I have the 8 string version in white. Slapped some locking tuners and Fishman Fluence Abasi pickups on it, got it professionally set up and it's a pretty fantastic instrument for how little I paid for it. Personally I love the unfinished feeling of the back of the neck, it glides super well. By the way, the ferrules on mine also fall out. Not too bothered about it.
Any problems with the tuners? Thomann couldn't put locking tuners on them. I was so lazy and paid more to have them do it but said it was impossible to do so, same with adding a graphtec nut
@@xNachtmahRx None whatsoever. I put in HB's own brand locking tuners and they were a drop-in replacement. They work like a charm! I also swapped the nut out for a bone one but a luthier did that for me.
@@static_motion fair enough, I bought a budget guitar with the same mods preinstalled and with pro setup already done but it was used. It was a lucky double bargain
I have the white version with maple fretboard and all my ferrules are not glued. I'm thinking of repainting the guitar so it's a good thing ! I had to change my tuners because it would not stay in tune. Yours were fine which proves that in that price range, quality varies. I also found the neck was a bit weird, but not bad weird. You talked about the finish but I'm wandering if it's not also the profile and even maybe the width. The lower I went was F Standard with a low .090. Didn't like it. Now I have 10-68 SIT (58 not used) from Drop G to Drop A and it's a good match. I'm sorry, I talked about string gauge, I know that it's forbidden here !
I have used this same guitar to record my band's latest album. This guitar+Horizon Devices Precision Drive+Revv Generator 120 (Red Channel)+Mesa 4x12 4FB w/ V30s and ENGL 4x12 XXL PRO in parallel. Can't go wrong.
ive been waiting for you to cover this guitar! I have the 8 string version of this and it does feel great especially considering the price. Wasn't that much more expensive than the 7 string version Im definitely wanna use this as a mod platform once I learn and play it more.
Props to the playing. I’ve generally seen you as the “ why don’t you just play bass?” guy. You’re playing is greatly improving, looking forward to new vids.
There is an issue with this model and the r-458: the scarf jointed neck is usually made with pieces of wood with unaligned fibers/grain, which results in uneven neck warping. On my 458 (which is otherwise an almost perfect guitar) the headstock piece has warped significantly, while the other one was as straight as it gets, my guitar tech friend was baffled when he saw the condition. They've managed to fix it, but not for long, in their own words. If you're going to buy this model, my advice would be to save up a bit and get the Multiscale-7/8 model (which Andrew has also reviewed), it has a 5-piece neck that shouldn't have this issue.
I don’t know if you’re a fan of Jackson guitars but I’d love to see a review of the X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 Multi-Scale if you ever need a suggestion on something to review, this is a guitar I’m considering as you’ve made me want an 8 string, but I want your opinion on this guitar.
i bought that exact guitar in january and it’s easily one of my favorite guitars and is my go to when writing. personally i’d highly recommend it for anyone looking to get into extended range instruments
@@tomk8350 I’m very happy with it! I would definitely recommend it for a first 7 string, I have two videos on my channel of me playing it if you wanna check out!
@@tomk8350 really good honestly! Has great tone and plays really smoothly. It's my first 7 String and I'm pretty happy with it and hoping to upgrade it a bit in the future
@@shadowstryfe wow that's really incredible to hear! I've been on the fence about getting this guitar thinking the 27" multiscale was too good to be true. Was there any things that needed fixing out of the box?
@@tomk8350 the only thing I can think of was the corner of the nut on the high string side felt a little sharp on my hand when I would play on the first fret, other than that I really had no complaints with it. Works great on both actual amps and amp Sims too. Been using it to record one of my next songs
Lmao the first time I restrung my Harley Benton 8 string, two of the ferrules fell out and I lost them and had to wait like a month to finish restringing it
Great work bro, what is the strings set for play drop E or drop G on this multiscale 7 strings?? I am a traditional 6 strings guy so I ignore totally what kind of strings are the best for tuning low! If you have any advice on diameters you will help me a lot, thanks and keep up the good work!
Get a pack of 8 strings. Use the 64 gauge for your low string. May have to mess with the action at the bridge to get rid of some buzz. But it helps the string actually get picked up by the pickup and the tuning stability is a little better with the one heavy string and normal strings on the rest of the guitar. Thats my set up anyways on a jackson 7 string.
I was undecided for a few weeks between this and the Jackson JS22-7, I bought the Jackson in the end and I love it but kind of regret it a little bit now.
@@tusharjamwal that is a weak part I agree 😀 I’m not a big solo guy so it doesn’t bother me, other than I like it but it is nearly double the price of the HB so it makes me wonder.
@@ADAMBLAZEVICI've been eyeballing the JS22-7 for awhile now. Just found these sold in the US so it's much cheaper than overseas. I'm a rhythm guy myself, but I still want a multiscale. Might have to go the HB route then!
Basswood is also used on many prestige model guitars. It isn't some cheap crappy type of wood. It is used because it has very little grain figuring which makes it great for painting. Also it is an excellent wood for carving.,
I have the 8 and guitar is great mines the ffb finish. The only downside is the passive pickups. Besides that wiring was a little shotty and a setup was needed besides that it’s my fav guitar
I've been looking at this 7-string model for a while to get myself into the world of extended range. def will have to buy it now!!! (using the affiliate link of course)
I've been playing Evertune for so long long that now every guitar without it sounds out of tune. A multiscale Evertune would just be amazing. This seems like a great beginner guitar for the money, though.
Of course the clean sounds here are a bit skewed by the shimmery reverb. You probably ought to have used either a more dry sound, or a more traditional sounding verb to give a more accurate representation of how the pickups sound.
I love my HB 7 string. I'm in the market for better pickups. The Lace Aluma Stealth fits and I like the way it sounds but the pickup is super quiet compared to the stock pickups. Upgrading the tuners was a must and that was the first thing I did with it when it arrived. I'd like to use Fishman but no battery route.
If U haven't resolved this try using an EMG ES 918. It's an external power supply used in place of an internal battery. Should work with other active brands as well.
I have that same guitar. It has some dead spots and I can't get the action lower than 2.5mm at the 12th. I don't dislike it though, and am planning to level the frets, crown them and polish them. I think with my skill level I could get it to around 1.75mm on the 12th fret
For the price I couldn't care less that the finish of the guitar isn't perfect and you can see the different bits of wood through the paint. It's the kind of guitar I'd buy and chuck a load of stickers all over it, and use it to experiment. Generally I think Harley Benton punch well above their weight, they have quality issues but the guitars are unbelievably cheap so it's easy to forgive the slightly lower quality.
Dang, this puts my MKH origins 7 to shame. I paid 1300 for the thing and I’m having so many issues and I’m struggling to LOVE it. Might just buy a HB 7 to fill my low tune needs
I like 7 strings, but I miss death metal. Even without blitzkrieg tempos, these low tunings sound like a chainsaw caked with mud and transform your bass-playing into merely a guitarist looking for a hired gig. Someone might say: *Okay, zoomer* . Fine. I'm a B-standard / Drop-A guy, so I'm obviously biased. I'm sometimes looking around & wishing to try a fan-fret 7, so a genuine thanks for the review and your insights.
I just bought one used. Slapped a new battery in and the pick ups distort when turned all the way up. I have to back the volume knob down some. Of this normal?
I got one a couple of years ago, and the pickups were hooooooorrible. They had no high end whatsoever and sounded like I had a low-pass filter. Replaced them with a pair of BPK War Pigs, and I *LOVE* it, also tuned to drop F.
You want a high pass filter for sure, cut everything below 20hz hard and roll the low end gradually back up until around 200hz. Once you hit that 8 string F#, this is no longer optional without sounding like a wet fart.
@@olebrumme6356 Yes and no many places like guitar center or pro audio star offer free shipping when you buy a guitar or it's around $20-30...... Not $90 🤷
@@breakdown7153 Well, when you get it shipped from another country. Hell, here it's more expensive shipping in-country, than ordering from Thomann in Germany.
@@olebrumme6356 Valid points, but still takes the guitar to a different price bracket when ordering from other sites doesn't. My comment is still applicable
@@olebrumme6356 That's why I drive 4 hours to Sweetwater whenever I want to buy a new guitar. Screw shipping. Every other time I get an instrument shipped, something goes wrong.🙄
@@olebrumme6356 he likely would have been playing a d0, which is an octave and a whole step below standard bass tuning Or, if you're a nerd, 18 ish hertz
on these budget guitars, i would personally like to see them scrap the neck pickup and just have the bridge pickup. It would mean that it would look better and also allow resources to be allocated to say better tuners, higher build quality etc, without raising the price
Get your Harley Benton R-457BK 7 String Guitar Here:
thmn.to/thoprod/410817?offid=1&affid=1582
I love the fact that even though it’s a sponsored video, they still allow you to be honest. That’s good company transparency.
probably because they still want to see how to improve their product
I have the 8 string version in white. Slapped some locking tuners and Fishman Fluence Abasi pickups on it, got it professionally set up and it's a pretty fantastic instrument for how little I paid for it. Personally I love the unfinished feeling of the back of the neck, it glides super well. By the way, the ferrules on mine also fall out. Not too bothered about it.
Any problems with the tuners? Thomann couldn't put locking tuners on them. I was so lazy and paid more to have them do it but said it was impossible to do so, same with adding a graphtec nut
That’s like a $500 upgrade
@@xNachtmahRx None whatsoever. I put in HB's own brand locking tuners and they were a drop-in replacement. They work like a charm! I also swapped the nut out for a bone one but a luthier did that for me.
@@veilofmayo1538 Lmao yeah, fairly close to that. Well worth it though. Plays and sounds as good as a lot of 1000€+ instruments.
@@static_motion fair enough, I bought a budget guitar with the same mods preinstalled and with pro setup already done but it was used. It was a lucky double bargain
Time Stamping 2:10 that dynamic riffing is sick.
Love Crystal Lake
that apollo cover at the beginning was nuts, what a great tone
Massively stoked to see some Crystal Lake. Stupidly underrated band - they're so damn good. Always happy to see them getting some love.
Yes! Especially their newest single!
They might be my favourite modern metal band
When i heard it, I was like, oh I know this well, this must be some super mainstream song lol
And they aren't too popular are they?
I have the white version with maple fretboard and all my ferrules are not glued. I'm thinking of repainting the guitar so it's a good thing !
I had to change my tuners because it would not stay in tune. Yours were fine which proves that in that price range, quality varies.
I also found the neck was a bit weird, but not bad weird. You talked about the finish but I'm wandering if it's not also the profile and even maybe the width. The lower I went was F Standard with a low .090. Didn't like it. Now I have 10-68 SIT (58 not used) from Drop G to Drop A and it's a good match. I'm sorry, I talked about string gauge, I know that it's forbidden here !
I have used this same guitar to record my band's latest album. This guitar+Horizon Devices Precision Drive+Revv Generator 120 (Red Channel)+Mesa 4x12 4FB w/ V30s and ENGL 4x12 XXL PRO in parallel. Can't go wrong.
Nice demo song choice and great review. Thinking of getting this as a backup for stage gigs, so this is super helpful
ive been waiting for you to cover this guitar! I have the 8 string version of this and it does feel great especially considering the price. Wasn't that much more expensive than the 7 string version
Im definitely wanna use this as a mod platform once I learn and play it more.
That Garza Podcast shirt, so cool you guys got to be there🙌😬!
Props to the playing. I’ve generally seen you as the “ why don’t you just play bass?” guy. You’re playing is greatly improving, looking forward to new vids.
There is an issue with this model and the r-458: the scarf jointed neck is usually made with pieces of wood with unaligned fibers/grain, which results in uneven neck warping. On my 458 (which is otherwise an almost perfect guitar) the headstock piece has warped significantly, while the other one was as straight as it gets, my guitar tech friend was baffled when he saw the condition. They've managed to fix it, but not for long, in their own words. If you're going to buy this model, my advice would be to save up a bit and get the Multiscale-7/8 model (which Andrew has also reviewed), it has a 5-piece neck that shouldn't have this issue.
That's actually good to know. Glad I read this. It's not crazy much more for the multiscale over these.
I don’t know if you’re a fan of Jackson guitars but I’d love to see a review of the X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 Multi-Scale if you ever need a suggestion on something to review, this is a guitar I’m considering as you’ve made me want an 8 string, but I want your opinion on this guitar.
i bought that exact guitar in january and it’s easily one of my favorite guitars and is my go to when writing. personally i’d highly recommend it for anyone looking to get into extended range instruments
2 hundo for a beast like that, I’ll deal with a few issues for that price.
Very surprised with how good those pickups sounded
Just ordered the white one! my first 7 string and fan fret
How'd it turn out? Do you recommend an intermediate 6 string player to pick one up?
@@tomk8350 I’m very happy with it! I would definitely recommend it for a first 7 string, I have two videos on my channel of me playing it if you wanna check out!
LOL THE GUITAR HERO
You forgot:
Omerta
512
Now You've Got Something to Die For
What I've Become
One Gun
Still Echoes
Set to Fail
Actually just ordered the white version of this guitar, and after hearing your demo, I'm absolutely stoked for when it gets here.
How'd it turn out?
@@tomk8350 really good honestly! Has great tone and plays really smoothly. It's my first 7 String and I'm pretty happy with it and hoping to upgrade it a bit in the future
@@shadowstryfe wow that's really incredible to hear! I've been on the fence about getting this guitar thinking the 27" multiscale was too good to be true. Was there any things that needed fixing out of the box?
@@tomk8350 the only thing I can think of was the corner of the nut on the high string side felt a little sharp on my hand when I would play on the first fret, other than that I really had no complaints with it. Works great on both actual amps and amp Sims too. Been using it to record one of my next songs
@@shadowstryfe alright thx for the update. I'll definitely get one in the coming weeks.
Lmao the first time I restrung my Harley Benton 8 string, two of the ferrules fell out and I lost them and had to wait like a month to finish restringing it
Great work bro, what is the strings set for play drop E or drop G on this multiscale 7 strings?? I am a traditional 6 strings guy so I ignore totally what kind of strings are the best for tuning low!
If you have any advice on diameters you will help me a lot, thanks and keep up the good work!
Get a pack of 8 strings. Use the 64 gauge for your low string. May have to mess with the action at the bridge to get rid of some buzz. But it helps the string actually get picked up by the pickup and the tuning stability is a little better with the one heavy string and normal strings on the rest of the guitar. Thats my set up anyways on a jackson 7 string.
I was undecided for a few weeks between this and the Jackson JS22-7, I bought the Jackson in the end and I love it but kind of regret it a little bit now.
i hate the Jackson neck joint
@@tusharjamwal that is a weak part I agree 😀 I’m not a big solo guy so it doesn’t bother me, other than I like it but it is nearly double the price of the HB so it makes me wonder.
@@ADAMBLAZEVICI've been eyeballing the JS22-7 for awhile now. Just found these sold in the US so it's much cheaper than overseas. I'm a rhythm guy myself, but I still want a multiscale. Might have to go the HB route then!
Basswood is also used on many prestige model guitars. It isn't some cheap crappy type of wood. It is used because it has very little grain figuring which makes it great for painting. Also it is an excellent wood for carving.,
what strings do u have on?
Just a heads up, it has 7 scale lengths not 2. Thanks for what you do.
I have the Jackson JS22-7 and I haven't changed anything on it. It's a 25.5 in scale which isn't the greatest, but I've made it work.
JS22-7 is 26.5" I thought?
@@absence7445 Is it? I'm quite new to guitar, so I didn't really check. It is my first guitar though, so...
Confirmed 26.5. I have that one too.
man really just covered the entirety of apollo just to demo a guitar, what a legend
lets gooo apollo is such a good song omg
I have the 8 and guitar is great mines the ffb finish. The only downside is the passive pickups. Besides that wiring was a little shotty and a setup was needed besides that it’s my fav guitar
I've been looking at this 7-string model for a while to get myself into the world of extended range. def will have to buy it now!!! (using the affiliate link of course)
I've been playing Evertune for so long long that now every guitar without it sounds out of tune. A multiscale Evertune would just be amazing. This seems like a great beginner guitar for the money, though.
What caliber 7 string you use?
... i bought me the 8string version for practising ff till i get my HAPAS Kayser ... its so much more than an exercising one
The unfiltered joy of watching Andrew rip Crystal Lake riffs
Of course the clean sounds here are a bit skewed by the shimmery reverb. You probably ought to have used either a more dry sound, or a more traditional sounding verb to give a more accurate representation of how the pickups sound.
DAMN THIS MIX SOUNDS NASTY I LOVE IT
I have this guitar.
If I were to change pickups would I need an 8 string set or 7?
I love my HB 7 string. I'm in the market for better pickups. The Lace Aluma Stealth fits and I like the way it sounds but the pickup is super quiet compared to the stock pickups. Upgrading the tuners was a must and that was the first thing I did with it when it arrived. I'd like to use Fishman but no battery route.
If U haven't resolved this try using an EMG ES 918. It's an external power supply used in place of an internal battery. Should work with other active brands as well.
@@DaLawn I had not seen this! This legit looks like exactly what I want. Thank you!
I have that same guitar. It has some dead spots and I can't get the action lower than 2.5mm at the 12th. I don't dislike it though, and am planning to level the frets, crown them and polish them. I think with my skill level I could get it to around 1.75mm on the 12th fret
that sounds fuckin gorgeous for drop f on a 7
Does it handle double drop D# ? Or is it better to use pitcher from drop F to D#
For the price I couldn't care less that the finish of the guitar isn't perfect and you can see the different bits of wood through the paint. It's the kind of guitar I'd buy and chuck a load of stickers all over it, and use it to experiment.
Generally I think Harley Benton punch well above their weight, they have quality issues but the guitars are unbelievably cheap so it's easy to forgive the slightly lower quality.
Ur sound and tone with an Harley Benton 🥶 Im jealous 😭
cool but what did u use for tone in tone clips?
Neural DSP Archetype Gojira for heavy, Plini for cleans/leads
@@BaenaCarcosa sounds awesome. Can you give us presets?
yeah the string barrels all came right out on mine :p
Andrew, the guitar is a tad bit out of tune, I'm guessing calibration issues? I like it, will probably get the 7 and 8 string versions
Dang, this puts my MKH origins 7 to shame. I paid 1300 for the thing and I’m having so many issues and I’m struggling to LOVE it. Might just buy a HB 7 to fill my low tune needs
What issues? Mine plays great! Just curious…
I like 7 strings, but I miss death metal. Even without blitzkrieg tempos, these low tunings sound like a chainsaw caked with mud and transform your bass-playing into merely a guitarist looking for a hired gig. Someone might say: *Okay, zoomer* . Fine. I'm a B-standard / Drop-A guy, so I'm obviously biased. I'm sometimes looking around & wishing to try a fan-fret 7, so a genuine thanks for the review and your insights.
Locking tuners do help with tuning stability though…I think you got that one wrong.
Great sound on the amp
The bevel cuts remind me of the schecter Km 7
I just bought one used. Slapped a new battery in and the pick ups distort when turned all the way up. I have to back the volume knob down some. Of this normal?
Lol, which version did you get? The guitar andrew is reviewing is passive
Is this using a Neural DSP Plugin?
I got one a couple of years ago, and the pickups were hooooooorrible. They had no high end whatsoever and sounded like I had a low-pass filter. Replaced them with a pair of BPK War Pigs, and I *LOVE* it, also tuned to drop F.
You put BKPs in a $200 guitar? That's badass lol
A lot of talent here.
This guitar falls in the grey zone of a first fanned fret guitar vs first 7 string, it has some potential.
The pick ups make the strings sound super dead Tbh. Not hard to fix. Cool project guitar
How do you fix that
I wanna get a 7 string so bad but I need to find a good budget one
Does he have an legator
Love that Song ❤
... ever unnoxed a Hapas one?!
The 7 String Guitar makes me think of Russia.
you gotta be poppin adderall like skittles
Cool guitar
This? Or the jackson js22-7 ?
Both, then combine them into a 14 string.
@olebrumme6356 so ppl go to answer my question, see your reply, then laugh and give it a like and never answer my question 🙃
What plugins or other effects do you use to get that djenty Chonk out of every pickup?! I must know
You want a high pass filter for sure, cut everything below 20hz hard and roll the low end gradually back up until around 200hz. Once you hit that 8 string F#, this is no longer optional without sounding like a wet fart.
@@themightymcb7310LMFAO everything sounds like a wet fart on the lowest 8
With this brand it is important to mention shipping usually adds $90. So this is actually a $300 guitar.
That goes for any guitar you need shipped.
@@olebrumme6356 Yes and no many places like guitar center or pro audio star offer free shipping when you buy a guitar or it's around $20-30...... Not $90 🤷
@@breakdown7153 Well, when you get it shipped from another country. Hell, here it's more expensive shipping in-country, than ordering from Thomann in Germany.
@@olebrumme6356 Valid points, but still takes the guitar to a different price bracket when ordering from other sites doesn't. My comment is still applicable
@@olebrumme6356 That's why I drive 4 hours to Sweetwater whenever I want to buy a new guitar. Screw shipping. Every other time I get an instrument shipped, something goes wrong.🙄
What's the lowest tuning Andrew has ever played in?
I think drop f# pitch shifted to triple drop d
@@WIKKRMUSICHow does that compare to standard tuning, on lowest bass string?
@@olebrumme6356 he likely would have been playing a d0, which is an octave and a whole step below standard bass tuning
Or, if you're a nerd, 18 ish hertz
@@WIKKRMUSIC I wonder at which point is it so low, regular people can't hear it anymore?
He pitched shifted down an octave from G#0 when he had the Agile 102730
on these budget guitars, i would personally like to see them scrap the neck pickup and just have the bridge pickup. It would mean that it would look better and also allow resources to be allocated to say better tuners, higher build quality etc, without raising the price
still getting ptsd from that high note?
Oh man haha
Every single one of these bands use 7 and 8 strings the exact same way.
clean dry samples with no fx would be helpful
Im here for the click bait
Damn! I’m early 🤠
I got the 8 string version and sent it straight back, worst guitar ive ever had the displeasure of touching hahahah
Im the ninth like
Sounds muddy.
Not the guitar, would be the amp or effects setup this guy is using
Forst ;)
Oh shyt I would never buy that rubbish