Great points. I've had a handful of Harley Bentons, and some are very average, and a few are absolute world beaters. I currently have the SC Special in the dirty mustard yellow and it is by far the very best guitar they make for the money. Full size pots, high quality wiring, and pickups that rival any P90 guitar on the planet with excellent low-end thump and balanced, super satisfying articulate mids and highs. For the $190 I paid for the SC Special, I like it even more than the $400 Fusion T EMG with $200 Retro Active 70 pickups. Those pickups do NOT sound as good at the P90s in this $190 guitar. That said, you're 100% right that the bridge isn't ideal (although it doesn't bother me a ton personally) and it really needs shielding. I like the tuners and nut though. I would buy this guitar again and again and I truly believe for the price, it's the best guitar on the entire market right now, period. It's 100% giggable and hold up 100% to my old Gibson special P90 I sold because there wasn't enough difference in quality between that $1000 guitar and this $190 one. That's how good these sound.
The original Jr/Special tuners would have been the even cheaper 3-on-a-strip Klusons, not individual tuners as were fitted. Get a good set and they're fine, but they can be less than ideal. I've never owned a P90 equipped Gibson that had shielding (I have three). I've always had to do it myself. I also have a Hamer USA Sunburst archtop with P90s that didn't come with shielding. You need to remember that these Harley Benton Guitars are budget guitars. To shield and link all the cavities to ground would take time and slow down production, so that would put the price up. These are made down to a price-point, not up to a defined quality level regardless of cost. Even, so the quality level is very high indeed. The original HB SC-Special bridge is a standard Chinese offering based on a Leo Quan Badass design. I had one on a kit SG Jr. Like you, I found it far to thick and couldn't lower it enough to get a good action. I ended up finding another Chinese adjustable saddle bridge that was much, much thinner, but which ended up having saddles that were too low to get a good string break angle on them, so fitted the taller saddles from the original bridge to get a solution that worked. I now wish I'd gone for a much more basic pre-intonated bar saddle like the originals.
I have the white one too. Went on a cheap P90 buying spree and picked up 4, including the SC-450 P90 GT, TE-90QM, and DC Jr TV Yellow. I haven't spent any real time with the white SC Special yet (maybe 10 min). Needs a full setup, fret level and re-crown. I have found that some of these HBs just need the frets pressed back down and may not need leveling. If they pop again, glue them in. Another note on the matte white finish, it's not grown on me yet and gets dirty just looking at it. I also have the DC Jr in TV yellow and it was much better out of the box, but I still did a fret level. Haven't found a guitar that didn't need some leveling yet, that's wood for ya. If you're able to do the work yourself, you can get a nice playing guitar for this price range. I have as much fun working on them as playing.
Love the change to guitar. Could you maybe make a short video on how you fixed up the pickups? I have a Harley Benton with similar pickups that hums allot and like to fix it
The new machine heads are a geat improvement, IMO. However, call me eccentric if you will, but my solution to the tailpiece problem would have been as follows: 1) To put a short trapeze tailpiece (of the type normally seen hollow body jazz guitars) 2) This in combination with an adjustabel bridge (NOT a stop tailpiece type, but the type seen on many hollow body guitars, Gretsch guitars, etc.) This would make the overall string length longer whilst of course the scale length would remain at 24.75". And this would enable the guitar to be tuned down either a semitone or even a tone, but still with adequate tension on the strings. I've actually done this on a few guitars - and it works..! Ideal for indy, grunge, etc.
So I got this guitar in TV yellow, with the original bridge the action is perfect, I don't know why you'd want to change the bridge honestly. also I don't find that the bridge is rough to the hand.
I had a couple of these. I think I still have one or 2 actually. Anyway I never cared about the action part. I like a med -high anyways. But I did change the knobs and I filed the saddles on the top and bottom outside saddle. That made it much more comfortable
Oh ok, when I saw the thumbnail I said to myself, "How tf did this dude get a red one?" Lol I wish they would do faded red, brown, green and blue versions.
You have done a fantastic job of turning a mediocre guitar into a good one. That red sparkle finish looks so much better than the plain white and transformers the whole appearance. The bridges used by HB are like their tuners, and beg to be upgraded. Hope you enjoy play your much improved SC-Special.
Can you tell us: which bridge did you end up with? You have to be happy with a guitar; I've had to alter pieces that were very expensive - because the guitar was worth it... Best, Pete.
Yes, they were cut deep so the string was too deep in the slot but they bottomed out high. When the nut is cut properly the string should only be half way into the nut slot.
That paint job looks legit. I was shocked to hear you did it at home with spray cans!
Great points. I've had a handful of Harley Bentons, and some are very average, and a few are absolute world beaters. I currently have the SC Special in the dirty mustard yellow and it is by far the very best guitar they make for the money. Full size pots, high quality wiring, and pickups that rival any P90 guitar on the planet with excellent low-end thump and balanced, super satisfying articulate mids and highs. For the $190 I paid for the SC Special, I like it even more than the $400 Fusion T EMG with $200 Retro Active 70 pickups. Those pickups do NOT sound as good at the P90s in this $190 guitar. That said, you're 100% right that the bridge isn't ideal (although it doesn't bother me a ton personally) and it really needs shielding. I like the tuners and nut though. I would buy this guitar again and again and I truly believe for the price, it's the best guitar on the entire market right now, period. It's 100% giggable and hold up 100% to my old Gibson special P90 I sold because there wasn't enough difference in quality between that $1000 guitar and this $190 one. That's how good these sound.
Thank you for your input it’s always great to hear another person’s opinion. Keep on rocking!
You did a nice job painting that guitar. It looks beautiful.
Thank you! Cheers!
Beautifully done re-finish.
The paint job looks very professional. At least from my phone screen. Nice presentation
Sweet!! What a fantastic job. The red and black look mean. Perfect upgrades!🤘
That shade of red is sick!
The original Jr/Special tuners would have been the even cheaper 3-on-a-strip Klusons, not individual tuners as were fitted. Get a good set and they're fine, but they can be less than ideal.
I've never owned a P90 equipped Gibson that had shielding (I have three). I've always had to do it myself. I also have a Hamer USA Sunburst archtop with P90s that didn't come with shielding.
You need to remember that these Harley Benton Guitars are budget guitars. To shield and link all the cavities to ground would take time and slow down production, so that would put the price up. These are made down to a price-point, not up to a defined quality level regardless of cost. Even, so the quality level is very high indeed.
The original HB SC-Special bridge is a standard Chinese offering based on a Leo Quan Badass design. I had one on a kit SG Jr. Like you, I found it far to thick and couldn't lower it enough to get a good action. I ended up finding another Chinese adjustable saddle bridge that was much, much thinner, but which ended up having saddles that were too low to get a good string break angle on them, so fitted the taller saddles from the original bridge to get a solution that worked. I now wish I'd gone for a much more basic pre-intonated bar saddle like the originals.
Thanks for the information. It’s great to hear someone else’s story. Thanks for watching.
The Red looks killer Tony. Vroom vroooooom!
I have the white one too. Went on a cheap P90 buying spree and picked up 4, including the SC-450 P90 GT, TE-90QM, and DC Jr TV Yellow. I haven't spent any real time with the white SC Special yet (maybe 10 min). Needs a full setup, fret level and re-crown. I have found that some of these HBs just need the frets pressed back down and may not need leveling. If they pop again, glue them in. Another note on the matte white finish, it's not grown on me yet and gets dirty just looking at it. I also have the DC Jr in TV yellow and it was much better out of the box, but I still did a fret level. Haven't found a guitar that didn't need some leveling yet, that's wood for ya. If you're able to do the work yourself, you can get a nice playing guitar for this price range. I have as much fun working on them as playing.
4 costed less than 1 Gibson!
Can't go wrong
Love the change to guitar. Could you maybe make a short video on how you fixed up the pickups? I have a Harley Benton with similar pickups that hums allot and like to fix it
They need to call it that SC-Addicted. That would be cool
The new machine heads are a geat improvement, IMO. However, call me eccentric if you will, but my solution to the tailpiece problem would have been as follows:
1) To put a short trapeze tailpiece (of the type normally seen hollow body jazz guitars)
2) This in combination with an adjustabel bridge (NOT a stop tailpiece type, but the type seen on many hollow body guitars, Gretsch guitars, etc.)
This would make the overall string length longer whilst of course the scale length would remain at 24.75". And this would enable the guitar to be tuned down either a semitone or even a tone, but still with adequate tension on the strings.
I've actually done this on a few guitars - and it works..! Ideal for indy, grunge, etc.
So I got this guitar in TV yellow, with the original bridge the action is perfect, I don't know why you'd want to change the bridge honestly. also I don't find that the bridge is rough to the hand.
Tony I can’t believe you got those results from painting with a rattle can , paint job looks better than Gibson
You are too kind Alex. Thanks for watching.
How about a link to that bridge you put on there?
I had a couple of these. I think I still have one or 2 actually. Anyway I never cared about the action part. I like a med -high anyways. But I did change the knobs and I filed the saddles on the top and bottom outside saddle. That made it much more comfortable
Oh ok, when I saw the thumbnail I said to myself, "How tf did this dude get a red one?" Lol
I wish they would do faded red, brown, green and blue versions.
Thanks for the update, great looking paint job, can you give us a link for the bridge, thanks
👍🏻👍🏻
Wow that paint job looks fantastic. nice work. I picked up a used one for $160. Do you remember which bridge you upgraded to?
Did he say what kind of bridge he used as the replacement?
He answered another comment on that - Wilkinson wrap around
You have done a fantastic job of turning a mediocre guitar into a good one.
That red sparkle finish looks so much better than the plain white and transformers the whole appearance.
The bridges used by HB are like their tuners, and beg to be upgraded.
Hope you enjoy play your much improved SC-Special.
Thanks Allan. The upgrade was well worth the upgrade.
Great job Tony
Did you strip the white back first
Or just spray over?👍
Just scuffed up the white and painted over it.
So whats the product number of the Wilkinson bridge you put on there? I can't seem to find it on the internet. Thanks!
Nice Axe bro🎸👍
Thanks!
Hello, great colour! I love it!
I had the same problem with my Harley Benton fusion hard tail. The hardtail bridge was to high.
Thanks for your review and lovely red SC Special. Can I please have a link to the bridge that you changed?
I don't remember the link but you can find them on Amazon
That looks incredible. What spray paint did you use?
Can you tell us: which bridge did you end up with?
You have to be happy with a guitar; I've had to alter pieces that were very expensive - because the guitar was worth it...
Best, Pete.
Wilkinson wrap around bridge.
Nice job buddy..what make of bridge did you upgrade to?
Enjoyed this thx
Glad you enjoyed it
What bridge did you use?
nice red.
Bonita
"The slots were rather deep. [...] Actually the slots were a little bit high." What.
Yes, they were cut deep so the string was too deep in the slot but they bottomed out high. When the nut is cut properly the string should only be half way into the nut slot.
But you can't intonate the new bridge.
Yes you can. It can be adjusted forward and backward with an allen key.
@@addictedtogear Yes but it's not string by string ?
@@addictedtogear i'm interested in this guitar, is the original bridge usable because of the action ?
No matter the hardware, if the neck it's too thin, you can't do anything about it.
Picky picky
What kind of new bridge did you use?