Double Take - Harley Benton SC-450 Plus vs Gibson Les Paul Part 1 Clean
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- Опубліковано 2 лис 2015
- www.thomann.de/intl/harley_be...
Hey guys and gals! Tim and I are here for part one of our video showing tone differences between the HB SC-450 Plus and a Les Paul Traditional Plus with 57 Classic pickups. These are the cleaner tones and final thoughts.
Demo rig is a Phaez Dragonfly amp, using the Blackface side for cleans and the ODS side for driven tones. I use a short board with only little bit of TC Electronic Mini Hall of Fame Reverb on clean tones.
-Gibson guitar (2000$): you are paying 500$ for the guitar and 1500$ more for the name on the headstock.
-Harley Benton guitar (150$): you are paying 150$ for the guitar.
To me it´s clear... HB wins.
With gibson you are paying a lot for the nitro finishm i wish people would understand that. The finish on gibsons takes a long time to work on, hence the steeper price.
Don't fool yourself...
That Gibson is "badassed"
@@bambostarla6259 The auto industry abandoned Nitro long ago because it sucks.
@@DBCisco Nitro is awful on many products but gibson use it for heritage reasons, considering they make heritage guitars. It makes sence
@@bambostarla6259 Yep, they still make crap. lol
I just ordered one based on this video! Can’t wait! I have a mim strat and wanted a Les Paul style guitar and hopefully this will work out great. I know it’s not a Gibson but I’m a blue collar working man it’s hard to justify pulling $2500 from the family.
Yeah Gibson is for dentists
How did you like it? Do you still have it?
8:55 - Tim nails it. I always laugh when someone, either in person or on a forum, says, "I figure I'll get X-brand guitar and just swap out the pickups to what I normally use." Why? So all of your guitars sound basically the same? Play it for 6 months first, adjust the pickup heights, set it up right, and perhaps change the settings on your amp. Live a little! Great video guys.
What a great video. No cork sniffing, no brand snobbery, and no "We have to say this is better because we're a big music store and make more money from them." I'm convinced the so-called big reviewers are biased, no matter how objective they think they are. They have a business to run, after all. Hey, when I'm talking to one of my clients I'M biased!
"How much better" is a good question. Is a real LP ten times better, either sound or feel wise? As Tim said, for the average working guy, the Harley Benton is an obvious choice.
Actually I prefer the finish (from here) of the HB.
Thanks Nick! That's the fun thing of being an independent guy. I can call them as I see them... plus I hunt all over for the next good quality inexpensive guitar. It's fun! Thanks for the kind words and hope you continue to enjoy the channel!
Imagine what would HB do if you change the pickups to some high-end ones. This is what I did with my Harley Benton CST-24T - changed the default pickups to DiMarzio, lowered the string action a little bit and suddenly a 200$ guitar plays like a PRS.
I just bought the HB SC550 Desert Flame Burst and it's a beautiful guitar, I'm very pleased with the quality, looks and price.
Thanks for posting.
Nick, thanks for these reviews. I got a HB SC-500 and I like it alot. Sound good, plays good and it was only 135 bucks. My son got a $78 Tele copy with the same shipment, and he's very happy with it. For both us, we have plenty of other guitars and were just trying them out, but we're pleased. Keep up the good work
By listening to the two guitars it's not much drop off in the sound. It's an affordable option to a les paul.
It's not until it's pushed at a loud volume that you really start to notice. You could probably compensate for a lot of the difference by adjusting amp settings. Here we wanted an apples to apples comparison at same settings. It's a great guitar for the money and a rather good guitar overall.
Nick in the States do you think a pickup change along with pots and switches would start to get the sound closer?
@@vladimirlopez7840 it would 100%
I love my epiphone les paul but a few weekends ago I got my hands on a Gibson tribute and I fell in love with the feel. I want one now
I feel Harley Benton is gonna start being popular with the mainstream and with beginners becuase its greatly built and cheap and I’ve seen a lot of people review it and say good things already
I like playing the guitar that feels and plays best in my hands. My favorites are currently my 1983 Yamaha SG800S, 1973 Ovation Deacon, 1997 Squier Affinity Strat with $35 in upgraded electronics, my 2004 Epiphone Sheraton II, and my 2016 Epiphone Joe Bonamassa LP with the 2016 JB being the most expensive at $700. Yes, I could afford a Benedetto or Gibson Custom shop, but it really is value related to playability that wins in my mind. I've owned multiple Gibson and Fender top-tier models in my 50 years of playing, but I always migrate back to the axes that feel best in my hands when actually playing.
I have two HB models on my RADAR - HBO-850NT Adamas clone and the TE-70RW.
I got this SC-450plus HB guitar, too, the version with Roswell pickups already and now I was able to get hold of some original Gibson 2014 pickups. I was wondering if these Gibson pickups would be a nice upgrade for the HB SC-450plus. What do You think?
Great video man,been on the fence about HB,but acctually ordered th Sc 500 an hour ago after seeing a ton of clips,this included.
€149 plus €15 in freight,your video sold me,I usually play my Gibson sg special,and getting a guitar for this price,that feels right when you pick it up,brilliant
Great vid boys
ask it this way... if a benton had identical quality parts to a gibson, whould you be prepared to payy 1500, 2000, or 4000 for a benton. if the answer is no... then why pay that for a gibson?
That's a great question. There is something to be said for history and prestige but I think that something is different for everyone who is contemplating just that. Flip it around. If an identically optioned and built Benton (nitro, pickups, electronics, etc) Cost $1000 but the Gibson version costs $1500 which would you buy?
your friend covered it perfectly with the cake story. if A is every bit as good as B and it's hard to tell any difference in quality then the name and price simply boils down to status and perception. history and prestige? eh...the name gibson is synonymous with status, wealth and excess. as human beings were obsessed with stuff that gives us status. like when you're a kid wanting nike shoes instead of shitty brand x lol. shoes are only meant to wear on your feet, keepp splinters out of your caveman feet lol branding is all in the mind, it's entriely psychological. I'd still love a gibson. but I play epiphone and I'd really like a chibson. I'd rather have a chibson than a gibson but that's easy to say since I can't afford a gibbo. but then I've never been the kinda guy to buy expensive things. never bought a brand new car, in fact I've bought car from scrap yard before and put it back on the road. if you got the skills and don't like seeing salvagable stuff go to waste I'm all for it. as for your question, i'm not in the market for 1000$ guitars so I find it hard to answer hypotheticals like that. for the sake of an extra 500 is wirth getting a different name? tough question. I'd probably still just buy a cheap benton... if money was no object at all I'd get 2 of every thing.
wouldn't it be funny if benton made a guitar and put gibson name on.... gibson made a guitar and put benton name on...see which one people will pay most for.
LOL yes!!! Very thought provoking man. I think the one variable that we haven't considered is resale. If both were to cost $1000 lets say, but one had a resale of only $400 and the other $800... that is likely a factor of the market, perception, brand power etc.
All of it is a very interesting look into human nature... It's a lot of fun to consider.
For me I get a silly enjoyment out of finding inexpensive guitars that are, or can be made to be very good instruments. I end up playing them more than my expensive guitars just for some sort of rebel pride or sense of personal emotional investment in them.
I personally tend not to sell things, I never consider resale when I buy something. If I'm considering resale value when I buy something, then maybe I don't want it enough in the first place. I buy things because I want them, so I tend to keep them, if they break I fix them... rarely have I ever sold anything. but it takes 2 people to make a deal so what ever you sell on, then you need two people who value the item the same... albeit one person wants it and the other doesn't. really it's not just the value of the item, it's also how you value money. I don't want to sell my epiphone and what I could sell it for I'd never replac e it with anything as good for the same money... not worth se;llling... maybe in 50 years time lol
I bought my first Harley Benton Gold top with the idea in mind that I would just swap pickups, or anything else that was sub standard.......I haven't swapped a thing, and don't plan on it. I liked the first one so much I bought another one, and will buy more.
The problem with the HB Goldtop is that it is NOT gold. My HBGT is copper colored. I have owned a real Gibson Goldtop and the HB can't really compare. I never understood why no other company (not even Epiphone) could match the Gibson gold, or at least come close to it.
Overall, I'm happy with the HB SC450HBGT, but the finish color is a big disappointment. They shouldn't advertise it as "gold."
great video guys thanks , i have a chibson LP and a Gibson Trad . The quality is really good on the genuine LP etc and i spent time and money to get the Chibson playing well but still cost me only $200 where as the Gibson cost me $1800 2nd hand.
HB seems to be really good value for money .
Thanks Graham!
Do you know if Harley Benton makes a LP goldtop with humbuckers? I have only ever found the one with P90's
Hey Nick. Just wanted to thank you for these great reviews. I have just ordered a Harley Benton SC-550 in Faded Tobacco. I'll let you know how it sounds.
You're welcome man! Thanks for the really cool comment. Let me know what you think of that bad boy when it gets in. If I didn't have so damn many HBs and Les Paul sort of guitars I'd get an SC550... I still just might! Lol. I'm posting a bunch more HB videos over the next few weeks. Great guitars for the money. Cheers man!
+Nick in the States My HB SC-550 arrived last week, 4 days after being ordered from Germany. Out of the box I was very impressed: physically the finish was superb; the wood on the front is very well matched and the grain is beautiful. The back looks like two pieces and the scarf joint on the neck is barely visible. The frets were finished well and the hardware is beautiful and expensive looking. Not a mark or a blemish in the finish.
It was almost still in tune. I decided to plug it straight into the amp. The neck pickup is very smooth and warm whilst the bridge offers warm but edgier tones. I dialled a bit of dirt in and the classic LP sound came loud and mighty. I'm really impressed by the Wilkinson pickups.
There's no comparison to the Epiphone. The pups on the Epiphone were very abrasive and lacked warmth and I disliked the feel of the neck. The HB is more like the classic LP.
I love it. Next purchase Harley Benton HB JA-60SB Vintage Series.
Hey man! Congrats on your new arrival! It sounds like you got a keeper right there. I'm jealous of your quick ship times there in the EU. I have to wait a week or two to get mine.
I agree 100% ref the prices and quality, I have a HB tele and it's just fantastic. A also have a friend who buys 4000€ guitars just about every month, he can afford it, I can't so god bless Thomman.
I live not so far from Thomann, it's an amazing place, Alladins cave has nothing on it!,
Nice video BTW
i want to buy this harley benton but i dont know if it looks good.can someone tell me?
Put 57s into the Harley and you've got a 500 dollar Gibson Les Paul goddammit
no you got a knock off Epiphone wich cost more then a Epiphone .
What are 57s? Im kinda bad when it comes to guitar terms...
Jvdk Pickups..
@@CunningStuntsGoFast i have an epiphone sg and ive played a few gibson its not even much better im going to order a harley benton 450 plus when they are back in stock and im willing to bet the quality will be fairly comparable
@@yungchill69 has the guitar arrived yet? Ive ordered one too. It hasnt artived yet
this harley benton but i dont know if it looks good can someone tell me
I have watched a few vids on Harvey Benton, but no one tells you if it has been set up first or just out the box and tuned...
The only differences are: quality of the wood and its drying, construction and finishing, cost of labor in factories and electronics. But in terms of sound and feel there is hardly any difference. Excellent Harley Benton with an unbeatable value for money. I have a Gibson LP Traditional and one of those HBs, and they are both great. The Harley Benton is more of my "battle" guitar and for practice. The Gibson is more secure at home
I wonder what it's like to work in the Gibson factory compared with the Harley Benton factory, perhaps you should do a video on that.
How does the Harley Benton will sound with a electro-acoustic amp ? (Yamaha THR5A)
+Yonino ! Interesting question. I actually just tried mine through the acoustic setting of my Yamaha THR10C and it sounds warm and nice... But I would prefer it out a proper electric amp.
Nice comparison guys. I am kinda stuck somewhere in the middle as I'm torn between getting the Harley Benton SC 450 Plus CB Vintage or the Epiphone Les Paul Classic Heritage Cherry Sunburst. The Epiphone is over twice the price (UK) but has different pickups and tuners etc than the HB but will it sound twice as good?
I own a SC-450Plus (older model, with the Gibson body and headstock shape) and if you know the sound of the Wilkinson pickups you recognize it right away. They sound cheaper, thinner, uneven and metallic. I did level the frets and change the pickups to Seymour Duncans and now the guitars really rocks. And blueses.
Awesome man! They definitely aren't Gibson or Duncans for sure. I find o can still get them to do what I want for now. They may get a swap later though. Great thing about a $150 is that there is room to spend a little money on upgrades.
Nick in the States And you don't feel bad about removing stock parts, because they're not worth much after all.
+George Hypotenuse and the Triangles exactly!
Nick in the States I mean, I'd be pissed if I bought a 3 grand Gibson and had to exchange the Grovers on it. I'd feel ripped off. And with a Harley Benton, the woods are already well worth the price and everything else is basically free stuff.
+George Hypotenuse and the Triangles exactly!
I totally agree with your assessment. I have a Jay Turser JT220 Les Paul clone that I picked up used for less than $180 and it has a nice beefy 1959 style neck, it plays well, has good intonation and all the electronics work. It's also a heavy 2" thick body made with multi pieces of mahogany and a maple cap. I plan to rewire it 50's style and install better pots and switch etc. I also want to change the pickups for less hotter vintage Alnico GFS pups and Grover tuners. Even with those mods I'd still be into it for less than $400. Good video review by the way!
+TheBluesJammer That's that some people miss in the whole lower cost guitar thing. There's still meat on the bone to get some upgrades and make it exactly what you want it to be. It may not be a Gibson, but in some ways it's better because it's a TheBluesJammer model Turser that's just what you want it to be. The other great case for these lesser expensive ones is when you're a les paul player predominantly but want a Strat style or tele or 7 string or beatle bass or whatever to cheat on your main axe with. You can afford to and see if it merits more investment or stays a fling.
On a related note, I'm a complete hypocrite. I talk up less expensive guitars but I never give Jay Turser a second look. I've actually owned one briefly that might have been the best playing strat I've ever played but I was snobby at the time and passed it on to a cousin who refuses to ever entertain the idea of selling it back to me. They were hit or miss back in the day but I should probably revisit them now. Might be a few gems there!
Re: Jay Tursers...I too have owned a JT Vintage Series strat & Tele clone and they had two of the best necks I've ever played on. I paid less than $200 for both combined and used them for quite a few gigs. However yes that being said there are a few "dogs" out there. You just have to find a good one.
+TheBluesJammer exactly! And that's half the fun, the hunt!
Does anyone know if after you order from Thomann & they ship it here to Seattle in the states, are there any additional duties or tariffs or Import fees?
I bought one this year and I paid for the guitar and shipping only.
Nice comp Nick.
I still thought the Gibbo sounded a bit better, not that the difference was vast. I thought the LP had a bit more fatness in tone and clarity than the HB, but that could be just down to the pick ups themselves.
But did they sound ALIKE? Yes to my ears they did. You'd kick neither out of bed based on sound only.
+DMSProduktions Thanks man, I feel the same way. They both sound like they should. The Gibby just has a bunch more to it. I think in a recording mix it would be hard to tell the difference as you'd be dropping a lot of the lows out of the Gibby anyway.
hey man i recently discovered you channel. you are doing some fine work here keep it up! i am interested in the HB SC-450 or the HB SC-550. what are the main differences beside the top? i notice the pickups are different but dont have any actual info for them. bottom line is it worth the extra 100 euros? thanks in advance even if u dont answer. cheers
+panagos159 hey man thanks for the kind words! You pose a great question and a timely one. I have the SC550 en route right now. I'll do a comparison video to both the 450 Plus and to on of my Gibsons as well. It should be in next week or the week after. Keep an eye out for the videos!
Well, I believe the 450 sounds a little better, actually, but the build quality on the 550 is far superior (shielded cavities, for example), so if you intend to change the pickups take the 550, if you want to keep it stock maybe take the 450, but be prepared to shield the guitar.
Totally agree. I have a MIM Tele, MIM Strat and a Vintage V100 Lemon Drop Les Paul Style. All 3 are keepers
Tone good on both but Harley Benton sounds slightly out of tune, is the intonation off?
Excellent video, just bought myself the lefty version of the HB. 😊
So my question is if you put the Gibson pickups and electronics in the HB, what would the result be?
A really great looking and sounding guitar.. what do you think?
From the U.K. I'm relieved to see G.A.S. is international if not universal! Just don't tell the wife!! Thomann prices this close to Germany are even more tempting. Glad to see though that you have given honest reviews about Harley Benton guitars - they're not perfect but great value. Most of us "advance learner".....i've been a learner for 40 years.....couldn't get the best out of a real over priced Les Paul anyway :-)
+Slowlearner LOL advanced learner... I have officially stolen that expression from you! I try to call them as I see them. I'm pretty positive by nature as well, so I bring in Tim or Liam to at least have a chance for a different view point or a dissenting opinion. GAS is indeed an international affliction for sure. The world is getting smaller and smaller though... which means we all get to share even more of it! Thanks for the note and for stopping by man!
+Nick in the States Yep there's a lot that unites us.....let's face it the majority of the best modern music comes from the States or Britain together with guitar players. I've bought a few bits and pieces from Thomann over the last year or two: Martin-clone Electro-Acoustic, Mandolin, pedals, pedal board etc. All good value for money. Plus the return procedure is fair and good. Did you know they reward you with a 10 Euro voucher if they publish your product review? Meanwhile, here's U.K. guitar manufacturer's site, shipping to the States may not be as economical as Thomann as Revelation guitars are a bit more expensive.....see what you think.....www.revelationguitars.co.uk/
you can definitely hear more clarity and brightness with the gibson pickups
Have you thought about getting one of the Harley Benton Big Tone jobbies? May well be on my list after I get rid of a few other things.
The Big Tone and its brother the Manhattan both talk to me each time I go on Thomann's site. I suffer from a malady every time I go there. Everything else is so much less expensive that the $230 or so that the BiGTone costs seems expensive. When compared to anything else I look at its still super inexpensive. Perhaps my next order I'll grab one. I too am moving some stuff to thin the herd a bit. Thanks for popping by man!
+Nick in the States Just had a thought!!! (sorry) I 'm going to get one for Christmas, to me, from me. No one else would bother, so a vid up within a few week I hope.
+tallthinkev congrats on that! Haha that's awesome man.
I think pickup swapping to original could make that good near gibson. What do you think?
I would Change the pickups, pots, input Jack basically the whole electronics and it is an amazing guitar
150 vs 2300 euro guitar. Simple question - is the Gibson really more than 10X better sounding/playing than the Harley Benton? Well, here's your answer. Gibson should re-think their business strategy towards their low-cost instruments. Nobody is willing to pay 150-200 euro on a cheap and bad guitar like the Epiphone Special or something like that anymore. HB, Vintage and other brands offering good products on a competitive price will soon overtake the big brands that won't adapt to this new reality.
I don't think you're completely wrong. But for a while anyway the "name" will pull people in no matter what. As long as the top flight stuff is good it will have a halo effect on the lower level stuff, no matter how bad. But it will also inspire other companies to produce quality stuff to compete with their lower priced guitars. These companies, like Benton, have plenty of room to stake their claim to quality gear at that level of the market. So we sort of all get what we want. I think. LOL
Rafael Carvalho I have lot of guitars. some expensive some not. Among all of them I have '98 Epiphone Les Paul and you are wrong. This is great guitar and I bet you won't hear a difference comparing to Les Paul, and mayby blindfold you won't feel the difference when playing both
Also Agile..I own a al-2000 and its just as good as any Lespauls..I switch the pickups(Not even sure if it made a diff) But its a great instrument.
I play harley and im in a band
Tee Jay Are, that isn’t a pro-level instrument or as good? I dissambled the Harley completely and i can say for sure, that the used bodymaterials and the build ist really excellent! Really thick mapletop, Body and neck propper glued and flawless finish! ALL parts to top the Gibson in playability and sound can be done at least for less than 500 Dollars, and you got a microlevelled neck, the pu's you want and how you want them, same with tuners. And for me the most reasonable point is: You'll never need to worry about a broken headstock as you probably might with a Gibson!
I've got a few guitars and a couple of decent ones but purchased a HB Tele Vintage 52 last year and for the money its ridiculously good. I changed the bridge and tuners to Wilkinsons and I use it all the time. Good video guys
Hey Nick and Tim ! I really love your video and I totally agree with you. Harley Bentons are really extraordinary for the price, and not only for the price : they are pleasant guitars to play. I own three gibsons, one being a 60s tribute goldtop with p90, bought second hand on the Internet, and ils quality's closer to an epiphone... Everybody knows that Gibson went through weird times in the past, but I have the impression that people are tired of giving a lot of money for guitars that aren't worth it. Duesenbergs, for instance, are much better for the price... So way to go, guys ! Thanks for this good video.
Thanks man for the great comment. I agree that Gibson’s can be a stretch sometimes. I don’t think they’ve gotten a lot worse... the less expensive ones just keep getting better! It’s hard to lose these days.
Nick in the States Thanks for your answer ! I need to check your other videos. I own about twenty guitars, I'm in my 50s, and I think now, more and more, that you can have fun for less money and enjoy nice instruments that are under 500$. I live in Europe, in Belgium, in the middle of an area where we can buy lots of second hand guitars for a very decent price. I'm not that far away from Thomann, who sells these Harley Bentons. Say hi to Tim, he seems to be a good honest guy, full of realisitc opinions, and I like that. Take care and stay away from the virus...
Ive had both, thing is, a gibson neck feels like wood, like your holding a bat almost. My hb felt like plastic.
probably the finish on the neck. I sand the finish off the necks of my guitars
what song is playing this guy at the start?
I'm not sure.. I think he was just noodling some T-bone walker stuff or something like that.
I've three Gibson Les Paul, and two Prs+++++ many more. Those Harley Bentons are not bad.
This is a great comparison video, but better yet are the comments regarding the costs. He really nailed it about the average guy with a family and expenses, and that's so true. For the middle aged guy who just likes to tinker with the guitar, spending 2 grand is just not an option. I am one of those guys and it's nice to hear others speak the same language. Well done guys, I'm buying a HB.
Thanks for watching!
Just bought an HB ST 62. I CANNOT believe how much better it is than most budget Fenders or G&L’s
The Gibson sounded clearer than the Harley Benton. However, I primarily play overdriven, so that's not a HUGE issue for me. Harley Bentons are full-fat, set neck, Mahogany-Bodied and Necked LP style guitars for
The clarity of the Gibson will go through the overdrive.
Cool Video. Thanks and Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪🇺🇸
The Harley Benton sounds much better in my ears.
btw are that 008 gauge strings on the Gibson (Like Billy Gibbons)
+Luc Schwarz Hey Luc, thanks for stopping by. I think it has 10's on it. They're a set of Elixirs that have been on it for quite a while. The Rev Willie G now uses 7's!
+Luc Schwarz the wilko pups are amazing
+mywave inwoods I dig em. They're not Duncans but they don't suck.
Im sold, Its nice to see they have lefties to.
+Aaron Rodriguez It's a can't miss at that price.
The Harley Bentons, have been upgraded, with better sounding Tesla pickups, and stainless steel frets, for$275, totally gig ready, maybe change out the tuners, and you are still way ahead. If I am playing a gig, and its hot, or rainy, my Custom Shop Gibson stays home. Nothing comes close to the HB in that price range, selling my Epiphones, and getting a second HB with a different finish, really playing Strats more lately anyway. Good review guys!
can you tell if the string spacing is the same as Gibsons.. thanks
+Aei Ou It seems to be pretty darn close between them.
+Nick in the States Thanks,, PS. how is the weight comparison
+Aei Ou Gibson is about a pound heavier... but both of my Gibsons don't have any weight relief so they're 10 pounders.
the new guitar are made in almost perfect way and we are now in advanced age where cheap vs expensive are head to head. also oscar schmidt is very good now.
10:37 It's behind Tim. He's hoping you won't notice it's gone when he leaves ;)
LOL!
Thanks for the review it helped make my mind up about the worries of any quality issues at that kind of price and what damn finish to get it in (Vintage Burst it is) if it can get shipped to the States and still have the neck attached to the body then the U.K shouldn't be a problem .
Glad to hear it was helpful man! The good thing for you continentals is that Thomann will replace for free if there's an issue. We here in your former rebel colonies have to foot the return shipping costs. With that said I've had 15 or 16 come through my hands for myself and friends and we haven't had to worry about that yet.
I guess I speak for all the average players... Why would I spend $1500-$3000 for any guitar. I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. HB rocks. The SC-Custom I just bought is amazing. I now question why I spent money for Squiers and Ephiphones... The HB is equal or superior to those.
You shouldn’t - just the same as those that can tell the difference shouldn’t have to listen to “average players” (your words, not mine) trying to tell us that guitar a is better than guitar b simply by virtue of being cheaper.
Just bought a HB solid top mahogany parlor style acoustic which is brilliant in every way. Currently thinking of the reviewed guitar in this video... My other pastime is photography where we have the same issues with people taking up the snob value and nit picking appreciation of cameras (pixel peepers) before taking any interest in actual photography, they spend thousands and update continuously (and loose far more money than guitarists) but to stay with the image (pun intended) they have to keep doing this. I use a 10 year old camera with good 10 year old lenses and get the same or better results, dito with guitars
Haha also as a photographer I know what you mean! Allthough photographers are so easily triggered by a brand name alone. Feels like the same is happening in guitar world as some people don't even want to look at anything else other than a Gibson. I guess most people just like to impress others. Like the photographers that go to events with only a 70-200 because it just looks professional.
show us the Harley Benton SC - 400 gold top
I'll have to see about getting one in. This is involves me talking a friend into it and bundling it in one of my orders. It migt be a bit. I don't need one myself as I have the older L450GTP90 that scratches that itch personally.
I have to compliment you on a interesting and honest review. To a lot of people out there who cannot afford to spend 2k + on a guitar, who have an old bashed guitar they like to thrash a couple of times a week ( 20 years) then throw back in the cupboard in frustration these HB,s are a welcome revelation.I have just purchased a HB goldtop and a cheap amp and I play it everday its like being a kid at christmas again.
in 30+ year i have owned over 200 guitar i went to guitar center the other and played 2018 gibson les paul standard what a total piece of shit plastic nut very noisy felt cheap lighter than my harley benton and they want over 2000 dollars for it no thanks gibson really let there quality go down hill and they expect people to buy their product just because it is a gibson they better watch out if they don't get there shit together harley benton just might just end there rain at the top.
Some of us old timers really like the asthetics and body style of the Les Pauls. It makes a difference to us.
hello Nick, really nice comparison and make sense, i said that also, i own custom made strat which i build from . allparts neck and good quality alder body, i got them with sss hot wilkos, to be honest the pups sound just amazing with my orange crush 20 2015 with adding palmer pocket amp/preamp which using it as a eq, and overdrive pedal. i don't think that the cost of an instrument does not make it sound good. its the good feel and the right choice of a decent pickups, guitar and the amp. in my opinion. sorry for the bad english :)
My friend I would not have even considered your English skills had you not mentioned anything! With good to great parts you can make a great guitar these days rather inexpensively. I don't want to take anything away from a Gibson, but you can coax great tones for much much less. Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts!
ROCK ON
Hey, Nick, will you tell my wife that it's okay to own more than a couple guitars? Or three, or four...okay, five. Six max. But I see these HBs, and I want one, so I need a voice in my corner. Thanks.
Kevin Corbin Kevin please pass this message to your wife. Dear wife of Kevin. First off, can I say that you look wonderful today. Your darling Kevin here, who loves you more than anything in this world, could really use a few more guitars. What you must understand is that Kevin, in his brilliance, is smart enough to focus his affections both on you and on less expensive guitars. He is obviously a wise man. I know it can be aggravating and perhaps seem excessive, but at least it's not cocaine or heroin. In closing, thank you so much for showering Kevin with love all of these years. It seems that you complete him. Regards, Nick in the States
Nick, it takes brilliance to understand brilliance, and you, sir, have a staggering intellect! I will have my wife read this post haste. Let the guitar shopping recommence.
Take care.
Kevin Corbin haha let me know how it goes.
Showed my wife your message. One she finished laughing (she loved it), she told me to tell you that you convinced her. Well played, sir. Very well played. Muchos gracias!
+Kevin Corbin hahaha awesome man. Happy to be of assistance!
So how and where do you buy them in the USA?
+Fezzler61 You can't buy them from any stores in the US... have to order from thomann.de from Germany and they ship here. Inexpensive though, $35 or so for up to three guitars.
Thanks.
I think this video proves that your amp plays a big part in the end product as do your hands! I certainly could not hear 10x difference between these 2.
Tim actually SOUNDED much more comfortable playing the Harley Benton. H-B did sound a little warmer or darker to me.
Great video, but I'd rather see comparison between two copies like an epiphone and harley benton or wolf or grote
I look at spending using the law of diminishing returns. There are many cost effective options for LP style guitars other than Gibson which are priced out of the market for most of us. I have a Schecter Solo-6 Custom LP that plays and sounds great.
+Dale Palmer Me too man. Even though I do have a few Gibsons I tend to gravitate towards these well done clones in my daily playing. This way I can over collect guitars and still eat.
I'm in a position,provided on how much it will be, to make a guitar purchase in the coming months and watching this video does bring up the rather big question: Find then buy a lefty Les Paul or order a couple HBs. I have a FCS 69 Strat in its case that I love to death but at the same time I want to keep in pristine condition. I paid $3120 for it and now it's become this feared object that I shall not desecrate. I need something to always have out that can take a fall or two and I won't have a heart attack. On the other hand, I want to take advantage of scoring a Gibo LP that I my never get in the future... Damn I got major issues!!!!!! Thanks letting me rant Nick!!!!!!!
+Ahmad Kareem Hi Ahmad! I can identify with those issues! This is a good problem to have that you speak about. I have 11 Gibsons at this point that spend 99% of their lives in cases. I have some number similar of Harley Bentons and they are all out in my family room / jam space and get played pretty much every day. I get so much enjoyment out of them! Depending on finances you could always do both, buy a slightly lesser Gibson (Standard vs Traditional vs Studio vs whatever they call them these days) and then take the $500 savings and grab a couple of Bentons. That way you get the best of both worlds!
+Nick in the States I like the way you think my friend!!!! My wife well........lol!!!! Thanks for the advice my friend!!!!!!
Jamal Kareem ...i feel your pain
Today I unboxed my first Harley Benton SC 450 Plus VB , I have been searching for 8 hours to find something wrong with it. Out of the box it was in tune except for the D string. Intonation was spot on, lowered the bridge height, and have been playing it on and off for 7 hours. It is still in tune. The fret edges are much better than my Epiphone and so far I haven't found any uneven frets. They seemed a bit "unpolished" at first but are smoothing out really well from being played. I won't say the Roswell pickups are better than my Gibson 490 and 498 however they DO actually sustain longer. I might change out the switch to a real LP switch but it works just fine. The body is nicely finished no binding issues or flaws whatsoever. The neck heel design is very comfortable. I really don't think any guitar can compete with it for less than $500. Time will tell how well built it really is, but for the price, who cares.
Like Tim's shirt. GO PATS
Just about every video I've seen about these guitars and especially the black paisley teles is proof that a great guitar can be had on a budget...the quality of "affordable" or entry level instruments is now seriously elevated to the point where what wasn't taken seriously 20 years ago now is...take squire for instance, they produce very good guitars now in different price points, affinities are pretty decent, classic vibes rival damm near anything. That may sound like a helluva statement and it is, but spend a few weeks with one or more if you can and you'll know what I mean...too many of us for way too many years have been brainwashed by our heroes guitars and convinced we need to spend major $$$ to be or sound like them...why do guitars have to be "better" per say try to find our heroes sound, they did it on $500 guitars..we can too...
I agree, on owning both guitars, sound wise they do compare. But the feel of the Gibson to the Harley is very different. Harley feels like cotton in your hands and the Gibson feels like silk. I am no brand snob as i have most of the Harley Benton range and i cant recommend them enough. But does the Gibson warrant its price. I think after watching the build video on their factory tour. Yes i can see why you pay what you do for a Gibson.
In Manufacturing terms.
The mass of the larger pots has a rounding effect on the tone. Those smaller cheaper pots alter the tone
Still thinking about you, man.
Put a high quality pickup in the hb and the tone would be much closer
I have some of these pedals under the joyo name decent pedals
+Granville Friel I have the AC Tone and the California Sound. A whole lot of fun for short money. Thanks for stopping by man!
Actually other than a little fret buzz the HB sounded more dynamic, better to my ear!
hmm i think the HB actually has a fuller sound :O
The big difference is build quality and how well its set up for the player
I have the sc500 2 and it was set perfectly out of the box. Shipped from Germany. To Canada. Dead on perfect my friend.
@@joelingojoelingo6560 but it isn't consistent because it's hand assembled it isn't perfect some imperfections happen frequently some people say its perfect out of the box the others say it was shitty, also don't forget the weather factor and the shipping time
Very honest review!
Especially the answer to the question of 'How many times is the Les Paul better than the copy?' shows that you pay a lot for the history/legacy. But I don't want to know how much money the chinese workers get for 'giving birth to them'. And this is a very bad thing that you can recognize in so many sectors nowadays.
The world won't change if I don't buy a chinese made guitar but when thinking of 'american made' guitars i have a picture in my mind showing happy craftsmen who do what they do with great joy. That's why I would decide to spend such high amounts of money to the brand, even knowing that I am paying a lot for the name of it. Besides the 'quality' of their products, of course. Maybe that picture/fantasy of mine doesn't exist anymore.
Carl / Carl's Creative Channel
+Carl's Creative Channel Hey man, it can't hurt to have standard and to believe in something strongly. The Chinese workers definitely get exploited... not just guitars.. pickup anything with a made in China logo on it. And don't forget the pollution and everything else. Sad when you really think about it.
There is something to be said for buying a guitar from Ben at Crimson guitars or some other luthier who may be down the road. At least there you know how you are paying your money to and you can get exactly what you would like. Once the kids are a little bigger and safer on my gear I may try and do just that. I've built a few myself from kits or mostly scratch... I can't do a neck but everything else I've tried my hand at. It's hard work!
That's so true!
Carl's Creative Channel are there any guitar brand like that sell les Paul style around 500
Ths Gibby is far more responsive and fills the air with loads of tones. I have never tried so far any HB, but have some experience with Wilkinson pu´s which are reasonable but lack some definition and punch IMHO. I believe the HB with some handwound pu´s may become an outstanding axe-
While you are working to get a gibson you can already play a HB ten-times earlier. In the video i can´t see a big difference between this guitars. This brings some trouble to gibson. So i buy me a HB P90 Gold Top for 150 Euros.
I don't know, man. The pickups in the Gibson are clearly superior to me. The intonation seems a little off on the Harley Benton guitar. Or Tim played it worse, I don't know. But you made another video with the HB Guitar and I noticed the same thing. Maybe it's just a setup thing but the first thing I'd definitely do is change the pickups to original Gibsons or alternatively to Seymour Duncans. The Wilkinson pickups are not my thing. They sound very muffled to my ears compared to any original Gibson guitar. I noticed that on other guitars with these pickups, too. Like the Vintage guitars. They use them also with the same result. Very muffled sound. The Harley Bentons are obviously a bang for the buck though. If you're a beginner these guitars are absolutly an option. It's crazy what you can get for under 250 bucks.
+Chloroform Congo I agree man! And with a little love they can be rather great and useful. I think the intonation is just a smidge off or it got a little out of tune. That's something I need to mention in a future video. These come setup quite well but the intonation often needs a little adjustment.
you two guys got a do more of these..
+James Cougan We're working on it! We're doing a Tele comparison and a Strat comparison very soon.
Awesome..how's about a vintage 90s budget guitar shoot out with present day. Say up to 250$ in today's money. The equivelant value back then. As a start point.
Awesome laid back cool as phuk playing non pretentious vids from you guys..
I'd take the Gibson for free but would buy the Harley Benton
+Steve's Hot Wheels Collection It's a silly deal for a guitar that capable. And if you wanted to upgrade and parts on it you're not into it for too much money. Perfect combination!
I'd take your asshole for free but buy the Gibson
@@UmVtCg bellend
The guitar you have linked has Roswell pickups and not Wilkenson pickups.
m.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_sc_450plus_hb_vintage_series.htm?offid=1&affid=166
So which type pickup did yours have?
this one in the video had Wilkinsons. HB's used to use those but a couple years ago they switched to Roswells.
hi Nick, how does this HB compares to the Epiphone tone wise and luthry wise ?
+Gilles Genete It really depends on the Epiphone. I compared it with my Custom Pro with Probuckers in it. Pickups aren't quite as hot, and it doesn't have the taps. I'd say it's a half a step down from that particular guitar... but the Epi was about $700 new. Going by memory it's right about on par with an Epi Standard and an Epi Custom that I had a few years back. I think the pickups might even be a little bit better. For construction it's right there with the same sort of build quality and woods. I think this will be a great platform in case I wanted to mod this thing out with some Pearly Gates pickups and perhaps swap the tuners for Grovers.
+Nick in the States thanks, at €148, it s a deal !
yeah good stuff, now lets do review on that soda can.
I actually preferred the sound of the Harley Benton.
It's not a bad tone at all!
Spoken like a true cheapskate
I own the SC-450 plus vb the same model a few years later mine is a 2019. Pros: It's good construction. No sharp fret ends, it's playable, pretty good deal I spent like $150 on it. Scarf joint on the headstock which is no issue. It's heavy, mine is 9.8 lbs. Tuners are grover knockoffs, it holds tune but nothing special. Plastic nut. Humbuckers are true alnico, and coil split which is a nice feature. They sound really good. Not a true PAF sound, but they aren't ceramic microphonic grab bag style crappy pickups. Switch works, jack works, push-pull knobs work. It's not the same as Gibson Les Paul standard HOWEVER I would but it against any Epiphone Les Paul which are 5 times the price or more with lesser build quality and lesser hardware. Great guitar, you could certainly gig with it, I have.
Fantastic mod platform, and OUTRAGEOUSLY awesome beginner guitar. I learned on a squire strat that from a cheap combo pack in 2005 that couldn't hold tune to save its life.
I would recommend the SC-450 Plus to
1. Anyone beginning guitar. You CAN"T go wrong with the price and the quality you get. If it ships broken, Thomman is great with customer service.
2.Anyone who has never had an LP style and wants one on the cheap to see if they would enjoy it, that's realistically playable. (that's why I bought it, still have it, no regrets.)
3. Anyone considering buying an Epiphone LP.
4. Anyone looking for a great LP mod platform.
For the money it's fantastic. It is not, however, in the same ballpark as Gibson Les Paul standard, or truly ANY Gibson Les Paul. The price of a true Gibson Les Paul (a quality one) has less to do with distinct sound and more to do with the fit/finish/construction/feel of the instrument. The wood used, the neck/fretboard construction and attention to detail it what you're paying for. Anyone can swap pickups. Not so easy to swap quality control. ,There is a lot to be said for a well built, high end, masterpiece of a guitar.
But that's not why we are here. We are here because we can't get the Gibson, or simply won't get it because of the price. I've played the real thing LPs, I've played the Epi Les Pauls. Here to tell you it's in between. HB is better than the Epiphone L:es Pauls I've played, and far below the Gibson Les Pauls. If you want quality cheap buy the Harley Benton. If you want to reatin value in your purchase, the Epiphone makes more sense. Lesser guitar but you can usually sell it for what you bought it for or more. HB sells for litte, but costs little and give you a lot for your money. It will never appreciate in value or sell for more than you bought it for.
I went for the vintage heritage cherry sunburst, LP, seen it in local shop and it was dripping with a flame top of the highest order, snapped it up, tweaked the action and truss rod a little and bingo, awesome, I'd go the extra for the vintage guitars, their the same thing but made in England, and better wood, at twice the cost of a hb, their still a bargain.
I've played Vintage guitars, and I agree that they are excellent value for money too, but I think you're misinformed regarding HBs. I own the SC-550 Paradise Amber Flame (the slightly higher spec model than the one in the video), and it blows any Vintage Les Paul I've tried out the water in terms of looks, and more importantly the feel of the neck / fretboard. Also if you look at the specs, the Vintage doesn't have better woods. The SC-550 mentioned above was £210, and came with a flamed maple top, AAAA Mahogany body, with set neck, rosewood fingerboard, and Wilkinson hardware / pick ups, the same as Vintage.
I have honestly been blown away by the quality of HB, all the more so considering their price. I've owned guitars ranging in price from £100 to £1000 over the years, and I've never come across a brand that offers so much value for money.
Pickup heights are a bit different between the guitars. G neck is slightly higher and angled which gives a little more output. Overall the value winner is HB. However, people will pay the $3,000 price difference to get that little "G" logo. A lot of years of Marketing investment has given the logo that value.
Harley Benton lacks the fullness of the Gibson pickups but that can be changed out. Main issue is playability. How they compare for ease of fretting and navigating the neck, neck carve, and fretboard radii. It all boils down to your personal needs and budget. Both sound great and the average person will never know the difference but a guitar player might.
Crikey, i preferred the HB! I dont have the best ears obviously but thats very good news for me.
People need to stop comparing only tones and mention things like feel and playability also the guitars longevity and gig ability.
Yes please
Weird chords for a demo. Dm Cm! Benton is a must when you think you can mod it and it’s still less than a quarter the price of the Gibson ! Thanks for the demo.
I Would really like the SC-500 custom vintage model in black.. Looks quite nice... But I have just got an Epiphone LP standard second hand dirt cheap. Maybe going forwards I'll grab a SC-500... And mod the shit out of it.
Well, for the clean sound the Gibson cannot be beat. The Benton is good value for money, but nothing can beat a well made Les Paul. The pickups on the Benton were very muddy compared to the Gibson ones.
I don't mean to knock this video, but I just didn't have the same experience with my SC-450 plus. I found the pickups really poor (unplayable until you turned the volume down to 8), and the bridge studs were incorrectly put into the body (hence the guitar could not stay in tune), the end jack was not connected when I got the guitar, lastly the electronics and tuners were really poor. My $200 Epiphone was considerably better quality - maybe I was just unlucky.
I found the neck and body, the wood and binding, surprisingly good.
I will try another HB, but the SC-450 plus I bought (again, I might have been the 1 in 10 that was unlucky) was poor.
Thomman customer services is good.
Hey Jason! Thanks for sharing what you've experienced. I had a great run of really good Bentons but the last couple I've had come through had some issues too. Either they're getting sloppier or I was just rather lucky. Hopefully you are somewhere that has easy returns. That's the big risk stateside is that returns are pretty much impossible so all issues are resolved with a credit of some sort.