I have this model...same color...my biggest gripes are that A: the frets were sharp ( both HB guitars I have ordered had sharp frets) and B: their Kluson style split tuners the hole is not deep enough so changing strings is always challenging. The end always pops out when trying to wind them. Love the weight (almost 7lbs) and the 12" radius and finish... I bought it through Thomann's U.S. distributer "Reverb" no shipping costs but you will pay tax....still better than the outrageous shipping charges from Germany.
Thanks for the review! I am considering buying this. Have been playing Ibanez S520, which has a slim. flat neck, 400mm radius. If you have played both, can you please comment on neck feel and playability of this vs S520? How much difference can one expect?
I've not played the ibanez, but if guess the neck in it would feel nicer than this. I had to sand the gloss off and it is quite chunky. If you like the slimmer neck, check out the Harley benton fusion II or the CST24 models!
@@yaguitar I don't have the luxury to test guitars before playing and therefore such candid reviews and specific comments go a long way in making up my mind. Very helpfu - thanks!
I have the ST-62 with the gold hardware, but if you keep an eye on the channel Dan is soon going to review my new MIM Fender Stratocaster which looks surprisingly a lot like the guitar you are playing. But it's kinda special in a Olympics kinda way.
Absolutely, especially if you are into the SRV style blues. The neck and middle pickup together get you that classic strat sound when combined with a good overdrive!
Hey this is great. My brother was looking for a first electric for my nephew and he wanted something Strat like. Naturally I was looking at Pacificas, but for a more 'strat-like' guitar for this price brand new, with this kind of quality, it seems the perfect thing.
For bedroom playing, possibly yeah. Been a while since I used that setup though. That said, doesn't sound too thin on decent speakers. Meh, too each their own.
as an intermediate acoustic guitar player that wants an electric guitar, should I buy this one? i was wondering which one would be the best for me, this one or a Yamaha Pacifica 112VM. the second one is more expensive xD can you give me your opinion?
Im started 2 months ago playing guitar and now im thinking about to buy an e-guitar. Should i buy this guitar? because i really like the look of it and for this price it sounded pretty good.
Sadly I no longer own the guitar (donated to a local music school). It didn't seem to be overly huge, I found it very comfortable. I did find this in a forum, but can't promise it is.right. 23 mm at 1st fret, 24.5 mm at 12th
Hi, from Phoenix, Arizona. Sounds great. I'll be getting one of these. These have Alnico pickups v's ceramic's so at this price v's a Squier it's a bargain at least in the U.S. Shipping to the U.S. is $33 but with guitar costing $110 it's a steal. Great review. Thanks.
@@TonyLopezRE I have Squier Strats and this Harley Benton. The reason I purchased this is because of the Alnico pickups and the maple fretboard. You won't find a Squier Strat Affinity or Bullet with a Maple fretboard and won't find Alnico pickups with a Squier in the HB price range. Overall, I think the HB compares very well with an Affinity Strat. The Alnico pickups have a different sound which I like. Fret ends were a little sharp in some places but not bad. Hope this helps.
@@TonyLopezRE You can play Blues with a Squier Strat or this Harley Benton Strat. Both will do the job. In fact any Strat will allow you to play Blues or Pop or Rock or Jazz and Metal. A Strat is so versatile you can play any kind of music. In the end, you have to make the decision as guitars are very subjective. Each person has different wants, needs and expectations. Good Luck!
@@yaguitar is the pickups the only thing you'd say was better? I've heard a lot of mixed opinions about these guitars, some people don't expect great things from them but can't seem to explain why they aren't great 🤔😂
@@altoscene so. The quality can be hit and miss. This was a really easy to play guitar and didn't sound all that bad (but I'd change the pickups personally). I played this for a while, but just can't get on with strats for some reason. If you are in the UK it is worth keeping in mind import duties as part of the cost.
How many have you played, sounds like the voice of experience :) for the money, or his actually a good guitar. I find myself reaching for it more and more (I ended up buying this one)
Thank you Andrzej, really appreciate your very realistic appraisal of HB guitars, you do not gloss over the fact that a proper set-up is essential which really helps buyers new to this brand to go in with their eyes open. Anyone who can't set them up themselves can find a local luthier, job done!
Thanks. It's important as some reviews make it sound like they play like a 1000$ strat out of the box. Found a tone I love on this one now so it's getting more use of late. Need to deal with some fret sprout this week though lol
Dave.....i was trying to understand HOW it's cheaper to make the necks on your strats price point ?....because your necks need a Maple Veneer fingerboard gluing on......etc......?.... ......but i have discovered that depending upon which Guitar manufacturers are concerened...... when they use the term "one piece neck" they are referring to the fact that the Headstock is not glued on, OR in very rare cases they could be referring to the fact that the neck is indeed a "Skunk Stripe" one piece neck which does not contain a glued on fingerboard or glued on headstock (but that would be a Very rare guitar and expensive). The Large company that i was talking to were using "one piece nack" to mean the headstock is NOT glued on...... but the neck DOES have a rear skunk stripe but it also contains a glued on maple fingerboard. The guy said it's very rare to ever have guitar necks without a glued on fingerboard (due to wood stability) and expense. On the Harley Delux Strat and Tele's (DLX) models .....the necks they use are SKUNK STRIPE necks but the info does not specifically say "one piece neck" and that's because they are not....they conatin a glued on Maple fingeboard and COULD also contain a glued on headstock . Although i can't see the headstock joint. If you actually want a guitar without a Glued on Headstock.....you really must see the words "One piece neck" used to be sure of that fact. But as an example, they DO have DLX strat that specifically states "one piece neck"........Look www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_st_62dlx_ow_vintage_series.htm Somebody was telling me that the Delux skunk stripe necks are a higher end thing........ but those necks are not always a FULL signal of quality (check the grain of the neck wood + the fact the neck is skunk striped .....to get that FULL quality accerted)............. .......Dave, in reality though, i don't think people TOTALLY know what they are talking about. (see below) The reason that skunk stripe necks are better quality is because the actual over-all quality of all the Maple wood is higher...... (Therefor the DLX skunk stripe necks,.....have higher grade materials and they also have the advantage of the truss rod being removable for replacement or working with later on (entry from rear). This advantage is NOT possible on cheaper necks trussed from the front.......like yours. i believe the reason that your neck is cheaper to make is because while your NICE maple Veneer fingerboard looks good....it's only a thin sliver of good quality maple(then they have used whatever quality of maple they like underneathe the veneer......for the rest of the bulk of the guitar neck. They don't do those severe CUT BACKS with a SKunk Stripe neck.....they use over-all better Maple. All the maple of the Skunk stripe necks must be quite good quality. But like i say, it may NOT be a "one piece" neck unless it states that fact ......even with a s Skunk Stripe, it could still have a glued on Headstock and certainly WILL nearly always have a glued on maple fingerboard. i am still checking this stuff out.......but it seems to be the case that most company's using the term "one piece neck" will be referring to the fact that the Headstock is NOT glued on. If those specific words are used in the description "one piece neck"......... then you can be sure that the headstock is NOT glued on........ but the neck (while even having a SKUNK STRIPE) may still also have a glued on maple fretboard (highly Likely the case) thx........i am still investigating this stuff.
![[UA] NAVI проти G2 Esports | Blast Premier Fall Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QWlIm4FGESQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I have this model...same color...my biggest gripes are that A: the frets were sharp ( both HB guitars I have ordered had sharp frets) and B: their Kluson style split tuners the hole is not deep enough so changing strings is always challenging. The end always pops out when trying to wind them. Love the weight (almost 7lbs) and the 12" radius and finish... I bought it through Thomann's U.S. distributer "Reverb" no shipping costs but you will pay tax....still better than the outrageous shipping charges from Germany.
Thanks for the review! I am considering buying this. Have been playing Ibanez S520, which has a slim. flat neck, 400mm radius. If you have played both, can you please comment on neck feel and playability of this vs S520? How much difference can one expect?
I've not played the ibanez, but if guess the neck in it would feel nicer than this. I had to sand the gloss off and it is quite chunky. If you like the slimmer neck, check out the Harley benton fusion II or the CST24 models!
@@yaguitar I don't have the luxury to test guitars before playing and therefore such candid reviews and specific comments go a long way in making up my mind. Very helpfu - thanks!
@@yaguitar Thanks! Will checkout their reviews.
@@gorimus I reviewed the cst24 a few days ago. Amazing for the money, by far the best most playable HB I've tried.
@@yaguitar Will definitely check it out. Thanks.
Good review, thanks. I have to say, the ST-62 in white is a real looker - and at just over £100 delivered, absolutely insane value for money.
M'lady
An excellent review and fine playing.Thank you for taking the time to post!
Thank you!
I have the ST-62 with the gold hardware, but if you keep an eye on the channel Dan is soon going to review my new MIM Fender Stratocaster which looks surprisingly a lot like the guitar you are playing. But it's kinda special in a Olympics kinda way.
Would you recommend it to someone who wants to Play blues
Absolutely, especially if you are into the SRV style blues. The neck and middle pickup together get you that classic strat sound when combined with a good overdrive!
Hey this is great. My brother was looking for a first electric for my nephew and he wanted something Strat like. Naturally I was looking at Pacificas, but for a more 'strat-like' guitar for this price brand new, with this kind of quality, it seems the perfect thing.
I'll say this, it will more than likely need a bit of a set up for a beginner!
@@yaguitar Yeah. I told my bro he must get an experienced electric player to look it over on day one. Unfortunately, we live on different continents.
Seriously need more bottom end on your amp.
For bedroom playing, possibly yeah. Been a while since I used that setup though. That said, doesn't sound too thin on decent speakers. Meh, too each their own.
am i the only one that thinks the guitare sounds bad with distorssion ? or is it just the way it has been recorded ?
as an intermediate acoustic guitar player that wants an electric guitar, should I buy this one? i was wondering which one would be the best for me, this one or a Yamaha Pacifica 112VM. the second one is more expensive xD
can you give me your opinion?
I'd get the Yamaha personally!
Would you recommend to an intermediate player who wants a strat type guitar without breaking the bank?
Absolutely!
Hi, what amp You used for this test?
I think I'm going into my boss katana on this
Hey great guitar! Would you say it is on par with a Squire Infinity or a Squire Classic vibe Strat?
Hi, affinity definitely, not classic vibe though!
@Ben Carpenter wish they did more in the uk
Im started 2 months ago playing guitar and now im thinking about to buy an e-guitar. Should i buy this guitar? because i really like the look of it and for this price it sounded pretty good.
It will probably be OK, but you may want to take it for a set up if you find it hard to play
ok thank you for your quick answer@@yaguitar
Hi Andrzei ! Tell me please neck thickness in mm if not difficult. They say the neck is very thick .Thanks in advance.
Sadly I no longer own the guitar (donated to a local music school). It didn't seem to be overly huge, I found it very comfortable. I did find this in a forum, but can't promise it is.right. 23 mm at 1st fret, 24.5 mm at 12th
@@yaguitar Andrzei, thank you very much !
Tak podliczając wszystko jest okej czy nie ?
Hi, sorry not sure I know what you mean, google translate is not that great with Polish :) !
How does it compare to a Squier deluxe?
Not tried one sadly. It is certainly better than the affinity series, possibly not as good as the classic vibe.
Hah, god-damned dyslexia strikes again - I proofed and reproofed the video - who can spot the mistake near the beginning!!!! ??
Harely... :-D
@@MRX-23 yep. Second video I've done that with!
Amazing!!
Hi, from Phoenix, Arizona. Sounds great. I'll be getting one of these. These have Alnico pickups v's ceramic's so at this price v's a Squier it's a bargain at least in the U.S. Shipping to the U.S. is $33 but with guitar costing $110 it's a steal. Great review. Thanks.
Awesome - be sure to report back ho you enjoy it :D
How did y like it I’m debating between squier strat
@@TonyLopezRE I have Squier Strats and this Harley Benton. The reason I purchased this is because of the Alnico pickups and the maple fretboard. You won't find a Squier Strat Affinity or Bullet with a Maple fretboard and won't find Alnico pickups with a Squier in the HB price range. Overall, I think the HB compares very well with an Affinity Strat. The Alnico pickups have a different sound which I like. Fret ends were a little sharp in some places but not bad. Hope this helps.
Tim Morphy thanks for the advice! Do u think I would enjoy this guitar more if I wanna play blues type of music?
@@TonyLopezRE You can play Blues with a Squier Strat or this Harley Benton Strat. Both will do the job. In fact any Strat will allow you to play Blues or Pop or Rock or Jazz and Metal. A Strat is so versatile you can play any kind of music. In the end, you have to make the decision as guitars are very subjective. Each person has different wants, needs and expectations. Good Luck!
Is the body as thick as a fender strat or thin like a squire?
Antony leedale it’s just thin like a squire ... I recommend the squi
Would you choose this or a classic vibe squier?
If I had the money for the classic vibe, is go fo that. The pickups are much better, but for the money this is hard to beat.
@@yaguitar is the pickups the only thing you'd say was better? I've heard a lot of mixed opinions about these guitars, some people don't expect great things from them but can't seem to explain why they aren't great 🤔😂
@@altoscene so. The quality can be hit and miss. This was a really easy to play guitar and didn't sound all that bad (but I'd change the pickups personally). I played this for a while, but just can't get on with strats for some reason. If you are in the UK it is worth keeping in mind import duties as part of the cost.
@@yaguitar ahhh I see! Thanks for that! I am in the UK, how much extra are the import costs now?
@@altoscene not sure to be honest. Not had anything since the brexit deal!
You modded (ruined) that lovely strat,now when you watch this as it was stock you feel
BIG REGRET
Not in the slightest. For me it made it more the guitar I needed it to be.
The mistake is you say, Its built really solidly. lol
How many have you played, sounds like the voice of experience :) for the money, or his actually a good guitar. I find myself reaching for it more and more (I ended up buying this one)
Thank you Andrzej, really appreciate your very realistic appraisal of HB guitars, you do not gloss over the fact that a proper set-up is essential which really helps buyers new to this brand to go in with their eyes open. Anyone who can't set them up themselves can find a local luthier, job done!
Thanks. It's important as some reviews make it sound like they play like a 1000$ strat out of the box. Found a tone I love on this one now so it's getting more use of late. Need to deal with some fret sprout this week though lol
Dave.....i was trying to understand HOW it's cheaper to make the necks on your strats price point ?....because your necks need a Maple Veneer fingerboard gluing on......etc......?....
......but i have discovered that depending upon which Guitar manufacturers are concerened...... when they use the term "one piece neck" they are referring to the fact that the Headstock is not glued on, OR in very rare cases they could be referring to the fact that the neck is indeed a "Skunk Stripe" one piece neck which does not contain a glued on fingerboard or glued on headstock (but that would be a Very rare guitar and expensive).
The Large company that i was talking to were using "one piece nack" to mean the headstock is NOT glued on...... but the neck DOES have a rear skunk stripe but it also contains a glued on maple fingerboard. The guy said it's very rare to ever have guitar necks without a glued on fingerboard (due to wood stability) and expense.
On the Harley Delux Strat and Tele's (DLX) models .....the necks they use are SKUNK STRIPE necks but the info does not specifically say "one piece neck" and that's because they are not....they conatin a glued on Maple fingeboard and COULD also contain a glued on headstock . Although i can't see the headstock joint. If you actually want a guitar without a Glued on Headstock.....you really must see the words "One piece neck" used to be sure of that fact.
But as an example, they DO have DLX strat that specifically states "one piece neck"........Look
www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_st_62dlx_ow_vintage_series.htm
Somebody was telling me that the Delux skunk stripe necks are a higher end thing........ but those necks are not always a FULL signal of quality (check the grain of the neck wood + the fact the neck is skunk striped .....to get that FULL quality accerted).............
.......Dave, in reality though, i don't think people TOTALLY know what they are talking about.
(see below)
The reason that skunk stripe necks are better quality is because the actual over-all quality of all the Maple wood is higher......
(Therefor the DLX skunk stripe necks,.....have higher grade materials and they also have the advantage of the truss rod being removable for replacement or working with later on (entry from rear). This advantage is NOT possible on cheaper necks trussed from the front.......like yours.
i believe the reason that your neck is cheaper to make is because while your NICE maple Veneer fingerboard looks good....it's only a thin sliver of good quality maple(then they have used whatever quality of maple they like underneathe the veneer......for the rest of the bulk of the guitar neck.
They don't do those severe CUT BACKS with a SKunk Stripe neck.....they use over-all better Maple.
All the maple of the Skunk stripe necks must be quite good quality. But like i say, it may NOT be a "one piece" neck unless it states that fact ......even with a s Skunk Stripe, it could still have a glued on Headstock and certainly WILL nearly always have a glued on maple fingerboard.
i am still checking this stuff out.......but it seems to be the case that most company's using the term "one piece neck" will be referring to the fact that the Headstock is NOT glued on.
If those specific words are used in the description "one piece neck"......... then you can be sure that the headstock is NOT glued on........ but the neck (while even having a SKUNK STRIPE) may still also have a glued on maple fretboard (highly Likely the case)
thx........i am still investigating this stuff.
I would switch the neck and bridge pups. It sounds like they may have been put in wrong.
Not sure, seemed to be the right way when it was doing some work in it
Put the beer down semi.