Harley Benton's ANSWER to the JIM ROOT Signature Strat at a 10th of the Price!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- From the demented mind of iconic guitarist Rim Joot from the band Slipperytie, Harley Benton releases his signature guitar to the masses for a very small price: The Harley Benton ST-20HH Active SBK “Rim Joot” Signature Start.
This isn’t to be confused with the Fender USA Jim Root Stratocaster. Not at all. Totally different. It’s a Start. Yes, a Start (do I want to get sued? …Nope!)
Both FMIC and Jim Root have not licensed this model or design to Harley Benton, nor had anything to do with the creation of this instrument. Jim Root does not officially endorse this model.
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Harley Benton ST-20HH Active SBK (Featured in Video):
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Harley Benton ST-20HH Active SBK - B Stock:
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Thomann E-Guitar Case BK Wood (Featured in Video)
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Harley Benton LightCase-El-Guitar:
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Gator Hardshell Wood Case (shown in video):
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Gator Deluxe ABS Molded Case
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Gator ICON Series Premium Weather Resistant Gig Bag
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Footage credits
Jim Lill: “Tested: Where Does The Tone Come From In An Electric Guitar?”
• Tested: Where Does The...
@JimLill
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Be advised, no shielding in the cavity nor on the pickguard. After adding that, mine is stone quiet. Bridge is a tone sucker, I had a spare hardtail hipshot and the difference is beyond compare. Also, I had a bizzare nut on my guitar. It looked like the wrong nut and the slots were super deep due to the really tall nut. Also they were cut too deep on the bass strings. I replaced it with a graphtech for 12 bucks. So, after using shielding tape I had onhand, the bridge and nut, it is a good player. Really to me the big weak link in this guitar was the cheap bridge and saddles. No sustain at all with the stock one.
People have pointed out that the bridges paint prevents proper grounding. I also bought a HB Amarok and the nut was cut terribly, neck warped, so that's not a one off occurrence, my guitar was completely unplayable below the 6th fret because of it. I ended up fixing what I could and flipping it for basically nothing because Thomann botched the return.
If there were more mom and pop music stores, Harley would be ruling the nest as a first guitar.
The HB is full black, meanwhile for the Fender counterpart they cannot be arsed to paint the damn headstock with the same tone/pattern as the body (HB does that for several models), it is always the same plain wood. If you are paying premium price for a brand name™ guitar that often doesn't have anything onboard to justify the price tag, the least that they could is that attention to cosmetic details.
Holy crap that's spot on!!! I've been trying to find a guitar that has a matt finish because I love Jim Root's style of guitars and how his wears in, and this is even closer than what I was looking for haha, definitely gonna buy one! Cheers man
Thanks for watching! Yeah, I was super into this one. It’s such a killer mod platform too. I’m going to let another friend review it on his channel before I decide what to do next with it. Do I make a Jim Root clone and risk pissing off Fender? Or just leave it be? 😂
Anyway, glad you liked the video. Thanks again for watching.
@@11thFret , I live in Russia, my mouth is watering from this guitar, I would buy it. But for obvious reasons, it will not work to buy it. I have a regular st-20 with three singles, I didn't like the sound until I changed the pickups to more expensive ones. And the ends of the frets scratched the hand. But I would buy this guitar, it looks great. And it's great for heavy rock
Sounds pretty freakin good.
Thanks Max!
Great guitars, good for beginners after a setup. With some shielding some mods they’re great
garbage
Bigger things to come for this channel! Great on camera personality, great delivery, and well articulated review. I like the free flow and minimal cuts and casual style. I look forward to your next review. -Mark
I agree with all of this!
Just bought my first Harley Benton guitar. It's excellent and a great price. Going to by a couple more here before long
I'm buying one, and I'm gonna mod the crap out of it. Locking tuners, Hipshot saddles, graph tech nut, and we'll see about the pups. Mine mine mine!
Rad! Let me know how you like it. I just jammed on it again about an hour ago and am still very impressed.
@@11thFret nice. Will do. 🤘
Heh, that is what I did too. Schaller locking tuners, Hipshot bridge, Graphtech nut and string trees, Switchcraft switch/jack, CTS pot
and DiMarzio D Activators. Pretty cool guitar now for not that much $.
Slight concern is how fast the frets are showing signs of wear.
@@raytorvalds3699 that's awesome. I've wanted a Jim root strat forever, but they're just too much for what they are. Modding one of these just makes more sense. I'm looking forward to joining the club 😆
@@randymiles904 Cheers. Good luck!
Jumping for joy right now! Great to have you back kris.
There you are. I’ve been back for at least a couple weeks. But it wasn’t the same without a Noah comment.
I purchased a JA80 hh or something like that. It's a Harley Benton like that exactly same setup only the body has the jaguar shape. Should be here Monday.
I agree with you about tone woods. I've heard lucite, aluminum, etc. run through a good amp at proper settings and they sound great. Acoustics? Yeah tone woods make a difference.
This is my second HB. The first one impressed me enough to get another one.
Here is what I did to mine. It's freaking awesome now:
Mods:
1. Locking tuners
2. Bone nut
3. Roller string-trees
4. Speed knob (vol)
5. Full set-up (action, intonation, etc)
6. 11-52 NYXL's
7. Fretwrap
8. Perri's leather strap
9. Dunlop strap-locks
th-cam.com/video/1LQuoQORmeE/w-d-xo.html
Siiiiiiiiiick!!!
So better to just buy a more expensive guitar than mod up and spend on parts and repair services?
@@anthonyrojas2205 Absolutely not, that was kind of the whole point lol...
@@anthonyrojas2205 trust me bro just buy a more expensive guitar cuz in the end you are Likely gonna end up spending the same amount of money on upgrades and repairs. i have owned multiple harley benton guitars and they All look good but suck Ass compared to My other more expensive guitars
I put a graphtech nut on mine and some locking tuners i think the pickups sound quite good for what they are maybe eventually ill throw in a new pickup i love single pickup guitar i may get a new pickgaurd made with just a bridge pickup not sure yet def a killer guitar for the money and it feels great for the price point id recommend this guitar 100%
I’m still hammering it out on mine. I changed the strings, tuning it down to standard C. But that’s about it. Glad you love yours too. Thanks for watching! 🤘🏻
This guitar could be used on the front battle lines as a sonic directed-energy weapon.
Totally. This one is brutal as far as output. It’s a Guitar of Mass Destruction (GMD).
If you order a harley benton from reverb they have a usa warehouse now and shipping isn't as expensive
Woah! I didn't even know that one. Thanks for the heads up, and double thanks for watching/commenting with the tip.
Do you need to give them your bank account number? I quit reverb when they required that.
I have that guitar….. is amazing. I’m going to change bridge pickup for Seymour Duncan EMTY Blackouts Mick Thomson. 🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾
I find it puzzling why the EMTY set seems so overlooked, even with the Slipknot association.
I haven't tried the neck but I know the bridge is tight and sharp like an EMG 81, but louder and a little more midrange growl.
I know it wasn't the purpose of the video, but goddamn if I don't have the image of a "Blackened Sky" guitar stuck in my head now, that would be rad asf
Me too! I thought about that while editing the video and couldn't get it out of my head. That's likely why my voice sounds slightly different over that part of the video. 😂 But it definitely wasn't the original intent. I almost thought about cutting that part out entirely, but decided it was too cool of a thought (to me) to remove.
The pups sound really bright! But it's a solid starter to mod the hell outta new neck and tuners and pups and bam solid awesome guitar for cheap
Yeah, while the pickups are brighter than some I have, they’re not actually ‘that’ bright. That was an error on my part with how my rig was wired up. I didn’t notice the issue until it was too late. So I’m going to do a couple other special videos to re-do the demos without scrapping this video.
I love mine! a bit heavier than I like but that's a personal thing. I only bought this because I wanted the HB R-446 (Which I bought and one of my favorites! Blood metallic paint is like a corvette)
Everyone knows with Thomann shipping is the same for 2 guitars which lowers the price paid per guitar.. So, I picked the JR signature.. LOVE IT, and THEM! 🤘
Oooh! That R-446 is on my radar. That blood metallic color is also really cool looking.
Mine has some weight to it too, a bit more than my other Strats. But it’s a hell of a lot of fun to play. I still have mine.
@@11thFret Yes, I've never seen a color like that. It's badass! It's red, but has just a hint of orange at times 🔥
If you can afford more gear there is a sweet spot in the shipping say 2 guitars may even lower the shipping slightly anyway if you need strings picks cables strap etc... It makes sense to order it all at once you can play around with it it gives you the shipping in your cart so you'll know when you have tipped the scale so to say
Totally! I did say that in the original cut, but it was part of a longer tangent I felt okay with sending to the cutting room floor. 😂
Thanks for pointing that out, and for watching!
Anyway Jim Root models jumped to Charvel
I has 2 HB's...1 Tele HH and tele EMG!
I like these guitars, but I heard they buzz like a freight train when plugged in. Anyone have a problem with the Strat,Vee or Jag?
I’m curious if anyone is experiencing the same thing. I just cranked mine through a Marshall JVM210H and it was 🔥. 🤘🏻
I just ordered this one, but I have 6 other HB models (I can't refuse the price). Each one I've had to polish the frets. The classic old school V I got came with the truss rod over adjusted which cause the neck by the nut to separate a little from the fingerboard. The version of an Ibanez I had to adjust the bridge. The stock strings are not what I prefer, but once again the price point over-rules all of these issues. With the exception of the neck issue with the V, I have been able to easily adjust the other areas. I need to stay off their website for a bit lol
I absolutely love mine
I'm considering modding it and getting some heavier strings so i can set it up in drop b so i can play some slipknot
I just did that to mine, but I’m in Standard C. It’s a monster now.
@@11thFret what did you modify about it
Right now, just the strings including setting the intonation. I’ve installed a set of Ernie Ball .013-.056 gauge strings, and it’s beefy. I didn’t change anything else out yet.
@@11thFret alr nice, I'm gonna try to figure out what gauge's Jim uses and see if i can get an Ernie ball set close to him
Well that’s easy: Jim Dunlop “Jim Root” Drop B .011-.056 String Set:
amzn.to/3FCX1si
(Note: It’s an affiliate link that pays the channel after a shopper clicking it completes a purchase. You don’t have to use it, but the price is the same anyway and it helps support the channel should you go this route.)
I'm sold
I have this guitar, love it.
I’m going to do another video with it, but setting it up with heavier gauge strings and tuning it down to something a little gnarlier. Thanks for watching!
okay, but when you said "blackend sky" tho
Totally. It’s a thought I had during editing, which I may do should this guitar stick around for a bit.
The same guitar on Jazzmaster is also amazing..
I’m looking into that one as well. It looks awesome, and I’m a sucker for offsets despite the fact I don’t currently own any. 😂
@@11thFret oh yeah m'y Friend ! Coming soon lol
A $120.00 guitar is not suppose to be a better quality $2,000.00 guitar.
Nope. It isn’t. But it’s a good entry level option for someone who wants something like the $2K version without having the financial means. It does the job. 🤘🏻
That’s lots of guitar for the price
It really is.
"Rim Joot" 🤣, behringer would've actually used that name
I won’t dispute that at all. …Not in the least. 😂
Nice video! How much does this guitar weigh?
7 lbs, 10.2 oz. 🤘🏻
How i can get those guitar?
The link is in the description for them. 👍
Thumbnail says “ Signature START.” 😆
Glad you picked up on the gag. I wasn't sure if anyone would even notice it when I made the thumbnail. I always laugh whenever I see a "Squirt Start" listed on Craigslist, along with some other personal favorites: Squire & Epiphany. 😂
Cool guit
How much does it weigh you think?
Gotta put that bad boy in drop B and play some duality
7lbs, 10.2oz exactly! I just weighed it on my freight scale. Good callout.
Yeah, I had it down to standard-C for the first version of this video, which I scrapped (still have it, but just moved on from it). I had tracked a very dark, Slipknot inspired arrangement but wasn't super stoked with the drum part yet and was going to re-record it up until we had to move. I'll probably release it at some point later anyway just because I'm trying to get over that "it isn't perfect yet" artist's roadblock.
Signature "START"?
Yup. “Start” was deliberated following the misspelling of “Rim Joot”. Thanks for watching and commenting. 🤘🏻
FWIW, I can change/“fix” the thumbnail whenever I want. ;-)
Signature "Start"?
Yup.
500 subs, congrats
Thanks! I appreciate it!
@11th Fret np dude you deserve it, this was quality content and it sucks that more people don't know abt ur channel.
Quick question. That sounded like there was a noise gate in the signal path. Have you seen the other reviews eg Glen Fricker at Spectre who was equally impressed while running straight into amp sims,and IR's but changed his mind entirelyvwhen he plugged the guitar straight into an amp. He got horrendous buzzing which made the guitar unusable. Real wasp nest type sound. Have you tried the same with your example? So far I have seen reviews of two of the V style and one offset and they are three for three unplayable. To complete the review could you try going straight into the amp to see how it sounds with no pedals and no software sims emulation or IR's?
Yeah, I saw Glenn’s videos too. This was something I heard more while in post than at the moment I filmed. It bothered me so much in hindsight that I spent the better part of last night re-doing my IR setup (and had a helluvah time doing it). But it’s dialed in way way WAY better now. The problems involved cabling that pushed the signal to be a little too hot. But anyway, probably something I’ll have to figure out how to do a redemption on without nuking the entire video.
Anyway, thanks for watching, commenting, and being constructive. I really appreciate it. 🤘🏻
I have one of these guitars. I bought it as a mod platform, so the pickups are long gone. But yes, mine was very noisy too.
My noise gate prevented it from hissing when not playing, but you could still hear it in the background while playing too.
@@raytorvalds3699 As a mod platform it seems incredible value and I absolutely love the look. At the price I might have been tempted to get one myself and having checked at Thomann and I could get one at £132 including shipping but at this price they are entry level buyers especially coming up to Christmas. I would be unable to recommend this or either of the other active models I have seen reviewed because of the noise issue and some other problems on build quality. Others have commented about the lack of shielding but this is almost the definition of losing the ship for a ha'porth of tar. I would like to see someone definitively get to the bottom of what the problem is and see if HB will actually try to sort it out.
@@Birkguitars There is one more problem with these models. Frets are crap material. Already showing divots after about 2 months of moderate playtime.
The build quality, otherwise, is quite good on mine. I will have to give it that.
I might have it refretted, but then you're looking at like a $6-700 guitar (with all the other upgrades I did to it).
It's sort of worth it to me, but economically it isn't exactly viable.
So, my advice would be: stay away from them, unless you really like the model (like me) and want to mod the sh.t out of them.
@VAbyssal You may not like his style and you may disagree with some of his comments but to my mind the buzzing on those guitars is absolutely unacceptable. That's my review not his. They are seriously flawed and to my mind unusable. It is not appropriate for any product to be sold which is so fundamentally defective. He does make allowances for cost but something that just doesn't work would be overpriced at any price. Its a piece of 💩 and should never have passed quality control.
Good video make sure to spell check your thumbnails Strat is "start" besides that this channel seems to have potential
The “Start” was a conscious decision after spelling out “Rim Joot.” 😏 Plus, since it’s not an actual Fender product, I didn’t want to use a Fender product name. “Rim Joot”: People figured it out. “Start”: Some people figured it out and others thought I was bitten by the spell check monster. 😂
But thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts in the comments. My humor, like was was seen in this thumbnail, really hasn’t come out in the videos yet. I’m sure it will more and more the less I keep second guessing everything I say and do on camera.🤘🏻
Why would you pay so much money for a Strat with EMGs because one guitarist has their name on it?
You could build the same for far less using Warmoth. I just priced out a comparable (if not better) neck from Warmoth, a spec’d out mahogany body in matte black, and a set of EMG 60/81’s. Those three alone at new retail are $1121.00. Add the hardware for arguably less than $200 and you’ve got perhaps the absolute best version for still way less than the official version. I could have the same discussion about the Tom Delonge Strat as they’re fetching big money on the used market.
Do they have the telestyle?
Not that I've seen. Just the Strat style, Jazzmaster style, and a Flying Ⅴ variant that isn't based on any signature model he has outside the matte black color and active, EMG inspired pickups.
which is better ST-20HSS SBK or this one?
That’s tricky to answer as both have most of the same feature sets but very different electronics. The one I reviewed needs a 9V battery as the pickups are active, designed for quieter high gain. The ST-20HSS is a passive harness along with a single coil in the middle and neck, achieving some classic, recognizable Strat tones. I haven’t played the ST-20HSS, but it’s honestly more my speed feature-wise than the one I reviewed.
So no grounding problems??
Not on mine. Just user error happening over here. 😉
@@11thFret sounded good ! Just saw some videos earlier where they had to remove some paint here and there for the ground. Then it was fine.
Jim Mayor 😂😂😂😂😂
Dibs on the name Rim Joot for my next band name...
…I’ll allow it. 😂
How about richard root or rich root.....LOL
“Signature start” 😂
Ive owned mine since launch and the guitar is a good starting point but the HBZ pickups are complete trash, the guitar also suffers from the grounding issue all active Harleys do. I can't recommend this to anyone.
I hear you there. While mine is good (outside of my signal flow issues in this video), quality issues may be present guitar to guitar.
Is it heavy or like them junk affinitys?
It’s on par, if not a hair heavier than comparable Strats at 7lbs 10.2oz. 🤘🏻
Signature Start !!! )))))))))
Yup. That’s deliberately how I spelled it. 😉
Thanks for watching!
@@11thFret Harley it's a good for start =)
Hey! Nice content!
Thanks! I appreciate you watching.
hey cool channel :) good work
Thank you so much!
misspelled strat twice
…On purpose, along with “Rim Joot”. Merry Christmas and thanks for watching. 🤘🏻
Dude looks like anders friden
I’ll take it. 😂
This is not the answer to the Jim Root Model, this is the answer to an incredibly dumb question 😁
Thanks for taking the time and energy to share your incredible gift of insight to the world. It’s a better place now because of it. Happy holidays.
Should b rim joot brand
😂 Coming soon: 11th Fret “Rim Joot” t-shirts.
Omg 4 real ..too funny
I had one and sent it back and got my refund . It was absolutely rubbish 👎
That sucks. I’m sorry to have learned that. Unfortunately every brand and every model within put out their occasional lemons. Mine is still good.
Rim Joot ? Jim Root ?
Just having fun by implying what it is rather than 'saying' that's what it's supposed to be like. ;-)
Is this guitar baritone?
@@TRIGG3RP0INT Ohh so its not a baritone but still i love how it looks and sounds + active pickups >P worth the price
@@TRIGG3RP0INT Forgot to ask, is there a telecaster with same setup, metal ready with active pickups and matt black ?
From Harley Benton, not that I’m aware of yet. I’ll dig around their site. However, they do make a Jazzmaster style in a similar Jim Root fashion: www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_ja_20hh_active_sbk.htm?partner_id=65176
Squier used to make the Telecaster version for Jim Root as well, but it’s no longer in production. It came with a contrasting pickguard though (white on black or black on white). You’d have to find one on the used market. However, they’re fetching around $500 at the moment, on average.
Have to say the defender because you took advice from the pro, if you didn't you would have probably lost lol.
Показалось что на превью фред гитарист
I get it. It's cheap. But their active pickups are ass.
They’re decent enough. I just restrung it with .013-.056 and tuned it to Standard C. Then I ran it through my Marshall JVM210H, and we’re now there. 🤘🏻
Slipknot ?
This one is from the band "Slickbow".
@@11thFret Slipkyes !!
How many times has "Strat" been spelled "Start " in video titles
I was waiting for someone to point that out. I kept hoping that people would realize it’s on-purpose along with “Rim Joot”. I can’t tell you how often I see “Squire/Squirt Start” guitars for sale on the used market. 😂
This guitar is crap through a actual amp
Sounds killer through my actual Marshall JVM210H, Marshall DSL20CR, and Vox AC30. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@11thFret you use a noise gate or something to control the hum
Nope. No noise gates were in the signal chain. However, I myself made the exact opposite error by accidentally stacking verbs AND using the wrong cable between the Suhr Reactive Load to my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. This happened after setting up my rig in the new place through haste. There should have been plenty of noise in that demo. I guess I must have received a good one. That said, Thomann didn’t know this was for me let alone to be demo’d. So this was a run-of-the-mill guitar sent to a regular customer (aka: me).
@@11thFret well you're a lucky one to get a decent guitar for the price. I have nothing against Harley Benton their just growing to fast to keep up
People, never trust a dude named Kris with a K. Seriously there is no way in hell a 120 dollar guitar is any good. To any people thinking about starting guitar who watched this video save your money, pick up some overtime and find something else in the 500 price range. You’ll get discouraged by these budget guitars and then find yourself not being able to give it away when you decide to quit.
When I was named by my parents, I was supposed to be "Chris". But I lied right out of the womb, and they knew then to spell it with a K to reflect my dishonesty. 😂
All kidding aside, a guitar in an aspiring guitar player's hands who cannot easily afford a $500 one is better than nothing. I agree there's better out there. But sometimes someone can make due with starting with the bones of a budget instrument to then do modest mods when they can. Not everyone is like you and I to save up and buy a guitar when we want. Sometimes when a person has the motivation to get going, they have to jump then and there or else their moment can pass. But that said, I agree that these have a poor resale on the used market. But not much worse than that of a Squier Affinity Series Strat, to which I've personally bought many for an average of $40 used.
There are plenty of perfectly acceptable cheap guitars on the market.
Are they consistently decent?
Probably not, but then the flaws on my USA Jackson soloist (clear coat lifting from the black paint, fret slots cut too wide causing frets to lift and the mother of pearl Jackson logo is too close to the headstock binding) and the notoriously terrible state of Gibson quality control shows that price is no guarantee of quality.
Well I guess the question is how do you know that? Without a serious set of observations with objective information we simply don't know.
Philip McKnight is one of the few TH-cam creators that gives you objective information. He actually measures the fret edges with a piece of material that shows you what the fret edges are like. He takes a fret rocker to all the frets and reports of any are uneven.
There's always one or two commenters or even one TH-cam creator that shows problems with Harley Benton guitars. But you don't know if that's like 1% quality control or whether the TH-cam creators have an incentive to not look at this objective information.
What a totally BS comment. Most young players would never be able to buy a $500.00 guitar. And how in the f**k is a kid supposed to pick up some OT if they aren't even old enough to work? These types of comments are beyond stupid.
These guitars exist for a reason. The market demands them. Entry-level guitars are absolutely needed for obvious reasons. All it takes is one elitist douche bag to ruin things for a starting guitarist.
Harley Benton is crap
Do you even own any ? Lol uh huh? I bet you dont. Or which ones have you got that you didnt like ?
Maybe. If nothing else, Harley Benton is popular crap. That said, I’ve had no issues with the ones I’ve procured.
Signature start 😆
Glad you picked up on the gag. I stared and stared and stared at that thumbnail off and on for over an hour wondering if people would get the gag or if I was setting myself up for flaming in the comments. 😂
@@11thFret well played sir