chord bending from 3:18 to 3:30 called? I heard it on Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton records, but never found out how it is done. I have the cheapest HB "Student" DC, and even that is a pretty good guitar.
It's just a unison bend. Pick a note on the B string then go 2 frets higher on the G string. If you play both strings together while bending the G string up a tone, you'll get that sound.
Very interesting and informative video john ,I do own a Epiphone SG and have big problems with neck dive how did you find the body to neck weight ratio with the Harley Benton? Thank Lee
I just find that neck dive thing is part & parcel of the SG style. This one isn't too bad as the strap button is higher up on the body.
Hey.I bought a CST 24 P90,but I will change the nut,tuners?....I like this guitars,but you need to upgrade at least the nut and some tuners for start...any thoughts?
I think the nut on all CST24 guitars is graphite so I wouldn't rush to replace that... Might just need the slots adjusting. The tuners are OK but I replaced them on my CST24 with some higher ratio Vansons. All in, my guitar owes me about £300 which is still a great price for what it feels/plays/sounds/looks like 👍
@@JRobsonGuitar yeah,I know it's graphite,but is reylly bad slotted.When you hear(pin) when tuning,you know it needs to be worked on it.OK,first I'll try to open it up a bit,but...great guitars for the price,but you still need to put in some work or cash(luthier).I am happy with it,nice sounding P90s.They should give you sth for all the good words and praises from you.I watch your vids and so I decided to try them out.Now I am more into all genres and want a clearity of a single coil.Yes,I've got a fender st.,but would want the tele.TE-52 or any sugestions?Every tip from you is taken seriously.thx a lot,keep on rockin'.greetings from SloveNIA(ita-slo border)
Please,
that bass behind you is Vision right?
DO YOU HAVE OR NO ANYONE THAT DOES HAVE A .. HARLEY BENTON DC 200 BK STUDENT GUITAR IN BLACK..BECAUSE IVE JUST ORDERED MYSELF ONE.
Great stuff John
I had an old Antoria s.g. it played much better and felt much better than my son's Gibson,wish i had'nt flogged it.
Sounds great!!
The DC Customs are copies of the LTD Vipers, not the Gibson SG's, they are similar in styling however.
The Harley Benton DC Custom is a clear SG copy. Yes, the newer versions do have a different upper cut horn than the Gibsons, and these are similar to the LTD. But that doesn't mean the HB is copy of the LTD, which itself is a take on the SG. The reason for the horns being similar in the HB and LTD (any many other) versions is easy: Gibson doesn't allow the horns to be like on the SG. The headstock on the HB is also a take on the Gibson headstock, not the LTD headstock.
If it were a LTD copy, it would have no pickguard and feature a very different upper body front "cut" (where the right arm sits).
@@ssm445 The DC Custom is 100 percent not a copy of a Gibson, its a copy of a LTD Viper and even Vintage V6 style, they do it like this so they bypass having issues with Gibson. If they copy a different guitar that is already copying something else, they avoid the wrath of Gibson because if anything Gibson will chance LTD and Vintage which they have tried many times.
The SC Customs are a direct copy of the LTD ones too, who again re ripping off a design by a different company. The Viper 1000 Deluxe 2008 Model is near identical with a scratchplate to boot.
www.amazon.co.uk/LTD-VIPER-DELUXE-OLYMPIC-WHITE/dp/B003EJXGSC
Thats what it looks like.
@@ssm445 If anything they look closer to Vintage V6's with Viper Controls, so i suppose its a mixed bag to get around copy right issues
£170 quid for a toaster??? Does it come with a butler?
NICE GUITAR MY FRIEND !! :):)
How do those pickups handle high gain stuff? Like death/black metal?
About as well as a Gibson SG. Black Sabbath & classic metal stuff is fine, but for more modern drop tuned stuff you might be better going with something with active pickups.
@@JRobsonGuitar I was thinking of dropping in some dimarzio D activator X or x2ns
Does anyone know if the neck of this guitar is as slim as the one of the epiphone sg 400 pro?
Great playing as always! Guitar seems to be too good to be true.
I suppose that's what you get when you cut out the middle man.
@@JRobsonGuitar I'm always dubious about cheap guitars. Seems like pot luck whether you get one that's went through QC properly.
The HB has cream binding on neck for less money than the Epiphone
Hello John. What's the weight of the guitar? Thanks!
Don't have a set of scales but I'd say it's "comfortable" and not too neck heavy either.
@@JRobsonGuitar Awesome, thanks!
This seems perfectly equal to most $500 - $700 guitars.
Right ???
Yep 👍
@John Robson Guitarist
Thanks for the reply, Sir.
are the Harley Benton Les Paul models just as good ?
Does it neckdive like the Gibson SG?
Exactly like an SG in that respect.
First :D. And great video as always
It sounds very juicy.
A great guitar!
How they do it for the price beats me!!
Any one in the US be very careful buying a brand that does not have in country sales and service. If you have a problem with your purchase it can turn into disaster. Shipment back to China or the EU for service if they don't cover it is very expensive. Its also asking for damage in transit and insurance claims that may involve more than one country. How are you going to handle that?
The quality is different on every model, becazluse they all come from different factorys
how do you know?
"End-of-life care to children under 5" It's truly a FFFF up world.
Wonder why the Gibson "copies" are better set up than the Fender type...? Strange. As to the slight flaws in the cosmetics...for £150 who cares..
But we really must stop calling these guitars copies...because they ain't. Not really. As you probably know the new owners of gibson are getting their knicks in a twist because Dean are "copying" their designs. No they ain't....The gibson open book head stock was present on instruments well before gibson used it...as in fact was the Fender head stock shape. The Les Paul shape body was is not unique to gibson either, a chap whose name escapes me built an electric guitar with that body shape before gibson came up with it. Apparently it was taken to gibson with a view to them building the thing and they said no. This also tells us Les Paul wasn't the only one experimenting with and building pick ups at the time. The SG is simply a double cut out body as is the strat...which is uncannily similar it just has an elongated top horn. Isn't the Telecaster about the same shape as a Les Paul..? So is this HB a copy or just a guitar..?
But i have to say, i like HB guitars. I own 2 👍, and 2 epiphone
No Sabbath? You know, Iommy?
War Pigs? Into the Void??
WTFJ?
Apologies! I can't believe I didn't mention Sabbath.
John Robson Guitarist
I KNOOOOOOOOW!!!
Don't mess 1:1 with the epiphone plz... on the epiphone, you got 2 tone and 2 volume knobs with coilsplitting... and gibson pickups.. they call probucker alnico 5 wich are from gibson..
Epiphone isnt even half a guitar. They suck.
Yes it's half or less of a guitar than the epiphone.
170 quid for a toaster...must be nice toast !
I've sent you an email regarding another potential donor guitar. Check your inbox.
Bargain....
So.... people give you money. You buy guitars so you can use them for content for your RUclips channel. then you sell them and give the money to a charity.
For example, someone gives you £300 you go out any buy a £300 guitar, you then use it on your channel (possibly making revenue from RUclips) then you sell it as a used item for less than the original £300. So the charity will get less that what was originally donated and you also possibly make some money yourself. If people want to help the charity they would be better off just giving it direct. or am i missing something?
Actually, I have NEVER sold a guitar for the charity for less than the purchase price. The one item which didn't sell at all (a Blackstar Fly 3 amp), I bought and gave away as a competition prize. So far, donations to the GoFundMe page are at around £1100, which I have turned into over £1600 of donations to a charity I am proud to support. All of this information is in the public domain as I regularly publish accounts for money in/money out & money sent to the charity. I make next to no money out of this once you take shipping costs of sending the guitar on to its new owner into account. I do these videos because a) I enjoy it and b) it generates new clients for my tuition business. The RUclips ad revenue covers the aforementioned shipping costs and the time I put in making the videos and doing the set ups on the guitars. So yes... You ARE missing something.
@@JRobsonGuitar I stand corrected. You're doing great work for that charity.
@@chriscuthbertson No worries mate 👍
For £150 you won't get any guitar made of mahogany - that's the cost price for just the mahogany that would make the guitar. The blurb might say it's mahogany, but it isn't.
It is advertised as mahogany. It looks like mahogany. It feels like mahogany in terms of weight. It sounds like mahogany. I'm happy to assume that it is mahogany. Are Thomann breaking the law by advertising it as mahogany when you have proof that it isn't?
That depends on what you think 'mahogany' means. Historically, and botanically, it was applied to the wood of just three closely-related trees. All of these timbers are on the CITES index, and basically unavailable. However, the term 'mahogany' has been used for a variety of timbers - at least eighteen different species - used in the timber industry. Some of these are closely related to the original Swietenia mahoganies, others less so.
Harley Benton are quite open about using thermally-treated maple (roseacer) instead of the now-unavailable rosewood - the Thomann site identifies roseacer fretboards as such. I see no reason why they would lie about the use of mahogany. What they are doing is taking advantage of the looser commercial terminology that over the years has led to the acceptance of the term 'mahogany' for a range of reddish-brown hardwoods of similar properties.
My guess is that HB use African mahogany, or one of the more distantly related woods (Philippine Mahogany/Meranti, or Sapele/Sapele Mahogany) that are marketed as mahoganies but don't come from the same family or even the same order. Technically you're correct - HB isn't using 'true' mahogany. But in commercial terms, you're ignoring the fact that 'mahogany' has long been shorthand for 'a mahogany-like hardwood'. Anyone with the least familiarity with timber and CITES would know that you aren't going to see Swietenia mahogany on any £150 guitar.
My own opinion is that companies should be obliged to give the genus or at least the family of wood involved. True mahogany (Honduran, Mexican, Cuban) would be Swietania genus: the closely related African mahogany would be Khaya genus. Both of these genuses belong to the same family, the Meliaceae, and so 'African mahogany' has been accepted for years. This would allow buyers to see clearly when they are getting a mahogany-like wood, not 'true' mahogany.
There's a useful overview of the usage of 'mahogany' in the timber trade here, for anyone interested: The Wood Database www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/mahogany-mixups-the-lowdown/
You surely don't think a guitar-sized blank of an 'ordinary species' of mahogany costs £150.00, do you? Bet your local timber supplier loves selling to you. Does he drive a Bentley?
He's not far out - in fact, rather conservative - for genuine mahogany blanks of instrument-making quality. For example, this supplier will sell you a body blank of Honduras Mahogany for £119.40, including VAT. A neck blank is £90.00, including VAT. It's hard to get and requires special licenses. Most timber suppliers wouldn't bother: too little money for too much effort. shop.exotichardwoods.co.uk/honduras-mahogany-single-piece-body-blank.html
Comparing personal sales to factory sales prices doesn't make any sense.