Should rename this channel to " Cheap gear for cheap bastards " also you need to rant more on expensive American guitars and prasing more over Harley Benton stuff . . . .
Elmo thanks for taking the time and going into so much depth, vlogs like this are brilliant, not all of us have a ton of money at the moment but still want to buy some new gear. All the best mate.
@hellofx it's a weird balance though isn't it. Some "cheap" stuff is great and one person's cheap is another's expensive to a degree. I have some custom shop fenders and plenty of Harley Bentons. I've fallen lucky with the latter I think but can't complain either way. Fair to sat though, we are living in a great time for guitar players and it's becoming a competitive market at all price points. Where even the cheapest shit is better than some mid-ish range stuff 20 years ago.
@@bernardo9202 LP or any shape? If any - probably Jet JS 450 or Aria Pro 2 615 MK2, LP - Epiphone Studio or HB SC500, but HBs, as seen in the video, have close to no shielding and their pups are microphonic, so if the beginner is a kid who won't maintain their guitar at all - get an Epi, and if the beginner is a responsible adult - get a HB and do some basic setup with some help from YT tutorials
Wow interesting comparison I have the SC450 BK, gave it a setup and it's lovely. No fret sprouts, no pickup squeal, stays in the like a champ, even though the neck is glossy it plays beautifully. I don't know if all of them are like this or if I got lucky but I love it
I have the 450 plus and I love it! I actually like the Roswell pickups. In my rig they sound articulate and punch hard. Only thing I've done is replace the tuners with locking tuners and tone and volume knobs. I've had other HB guitars but my 450 plus is the only one I've kept. Lovely guitar. Awesome video Elmo!
I also have this guitar. I bought it used very cheap and it has wilkinson pickups. Must be an older model, later on HB put roswell pus. Its a great guitar and compared to my Gibson tribute it comes very close, although I prefer my Gibson cause of ......... who knows why, maybe it's just the glorious name.
Sorry Elmo...but this is NOT my experience AT ALL! 🤔 I've had over a DOZEN Harley Bentons by now, including 5 different SC's. Just to give some perspective... I've been playing over 50 years, and have bought, sold, teched, and played...EVERYTHING. Literally...EVERYTHING. Out of the maybe 15 or 16 Harley Bentons I've had...maybe THREE were pretty duff. But nothing that a couple of hours on my workbench wouldn't fix. Funnily enough... I've had THREE of the Goldtops with P90s, and they are one of my favourites, and one of the best bargains in the HB line-up. I WOULD say...that you should be prepared to do a basic set-up on most HB guitars...as you would any guitar. I've only EVER had bad fret sprout on ONE HB guitar...and that was the "ricky"-looking 12 string. So... To anyone watching this, I would undoubtedly say...ignore these conclusions. They are certainly NOT representative of 99.9% of Harley Benton guitars. And that's...50 years guitar experience talking ☺️
I'm a 50+ year player myself. I bought about 10 HB's. With some basic TLC, and in some cases new electronics, new tuners, and a new nut, they're very nice guitars that can stand up to gigging, recording, and just hours of noodling. In my experience the super cheap HB's are a hard pass. Go for the middle of the road to higher priced models and you're likely to be pleased. Are they Gibson or Fender good? Nope!!! Are they Epiphone or Squire good? ABsolutely and with just some basic TLC. I've yet to buy one that didn't need some work. Once done, they're solid and still a bargain. If someone asks me what they should buy in an under $500 guitar, I always throw HB into the mix. It's really up to the player. DOn't expect a great guitar right outta the box, cuz you ain't gonna get one. That applies to a lot of guitars costing 2 to 4 times as much as an HB.
“That applies to a lot of guitars costing 2 - 4 times as much…” Including Gibson. Some of the worst guitars I’ve owned came with Gibson on the headstock. Which is a shame since there’s no substitute for a well made & set up Gibson… how folks have allowed Gibson to get away with sending out guitars that should never have passed Quality Control Inspections is beyond me given their price tags.
It's interesting how much I agree with Elmo's appraisal. I have owned and tested several of the Harley Benton SC guitars, and own three of them: the SC 450 Plus (2017), the 450 P90 (2022), an SC550 (older version, 2020). Hands down the best of them is the SC 450 Plus, it is a real beast. It has a Wilkinson ceramic bridge pickup which is just amazing. However, despite the great reviews, the SC550 did not turn out to be as good for my taste. Good but just not special, also the pickups did not 'bite' as much as the Wilkinsons. I sent back an SC400. My SC 450 P90 came with uneven frets, which I had to file. The pickups are very vintagey and do not take distortion well, but for clean playing or blues they are fine. The feel of the SC450 Plus is really amazing from the get go, once you polish the frets -which came dirty- and lubricate the nut. I play it as much as my Gibson Les Pauls! It is lighter, it has character, a vintage vibe, stays in tune really well, and just, incredibly, feels and sounds like a very good Les Paul. And what a price. (And I cannot say the same thing of my other SCs, even the 550, which are just good budget guitars).
The SC-450Plus has had Roswell pick-ups since 2017. The Wilkinson were replaced after someone had sold them fake ones and they couldn't trust their suppliers with them anymore.
I have a dozen HB guitars all purchaaed in the past 18 months, (when QC and consistency claim to have been fixed) and they are all fantastic! Not an issue with any. I have a SC450 plus in Amber and its brilliant.
I have the SC-450Plus I replaced the tuners, nut (to graphite) and pickups for Tonerider Alnico II Classics and it is completely mindblowing how great this guitar sounds. The guitar is heavy though, it seems to be true mahogany so if you have any spine problems, I do not recommend, unless you play sitting only.
You guys need to cut down on the list of guitars, i want to buy one, and there is so much choice i don't even know where to start. Keep it simple and perfect the most sold models
Hi Elmo, it's the 2nd time I see this video. Great blues and rock licks, and you play clean in way that's almost unplugged, which allows to hear woods, and sticky frets. I have a L400 Lefty, a correct les paul shape with basswood body and set neck. Out of this bunch my favourite is the...SC200!
Nice review! Just ordered a B-stock SC DLX Gotoh in shell pink😂 but for 207.- for a guitar with stainless stell frets....🤷♂️ Just a small reminder that these guitars would all cost WAY more if Thomann delivered to dealers! Hats off to them for keeping it that way🙏🏼🎸🤘🏼🎸
This was a good choice, I got the exact same B-Stock 3 weeks ago. Left it with my guy for a set up (not that it was terrible out of the box) and for what we paid, we got an absolute bargain. She sounds awesome!
@@MrDonaloneill1 In the meantime mine arrived. The box was covered in dust, so at first i assumed the worst case.....but it was only half as bad as i expected! Absolutely terrible fretsprout which took a test on my tools, one fret was rocking and others needed leveling and after that i glued the frets. Other than that not bad.....and then the "finish"..... i will bet my Maybach Teleman T54, that through some misunderstanding at the factory, they completely left out or forgot to finish in a maybe satin? clearcoat. The plastic binding is obviously completely naked and there is nothing covering the area around the side of the nut, which is usually overlacquered. The fact that anything will rub of and stain the finish is proof enough.... Mine is really light (2,9kgs) and i really like playing it. However i will probably take off the pickup covers, i have experienced an increase of clarity when done to these Teslas!🎸🤘🏼🎸
Glad you picked that guitar. I was just listening on my phone so I can’t really tell, but that one did jump out a bit. The neck pickup sounded really good. Nice and throaty with good transients.
PAF refers to the color, got nothing to do with the pickups! I got the SC 550 II Gotoh autumn (November 😜) burst, love it…great fretwork in stainless steel! good neck, the Teslas are ok! Nice video!
Have a 450 (plus) since about 8 years. The frets were very rough when delivered but a quick polish fixed this. Then changed the pickups to a rather cheap but great Iron Gear set. It sounds ace, is very solid (and quite heavy) with lots of bite and sustain. Never had an issue since then.
I own a SC Custom II and it's a joy. I agree that on paper isn't something special, and honestly, don't sound impressive with their roswells. But it's an easy fix with a proper set of pickups. Other than that, the looks, the finish, the fretwork, the ERGONOMICS (really nice), is excellent.
I bought the #1 back In december, gorgeous and sounds good. I like it better than the LemonDrop version that I also own, which is almost half a kilo heavier! PS: My unasked recommendation: Always check both strap buttons
Thank you for doing the work for us mate - Great Job! 😎👍 I'm still on the hunt for a Single Cut I can get on with. Tried the Harley Benton SC 25th last year - On paper it was perfect 👌 But the neck was too chunky for me. Roswell's were also less than "meh" - but that's an easy fix. Cheers Elmo! 🍻
@@gruffydddavies7464 Soz - Dunno If you're saying to me or Elmo 🙈 (I agree Elmo's Channel is Great! 😀👍) If you we're talking to me, then.. Thank ya kindly sir 😀🙏 Glad to hear you're enjoying your Jet! 😎👍
Single cut 1 - No Single Cut 2 - No Gold Top p90 - disappointed No Single Cut 4 - Still No Single Cut 5 - Yes, big difference Single Cut 6 - Yes, first one seems to handle more overdrive Single cut 7 - No because it didn't do anything more for me.
ive seen the SC 450plus and thought it looked incredible, especially in the Lemon Drop finish, but ive personally been on the fence, but recently ive been craving a LP style guitar and HB has the most choice out of every budget brand out there. i am definitely getting the Lemon Drop 450Plus as i dont wanna spend alot of money and i want to be able to upgrade later on and only really use my guitars for home recordings.
You have Sire L7 at $455 mahogany body and neck,ebony fretboard,bone nut,aluminum tailpiece,alnico 5 humbuckers and locking machine heads. That would be nice to see if it's good or not.
I do have two Harley Bentons. Never played the one with p90 loud😅 That guitar you have with p90 is multifunctional. Bet it can be used as babymonitor. Microphonic as it is.
It is 6 years since I bought my Harley Benton CST-24HB and shipped it to Australia. That guitar needed a touch of truss rod and action adjustment. It played well then and I still get trapped playing it 😉 Your review shows that Thomann/Harley Benton have really dropped the ball with quality. 6 years ago I would not have hesitated to buy another HB. Now I would not buy a Harley Benton given how far the quality has dropped.
Hi Elmo, nice review. I have an old L400 lefty, basswood body, lp correct shape, that I love. At the end of the video, when you share, your conclusion about the SC450 plus, you talk about another model that is out of production, what model was that?
I like the SC custom more due to the modern ESP Eclipse style body. Now they have the SC Custom III model with stainless steel frets and Tesla humbuckers with new killer purple burst colour.
I have 3 a sc550 gotoh les paul, a ja 60 jazz master, and a rb-414 rickenbacker bass. The sc550 & ja 60 were great out the box i got them off the usa reverb shop. The rb-414 i had to do some shit to but its cool now and has an awesome growl i ordered it from thomann maybe there's a difference.
I’m a lefty so I got the 400 you called it the classic? I change the magnets in the pick ups to Alnico twos much better also got an agile Alnico fives both sound amazing
Thomann has a satellite store in the States now, on Reverb. I’ve got a HB335+, and a SC450+, both came Surprisingly Perfect, and Feel great. I was all ready to rework the necks and change electronics I’ve got laying around here, but got away with hipshot & kluson lockers, couple tusq nuts, and strings. Frets were already great. Either QC has improved or I got Lucky twice. They’re an unbelievable Value, and make it embarrassing what I’ve paid for my real G and F brands…
I have the same than you, dessert burst, and is awesome compare with the others. I also had the p90 with orange too. It arrived broken and quality seems very low compared with other HB, so I also sent it back
The SC450 P90 GT used to be a great guitar and amazing value. I got one in 2017 and it's Still a good guitar - no changes. Then it went off their lists for a couple of years. I was glad to see it return, but if they're all like your test model then maybe they've changed factories ?? That's a shame. I also got the SC450+ Cherry Burst in 2018. I was quite happy with the Roswells for years, but then, last year, I fitted IronGear TeSLA SHarks and it is now up there with my SG and DGT SE.
I dont know if youre familiar with the guitar gear youtuber agufish, but he is a consultant for Harley Benton and he has designed some georgous pastel colored Les Paul clones for Harley Benton. You should check them out on his channel. HB does a really good job of doing quilted maple tops on their HB clones, but Id rather have a pastel one.
I have a 450 plus. I've spent just over £100 replacing the pickups/pots/switches/locking tuners and can honestly say it's one of the best guitars I have. I can't believe how well it plays and sounds. I'm comparing this to a PRS SE custom 24 and Fender Jim Root Tele. Great video, thanks! 🤘
The 25th anniversary model SC has split coils, SS frets and locking tuners. Think I got it to Idaho for around $380 w/ shipping. Beats my epi 60's like a stepchild! Standard LP pot set up. If they come out with a new color other than satin finish gold top I might get another. They are not in stock at the moment.
I've got the Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB (the colour they don't make anymore) - I had the nut changed, locking tuners added and had the pick ups changed for the Slash AFD ones. I think HB make really good guitars but I think you need to spend another £200-£250 to take it to the next level.
Well, not sure if Elmo will have experience, but I've owned a Cort V since the 80s that I gigged and took on the road for years, and its an absolute treat. Well-made, and the pickups they were using then (I think Mighty Mites maybe) are just phenomenal.
I have used a few CR series, they have their own classic rock sound but one of the biggest differences between Cort and HB LP styles is the weight, Corts are significantly heavier than the HBs
It is strange. I own a lot of HB guitars. Only one of them had bad frets (MR Modern) that actually cut my fingers. And one Explorer style one which seems to have its neck set wrong is practically unplayable. Otherwise all of them are nicely playable and sound OK. And yet: when I want a strat, I take my Jet or my Pacifica, not a HB. When I want a single-cut, I take my ESP LTD, not a HB. When I want a semi acoustic, I take my Epiphone Wildcat, not a HB. In all these styles, the HB guitars have been replaced by some other brand, bought used or new. And that doesn't mean that they have been replaced by more expensive guitars, just by ones that feel better for me for roughly the same money. Only the DC-custom and the HB Victory (flying V) remain close to me. They are both great guitars. Still, I am very grateful towards HB that they let me try so many different styles of guitars, even if quite a few of them are more of decoration pieces by now. But still, I think I spent for this whole room full of guitars less than I would have to spend for a single mid range non-custom Gibson guitar.
I have the 450 P90, the 500 and the 550 11. All 3 are magnificent instruments at £125, £145 and £240. My 450 is bloody brilliant, the cherry 550 looks magnificent and the best is the 500 which has the lowest cleanest action of any guitar i have owned with a beautiful neck pick up and at £145 is beyond words. The trouble with reviewers who play high end instruments and then review low end stuff is they still can't get it in their heads the difference in price. My god, an Epiphone that cost £300 a few years ago is going for £700! And it is not as good as my 500. A bit of fret sprout? Get a bloody file out mate! 3 swipes with that should do the trick. Get a grip man.
Wow ! I had to check the Thomann site to accept that the prices wereso low 😲! I have no problem with cheap guitars. However, I always wonder if a 180 E HB would compete with my other guitars (3 or 4x HB price for most of them) 🤔 After the "new guitar hype 🥰🤪🤩" (😅), I am afraid the HB would sleep in a case... forever 😕
I have a couple of 1.5k PRS's, some nice Epiphones, top of the range Ephis, and HB 450 P90. HB is probably one of the best guitars I own, and it costs 10th of the price of the other guitars I own.
Brilliant, I have my thoughts but you said it all, Only thing I would add is if you and your mates went jogging and you got cheap plimsoles with a hole in, you would always blame shoes, so try to go higher, if you can.
Even if you have to replace pickups and hard ware for the p90, would probably still be cheaper than name brand guitars you'd probably do the same thing to.
in HB single cuts i found the best value/quality for the money in the SC-550SL Tribute (SC-550II Gotoh PAF), but i guess it doesn't count since it seems to be out of catalog.
Elmo, you could make a broom jammed into a barrel and strung with fence wire sound great ( what would that sound like through a Strymon Riverside I wonder?). A useful review for sure and very informative for the newbie on a budget. I still think the SC550 Mk1 is a killer cheap guitar, even with it's original pickup's and I really should buy one as I don't have a Les Paul style guitar at all in my collection. Anyway's keep up the good work and as always I await your next release with great interest. I am as ever your humble servant. Alex the K
Great comparison Elmo. My son's got the old sc450+ lemon drop and, with a couple of minor tweaks, plays great. Now i have the 550 2 and the 450+ gold top. Both are great axes. No problem with the roswells on mine (it seems that there's the same tolerances that you'll find on guitars....some pups sound good and other are crap...just my thoughs) The only thing i dislike a bit is the neck thickness on the gold top...is just a baseball stick 😅
I have actually been looking at these for months - I was mostly drawn to the PAF SC550-II purely on aesthetics but I did also have the one you picked on my radar and seeing as it is £100 cheaper I may bite (i'll use your link if i do) - Cheers for the video, I dunno if you can be bothered but would be awesome if you put up text on screen for each guitars actual name and cost if you ever do anything like this again or to make it less confusing for new guitarists who aren't used to Thomanns site
I have the 450plus in (I think) Vintage Burst. It's B stock but you wouldn't know it. I think I paid £135 for it just over 2 years ago and I gigged it straight out of the box no setup required. For an old blueser like me, it's a great fit. I have upgraded the bridge pickup to a Wilkinson Vintage and taken the cover off the bridge pickup. Great video as always 👍
Thanks again for a brilliant review, It's a tough choice but you're conclusion I think you're spot on. I love that little riff that you do when you're starting a review - clean with a low tone - the riff kind of sounds like percolating coffee. Anyway massive appreciation.
Check out 8 great cheap alternatives: ruclips.net/video/MsEp-yPTRWo/видео.htmlsi=1QUvaxen1-eyae2v
Should rename this channel to " Cheap gear for cheap bastards " also you need to rant more on expensive American guitars and prasing more over Harley Benton stuff . . . .
Elmo thanks for taking the time and going into so much depth, vlogs like this are brilliant, not all of us have a ton of money at the moment but still want to buy some new gear. All the best mate.
@hellofx it's a weird balance though isn't it. Some "cheap" stuff is great and one person's cheap is another's expensive to a degree. I have some custom shop fenders and plenty of Harley Bentons. I've fallen lucky with the latter I think but can't complain either way.
Fair to sat though, we are living in a great time for guitar players and it's becoming a competitive market at all price points. Where even the cheapest shit is better than some mid-ish range stuff 20 years ago.
Always the HB with stainless steel frets. All the other parts are less expensive when replaced
what model do you recommend for a beginner?
@@bernardo9202 LP or any shape? If any - probably Jet JS 450 or Aria Pro 2 615 MK2, LP - Epiphone Studio or HB SC500, but HBs, as seen in the video, have close to no shielding and their pups are microphonic, so if the beginner is a kid who won't maintain their guitar at all - get an Epi, and if the beginner is a responsible adult - get a HB and do some basic
setup with some help from YT tutorials
@@romanthegambler6966 will check them out thanks
Wow interesting comparison
I have the SC450 BK, gave it a setup and it's lovely.
No fret sprouts, no pickup squeal, stays in the like a champ, even though the neck is glossy it plays beautifully.
I don't know if all of them are like this or if I got lucky but I love it
Same here! Love the p90 sound 🎉
I have the 450 plus and I love it! I actually like the Roswell pickups. In my rig they sound articulate and punch hard. Only thing I've done is replace the tuners with locking tuners and tone and volume knobs. I've had other HB guitars but my 450 plus is the only one I've kept. Lovely guitar. Awesome video Elmo!
Cheers!
I also have this guitar. I bought it used very cheap and it has wilkinson pickups. Must be an older model, later on HB put roswell pus. Its a great guitar and compared to my Gibson tribute it comes very close, although I prefer my Gibson cause of
......... who knows why, maybe it's just the glorious name.
Very cool and affordables Les Paul copies, good endings and good audio, without busting the bank.
Thanks for showing us!
Glad you enjoyed it
Sorry Elmo...but this is NOT my experience AT ALL! 🤔
I've had over a DOZEN Harley Bentons by now, including 5 different SC's.
Just to give some perspective...
I've been playing over 50 years, and have bought, sold, teched, and played...EVERYTHING.
Literally...EVERYTHING.
Out of the maybe 15 or 16 Harley Bentons I've had...maybe THREE were pretty duff.
But nothing that a couple of hours on my workbench wouldn't fix.
Funnily enough...
I've had THREE of the Goldtops with P90s, and they are one of my favourites, and one of the best bargains in the HB line-up.
I WOULD say...that you should be prepared to do a basic set-up on most HB guitars...as you would any guitar.
I've only EVER had bad fret sprout on ONE HB guitar...and that was the "ricky"-looking 12 string.
So...
To anyone watching this, I would undoubtedly say...ignore these conclusions.
They are certainly NOT representative of 99.9% of Harley Benton guitars.
And that's...50 years guitar experience talking ☺️
These guitars cost less than what a refret would cost.
@@malcolmhardwick4258where do I get the refret?
@@malcolmhardwick4258 EH??? 🤔
I'm a 50+ year player myself. I bought about 10 HB's. With some basic TLC, and in some cases new electronics, new tuners, and a new nut, they're very nice guitars that can stand up to gigging, recording, and just hours of noodling. In my experience the super cheap HB's are a hard pass. Go for the middle of the road to higher priced models and you're likely to be pleased. Are they Gibson or Fender good? Nope!!! Are they Epiphone or Squire good? ABsolutely and with just some basic TLC. I've yet to buy one that didn't need some work. Once done, they're solid and still a bargain. If someone asks me what they should buy in an under $500 guitar, I always throw HB into the mix. It's really up to the player. DOn't expect a great guitar right outta the box, cuz you ain't gonna get one. That applies to a lot of guitars costing 2 to 4 times as much as an HB.
“That applies to a lot of guitars costing 2 - 4 times as much…”
Including Gibson. Some of the worst guitars I’ve owned came with Gibson on the headstock. Which is a shame since there’s no substitute for a well made & set up Gibson… how folks have allowed Gibson to get away with sending out guitars that should never have passed Quality Control Inspections is beyond me given their price tags.
Great comparison, now we want the same with "Fusion" models ;)
Yes!!!
I agree
It's interesting how much I agree with Elmo's appraisal. I have owned and tested several of the Harley Benton SC guitars, and own three of them: the SC 450 Plus (2017), the 450 P90 (2022), an SC550 (older version, 2020). Hands down the best of them is the SC 450 Plus, it is a real beast. It has a Wilkinson ceramic bridge pickup which is just amazing.
However, despite the great reviews, the SC550 did not turn out to be as good for my taste. Good but just not special, also the pickups did not 'bite' as much as the Wilkinsons. I sent back an SC400. My SC 450 P90 came with uneven frets, which I had to file. The pickups are very vintagey and do not take distortion well, but for clean playing or blues they are fine.
The feel of the SC450 Plus is really amazing from the get go, once you polish the frets -which came dirty- and lubricate the nut. I play it as much as my Gibson Les Pauls! It is lighter, it has character, a vintage vibe, stays in tune really well, and just, incredibly, feels and sounds like a very good Les Paul. And what a price. (And I cannot say the same thing of my other SCs, even the 550, which are just good budget guitars).
The SC-450Plus has had Roswell pick-ups since 2017. The Wilkinson were replaced after someone had sold them fake ones and they couldn't trust their suppliers with them anymore.
I have a dozen HB guitars all purchaaed in the past 18 months, (when QC and consistency claim to have been fixed) and they are all fantastic! Not an issue with any. I have a SC450 plus in Amber and its brilliant.
I have the SC-450Plus I replaced the tuners, nut (to graphite) and pickups for Tonerider Alnico II Classics and it is completely mindblowing how great this guitar sounds. The guitar is heavy though, it seems to be true mahogany so if you have any spine problems, I do not recommend, unless you play sitting only.
Thank you for the honest review! 🤘
My pleasure :)
You guys need to cut down on the list of guitars, i want to buy one, and there is so much choice i don't even know where to start. Keep it simple and perfect the most sold models
I have an SC-550 II Gotoh PAF, which is really good, especially for that ridiculously low price :)
Absolutely.
God, I tried to listen in the background but it really hurts. What did you record it with? Why the tone is so bad?
Hi Elmo, it's the 2nd time I see this video. Great blues and rock licks, and you play clean in way that's almost unplugged, which allows to hear woods, and sticky frets. I have a L400 Lefty, a correct les paul shape with basswood body and set neck. Out of this bunch my favourite is the...SC200!
Nice review! Just ordered a B-stock SC DLX Gotoh in shell pink😂 but for 207.- for a guitar with stainless stell frets....🤷♂️ Just a small reminder that these guitars would all cost WAY more if Thomann delivered to dealers! Hats off to them for keeping it that way🙏🏼🎸🤘🏼🎸
This was a good choice, I got the exact same B-Stock 3 weeks ago.
Left it with my guy for a set up (not that it was terrible out of the box) and for what we paid, we got an absolute bargain. She sounds awesome!
You got it! Hope you enjoy the SC-DLX :)
@@HarleyBentonOfficial Thanks, i will! I've had one before in the blue metallic finish, but i sold it to a good friend.....i guess i missed it☺️
@@MrDonaloneill1 In the meantime mine arrived. The box was covered in dust, so at first i assumed the worst case.....but it was only half as bad as i expected! Absolutely terrible fretsprout which took a test on my tools, one fret was rocking and others needed leveling and after that i glued the frets. Other than that not bad.....and then the "finish"..... i will bet my Maybach Teleman T54, that through some misunderstanding at the factory, they completely left out or forgot to finish in a maybe satin? clearcoat. The plastic binding is obviously completely naked and there is nothing covering the area around the side of the nut, which is usually overlacquered. The fact that anything will rub of and stain the finish is proof enough.... Mine is really light (2,9kgs) and i really like playing it. However i will probably take off the pickup covers, i have experienced an increase of clarity when done to these Teslas!🎸🤘🏼🎸
Why is he beating on the guitar?
Glad you picked that guitar. I was just listening on my phone so I can’t really tell, but that one did jump out a bit. The neck pickup sounded really good.
Nice and throaty with good transients.
Haven't seen a review and demo from you in quite a while. It's certainly nice to see you again Mr. K!
Ground wire problem in mid position maybe
I have a DC JR and it is nice guitar. Maybe I just got lucky. Just saying.
I have a SC-450 P90, a SC-450 plus and my favorite guitar a SC-550 II. After this video I have to see my P90, I don't think that mine is microfonic.
Nice to Hear You Play Bro!
Hmmm what about the sc Dix got oh? I find it unbelievable for the €215 I paid. Fantastic value
Buy the one with Stainless Steel Frets. Easier to change pickups than frets. If you should feel the need.
Hey brother great video. I've ad the 550 to the custom. I love them all but the next will be with the fat emg's. Rock on sir
Cheers!
PAF refers to the color, got nothing to do with the pickups! I got the SC 550 II Gotoh autumn (November 😜) burst, love it…great fretwork in stainless steel! good neck, the Teslas are ok! Nice video!
Tesla Opus-1 are PAF voiced pickups.
I put the seymour duncan jazz in the neck and jb 4 in the bridge. That mother fucker kicks ass!
There's something wrong with your SC-450 P90. I have the exact same guitar and it doesn't feed back like that. In fact it's an incredible guitar.
Same here.
You are right it‘s not the guitar in general. He just had bad luck with the order
Totally agree; mine is an amazing guitar. I hated the pickups though. Changed them out for some Bloodstone pickups and those are awesome.
Thanks for sharing your experience! For anybody worrying: You can always send it back if there are issues :)
Same here , and I pimped the guitar with gold hardware from HB and HB locking tuners and it is an incredible guitar.
Have a 450 (plus) since about 8 years. The frets were very rough when delivered but a quick polish fixed this. Then changed the pickups to a rather cheap but great Iron Gear set. It sounds ace, is very solid (and quite heavy) with lots of bite and sustain. Never had an issue since then.
i actrually like the Iron Gear - Rolling Mill more than my SD JB/Jazz set ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Harley Junkton
I own a SC Custom II and it's a joy. I agree that on paper isn't something special, and honestly, don't sound impressive with their roswells. But it's an easy fix with a proper set of pickups. Other than that, the looks, the finish, the fretwork, the ERGONOMICS (really nice), is excellent.
Wow, not great. Really good odds of being disappointed it seems.
The first guitar is just like Epiphone LesPaul Special 2.
Harley Benton SC-Custom II FR Vintage Black without a doubt !
Agree with that,have one the FR1000 Floyd hard to beat!
@@Herman138 Harley Benton SC-Custom II FR Vintage Black only 385 euro )) with real Floyd Rose
I’m assuming thats a decibel meter? Its really annoying for me.
It is.
4:28
6:55
17:42
18:44
19:00
19:08
I did not really want to hit like because it was at 666, but in the end I didi it any way. :)
🤣
SC-DLX Gotoh was missed...
Thanks Elmo, great video… yours feels and sound opinions are so important for us…
Please the same with tele style hb…
I bought the #1 back In december, gorgeous and sounds good. I like it better than the LemonDrop version that I also own, which is almost half a kilo heavier! PS: My unasked recommendation: Always check both strap buttons
I love these, i have 3 sc customs and 2 sc450's
Thank you for doing the work for us mate - Great Job! 😎👍
I'm still on the hunt for a Single Cut I can get on with.
Tried the Harley Benton SC 25th last year - On paper it was perfect 👌
But the neck was too chunky for me. Roswell's were also less than "meh" - but that's an easy fix.
Cheers Elmo! 🍻
Cheers Steve :)
Your channel is great. It sold me on buying a Jet, and it has been superb!
@@gruffydddavies7464 Soz - Dunno If you're saying to me or Elmo 🙈 (I agree Elmo's Channel is Great! 😀👍)
If you we're talking to me, then.. Thank ya kindly sir 😀🙏 Glad to hear you're enjoying your Jet! 😎👍
@stevecassidyguitar haha, I am replying to you, Steve Cassidy, I really like your channel, and I hope to see it continue growing
@@gruffydddavies7464 Thank ya kindly mate! 😀🙏
you forgot the best one (that i know of), the sc-dlx
Single cut 1 - No
Single Cut 2 - No
Gold Top p90 - disappointed No
Single Cut 4 - Still No
Single Cut 5 - Yes, big difference
Single Cut 6 - Yes, first one seems to handle more overdrive
Single cut 7 - No because it didn't do anything more for me.
ive seen the SC 450plus and thought it looked incredible, especially in the Lemon Drop finish, but ive personally been on the fence, but recently ive been craving a LP style guitar and HB has the most choice out of every budget brand out there. i am definitely getting the Lemon Drop 450Plus as i dont wanna spend alot of money and i want to be able to upgrade later on and only really use my guitars for home recordings.
You have Sire L7 at $455 mahogany body and neck,ebony fretboard,bone nut,aluminum tailpiece,alnico 5 humbuckers and locking machine heads.
That would be nice to see if it's good or not.
Huomenta! Good review & demo. Got the first generation 550-tobacco burst as well. A keeper....just like my other HB ST-62 CC Deluxe(silverstrat).
GARY MOORE LIVES!!
That Gold Top rings very nicely when not plugged in. Maybe a pickup switch to that might make it a brilliant instrument. 😊👍💥🎸
I have 550 Deluxe (model 1) really good guitar, model II is also nice but to my ear older model has better pickups.
I do have two Harley Bentons.
Never played the one with p90 loud😅
That guitar you have with p90 is multifunctional. Bet it can be used as babymonitor. Microphonic as it is.
That’s the best use for them.
It is 6 years since I bought my Harley Benton CST-24HB and shipped it to Australia. That guitar needed a touch of truss rod and action adjustment. It played well then and I still get trapped playing it 😉 Your review shows that Thomann/Harley Benton have really dropped the ball with quality. 6 years ago I would not have hesitated to buy another HB. Now I would not buy a Harley Benton given how far the quality has dropped.
Hi Elmo, nice review. I have an old L400 lefty, basswood body, lp correct shape, that I love. At the end of the video, when you share, your conclusion about the SC450 plus, you talk about another model that is out of production, what model was that?
I like the SC custom more due to the modern ESP Eclipse style body. Now they have the SC Custom III model with stainless steel frets and Tesla humbuckers with new killer purple burst colour.
Can you make some shred exercises or tab some of those nasty solos brotha ;) Would be fun to practice them. Just a video idea.
I have 3 a sc550 gotoh les paul, a ja 60 jazz master, and a rb-414 rickenbacker bass. The sc550 & ja 60 were great out the box i got them off the usa reverb shop. The rb-414 i had to do some shit to but its cool now and has an awesome growl i ordered it from thomann maybe there's a difference.
My SC-Custom II should be here in 3 days 👀
I’m a lefty so I got the 400 you called it the classic? I change the magnets in the pick ups to Alnico twos much better also got an agile Alnico fives both sound amazing
Thomann has a satellite store in the States now, on Reverb.
I’ve got a HB335+, and a SC450+, both came Surprisingly Perfect, and Feel great.
I was all ready to rework the necks and change electronics I’ve got laying around here, but got away with hipshot & kluson lockers, couple tusq nuts, and strings.
Frets were already great.
Either QC has improved or I got Lucky twice.
They’re an unbelievable Value, and make it embarrassing what I’ve paid for my real G and F brands…
I have the same than you, dessert burst, and is awesome compare with the others. I also had the p90 with orange too. It arrived broken and quality seems very low compared with other HB, so I also sent it back
You think when someone sends you guitars they'd make sure they work fine
21:37 awesome to my ears, in general lines all hb deserves better than expensive gibson-epiphone
Is this a video about harley benton or how good a guitar player this dude is?
The SC450 P90 GT used to be a great guitar and amazing value.
I got one in 2017 and it's Still a good guitar - no changes.
Then it went off their lists for a couple of years.
I was glad to see it return, but if they're all like your test model then maybe they've changed factories ?? That's a shame.
I also got the SC450+ Cherry Burst in 2018.
I was quite happy with the Roswells for years, but then, last year, I fitted IronGear TeSLA SHarks and it is now up there with my SG and DGT SE.
True I have one too 👍
On the sc 500 II, the “paf” stands for paradise flame. It’s the finish. I get the confusion 😋
I underrestimated how good the SC custom 2 was until I bought myself one. Only wanna play it since then 😅
I dont know if youre familiar with the guitar gear youtuber agufish, but he is a consultant for Harley Benton and he has designed some georgous pastel colored Les Paul clones for Harley Benton. You should check them out on his channel. HB does a really good job of doing quilted maple tops on their HB clones, but Id rather have a pastel one.
Yeah I got the first gen SC550 deluxe and it is one of my favorite guitars. Its a shame they discontinued it.
Please do review of Cort G250 Spectrum
Thank you so much for this video this is what I needed!
Thanks for a real showing of HB vs the rose colored stuff others have put out around here.
I have a 450 plus. I've spent just over £100 replacing the pickups/pots/switches/locking tuners and can honestly say it's one of the best guitars I have. I can't believe how well it plays and sounds. I'm comparing this to a PRS SE custom 24 and Fender Jim Root Tele. Great video, thanks! 🤘
Before or after the mod ?
It played great from the start. After the mod it just sounds better.
The 25th anniversary model SC has split coils, SS frets and locking tuners. Think I got it to Idaho for around $380 w/ shipping. Beats my epi 60's like a stepchild! Standard LP pot set up. If they come out with a new color other than satin finish gold top I might get another. They are not in stock at the moment.
i just bougth the same today, it has burn wood arm too don´t forget and i think is beautiful. can´t wait for it :)
I've got the Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB (the colour they don't make anymore) - I had the nut changed, locking tuners added and had the pick ups changed for the Slash AFD ones. I think HB make really good guitars but I think you need to spend another £200-£250 to take it to the next level.
Yeah, upgrading some parts can be a good idea.
H B dose not sell a p90 left handed so I got a agile
Did you have experience with Cort Les Paul style guitars? (CR series for example) If yes, how they compare to HB? Thank you
Well, not sure if Elmo will have experience, but I've owned a Cort V since the 80s that I gigged and took on the road for years, and its an absolute treat. Well-made, and the pickups they were using then (I think Mighty Mites maybe) are just phenomenal.
@@DJBuglip thanks!
Haven't tried those, no.
I have used a few CR series, they have their own classic rock sound but one of the biggest differences between Cort and HB LP styles is the weight, Corts are significantly heavier than the HBs
That gold top looks pretty sweet
It is strange. I own a lot of HB guitars. Only one of them had bad frets (MR Modern) that actually cut my fingers. And one Explorer style one which seems to have its neck set wrong is practically unplayable. Otherwise all of them are nicely playable and sound OK.
And yet: when I want a strat, I take my Jet or my Pacifica, not a HB. When I want a single-cut, I take my ESP LTD, not a HB. When I want a semi acoustic, I take my Epiphone Wildcat, not a HB. In all these styles, the HB guitars have been replaced by some other brand, bought used or new.
And that doesn't mean that they have been replaced by more expensive guitars, just by ones that feel better for me for roughly the same money.
Only the DC-custom and the HB Victory (flying V) remain close to me. They are both great guitars.
Still, I am very grateful towards HB that they let me try so many different styles of guitars, even if quite a few of them are more of decoration pieces by now. But still, I think I spent for this whole room full of guitars less than I would have to spend for a single mid range non-custom Gibson guitar.
Great video. Unfortunately I just bought a Gibson LP standard.
Thanks! I need to compare a Gibson to a Harley Benton at some point.
@@MrPolevaulterYES!!! Please do that!!!
I loved your approach in this one. Let the buyer beware. And I just happened to have been considering one of these. Great video.
Cheers!
I have the 450 P90, the 500 and the 550 11. All 3 are magnificent instruments at £125, £145 and £240. My 450 is bloody brilliant, the cherry 550 looks magnificent and the best is the 500 which has the lowest cleanest action of any guitar i have owned with a beautiful neck pick up and at £145 is beyond words. The trouble with reviewers who play high end instruments and then review low end stuff is they still can't get it in their heads the difference in price. My god, an Epiphone that cost £300 a few years ago is going for £700! And it is not as good as my 500. A bit of fret sprout? Get a bloody file out mate! 3 swipes with that should do the trick. Get a grip man.
Disagree. Elmo is just keeping it real.
Umm, can I have one?
Wow ! I had to check the Thomann site to accept that the prices wereso low 😲! I have no problem with cheap guitars. However, I always wonder if a 180 E HB would compete with my other guitars (3 or 4x HB price for most of them) 🤔 After the "new guitar hype 🥰🤪🤩" (😅), I am afraid the HB would sleep in a case... forever 😕
I have a couple of 1.5k PRS's, some nice Epiphones, top of the range Ephis, and HB 450 P90. HB is probably one of the best guitars I own, and it costs 10th of the price of the other guitars I own.
Brilliant, I have my thoughts but you said it all, Only thing I would add is if you and your mates went jogging and you got cheap plimsoles with a hole in, you would always blame shoes, so try to go higher, if you can.
Even if you have to replace pickups and hard ware for the p90, would probably still be cheaper than name brand guitars you'd probably do the same thing to.
My les paul with fishman pickups and floyd double tremolo not enough good for me. Put that garbage to FIRE, Peace.
Wow. Thomann has a cheaper alternative for EVERYTHING. I had to pay $400 US to get an Epiphone with the bridge pickup wired out of phase…
in HB single cuts i found the best value/quality for the money in the SC-550SL Tribute (SC-550II Gotoh PAF), but i guess it doesn't count since it seems to be out of catalog.
Elmo, you could make a broom jammed into a barrel and strung with fence wire sound great ( what would that sound like through a Strymon Riverside I wonder?).
A useful review for sure and very informative for the newbie on a budget. I still think the SC550 Mk1 is a killer cheap guitar, even with it's original pickup's and I really should buy one as I don't have a Les Paul style guitar at all in my collection.
Anyway's keep up the good work and as always I await your next release with great interest.
I am as ever your humble servant.
Alex the K
I have the 550 gotoh v2
Great comparison Elmo. My son's got the old sc450+ lemon drop and, with a couple of minor tweaks, plays great.
Now i have the 550 2 and the 450+ gold top. Both are great axes. No problem with the roswells on mine (it seems that there's the same tolerances that you'll find on guitars....some pups sound good and other are crap...just my thoughs)
The only thing i dislike a bit is the neck thickness on the gold top...is just a baseball stick 😅
I have actually been looking at these for months - I was mostly drawn to the PAF SC550-II purely on aesthetics but I did also have the one you picked on my radar and seeing as it is £100 cheaper I may bite (i'll use your link if i do) - Cheers for the video, I dunno if you can be bothered but would be awesome if you put up text on screen for each guitars actual name and cost if you ever do anything like this again or to make it less confusing for new guitarists who aren't used to Thomanns site
I think ive heard someone having wiring isssues with some of their guitars but once fixed no problem. Maybe a bad selector switch
I have the 450plus in (I think) Vintage Burst. It's B stock but you wouldn't know it. I think I paid £135 for it just over 2 years ago and I gigged it straight out of the box no setup required. For an old blueser like me, it's a great fit. I have upgraded the bridge pickup to a Wilkinson Vintage and taken the cover off the bridge pickup. Great video as always 👍
Thanks for the review Elmo 🙏✌️❤️🎼🎶🎵
No problem 👍
could be a series , SG , Tele and strat styles
Been thinking along those lines.
The SC-550 II PAF stands for paradise amber flame, the color, so not pickups
Thanks again for a brilliant review, It's a tough choice but you're conclusion I think you're spot on. I love that little riff that you do when you're starting a review - clean with a low tone - the riff kind of sounds like percolating coffee.
Anyway massive appreciation.
Harley Benton. Characterless. That’s their problem.
3:41 - 3:43 HOW could you make those notes so separate with so few pick hits?
How does it compare to an epiphone?
From my limited Epiphone experience you need to pay a lot more for an Epiphone to get one that's as good as a HB.