GREAT Budget Les Paul Just Get BETTER? (Harley Benton-SC 550 II)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2021
- GREAT Budget Les Paul Just Get BETTER? (Harley Benton-SC 550 II)
Not too long ago I tried the Harley Benton SC-550. Well now they've released version 2. This has some upgraded features and promises to be a really good guitar. How good, that's the question.
I've previously liked Harley Bentons that have been over 200 euros, and this SC-550 II is in that price bracket. It's one of the most affordable Les Pauls out there.
Hope you enjoy!
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Maybe try a budget Tokai LP from China ?
SS frets and Graphite nut is huge upgrade for a guitar to hold up to time, and the neck to head stop upgrade, all of these things you only get on high end guitars. Great job HB
this might be the most cost effective guitar ever created. build quality is insanely good, sounds great and is cheap
Dude, you are the boss. Love your budget reviews. Thanks so much for being there.
And thank you :)
One of the best starts to any week is coming on YT and seeing a new This Guy guitar review
Thanks :)
According to Thomann, it also has a 6-millimeter-thick flame maple cap, not a laminate. Great upgrades right out of the box!
wow, seriously??
@@1972Georges Yep, someone on TH-cam (I don't remember who, maybe Mcknight?) took a deeper look at that and you can kinda see that there is a solid top and he also called Thomann and they also told him it was a solid top.
@@marctestarossa thanks!
th-cam.com/video/EsX7LN1hcBs/w-d-xo.html
John Robson made a review 1 year ago and he called Thomann asking about the top. They kind of affirmed it to be thick one but at the same time in comment section several TH-cam viewers commented that there is a visible 0.5mm veneer used. Which would be just logical considering the price point.
Then again it does not diminish SC-550 II as a guitar at all! Even if the top is just a thin veneer this guitar seems a real killer in features. The top is all cosmetics, really. But if you're seriously looking for some Magic Mojo 6mm Pure Maple Top "goodness"... I'd be cautious. This guitar might be just too good to be true in that area.
@@marctestarossa John Robson Guitarist
i appreciate you elmo you and intotheblues are my go to guys when it comes to gear reviews, can trust you to be objective and not sponsorships or trends sway your objectivity. much love breh
Thanks man :)
Screw the guitar, those jorts with the cuff are absolutely on point Elmo!
I just got that same guitar two days ago. I must say that I am extremely blown away! I went over this beauty with a fine tooth comb expecting to find some unfavorable flaw and I could not find a single one! Great Job Thoman!! It is beautiful to look at and plays like a dream! If you are on the fence about buying one I would suggest doing it! You will not regret it
What about the Harley Benton SC-DLX Gotoh
WTH is tooth comb?
The sustain is insane, like it. Thank you for the review
And thank you :)
I'm sold on this model after watching vids from you and a couple other guys, thanks for the review!
Now just have to wait for them to be back in stock.
When a guitar brand does an excellent job it has to be said, I have a few weeks ago that same guitar, in that same finish. I think it's the best purchase I've ever been able to make. Fantastic guitar, impeccable finishes, and really nice sound. I've never got my hands on a Gibson Les Paul, and there's Harley Benton makes me forget about Gibson by 279. It has become one of my 3 favorites, along with a Yamaha Revstar 520 and a PRS Se Santana. But the SC550II costs half the Yamaha and a third the PRS.
Saludos Elmo. Great review, as always
Gracias :)
Excellent review! Thanks for posting. 👍
That's awesome! it had great sustain too!
Dude, the sustain? Omg....yes, please! Great review
Haha great neck mod decription " headstock bump " ... aka the 1970's Gibson Norlin era Volute. Nice review Elmo 👍
Cheers!
Significantly better pickups help the guitar from "needing" and upgrade. Graphtec world domination on track ...
Yep :)
thank you for your thoughts. i appreciate your honesty. not sure who to trust online -- assume many are being paid for positive reviews.
I bought one just like this one based on this review. Mine looks identical and is super precision quality. I have five other guitars, and this one is the best one. The other namebrand guitars I bought for some reason just aren’t perfect like this one is. I can hardly believe that the least expensive one actually plays looks and sounds the best. I really love the Tesla pick ups. The volume, evenness and sustain is amazing. Took about a week and a half for it to get to me in California from Germany. No damage.
same here. Amazing guitar, amazing value!
Those pickups sounded really nice. I think I’m not going to wait for restock of the one with emg pickups
Elmo you shredded this video! You have made me decide to go ahead and get that guitar. I recently bought the SC 550 II Desert Burst, love it and I think the Tesla has great sustain, as that one too, I just have to sell a few other guitars first, because my wife said she would break my fingers, but I told her they are going up in price, so I must get it now!
Hope you enjoy!
Brought one of these on the strength of your review and it's as you described amazing for the price. Thank you.
Great to hear!
What's the exact model you got? I see a lot of these but there are PAFs, Gotoh PAFs, etc...
This model is outstanding! After my first b-stock Harley Benton proved to be an incredible value, I wanted to try another model. The one I really wanted bad has been out of stock for months and still several months out. So, I went for the SC 550 II black cherry. Another b-stock. It is stunning. There was a little bit of fret sprout, which is so easy to fix, but no other problems. The Tesla pickups were a good surprise. The sustain and harmonics are wonderful, but I got it with plans to black out the hardware & put in a set of Russian pickups I wanted to try out. For the price, these are perfect guitars to get if you're a fan of modifying guitars. They're made well, they're gorgeous, and they don't cost a stupid amount of money.
I didnt see an option for a b stock in the BCF color could you provide a link to it?
Honestly, I’d buy it on looks alone for that price. But I’d stick around to play it, of course. 😉
Nice review as always and love your quirky (in a good way!) style. Btw, the bump in the neck is called a volute!
Thanks!
I love that you showcased thru a Plexi. Keepin that 70’s tonal purity. Im orderin this week
Cheers!
@@MrPolevaulter got the fusion T instead. Stoked
Thanks for helping me decide on getting the SC 550 II this summer. I forgot to say thanks! The SC 550 video you did, and another where an uploader pitted a Harley Benton Special against an Epiphone Special AND a Gibson Special, and came out saying how good that Harley was, helped that decision. In fact, any review of Harley Benton comes out saying how "cheap guitars" aren't as cheap as they used to be in quality. (I REMEMBER THE 1980'S AND 1990'S).The SC 550 II had just come out when I was looking around. I just truly liked the way they looked over Epiphone. Epiphone stays traditional, as well they should. But Harley Benton just LOOKED really nice.
I'm a Telecaster / Stratocaster fan at heart. Always will be. If I could collect Telecasters exclusively I would. But I'd never owned a Gibson style guitar. Only when I was a kid. I had a cheap SEARS ordered SG. It was cheeaaaaaaap. Harley Benton was a purchase I don't regret. I find I'm using it more and more on recordings. Very versatile. But I confess, one of the first things I played on it was Ace Frehley's solo on "She." I still look at Epiphones, because I do like the more traditional look they keep, and may get one eventually. But I got a Fender Strat that desperately needs repair, so that Epiphone has to wait til I get a guitar I've had almost 30 years the help it needs!
Thanks for your help!
Glad I could be of help :)
I've been randomly bouncing round your HB review videos the last week and today land on this one - I kept thinking your guitar playing reminds me of Yngwie and now your t shirt makes sense :D
😀
Excellent job my friend 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾
Thank you 👍
I prefer the colour of the older 550 but the new one is also available in the same finish so you can't go wrong especially with graphtec nut and stainless steel frets!
Yep. Many different colour available :)
Great review, great playing,
Cheers!
I have the 25Th anniversary Sc ,,it's supposed to be a 450 with stainless steel frets ,,I love this one ,,it's not my Les Paul but close enough so i don't panic when I go play with friends ,thanks Elmo for the video ,we can at least see some comparatives between those Harley Benton Sc series
Most Excellent video! I love my Gibson Les Paul Guitars... I've not had any issues with my Gibson LP's.
I tuned in to see a review about the guitar, but I was so mesmerized at your amazing guitar playing that I forgot all about the guitar. Lol
Thanks!
I just ordered one today after watching this video review. $266.00 US, plus shipping of course, which is to my house $79.00.
you are the second Sweedish that I saw shredding with soul 👌
Just got Gotoh leftie...... Quite blown away..... Great stuff🎸❤️
Excellent review, as always! Just remember: always switch your strings… 😂
I bought one, and the pickups and fret finishing were terrible. That said, I put Fluence Classic humbuckers in it, and I paid a luthier $200 to level, crown and polish the frets, and I have to say that my guitar now plays and sounds better than my R9.
I want one. And Elmo, like your playing.
Thanks :)
I have just purchased the SC-550 II in Silver Burst and it is great.
I've had the silver burst one for like 6 months now - love it!
Price shown on internet was $275. (US) However, there is the big shipping cost from Germany to be added on. I've heard that's about $80. Stainless steel frets, the slippery nut and the reinforcement of the neck make me think this is an improvement over the original Kalamazoo Gibsons. This guitar shows as currently SOLD OUT so I think people recognize it as having value at that price. Even the kit guitars approach the price of that guitar. Good playing.
Not sure what its now, It used to be around 35 dollars from what i heared from different channels. Its also benifitial if you order 2 more (alone or with friends) since they can be send in that same box at the allowed weight. You can check yourself by just going to the website, go to the checkout and it will figure it out for you.
Cheers :)
Call Thomann or write an email, they will then tell you the exact shipping costs.
That little bump in the headstock is called velute and it is to protect your neck from cracking not by falling. They use it only in mahogany necks because mahogany is softer than maple and it cracks easily
Well done - i am straight ahead with you - great guitar - there will be my review beginning with the unboxing tomorrow (Premiere 5:30pm - German time) and a week later the test at the amp at my litle channel in german language. - Cheers great stuff on your channel!
Brilliant revue, bro👍♨️👌 I got to get that thing‼️. And yes, SS- frets DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Your sound is brilliant. What else do you use for overdrive than the Strymon?
Thanks! Just the Strymon usually. I also have a Nobels ODR-1 for a slight bit of dirt.
Good video sounds great audio sounds great guitar 🎸 great show
13:20 "How do they keep the prices so low?". I'll tell you why: it's because they buy the guitars damn cheap. Back in 2005, if I bought a container full of Strat copies, they were around US $20 per piece. If you wanted better quality, better wood, pickups and hardware, it could cost anywhere up to $50 per unit. Of course, even China has inflation but also more competition. And then there's Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and (less Japan nowadays). Everyone makes guitars. Most guitar manufacturers that I worked with back then started off making furniture. I remember visiting the factory that made Harley Benton's in 2005. I still have happy snaps. Harley Benton was one of many "me-too" companies trying to get cheap guitars made with their name on it.
Great review...subcribed because of this..👍👍
Thanks!
You should review the SC550+EMG. It's an unbelievable guitar.
Let’s go you’re my music teacher 🎼
I mostly watch for the crazy insane playing... But those pickups sounded good!
Cheers!
Hello Elmo! Mby little late but, do you recommend any particular strings for this one? I dont really like the original ones that comes with it.
Keep up the good work bro!
Wow now that’s a great guitar, regardless of the price! 👍
It looks very similar to my jhs vintage V100 ,it has the same turners,neck bump,and same body lay up. I think possibly they might be made in the same factory in Indonesia
actually they are pretty good for the money there a lot fun not perfect but sound good even with Rosswell pups😎🎸👍
Thanks for the video...!
CHEERS.
No worries!
That’s it, Im getting one. Not this color, more like you older model, that one looks great.
Great guitar.Cheers🎸🙏
Please make a video where you do a detailed introduction too.....your Yngwie Malmsteen T shirt collection
I’ve got a good size stable of horses from Thomann , mics , drums , electric guitars & acoustic, fiddles,mandolins,banjos ,all are good
Sounds very good.
Hi from Spain, I really enjoyed your video.There were so many positive reviews I ordered an SC-550 II PAF but unfortunately mine arrived unplayable, the graphite nut set so high even simple chords were unplayable. Then the selector switch, bridge volume and tone controls failed so I returned it to Thomann for repair.When it arrived back the selector switch was OK but the volume and tone controls for both pick ups did not function, so I returned it again for repair.Today they sent my money back but of course I incurred all the costs for the graphite nut repair and the traveling costs to my city post office etc.Maybe I was just unlucky?Kind regards,John.
Sorry to hear. Maybe you were. That's the thing. To do these reviews properly, you'd have to get like 10 of these, and see how the quality is in general. Also, they should probably be bought at slightly different times, as then they wouldn't be from the same batch. That would be impossble to do though.
nice demo, sir
Cheers!
279€ are $1492.
Really nice flying v.
I have two PRS SE's and I prefer the older one. I also still like my 1984 Ibanez Roadstar a lot. Weird that.
Ordered one just like that , on sale 219 usd , 301 usd delivered in US be here on two days
Sounds great
Sounds pretty good
Elmos so good I went and watched the first one also for comparison and I liked that also. .
May I ask roughly how many euros that plexi cost, what year you got it?God bless you.
Thanks! I can't remember what I payed for it. It's still available now. It's the 1987x.
I was wondering about the combo version, with amp and all the goodies in silver burst, I'm going after Adam Jones and My Sleeping Karma sound.
Dear Elmo
I am following your channel for quite a while now (big fan of course 😊) and I want to ask you if you can tell me/us which replacement pickups you choosed.
You explained you changed pickups on some of the cheaper guitars you have been testing, the HB 550 for example, among others.
Thank you
Thanks, and sorry for taking a while to get back to you. I had my luthier friend put in some vintage style low output humbuckers that he made in the HB550.
How do they build these so well for the money! Amazing :) And my God, your playing starting at 9:15 or so.......whoa! Amazing! and at 11:40 or so......damn, it's all GREAT!
Thanks man :)
@@MrPolevaulter You bet! Cheers my friend!
Hi sir, did you try the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG FR VBK? Strongly considering but would really like your view on it.
Got the sc550 I in thprocess of fitting some iron Gear .blues engine pickups
The bump on the neck is a velute and I love that low volume cleans it up & volume up adds dirty gain just like a Gibson. I like it. Great review
Cheers!
Volute, not velute
I got the SC500, put in a pair of Tesla Sharks and it's perfect 🤟
Got an SC500 BK love it, but also have a SC550 and its just a little nicer. The SC550II is a nice upgrade.
Cool!
Hey Elmo how many guitars do you have? Can you do a video on your guitar collection? Take care. Mike.
I already have (although I've added a couple since). One is on my Strats, and the other is on my not-Strats.
0:02 uhmm....thats not a... ok.
Idk if its the st steel frets or the new pickups but this sounds more like a superstrat than a LP to me. Very nice improvements in the specs tho.
...where you turned to catch the feedback, made the whole video worth it. Thank you. Subbed. 😎
Thanks :)
Hi from Spain again, well in fairness to Thomann they are sending me a replacement SC-550 II PAF and not a "B" stock at the original price I paid. I just hope it is as good as your guitar, then I have to learn to play it as well as you! Kind regards, John.
Cool! Hope it's good :)
The SC-550 1 is supposed to have a bone nut. I bought the older model and was not impressed whatsoever with the pickups. Dark, muddy and whatever adjective one wishes to apply.
New model also has solid maple flame top not vaneer
I saw it on their website, it looks good, so I came here for a review and found yours and as always a good honest review and as soon as they have one in stock I will get one. I was hoping you would have a review of it.
Might I ask what strings and tuning you're using on the 24.75 scale? Thanks. Sounds great.
Just the factory ones.
@@MrPolevaulter thanks EJ
10:54 I thought i heard a short snippet of Tarot woman from Rainbow there, nice !
Might have been :)
Do you have any experience with Harley Benton Amarok 6? Is there chance you could make detailed review on it someday in future? Sure its approx 500euros guitar so it aint really "Beginner" guitar or low budget.
Question: For beginners and "advanced" guitarists. Should you invest in good 400-500euro guitar and cheap amp (50-100euro), or get 50/50, something like 300euros guitar and 200-250euros amp?
Personally I'd get a proper guitar, and something more affordable on the amp front (like a Micro Cube or HB Tube15). Haven't tried the Amarok though.
If you have a decent PC/mac or even an iPad, nowadays I recommend getting an audio interface (or irig hd2 for ipad) and using some cheap/free plugins to get a really good tone for home practice. For example amplitube, bias amp, mercuriall plugins (they have some free stuff). Obviously you'll also need some studio monitors/headphones as well but you can get decent headphones for pretty cheap as well.
This the the MK2 version that i got but in desert burst. It had a high fret but because it was so good in every other respect I decided to keep it anyway and took it to a luthier. Luthier couldn't understand why fret was high as it was seated correctly, he said maybe they somehow used to wrong size wire for that fret. Who knows. Anyway sorted now and it's great for the money.
Most likely a defective fret that was replaced and never re-dressed.
It's a shame they don't offer it with modern tuner's. I know you can change them but it would be nice if they offered the choice.
watching the chanell for some time. was wandering from all the single cut guitars there is there is none good videos of HAGSTROM SWEDE OR SUPER SWEED..would be nice if you could compare it to prs or ephifone...thanks
Maybe at some point. There are so many guitars out there.
Regular frets normally are Silver níquel frets.
You have to review the fusion III HH series with Wilkinson trem bridge!
So much gear, so little time.
@@MrPolevaulter 2 point Wilkinson Trem with decent sized block, staggered locking Tuners, Tusqnut, fullsized pots, steel frets, Sapele (mahogany type) body... And all of that for 277 EUR. I have a couple Fenders and a Gibson Les Paul, believe me, apart from the humbuckers, this guitar is amazing. Give it a look Fusion-III HH EB BK. By the way, amazing channel, keep up the awesome videos coming!
String changes will not affect fret life. Stainless steel frets will outlast regular frets by miles.
Hola Elmo, Fernando here from México 🇲🇽 🤘🏾 i'v been following your channel for a while and I like very much your way of play guitar and also your knowledge about the gear right on bro! Keep it that way; now I would like to ask for your advice, I'm about to buy a guitar but I can't decide which one to choose between a JACKSON X Series Rhoads RRX24 LRL BYB or a SOLAR V2.6C - CARBON BLACK MATTE, I hope you could help me here by the way I'm a death black head-bandager 🤘🏾☠️🤘🏾
Thanks! I have no idea, as I've not tried either. Try before you buy would be my advice, or at least have the option to send whatever you buy back, in case you don't like it.
@@MrPolevaulter thanks for the response bro, that's a good idea there for in the local music stores I can't find any solar guitar so I can try before buy it, thanks again for the advice 🤘🏾☠️🤘🏾
Yes the pickups should be nice(r) .. Tesla and Artech are the same i understand.
I think you should test the Kramer Barrett's special :)
Maybe. Been thinking about it.
I was never into the music Kramer guitars in the eighties represented.. Van Halen, Europe, Steel Panther etc. But i ordered one and i love it. Few guitars i have growl as gloriously.
Stainless Steel frets offer more advantage than the simple fact that they're resistant to rust and oxidization. Stainless is a chrome rich alloy that provides a higher tensile than Nickel. So , while they do offer some improvement over Nickel they're not as forgiving. Stainless sounds brighter than Nickel to my ears.
Sounds good? But what would it sound like through a Koad? Now that would be exciting!!! :P
:D
Hey! , sorry for my bad english but i need your opinion of this, please!. In my country (Chile, South America), the Harley Benton-SC 550 II cost $400.000 pesos, like Є430 euros, and the Epiphone Les Paul Studio cost $430.000 pesos, like Є462 euros. Which guitar is better?. This will be my first electric guitar, i play spanish guitar (Hohner Hc06) and electroacoustic guitar (Walden D350CE) like student for years. Thank you very much!! Cheers from Chile, great channel and reviews!
Thanks! Sorry, I can't give you a definite answer. All guitars are individuals. Out of the ones I've tried, I've liked the Harley Bentons a bit more, but there's not been a huge difference.
you get what you pay for
🙏
The teslas sound like the old pre roswell Wilkinson. That little bit of raw top end again. Roswell are OK, but a bit tame and non descript. These are more rocky.
Yep.
Hi. I´m deciding between this guitar and the Gretsch G5220. Which one do you think is better?
I haven't tried the Gretsch.