PRS SE Custom 24 vs Harley Benton CST 24 - Which is Best?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 พ.ค. 2019
- I thought it might be interesting to compare the 2018 PRS SE Custom 24 versus the Harley Benton CST-24T. Both of these guitars are very similar featuring 2 humbucker pickups that can be split coiled. They also feature 24 frets and sound great!
Get a PRS SE Custom 24
🇺🇸 Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/PRScustom24
🌎Thomann - bit.ly/2WsSNKN
Check out the Harley Benton CST-24T online:
🇩🇪Buy it from Thomann - bit.ly/2ZlbmTg
🌎USA/Australia - bit.ly/2UQFxTP
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#myPRS #harleybenton #PRSGuitars
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I tried to make this as fair of a test as possible. Both guitars in a mix and then on their own. I tried both dirty and clean! Let me know what you think!
intheblues . It sounded pretty close you did a great job. I was just thinking it would be helpful for new players on how to set up the trem, I think the pickup height adjustment would have got them closer. Adjusting these things might be useful to someone and also how easy it is to do for a new player.
Based on the video, the lefty version of the HB seems to have the old issue of cheap/affordable guitars with the wrong wired pots (open counter-clockwise) . Annoying for volume and even more so for tone since it basically turns it into a switch, due to it being an logarithmic pot. I wish they wouldn't just flip everything on the lefty guitars and think upfront...
I my eyes thats a huge minus, eventhough you can rewire, you'll loose your warranty. :-(
I think guitars are much more about feel than sound. It boils down to which has the better neck & fretwork. Wish Harley Benton would make a 245.
Personall I prefer the look of the body of the Harley Benton. I've seem some Harley Bentons look even better than the one you have. I think Harley Benton models their design on an older PRS design which I prefer than what PRS are doing currently. I don't like of the Harley Benton fretboards tho, they look like washed out carboard
None,one is too expensive and the other is poorly built. Just buy a used Ibanez and focus on your music instead. PS: I have personally tested all of them, the tone is irrelevant if you use effects. The guitar brand is irrelevant if you don't have skills.
I’d buy the Harley Benton in a second. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Sounds fantastic! We truly are in the age of great inexpensive guitars.
I just bought one I swear my more expensive top name brand guitars just sit in the dam
case 😂
It's the same guitar with different fret markers and $500 less
You can hear more feedback on the harley Benton tho, PRS has higher quality pickups for damn sure, but for the cost, the Harley Benton is a KILLER guitar
@@shfla7293 but the sound is a little bit warmer on hb.
@@shagstars that’s personal preference
I've had a CST24T for about 9 months. When I bought it it was about £180 but they've now gone up to about £220. That could be supply and demand, exchange rate against the Euro, or a bit of both. Even at current prices they are worth the money.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a PRS SE standard 24 - having the HB and liking it so much made me want the real thing, even if it is "entry level". The PRS was £475, not sure what pickups are in Shane's guitar but mine has 85/15 zebras. I have noticed more of a difference in sound, mine has quite articulate mids - could be pickup difference or body as the standard is solid mahogany with no maple cap. I would still agree that it is just different rather than better or worse.
Out the box the PRS was ready to go. Not the slightest hint of uneven frets, no polishing required, and trem floating. In fact the trem will take some quite aggressive use and still stay in tune. I completely agree with Shane regarding the neck as well, it's hard to describe but the PRS neck has a nicer feel to it that's hard to describe.but the HB is good.
Between the two there are two glaring differences:
1. Machine heads feel like higher quality and have a better ratio on the PRS. The HB feel cheaper, are a bit more sensitive when fine tuning, but they are stable and therefore use able. They are a contender for an upgrade but not essential.
2. Frets. As stated the PRS frets were perfect, no attention required. The HB needed a good polish and had a few little rocks, but not enough to cause a problem when I lowered the action a bit.
I've never really used trems as I've always been mainly a tele player, but after a few days playing with the PRS I thought I would have a go at floating the HB myself. Once I did the HB bridge performed almost as good as the PRS, even with the cheaper machine heads.
I'm conclusion, the HB is a great introduction to this style of guitar, I wanted something with humbuckers but I'm not a fan of LP styles. The HB does this admirably but I have connected with PRS in the same way I did with the telecaster. So if you just want a cheap but gigable set of humbuckers, split coils and 24 frets the HB is perfect, maybe upgrade the machine heads and get a decent setup. If you can shell out a bit more for a PRS then yes, it's worth the money, it has a higher quality feel that's hard to quantify in words.
Cheers that's quite helpful
Nice shootout I'd have to go for the HB cause I'm a..... how you say POOR :)
I know what you mean one is affordable and one is out of reach big time ; )
Having a harley benton cst 24 and a PRS Custom 24, Definitely you would have to upgrade some parts to make it closer to a PRS, the Finish on the harley benton it's very beautiful, really close to a non 10 top PRS of course the HB it's a veneer but it's beautiful nonetheless, had to upgrade the pickups (they really sounded bad to my ears) which actually ended up costing me more than the guitar itself, the tuners feel really bad but they stay in tune very well (they just feel wobbly) which is an upgrade i might consider in the future. Soundwise after the upgrade, they sound pretty similar on humbucker mode, but split coil the PRS sounds way better and it also retains the volume which the HB does not. Bottom line, if i had to choose between a HB and a PRS SE I would go for the HB and do some upgrades on it. They look way better than an SE, the top is carved very close to the core model PRS unlike the SE model which is flat, and mine isn't that heavy at all. Really good guitar for the price. I recommend the paradise flame finish (it's gorgeous) and a wraparound bridge, stay away from tremolos on cheap guitars, most of the time they suck. Just my 2 cents!
Silkaz7 agreed on the trem 🤘🏽
@Ben Hackett thanks for the info I thought it was in the 2k price range that makes a big difference
Harley Benton is a nice guitar at any price point.. prs is nice, but a bit pricey for many models
The PRS has more precision and balance, the HB has more output and medium. My preference goes to the PRS, but the HB is doing a pretty good job and for a fraction of the price !
@vino veritas Completely right ... upgraded with cheap oripure pickups ... now absolutely satisfied 😊
I’m pretty sure those PRS pickups aren’t stock. Stock were zebras.I had one, good guitar, decent pickups, but upgrade makes it great guitar.
I didn’t fall in love with the wide thin pattern neck. I’ve owned several PRS, all quality instruments.
Hey Shane. Once again, you steered me in the right direction. Just got my new HB CST 24 LH back from my tech. After some minor adjustments, this thing actually plays as well, if not better, than my SE!
As your reviews were directly responsible for both purchases , I just wanted to say... knock it off!! I'm broke ! ;)
Seriously , thanks mate!
It’s funny I’m a left-handed player I see someone else playing left-handed it looks strange
Harley Benton, Half the Price and sounds great.
closer to a quarter of the price tbh
@@Etherian87 In Australia, 1/3 the price.
Less than half
You should do a video on fixing the trem and try lowering the pickups to get a better tone. Just to show how easy those problems are to fix.
I have two Harley Benton CST-24's and my brother has two PRS's. One of his is a Semihollow bodied guitar in the same color as the one you played in the video. We're planning a comparison video soon. We do all our videos outside and lately we have had a lot of rain. Anyway, excellent comparison video my friend. I truly enjoyed it and you're a heckuva guitarist!
Another great shootout video. Thanks man. I have the same PRS. My first PRS. LOVE IT. You give great usable information. Keep em comin.
Considering the difference in price the fact the HB is even considered but the fact it holds its own is brilliant and a testimony to their quality.
I'm just gonna go with a PRS private stock. I saw one that looks awesome and I assume it sounds great and it's only $12000! Ok maybe the HB is more realistic. But a person can dream. I'm probably gonna get an emerald green HB CST24 at some point and be happy about it. Looks and sounds great and I could still eat, pay bills, etc. Why am I rambling on and on...?
The PRS se ,student edition in us goes for $600 00 to $700.00 at guitar center.
HB seem to be knocking out some great machines for a fraction of the cost of the mainstream manufacturers. They've even started using emg's which is fantastic. Great, fair and honest review. Thanks.
Nice review, as always Shane!
Diggin the Chris Cain Poster too, man! 👊
They both sound great! Thanx for the comparing Shane!
Shane you did it again... I am currently awaiting a CST 24 to arrive. Another gear purchase based on your reviews! Will be running it into the DSL 40 CR. I can't wait
loved your comparisons, both great guitars
Well done, good job! Accurate, detailed and unbiased in any way. Probably the best comparison between HB and PRS on the Tube, so far. As you point out, it's not a matter of better or worse, but smoother or harsher, brighter or darker, rather. The judge is your personal preferences. Hanx a lot
Awesome playing Shane great Demo Happy New Year 2020 🎸❤👍👍😊
I recently ordered and received the Harley-Benton. I set the trem, and it is great, and stays in tune pretty well. I can't put the thing down, and I have had it now for almost three months. I always have it on my guitar stand. Amazing that an inexpensive guitar like this is so great!
I’m impressed with both! I have a friend who just ordered the Benton.
really loving the reviews for the HB guitars.. looking forward to own one though seems like it'll be hard to get them here in the philippines. great playing mate! watching your picking hand again and studying it for a while now.
I was the 1000th like and just bought my HB and saved $1000+. Great video brother 🙏🙌
Great review, man! Thanks!
I watched this video and found it intriguing. I own the CST-24T, and I absolutely adore its feel and sound. The low action is just perfect, but I do agree that it tends to sound a bit too hot and muddy at times. Recently, I decided to upgrade to the PRS 24 Custom 24-08, and I must say, it's been quite a revelation. The tone is noticeably clearer, and I have a plethora of options to explore compared to my Strat. While the Strat still reigns supreme for its distinctive quack, the PRS comes impressively close to the Gibson sound.
One aspect you're spot-on about is the weight-both the Gibson and my Strat are notably heavier than my new PRS. Given that I'm no spring chicken and have a troublesome back, I opted for the lightest option available from Sweetwater. And I must say, this PRS has quickly become my favorite guitar. If it weren't for my initial purchase of the CST-24T, I might have never realized just how exceptional a PRS guitar can be.
Thanks a lot for making this great shootout, Shane! Tonally, I prefer the PRS with its better clarity and definition. Especially the bridge hb has such a great bite! But the HB proves again it's an enormous bang for the buck and the body shape is really beautiful.
Thank you, very beautiful comparison!
Fantastic review as always Shane, keep up the great work! Given the difference in cost, for a hobbyist it would be a no brainer to go for the HB. A gigging musician may of course have a different perspective.
So for the hobbyists/bedroom players out there, countless videos are available on TH-cam showing beginners how to address sharp frets, intonation, trem bar adjustments and pickup swaps. For those who have the desire to tinker around a bit and make it their own, these are excellent platforms to do so. May I also say that the finish on the HB is absolutely beautiful. Not taking anythingy away from the PRS which is stunning, but for the money.....WOW!
Got the same exact HB in july 2019 after a10 week wait .The PRS sounds like my 2015 amr.strat in bridge p/u.They both have similar voicings .Amp adjustment can make them sound exactly alike.
The Cst is such a beautiful and sweet playable instrument... big compliment ... needed to change the pickups and electronics because of personal preference, but I'm absolutely astonished by the woodwork, fretwork and mechanics ... nice job, nice price, thx alot
It's indeed a very, very capable guitar. Love mine too. Looking into upgrading the pickups as well nut having a hard time vinding pickups on the interwebs that sound as versatile as the stock ones do. What did you replace your pickups with?
@@floriszuidema7068 I put some cheap pickups from a brand named oripure into it, because of the overall nice and warm sound and the possibility of having separate adjustable poles, put a predrilled chrome cover upon them and also added a second vol pot. So both vol knobs have push/push function to switch between serial and parallel.
The quality is noticeably better on this HB than on my HB SC450+ I love it but the first time I changed the strings a tuner fell off because the screws are so poor! Good to see they have improved on this!
Having played strats for over fifty years, apart from a 1988 black with gold hw Gibson LP black beauty which pretty much plays itself, I bought my first PRS, a Custom SE 24 a month ago. It. Is. Fab. I wanted the 85/15 humbuckers and the splitting - which very almost nearly partly nears the single coils on my 1975 USA strat. So, already with a vintage 62 cream man-in-black strat from HB, I went for the HB CST 24 in flame red. Arrives soon. I researched HB Roswells and many humbuckers in depth with reviews by many other players of many genres. These showed what this excellent comparison video shows. HB fine if I was age 20. Which I ain't. Decided to swap out the Roswells but will play them for a month first. Almost went Seymour Duncan, but went for much cheaper zebra Fleor humbuckers which had many great reviews. The challenge for me is to get as near to the 85/15 on the PRS as it can. But, aged 68, I still get what the HB Roswells would do for some heavy metal and thrashing. I binned the tinny Roland Fuzz etc pedals in the '70s and used a Sony Radio Cassette Player as a pre-amp with a Wem tape echo - so for me, just a clean pick-up, a good lead, and (only) a Marshall does it. The rest we can just add, regardless of the guitar, depending on what we're writing or playing. So, the HB CST 24 will get a play when it turns up soon, a likely pick-up mod, a definite fret polish, and will add to the HB Chinese budgets - Tele, Strat and PRS copy CST. Shame they're so heavy, no fun at my age after two- and-a-half minutes. A thick strap helps. Then only hanging it from a chandelier will work. As for the volume and tone knobs on the CST 24, they're gone already. 😅. Great comparison vid. Thanks Shane here.
Looking forward to hearing your opinion on this. Out here everything sounds good.
After trying the PRS and loving it I had to be sensible and save a lot of money by going with the HB (especially as I’ve already hit 17 guitars) also I’d seen another Utube review which really rated the HB.
I ordered the black cherry hard tail wraparound bridge.
It arrived in play out of the box condition and the fit and finish were flawless I swopped out the bridge for a Ghoto wraparound as easy to get intonation spot on plus extra weight for great sustain, And just for my own preference put a set of locking tuners @18to1 ratio.
I now prefer this guitar to my 96 Gibson les Paul for sheer playability. It sounds awesome, looks awesome but hasn’t got Gibson on the headstock. But it was a steel at £170 including postage I cannot fault this guitar 👍 Definitely recommend without any reservations
First off, thanks Shane for the honest gear reviews. I bought the Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame. Took about 6 weeks from order to Texas delivery. Yep, a bit on the heavy side compared to my american strat and esp ltd. Neck is not quite as thin as I like but still comfortable. Just a bit of bridge height set-up and she was ready. I like the sound of the pick-ups but I'm not blown away. Overall, very impressed with quality and playability at this price. My real test is how much I just pick it up and noodle on it, which is a lot. First sub-$1000 guitar I've owned in years and I'm thrilled.
I felt the PRS sounded more articulate and open. And for the necks, that 10” radius with the 25” scale is the sweetest combination for shear playability across the board for me. I didn’t think anything would supplant thick neck with a 12” radius but my PRS SE Standard changed all that.
Nice job as always!
Great job Shane, thanks for the smart observations and reasonable descriptions. I think both of them sound great! I personally don’t believe in the sort of ideology where guitars are immediately treated with suspicion because they only cost whatever, well under a thousand. I don’t mean they are always just as good, but with your demo today it would have to come down to feel and to connection with it because you can’t pick apart those great sounds. Cheers!
Absolutely great work! 👍
I LITERALLY had the rewind the vid a couple of times 'cos I got distracted for a moment and LITERALLY couldn't hear the difference between the two when the guitar switches happened.... cool video, very helpful, thanks!
Happy to dfiscover your channel,i'm lefty too! and so very insterested to buy the HB soon,thanx for this very good demo bro'! Peace from Reunion Island.
At the beginning of the video, I didn’t watch the video,just listened to your playing to have an unbiased perspective and I could hear the difference in tone. The PRS sounds a tad brighter than the HB. I like both as far as tone. I can see the value in both guitars compared to a Core model PRS. Now as you know, I’m a unapologetic brand snob and as silly as it is I am a sucker for guitars with certain names on the headstock 😂😂😂. Both of these guitars really cure me of this snobbery!! I could see myself owning either or both of these guitars! I think the PRS gets the edge only when it comes to the Trampas Green top and ease of using the tremolo out of the box.
Thanks for the comparison of these fine guitars Shane!! Cheers Mate!!🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾🤘🏾
Don't be hooked on name brand, it will break you these day and times. The harley benton does the job. I own a lot of USA top brand guitars that should had paid my house off.
Fair and comprehensive comparison, thanks so much! I checked the other day a SE Tampas green and didn't get impressed, it was good but in two weeks I travel to Thoman, will try the HB and if the setup and neck are OK, I doubtfully will be able to justify a difference of almost 700 euros .... for less than half that money I can throw in a set of Boot Camp knuckles and better pots and it will sound like heaven!
Getting the paradise Amber version for Christmas this year can't wait
Fantastic playing Shane! Great shootout. I love my SE 24 in Trampas Green, but I'd love to get my hands on a lefty Harley Benton. You know, for science. Haha! Keep up the good work!
Very Good Shane! I thought the PRS had much better note definition although the HB sounded great in your hands, I preferred the sound and looks of the PRS! Great Job, please keep up the Good Work Mate! Cheers!!
I love these HB shoot out videos. I am a bass player and own a Harley Benton P-bass which I bought new for 75€ to learn out to do maintenance on. Turns out to be one of the easiest basses I have ever played, it sounds very retro and very cool. Yes it needed some work on the setup and the frets where rough but once that was done it is a stunningly good play. I always come on these videos to see if it is just me and I got lucky and the guy in china who made mine just so happened to be on his AAAA game. But nope they all see to come out pretty darn good, Bass or guitar.
Thanks I found my next Guitar.I love the color tone and price so I will buy the HB CST-24 Lefty Black to add to my lefty collection.I like your reviews.
Appreciate you mentioned the weight of the Harley Benton.
Wow.. very comparable in tone... Great job as always with the demos 👍👍
I have a PRS Core model, a CE24 and an S2 Standard 24 and I can’t wait to get my Harley Benton!!! Great guitars for the money!!!
LUV your tone on the bridge in humbucker mode. WOW Nice!
MrPiperian thanks ! 😎
Shane, I love the look of your Paul Reed Smith. And i have been a PRS fan since 1997. That being said, I think both tones are very close. And Harley Benton is doing such an incredible job for us people who don’t have very much (if any) disposable income. Yeah, PRS is amazing out of the box. The S2 Standard Satin that I play was pretty much perfect out of the box. But most guitars need a good setup out of the box.
I listened to this video while reading the comments, so didn't see which guitar was which....they both sound amazing ......
very nice comparison, thanx mate
I OWN BOTH GUITARS AS WELL AND MY HARLEY BENTON GIVES THE PRS ALL IT CAN HANDEL !!! NICE UPLOAD SHANE !! :):)
Thanks for the post mate. Great to hear someone else can vouch for the comparison. Both these guitars are great. :)
So do I. I love the PRS but the HB is an awesome guitar you get a huge bang for the buck.
I have the Harley B (left handed) & yes it is a heavy guitar. Would prefer something lighter but do like the neck binding, so stuck between the two. Great tones from both guitars. Enjoyed the comparison - thumbs up
Thank you for the comparison. I have the right handed version of your SE CU24 and it's as heavy as my Les Paul Custom. 8.5 - 9 pounds. But the balance on the strap and neck feel make it my go to guitar.
I just bought a Harley Benton CST 24 T and I looove it! Weight 3,55 kg. Comes with a good setup out of the box, I just lowered the string action a bit with no following problems. It has stainless steel frets and a graphite nut. As you mentioned, the trem was hard to push. I removed one spring and float the trem system, now its smooth as on my Strats two point trem. That guitar is worth every cent! Bought it new for just 209 € at the HB 25th anniversary sale. Regards from Germany 👋🏻🤘🏻
I like the PRS tone myself. Just sounds cleaner and crisper. Some guitars just aren't set up for hotter pu's, and I've always thought PRS style guitars is one of them. Love your PRS Shane.
I' m sure that blindfolded you won't guess which one is HB and which one is PRS.
They were amazingly close to each other.
95% of the guitar for 25% of the cost.
Amazing isn’t it
really good explanation !
Hello. Thanks for the review. Both guitars are quite worthy of the attention of musicians. I think that those who have enough money will purchase PRS. Anyone who chooses HB will also be satisfied. After all, there are already thousands of such people. Inexpensive, but high-quality materials and components plus quality production from the Cort company. All this allows even people with a small budget to replenish their guitar collections with copies of legendary models. I still chose PRS. In the video, both guitars sound almost identical. But the PRS SE has a deeper sound, more overtones are heard, and it is more readable and transparent. HB sounds good, perhaps louder, if the settings were not changed during recording. But it’s a little dull and flat, and it’s as if HB was recorded on a lower-quality and expensive processor. On a home amp or an amplifier in a club, the difference will not be very noticeable. Especially if you turn up the tone knob on the PRS a little. I have 2 PRS SE series guitars. This is a guitar similar to the one in the review, the SE Custom 24-08 anniversary edition for the company's 35th anniversary. And a semi-acoustic LP type model SE Zach Myers. They sound good acoustically and connected. Ergonomic and comfortable when playing them. And they look great. Over more than 3 years of ownership, I have not had any desire to switch to more expensive instruments from the Core or Private Stock series. I see in reviews of expensive PRS series that these are even more beautiful, melodious, resonating instruments. But I’m not ready to pay a much higher price for even excellent instruments. And especially not ready to switch to cheaper versions from HB. I see differences in the ergonomics and sound of the PRS SE and HB, and think the difference in their price is justified. Good luck.
Hello! Enjoy your videos. You can adjust the pickups for height for volume and each side for changing the toneality.
I'm probably going to buy the Harley Benton just to try out the prs style of guitar and if I really enjoy it save up for a nice prs
@Joe Figueroa What a bizarre comment to make man... Is it just some weird flex to a random stranger that you bought a $6000 guitar? This video and comments section is talking about comparing a $300 dollar guitar to a $800 guitar, so how does this comment make any sense besides wanting to show off?
@@EriksAnarchy512 Well I found it an interesting comment.
I want the Benton p90 version...greatly appreciate your reviews and comparisons!
I have it and can recommend it. I bought a B stock one (I'm clumsy and most of my guitars are old - i.e., worn) and can't find what makes it B stock. Plays well and sounds fantastic.
Great review Shane. I'm going to buy a Harley Benton as a project guitar, you can't go wrong at the price. I'm sure that the HB would benefit from a really good setup but for £40 if you can't do it yourself, it would be well worth it.
do not care about comparison - great sound and great playing!
Wish I had the HB as an option when I was first starting out years ago. My first guitar was a Jackson with some stock idiotbuckers and after a year or two I realized I needed to find something more my taste. The HB with a pickup upgrade sounds like a great deal. That said, I’d much prefer the PRS no doubt.
I keep hearing the pickups aren’t bad at all. Guess we’ll have to find out.
My Harley Benton CST-24 is a couple of years old and it came with Wilkinson pickups and it has the older headstock logo. It plays and sounds fantastic. I like the Wilkinson pickups, they're lower output than the Roswells. I also have a Vintage V100 Icon with Wilkinson pickups and I love it too.
By the time you put it in a mix you won't be able to hear any difference at all. It's all about how it feels...and the juice you bring to the party.
Nice review! As an owner of both (2 X PRS SE Customs, 4 X HB CST24's), I agree with most of your points. I have more data points, so I'll disagree about the weight. My 2 PRS's weigh 9 and 8.2 pounds, while the HB's weigh 7.6-8.4 pounds. So very comparable, but my HB's are actually lighter. The neck shape is very different though. The HB's have much thinner (shallower) and rounder necks, while the PRS is more flat at the back, and a bit wider at the nut as well. The exception is the HB CST24HB (semi hollow), which is more comparable to the PRS SE (though still not as wide)
I can't for the life of me understand how you can discern differences with all those effects on..now clean, to me is the only way to hear any differences...
@@fredriksvard2603 ok, I only play clean, distortion, for me tells nothing, it could be any guitar, but hey to each his own..have a good one
I think that a pickup upgrade in the harley benton could easily put it above the prs.
For sure even with the set up price and even more upgrades than that can make it a much better playing and sounding guitar than the PRS and still have saved about 2 to 3 hundered bucks
But you will have to do a set up on the HB don't care what any reviewer said the guitar will have sharp fret ends and will need the tremelo set to your liking new nut most likely cleaning and oiling of fret board No money to do this yourself nut is what 8 bucks for a top of the line graphite or bone but
@@JethroBoDean mine came without sharp fret ends, is this an extra you paid for? ....
@@JethroBoDean I have two perfect ones, no need for nut replacement, all fret edges are smooth, action was great....all out of the box
@@Colosus23 good to hear I think they got the message loud and clear or at least I hope they did QC is getting better I haven't heard of as many gripes as of late about the fret ends and nut to action playability I am aware they are shipped from Asia to Europe to North America in my case so the fact that they are playable at all is a mirical in itself LOL but seriously glad to hear that your guitar is as you like it mine is just fine and the little bit of work I had to do to it was minor enough to make it well worth the price is very nice
Great playing, demo and comparison man! Agree with you on the pickups...in single coil mode especially, the HB reminds me of the difference between the MIM Standard Strat (with the ceramic pickups) and the American versions (Alnicos). One is a little thicker and hotter. Tough to ignore that price difference for sure! 🤙🏻😎🎸
I must say I like the look of the Harley Benton but for playability and the guitars are set up to play straight out of the box PRS great guitars and I would say PRS for beginner
and the weight problem for young people on the HB great demo Shane
I own both. If I had to choose one to sell, it would be a hard decision to make. I'm with you. I love them both.
The PRS is smoother on the distortion. Less graininess and less breakup on the tail of a power chord
The HB is nice and the price is right but it doesn't have the birds! I saw a PRS in a pawn shop and fell in love with the birds! Good to see a lefty testing lefty gear.
Great review Shane. You don't really mention the value for money though - it's a £799 PRS vs £196 HB. I nearly splashed out on a PRS SE Standard 24 last week at £379 and after seeing this video, I would have been very sad indeed if I had. Even if you don't like the pups, a used Seymour Duncan is only £60 or so. HB + SH6B = happiness!
I own the Trampas PRS with full maple cap - haven’t tried an HB - but can say the PRS through my DSL40CR really sings, lots of harmonic undertones and ring outs. I wonder if the Kemper kills some of that juicy goodness in the room. I like the difference in $$$.
Another solid review... very fair, all things considered, especially price. I always tell people, "try before you buy... if possible, and buy the best guitar you can afford." I own budget Fender and PRS SE models and more pricey PRS's. I love 'em all!
I am right-handed but play as a lefty, finding good quality lefty guitars without breaking the bank, is hard. Great video. Leaning towards the PRS because of weight and neck feel. But both see, like awesome buys.
From Leo: We are truly in a very high value age in the guitar market. It used to take at least a weeks worth of pay to buy a good sounding, playable guitar, and better guitars were 2 or 3 weeks of pay. These are the days we can get a good sounding payable guitar for one day of pay. Of course we can still go up in price, but the quality and value of budget guitars is amazing.
Well said Barb! I absolutley agree, this is an absolute buyers market right now with much higher quality guitars at a lower price than you could've dreamed of in the 70's and prior.
You must earn a lot of money then...
I am an IT Security Engineer and even the HB costs me 2.5 days of work. Thr PRS SE around two weeks.
I'm currently looking for a backup guitar for my SE24 Custom. The HB seems just great for this
Very informative, thanks. Give the comparability, I'm guessing that for many people the primary issue will be the huge difference in cost.
Depends on the level of experience too. An experienced and somewhat polished player would likely go for the PRS (ready to go) where as someone on a budget would likely pick the HB, not to say it's a bad guitar but if I need something to play now that's ready for a stage show PRS takes the checkered flag here for me.
@@bestplans9051 Sure, that makes sense 👍
I always wanted a PRS guitar
It would be good to see a video of these two where you show the backs of the pickups to see typical construction differences and the wiring cavity with what kinds of pots and caps are in each. Put an ohm meter on the pickups to show comparable kohms of each plus kohms across the outer lugs of the pots (pots may say 500k on them but they have actual readings that float 20% part to part).
Nice comparison! I own the PRS, but it looks like HB brought it’s “A” game. Hopefully get my hands on one someday.
I agree a pickup upgrade for HB will sound better.
I always come back to your videos and watch them mre than once! I don't do that with many channels!! This type of guitar really appeals to me lately, but I only ever see people shred on them...... I play mostly blues... are they cool for blues? Don't know why but I have the opinion they're made for "fast" players? By the way, what does "split coil" mean and what's the point of it? Cheers Shane!
Your noodling sounded like Davy Knowles. I recognized the phrasing. Your SE is stunning. Me want!!😜
I have a brand new PRS Custom 24SE, and a fairly new (6 months or so) Harley Benton CST-24, and I have on order a Harley Benton CST-24 HB, and my brother Dan has two PRS Custom 24SE's. The difference is when I buy a Harley Benton It's paid for in one pop. PRS'S take time and money to pay for.
What has the better feeling neck? Which one stays in tune? These are better questions than just tone. Pickups, amps and pedals can change all that, but the feel is a whole different game. Nice video!
They both stay in tune fine. The feeling of the neck is personal, but I like how the Benton feels
I guess it just comes down to preference. They both sounded good to me.
I guess if you swap the pickups in the HB to PRS stock pickups you won't be able to hear any difference......all in all a great job from HB, especially considering the price difference! :-) I guess PRS might be in trouble now?
Love your playing style in the intro. Both guitars sound great!
Shane all your videos are always helpful .I prefer the tone of the PRS but the HB guitar was great also . The PRS just had mojo
IMO this is an important video. I like the CST-24T a lot but the Trampas green Custom 24 SE is my favorite of the SE line. I slightly prefer the tone of the SE PUP's because of the overall clarity, but i could get 2 of the CST-24's and a set of PUP's as well, for the $600 SE cost. I have an Emerald green CST-24T and find the Wilkenson bridge to be a step above the Fender MIM 6 screw in terms of feel and tuning reliability. It is a step below a Fender System One 2 pole trem. It is hard to beat the Custom 24 for under $600.
Way under 600 more like 350
But mine same as yours needs set up frets out and the fret ends are dangerously sharp and protrude drasticly. Not that hard to fix I went with a Chinese suhr copy called grote like it way better has a 2 post Wilkinson term locking tuners for 280 didn't change a thing was intonated and low action no fret Buzz stays in tune
Thanks for this fine comparison.
Yeah, the weight is a total deal breaker for me.
I wouldn't mind. I am a weight lifter.