|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 17, 2019 8:47:49 GMT -7
I stumbled across a review of this brand, Harley Benton from Thomann music in Germany. This is a "SC550 Deluxe" LP copy in Desert Burst finish that I paid a total of $277 for, taxed and shipped.
I wanted to see how good I could get for the very least money, and this thing is too cool. They say these guitars always are very heavy, in the 10 lb + range...but this one comes in at 7lbs 10oz. My Les Paul Custom weighs just over 9lbs.
I wanted to get a guitar that I could practice fretwork on and figured I would have plenty of time to practice on this one. Not so, the fretwork is better than some of the Gibsons I've seen back around 2008-2010 or so. I have a Gibson "Tribute" Gold Top that had horrible fret sprout. These are nicely rounded and no sharp edges to speak of.
I don't know if I just got really lucky or what, but this guitar is a keeper. Fit and finish is good, the only thing is the inlay on the fretboard could be better. But it doesn't affect playability and I think I'll drop some good electronics in it and call it done. Even with the stock pickups it sounds really quite nice. Check it out:
|
|
|
Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 17, 2019 8:55:42 GMT -7
Great score Dave! I'm guessing it didn't ship from Germany at that price!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2019 9:19:54 GMT -7
It's the Golden Age of Cheap Guitars!
|
|
|
Post by KeithA on Oct 17, 2019 9:56:12 GMT -7
Great score Dave! I'm guessing it didn't ship from Germany at that price! You'd be surprised. My buddy here in Canada had a 212 Harley Benton cab shipped from Germany with Vintage 30s that he got for an all-in price cheaper than he could have bought only the speakers here in Canada.
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 17, 2019 11:07:03 GMT -7
Great score Dave! I'm guessing it didn't ship from Germany at that price! That's what blew me away. Shipped from Germany for $277 with the taxes and everything included! And I didn't even need to adjust the truss rod. I just lowered the bridge a tad on the bass side, set the pickup height, and I've been playing it ever since. It comes with D'Addario 10-46 strings. They look like they've been on there for a while, not very shiny and they need replacing. I'm going to go with 9's when I do, and I'll probably dump in a pair of Skatterbranes that have been laying around for a while. They're old, the originals, and I think I put an AlNiCo 4 magnet in the neck one; the bridge pup has an A2. They're supposed to be PAF replicas. I've never really loved those pickups, maybe they'll match up well with this guitar. If they do, the pups will have cost more than the whole guitar did... They even claim it has a bone nut, which is nicely cut, by the way. Oh, and mahogany body and neck, with a maple top. "Jatoba" fingerboard, which is Brazilian Cherry wood, I think. No doubt the top has a thin veneer but it looks great. Nice binding too.
I don't see how they can produce such a nice instrument so cheap and make a profit. Doesn't make sense.
|
|
|
Post by Alan M (aka 'Milky') on Oct 17, 2019 13:34:22 GMT -7
I'm tempted......!! Thanks, Dave.....I think. (PS. Don't tell Sharon)
|
|
|
Post by Russell B on Oct 17, 2019 14:50:50 GMT -7
It looks good!
|
|
|
Post by helmi on Oct 17, 2019 15:21:35 GMT -7
I wanted to get a guitar that I could practice fretwork on and figured I would have plenty of time to practice on this one. Not so, the fretwork is better than some of the Gibsons I've seen back around 2008-2010 or so. I have a Gibson "Tribute" Gold Top that had horrible fret sprout. Why is this not surprising! congrats Dave.
|
|
|
Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 17, 2019 15:40:48 GMT -7
Is it the full thickness of an LP? Are they made in ‘Nam? Looks great!
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 17, 2019 16:05:15 GMT -7
Is it the full thickness of an LP? Are they made in ‘Nam? Looks great! Thanks, guys, it's a real rabbit out of the hat! Yeah, it's the full 2" thick, and not weight relieved as far as I know. Made in 'Nam. Kind of a cross between 50's and 60's neck profile, leans toward the fatter side. Nice, and I love the light weight. Like I mentioned, the word is that Harley Benton makes HEAVY guitars, and this one's my lightest Les Paul. Maybe I should play the lottery while my luck's hot!
|
|
|
Post by Alan M (aka 'Milky') on Nov 21, 2019 9:49:20 GMT -7
I'm tempted......!! Thanks, Dave.....I think. (PS. Don't tell Sharon) So, guess what? Yet another NGD!! A man can never have too many guitars, right? I showed Dave's original post to Sharon, and looked on the Thomann website (just out of interest, of course ). Anyway, much to my surprise, she offered to buy one for me as a Christmas present!! So the 'Big Brown Truck' arrived yesterday with a package for me. I agree 100% with Dave's assessment. An absolute bargain. I removed the strings, oiled the fretboard, fitted a set of Ernie Ball Super Slinkies, lowered the action a tad........perfect! I really cannot understand how they can do it for the price!! Definitely a keeper.........(Sharon and the guitar ). PS. Thanks, Dave!!!
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 22, 2019 19:00:03 GMT -7
I'm tempted......!! Thanks, Dave.....I think. (PS. Don't tell Sharon) So, guess what? Yet another NGD!! A man can never have too many guitars, right? I showed Dave's original post to Sharon, and looked on the Thomann website (just out of interest, of course ). Anyway, much to my surprise, she offered to buy one for me as a Christmas present!! So the 'Big Brown Truck' arrived yesterday with a package for me. I agree 100% with Dave's assessment. An absolute bargain. I removed the strings, oiled the fretboard, fitted a set of Ernie Ball Super Slinkies, lowered the action a tad........perfect! I really cannot understand how they can do it for the price!! Definitely a keeper.........(Sharon and the guitar ). PS. Thanks, Dave!!! Hey, Merry Early Christmas, Alan! How's the weight on yours? I was shocked when mine came in at 7 lbs 10 oz., which converts to 3.459kg. Give Sharon my best...she is a keeper! Put up some pictures of the guitar if you can.
|
|
|
Post by Rhythmark on Nov 23, 2019 7:08:12 GMT -7
Dang cheap Must have cost them a dollar to make the whole thing! I ll just practice my fret work on my regular guitars. But wow ! If its as nice as you say. I have friends who buy cheap guitars just to have a bunch. Im never impressed once i play them. I have set a couple up that play ok.
But he has a wall of junk in my opinion. But for him it’s quantity not quality that gets him off.
Id love to try it and see!
I do have a madera guitar i got out of a junk pile on garbage day and its headstock was broke off, I repaired it and played it for a year or two Until the headstock broke off again.
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Nov 23, 2019 10:24:06 GMT -7
Dang cheap Must have cost them a dollar to make the whole thing! I ll just practice my fret work on my regular guitars. But wow ! If its as nice as you say. I have friends who buy cheap guitars just to have a bunch. Im never impressed once i play them. I have set a couple up that play ok. But he has a wall of junk in my opinion. But for him it’s quantity not quality that gets him off. Id love to try it and see! I do have a madera guitar i got out of a junk pile on garbage day and its headstock was broke off, I repaired it and played it for a year or two Until the headstock broke off again. I'm real curious how much Alan's weighs. His impression pretty much mirrors mine about the quality otherwise...it's amazing how good this thing is. It does come stock with 'Mini' size pots for the tone and volume controls, and the switch isn't Switchcraft but looks like it's well made; at least it feels good. Out of the box it sounded and played nicely.
I couldn't resist rewiring the entire guitar with quality electronics and I bought Don's Gibson '57 Classic pickups from the BST page here. So total I'll end up at about $500 for a LP that's light and outplays a couple of Gibsons that I've owned.
I for sure agree with you about cheap guitars generally. Every one I've ever had or played really suffered in terms of fit/finish, material quality, or playability. This Harley Benton is a big exception, it's a keeper...
|
|
|
Post by Alan M (aka 'Milky') on Nov 23, 2019 12:31:09 GMT -7
Dang cheap Must have cost them a dollar to make the whole thing! I ll just practice my fret work on my regular guitars. But wow ! If its as nice as you say. I have friends who buy cheap guitars just to have a bunch. Im never impressed once i play them. I have set a couple up that play ok. But he has a wall of junk in my opinion. But for him it’s quantity not quality that gets him off. Id love to try it and see! I do have a madera guitar i got out of a junk pile on garbage day and its headstock was broke off, I repaired it and played it for a year or two Until the headstock broke off again. I'm real curious how much Alan's weighs. His impression pretty much mirrors mine about the quality otherwise...it's amazing how good this thing is. It does come stock with 'Mini' size pots for the tone and volume controls, and the switch isn't Switchcraft but looks like it's well made; at least it feels good. Out of the box it sounded and played nicely.
I couldn't resist rewiring the entire guitar with quality electronics and I bought Don's Gibson '57 Classic pickups from the BST page here. So total I'll end up at about $500 for a LP that's light and outplays a couple of Gibsons that I've owned.
I for sure agree with you about cheap guitars generally. Every one I've ever had or played really suffered in terms of fit/finish, material quality, or playability. This Harley Benton is a big exception, it's a keeper...
Weight is around 8 pounds, perhaps a little under. (Dave, I have PM'd you.)
|
|