And after all, if I am asked about my hobby, I still say: I play guitar. Nobody will say: I play Gibson, Fender or PRS. By the way, I have all 3 brands, the PRS being an SE though and they are beautiful guitars! But playing other cheaper brands is the same fun (at least for hobby.players like me)!
One's wife doesn't have to be a model, your home has not to be a castle, you don't need no fancy car and millions on your bank account to lead a happy life and there're many budget guitars around to have fun and enjoy music. Keep on having fun with what you're doing, Mike!
man, I'll tell ya what. Kids and beginners these days are so lucky. They have a "choice" of great quality, very playable inexpensive guitars to choose from. When I started there wasn't much of any choices. You could buy crappy or crappier. HB and others are great bang for the buck. amazing.
I bought a real Gibson. L.P. made in the USA. I sold it. I got a made in Mexico 50th Anniversary Aztec gold model. It was worth it . Then i bought Harley Benton The guitar in this video. An H.B. GOLD TOP WITH P-90'S. It is what is what i expected my Real Gibson with hot p-90s to be. If i could afford a collection of H.B. guitars I would. I do love USA made vintage guitars. But They don't fit into my budget anymore!
@@bushcry1 I sold my les paul and bought a Strat. 50th Aniversery Aztec Gold edition. So to replace my Gibson i bought the Harley Benton Gold top with P 90 pickups. It sounds better that my Gibson did. Sorry for the confusion.
@@davidcatalano3781 Thanks for the reply! Aztec Gold is a beautiful color. I bet its more beautiful than the 75th silver color used. Hope it sounds awesome. And yes. Your comment is appreciated as I always believe there are hidden gems that put to shame over $1k guitars...
P90's originally came with 330k pots. Audio taper for volume, and linear taper for tone controls would be ideal. Typically, Harley Benton's P-90's come with 500k, which makes them sound overly bright, _in my opinion._ Pots are cheap. Try some 330k's in there. I think you'll love it even more. Alternately, you could solder 1meg resistors onto the outer pins of each pot to see if you like it. The taper will be way off, bit it should give you an idea of how the loading affects those pickups. Enjoy! 😶
@@grumpymikeguitar Oh I know! i'm over 30 years in... its just, I don't own a P-90 guitar - >at the moment< . Am happy to say, as my belt is tight, that of the dozen or so guitars required, all but a couple remain to get. I literally have, at last, a floyd-rose equipped axe on the way as we speak, leaving only a hollowbody, and a junior/special type of guitar left on the 'wanted poster'. Its been a wonderful year of acquisition, and finding channels like yours, to assist in my knowledge of what is about, and what it is like, real-world use, has been great. Anyway, apologies all these words.... Bless ya!
Harley Benton SC-450 P90 GT - bought back in 2017. More of a Copper Top than a Gold top but hey ! I quite like the copper colour so no probs there for me. A revelation! Encouraged by my first Harley Benton purchase, a lovely HB-35Plus in Vintage Burst, I decided to take a chance on an even more "affordable " model. Well, This one was even better "out of the box" than my first. Action was nice and low, no real problems at all. Pickups sound great; even better with the poles raised a bit. Pros Sounds great. These P90s are strong and sound just like they should. Looks sweet. No flaws in the finish. Setup was spot on, even with a string gauge change all I needed to do was adjust the intonation. Crazy low price!!! Cons - not much It came with 9s on it, not the 10s I was expecting. I put a set of EXL110s on immediately. Thomann set me a replacement set of 10s later. Nice one Thomann 8^) Fret ends needed a bit of rounding off, not a great problem. A little bit of rattliness in the TOM bridge. Previously I've had to jam stuff (cardboard , fishing line) in there with other guitars to sort that one out but with this one all it needed was a little drop of Loctite Blue here and there; rattles gone. If you've been wanting to savour that P90 experience I can highly recommend this guitar. If you can find one ...
Hey Mike, I'm rich from Florida I just received my Harley Benton SC450P90GT. Comparing notes with yours I had two finish issues. the tuners were completely inadequate needed to be replaced. My bridgepost bushings were pressed completely into the body. However mine did come with a severe neck bow which was easily fixed. I have to agree with you disappointed in the dime sized pots. I ended up having to relevel about 8 frets. The nut i think is ok i just used some string lube. Its a player and a looker. Ixdecided to buy thus because i wanted p90 guitar. Thought i would buy this on the cheap then upgrade. Nah, I like this. 3 of my friends are them now. Lol. Keep playing man Take it light.
Saved the best for last! Looks great, sounds great and you like the way it plays and feels. Sounds like a keeper. Like you said, name on headstock doesn’t matter as long it inspires you.
The middle position of 2 P90's clean is a sweet spot and I've never really been a P90's guy. I'm going for the SC-Special TV Yellow instead, Amaranth fretboard, all solid Mahogany, Alnico 5 Pups instead of ceramic, smaller 12 in. radius fretboard and 15:1 gear ratio tuners. Great detailed review on all your vids, keep it up!
Bought same guitar and love it. Needed some set up but the bridge pup with blues drive and some crunch sounds awesome. My goto even owning Gibson,fender.
Was browsing review channels and landed here, fortunately. Really like your analysis and style. Plus we are close in age and that's refreahing.lol Really enjoyed, have a great day. SUBBED!
I just got a used one of these, because I wanted a Les Paul Goldtop w/P-90s. The color shade is a little off, but better than the Epiphone sparkley goldtops. The pickups sound great and it plays better than my 2017 Gibson Tribute Goldtop (with Humbuckers), that I sold because I didn't like the slim neck, though that goldtop shade was great. This Harley Benton (first one I've ever touched) is a great guitar. I use it mostly without heavy distortion because it gets too noisy. Great clean to slight bite tones with the treble bleeds I installed.
Mike, I'm glad you found this one! I still stick with my Tele style guitars, but finding a guitar that you like is VERY important! I think people worry too much about their guitar's makeups, and not feeling the sheer pleasure of it!
That is the main point I hope folks will take away from this video. It really isn't about what it says on the headstock, or how much you payed for it. Does it inspire you? Does it make you want to play it? Can you bond with it? These are the really important things.
Get yourself a SC custom and you will be blown away! I don't like the fretboard colour on the new version 2 SC custom. The first version was a dark roasted maple. All mahogany Roswell alnico 5 humbuckers bone nut and Grover Tuners! I think I paid £170ish 3 years ago as a backup for my Les Paul standard. I loved the Matt black look so much it ended up being my most gigged guitar of 2018! As for strings the Harley Benton value strings are my now go to string! At around £1.50 a set it's amazing.
ok you just stirred the pot here. This was the first geetar I wanted from HB but it was always out of stock so I bought others. You answered a lot of the outstanding things for me. Oh looky it's in stock!!!!!! !#@$!@ @Grumpy Mike!!! Really awesome review/demo. Thanks for that. Be well................
i bought this guitar allmost 10 years ago, its a keeper, for shure. i have Gibsons and all the other stuff too, but this one is very close to my heart. i use it for jazz, the sound of those P90 is just awesome .i got two more guitars from Harley Benton, the quality is way beyond the price
@@kevinosullivan1456 Yes, its the same thickness, and just as heavy .a 50's beefy neck, that adds tons of sustain to it. but of course i dont know how its made today, mine has the original Gibson cutaway, the new ones dont , Gibson seems to have the patent for that, so Harley Benton changed it .
I like your phrase "nothin to write home about", I've never heard it before. Well English isn't my mother tongue. But it's a phrase I'll remember. Only this phrase was worth watching your vid. greetings from Austria!
Grumpy - your story matches mine to a "T". I never had any Wow Factor for the Gold Top. But I very much wanted a Les Paul with P90s. The H.B. color options were in black and in gold, as you probably know already. Already have an L.P. in black, so the gold was what was left. I think the white with the gold is stunning and the epitome of a retro look. So happy with my choice. (My 1st Harley Benton but not my last). Take care and thanks for listening!!
I love basswood personally. It doesn't make you think vintage alder or ash strat or mahogany Les Paul, but Eddie Van Halen preferred basswood and it makes for a super light guitar. At this point I kind've prefer basswood because it's cheap and abundant and I think when it comes down to it, wood types both for the neck and body don't actually make a difference when it comes to tone. Owned too many guitars with too many wood types and too many types of finishes. I think that's a mental thing. Fullness of tone is all in the setup (pickup height etc) and the quality of the electronics, bridge and nut. It always helps to have an amp and speaker cab that you absolutely love as well.
I did a close eye test and who can tell the difference between a $150 HB AND A $6800 LP? Keep in mind and not counting in inflation bit the price for a 1950s Gibson for under $200 back then with the tech and electronics compared to 2020 technology with these newer amps and EQ setting I can't tell the difference. It's the same with wanting to live in a $200 million mansion and what you're living in now andcan afford in the next 40 years you make do with what you have and modify accordingly to make things nicer for yourself. Great video and I enjoy your honesty in this video. I'm sold. I was looking at this vs an Epiphone Casino. This will give me a similar sound as John Lennon's Casino.
Ah! I'm new to TH-cam and I uploaded a video of me playing this self-same guitar last week.. 2 Harley Bentons actually. Nice to meet you, cool channel. Subbed and liked.
I'm really impressed with my HB 90 FLT Tele and I'm really liking the look of this one. Can't believe it is so inexpensive, and P90 pickups are just the best! Thanks for the review. Also, you're completely right about the difference between in the past and now. When I managed to get my first decent guitar in the mid-80s, I think I paid £260 for an Ibanez Blazer. From memory this was a fair bit cheaper than buying a Fender, which was beyond my means. You would have been hard pressed to find a decent guitar for under £200 then, and that is without inflation conversion.
@@grumpymikeguitar Anything from the SC line, I like the look of there Single p90 DC junior. The thing that's keeping me from buying is the really flat radius on the boards but the DC is closer to a normal 12" radius. What do you recommend and how did you get along with the fretboard radius?. Cheers. Kenny.
I don't think you can go wrong with the DC Jr. The P90s HB usess sound quite good. I don't think they can be beat for the price. I'm not a fan of really flat fretboard either. However, I bonded immediately with the neck and fretboard on the SC 450 GT. Seriously, one of my favorite guitars.
@@grumpymikeguitar I think I'll hot the DC junior first then try out the SC450. From all the information I've gathered from guys like yourself I think I will be pleased and if not Thomann have a great returns policy. Look forward to more of your videos Mike. Thank 👍
When I got out of high school I worked in a music shop and Harley Bentons for under $200 feel, sound and play better than I remember $500+ Epiphones and low end Gibsons did in the 90's. It's a lot harder to compare now given 90's era guitars will be played in nicely, most don't have all original hardware etc but I do feel like the HB SC models seem better than new 90's era "budget" guitars that cost a hell of a lot more. I distinctly remember wanting a gold top and trying out (almost daily) the Gibson LP gold tops we had in stock and feeling like the Epiphone version just felt like crap by comparison. It had sharp fret ends, a few high frets and the finish was far from perfect. I wish we had access to things like this when I started out with Guitar, I definitely would have had an easier time learning with something that didn't have a 1cm high action at the 12th and pickups that had more hum than output. That shoddy hunk of scrap wood cost me over $200 and a further $150 in setup and parts and it still played like hot garbage.
I agree. The quality of budget (beginner) guitars have come a long way. I think guitars as a whole have gotten better. We live in a great time to be a player. So many toys (affordable toys), so little time.
I've been looking at these guitars for quite some time now. Would love to try one. Great vid as always. Keep em coming. Very down to earth. My hats off to you sir on another great job.
Hi Mike! I just got this less than a week ago. I actually love it. I am of the same mind with a Gold Top. Never really cared if I had one. Again I love this guitar tho. It’s got some fierce competition in my house. I’ve got 4 of its big bros. And not Epps. I bought this for the P90s. 99% satisfied. Same as you I don’t love the switch. It will be the first to go. But yeah it’s great otherwise, no set up necessary. Only thing is now i just ordered a CST 24. We will have to see where this journey ends! Great vids! Peace.
NICE!!! I'm glad you're enjoying it. I hope you will like the CST just as much. I think I am liking mine a lot more now that I have it dialed in for my own preferences. Not going to do anything else to it, though. I have to wait and see if it will be the one I give away. Thanks for watching. Take care.
@@grumpymikeguitar Got the 24 today! Love it!! B Stock. No idea why honestly. I have an idea or theory. Let me know what u think. These “ B Stock” guitars. I wonder if they have a bit of extra attention given to them. Because they( I think) come back for one reason or another and would need to be looked at closely in order to ensure they are good enough to sell. So just that alone makes me think they get almost “ special” attention. What do you think? But yeah I got the Paradise Flame. Ahh man she’s a beaut!!
I've had mine for about 10 months. Good deal, and for the price expect some flaws. That being said it's a keeper for me. Tone pot was loose, fretboard was dry. And the body/wood wasn't as dried as long as it should've been. Minor but expect the finish on the back to reflect this after a season or 2. It's only on the back so far, I can live with it. And boy is that neck beefy. Took a while to get used too.
Yup, I can't disagree with your assessment, but I really do love this guitar. As for the neck, it took no getting used to for me. It is very much like what I've always been used to. It's thin Ibanez wizard type necks that I have a hard time with. Surprising because I have relatively small hands. Still, I love chunky necks and I can not lie. 😂
Glad you like the guitar, Grumpy. I'm starting to think that color doesn't really matter, or that guitars just grow on us. I recently bought a guitar from a friend that had a color I did not like. After a few days, the color didn't bother me, and now I like it. Crazy. Keep up the good work.
Indeed, if the guitar truly speaks to you, if it inspires you, if it makes you excited to play it, that is the most important thing. However, I can't deny, sometimes just the way a guitar looks can inspire you to play it, so ther is that. Anyway, thanks for the kind words. Be good.
Hey Mike! Nice demo/review of this HB! I don't play Les Paul style guitars, so I have no idea about the bushings...are they like that because of the carve in the top? The inside edge looks flush while the outer edge seems to be raised up. I have that Gibson SG, but it's flat on top, so everything is flush; that's the only guitar I own with a T.O.M bridge. 🐰❤️🎸🎵🤝✌️
Both of the LP style guitars I bought had this issue I might have been a little worse on the gold top, but not sure. I didn't measure on the other one before correcting it.
for the price its awesome. But for everyone who wants 1 guitar that has it all then you should check out harley benton custom II split coil version (with floyd rose 1000 or not is your choice) or Fusion series from harley benton.
I do intend to get a Fusion II, however, it is important to note that I am not a fan of Floyd's. Although, I might consider giving them another chance.
@@grumpymikeguitar I have one of the first gen fusions with maple fretboard, HH and the Floyd 1000. It is and was since I got it, one of my favorite guitars. In fact it was what got me hooked on the HBs. I also have the TE70 Black Paisley and after a set of locking tuners is a fantabulous piece of work. Great video and I hit the sub button.
Hey Mike, I got myself a G&L Tele with P90's about 3 months ago and it had more issues than your HB including the bridge stud's not seated. That guitar cost me nearly three times as much and I was really disappointed with it. I'm selling the G&L and ordering one of these beauties. Great review 👍
Sorry to hear that about your G&L. I'm a bit surprised by that. I've always heard good things about them. I hope you have better luck with the H.B. Just be prepare to have it set up. Of course, that should go for any guitar, right?
I can't really comment on the Firefly. I may pick one up, but as of yet, I haven't tried one. I can say, however, this HB Goldtop is still one of my favorites. I play it quite a bit.
It would be nice if everyone could get the same quality guitar I bought this guitar from Tom and because of all of the nice ones they sent to TH-camrs. The general public gets away different experience
Just hit the sub...waiting on mine to show up...not sure why ur vids showed up... been searching for vids a year now. Did pull the trigger and been waiting kinda patiently. Nice vid. Take care
@@grumpymikeguitar yeah no worries. I actually purchased a tele neck just recently with a blackwood fretboard. Look up blackwood tec and you'll find the info. I really dig it!
Ok, after doing g a little checking, it would seem that Blackwood TEK is a specific brand named product, kind of like Richlite. The specs on this guitar list blackwood as the material, not Blackwood TEK. It may be possible that it actually is Blackwood TEK, but it doesn't say that. I am more inclined to believe that the fretboard on this HB is in fact one of the species listed, and not the Blackwood TEK material. Of course, that is just my speculation. I could be entirely wrong.
@@grumpymikeguitar yeah they could be more specific about this. It seems this world has 2 kinds of blackwood. All I know is that when I got in touch with the dealer that sold me my tele neck, he said that blackwood was wood that was made dark and hard by technology. I could choose between Blackwood and Rosewood, but I was so intrugued by the whole technology thing I just had to try it :)
Yup, who knows if any of this stuff is actually what they say it is. Ultimately, as long as it plays and feels and sounds good, it doesn't really matter what it is. All I know is that I do really like this guitar. That's the only thing I care about. Anyway, thanks for watching the video and for the interaction. I hope you will continue to stay in touch. Be good
Jep, it's not a bad guitar! It comes out of the same Chinese factory like Vintage guitars! The Quality of these gutars (not all kinds! ) is now as good as chinas Epiphones, but much cheaper!
I was at a guitar store to buy a $400 squire jazz master. The guy said “I’ll sell you this Harley Benton Lea Paul for $150 lol” and then plugged it in and let me play it. I bought it immediately. He had an epiphone Les Paul as well and the Harley sounded a hundred times better and had better finish quality. These guitars cannot be beaten for the price. I’d buy one all day long over a squire or epiphone- and I’d choose it over a lot of actual Fender and Gibson models.👍
Yes, the Harley Bentons are a fantastic guitar for the money. However, the new Epi's seem to be really good. My SG Special looks, plays, and sounds surprisingly good. The electronics are far superior as well as the tuning machines. I realize it cost more, but may, in the end, prove to be more reliable. That said, congrats on the New Giitar Day. Enjoy and be good. 🤘🎸😎
@@grumpymikeguitar yes, the tuners can use a better replacement, but for my skill the rest of fantasic. It’s so awesome that good guitars no longer require a bank loan to buy👍
@@grumpymikeguitar forgot to add: the tone controls on this guitar are way to much. It goes from clear to muddy with zero in between. Definitely needs another different capacitor value instead of whatever comes stock.
Thanks for checking out the video. I'm glad you liked it. Both of the paintings behind me are original pieces by a New York based artist named Leviticus.
I got 2 te 52 HB Teles. One moded with humbs and another that I left as is. A DC Custom and am waiting for a couple of their basses (jazz bass and a fretless). A lot of instrument for little money. Have to pick their SC special too... 🤔
Nice review..honest .not over the top but i take your choice of the 4 LesPauls...but i was leaning that way myself..but thorough job ..im subd and wsiting ..when the 3 o of LPs gets up for winning..i'm definately in fir that dude..See ye then.😎🙌🙏
Although there were a few flaws, I'm quite serious when I say this is still one of my favorite guitars. I still play it quite often and have been considering doing a follow-up video about it. Possibly the best bang for the buck I spent money on.
I bought 3 Harley Bentons and they are great for the money, but I had just plugged in the DC-580 CH Vintage Series Cherry (SG copy) and it is totally dead. I know it is my problem that I let it set for 2 months without playing it but still I am miffed. I guess I will have to have it looked at and pay the piper!
Grumpy , but Honest Mike. You can always sand off the gold and go for Fender's shoreline gold...really metallic sand. And, Mike can actually play! Who would have known????
Ya know, over time, I've really come to appreciate the hold top. Still not my favorite, but I've already bonded with this guitar and I'm not planning on changing anything except the pups.
Just remember, as with all budget guitars, quality control can be hit or miss. I got a really good one. Your mileage may vary. I hope you love the one you get as much as I do mine.
Hey this is great! Great thorough honest reivew! You know what? I was getting ready to order this guitar!! So do you really recommend it! I know don't expect anything like an Epiphone and a Gibson! But I like that classic twang sound of a Tele and I need a P90 guitar!
I absolutely recommend this guitar. I can only vouch for the one I received, but I absolutely love it. The build quality is on par with almost every Epiphone I've ever played, and, for me, it is just a ton of fun to play. You really can't go wrong with P90's. Even the cheap ones seem to sound delightful. The best part is that the price tag seals the deal. The only downside, depending on where you live, is waiting on shipping. Please let me know if you do get it. I would love to hear what you think of it.
great looking guitar like the gold some folks are to pick e. I won't care as long ever thing works .been trying to get enough money to buy one to play gospel music.
One detail no one ever talks about is the thickness of the neck, not the shape just the thickness, not even the specs from factory and that hold true from every brand.
Sorry it took so long, but I did measure. The HB is 1.75" thick and my Gibson is 2" I must admit to being a little surprised because they didn't seem to feel that different, but now that I've measured, I can feel it slightly.
I like them all, but I seem to have bonded with the gold top. I have really enjoyed playing that one. Thanks for the sub. Stay tuned, I have a Squier video coming soon.
Hey, I love your channel. The guitar is on its way. I am in New York City. From Germany I don't know it get here. Let me ask you which Harley Benton Humbucker have you had and can recommend for Classic Hard Rock sounds? I play a lot of Classic Hard Rock. Think of Zeppelin, Stones, Beatles, AC/DC, Greenday, Allman Brothers, Skynyrd, some Metallica. That kind of sound. A friend of mine recommended the SC-550. Can I please get your opinion? Thank you.
I think the SC 550 would serve you well, but before you pull the trigger on that, take a look at the SC Custom II. You might find that one also be a consideration.
If you don't mind, the neck width specs are the same as on the other Harley Benton that you reviewed, the SC-450 plus. If you remember you've told me that the neck width at the nut on the SC -450 is 41.9mm, is the same on this one too?
I been looking for a nice but not paying my life saveings for one LP. I might just try a HB or mabey get lucky and win the one your going to give away. That would be awesome. And I just subscribed by the way.
Hi Mike, got the guitar, SC-450 P90. Really cool guitar! It's got great hi-end. However, I do have some thoughts! It's a keeper for sure, but the volume is low. I have to really crank up the amp model on my Helix Line 6. It does go out of tune, a little bit. I wish the pickups would be a little louder. The high end is great, However the low end, the low bass notes a little muddy. Yes, I know this a $150 -$200, I wasn't expecting alot. It plays well. I had to tune it up, obviously. Also, since it is not a humbucker guitar, it doesn't have a whole lotta output. If I do some upgrades and a setup I'm sure it would help right? Maybe upgrade the pots, the electronics, a different nut, and pickups. I don't know what of find P90 pickups I could replace those with? or If I should raise the pickups. 90% of the time I'm always on the bridge pickup. Can I please have your thoughts.
First, congrats on the new guitar. Whereas, the P90s in my HB don't have quite as much output as the humbuckers, I didn't find the difference to be that significant. I would warn against using a helix as a reference amp. I believe there is great potential to be led astray. Nothing replaces having nothing but the guitar and a physical amp with nothing in-between for that purpose. As for replacement pups, I would advise to search for as many demos and see (or hear) if any jump out at you. After all, it is your ears that you are seeking to please. Just keep in mind, you're putting them in a $150 guitar. Don't spend too much on them. In fact, you might want to see if you can find a good set of used pups. As for tuning, it may need a day or two to adjust to a new environment. My HB's took the better part of 2 weeks to settle in. Also, I can almost guarantee that the nut is gonna need a bit of attention. Overall, though, with any new guitar, I recommend to have it setup (I don't know how much you are comfortable with doing yourself, but this is a perfect guitar for you to expand your skills on). The setup has made a huge difference on all of my HBs. Oh yeah, there's also the fact that LP style guitars aren't exactly known for tuning stability. Enjoy the new guitar and, as always, be good.
BTW did you ever find out what the nut is? I can’t tell. Maybe I should be able to but I dunno. When I pick at it it doesn’t FEEL plastic.. that’s as scientific as I get.
I want to say it's synthetic bone or at least that what I remember seeing on the product specs when I bought it. By the time I did the video, those specs seemed to ha been changed a bit which is what caused me to wonder. But, if I had to guess, I would say it a Graphtec style nut.
I mean, if you have a link to Thomann, then it seems to me that you want to point out the flaws first. Also, it would be nice to know if you are going to give a thorough review in the beginning.
For the record, I linked to it because I knew there would be someone who would ask for one. I do apologize if the order in which I covered the pros and cons of this guitar was not to your liking. I would like to think my videos have somewhat improved over the last 3+ years since this one was posted, and am always seeking further improvement. I promise, I'll try to do a better job meeting your approval in the future. BTW, I still have this guitar and play it frequently. I like it a lot. Thus far, I have left it stock, although, I am planning a pickup swap in the near future.
@@grumpymikeguitar Well I hope you don't give a review that's too much to my liking, because then no one else would watch your channel, and then I would never know if the bridge pins are set correctly on a Harley Benton guitar. I don't think the Guitar Geek, Pauly Henning, Guitar Max, 60 Cycle, Daryl Braun, The Captain or even Pete Horne will tell me that.
Pauly Henning? 🤣 Seriously, if you don't like my videos, please feel free to move along. I'm just and average schmuck who's played a bunch of guitars over the years. I make these videos in my spare time just because I enjoy doing it when I can. BTW, I'd love to check out some of your videos. Please send a link.
@@grumpymikeguitar I was just making light of the situation and giving you a compliment for letting people know about the bridge pins, and listening to criticism. I was implying that your review, in that sense, was better than the others. And I think that is true. Those other reviewers have never told me anything physically wrong with any guitar they have reviewed. Maybe they have once but most of the time they don't. And still their channels are quite popular.
@@valueofnothing2487 I absolutely apologize if I misread your intent. It just goes to show how easy it is to perceive something that isn't really there. Truth is, I'm still struggling with how to best format review videos. It's difficult communicate all of the details, thoughts, and opinions while keeping the video short enough to hold people's attention. Nevertheless, I'm really happy to know I was wrong about your comment. I hope you will accept my apology. BTW, the guys from those other channels are very good at what they do. I have learned a lot from each of them. If I am able to point out some small yet significant detail that they omitted, I count that as a success. It motivates me to look deeper for details that others might miss. My ultimate goal is to be as honest and informative as I can. Again, I'm sorry I misunderstood.
Great vids thanks. With the bridge bushings - is the reason that the bushings aren't in all the way because it's an archtop and one side of a bushing will go in all the way but because of the curve the other side is still out? How would you fix that?
You are correct in that there will be exposure on the low side of an archtop. Both of the HB LP's i got had about a millimeter of exposure on the hight side. It was easily fixable and neither have since pulled back out.
Mine is really good. The problem, however, is that mass produced guitars in this price range, consistency can be an issue. That said, I've heard more good things from other folks than bad stuff. I think they are well worth what they cost.
@@grumpymikeguitar That's the compromise they had to make to get the price down. Cutting down on the QC. For us in Europe (or just outside it now😉), returns to Thomann are no problem, and Free. Elsewhere it's more hassle, and costs apparently. You could find a Brand made at the same factory but where higher QC scrutiny was part of the contract. Everyone was wondering when Thomann were going set up a USA warehouse, kind of like what HobbyKing does with radio-control stuff. Who knows what agreements are made behind closed doors ... ?
I’m a bit confused, the Thomann website states that the colour of the backside of this guitar is transparent red, whereas the guitar in the video appears to have a rather dark backside. Is it just a lighting thing is or is it not as red as it seems on the pictures?
I bought the SC-450 Plus HB for a friend's sons birthday it should arrive today he has been playing for two years. I hope he enjoys it. I'll spring for the tuner and nut upgrade if it needs it but you have me things to look out for on that particular guitar. I'm more of a banjo man myself. Thanks.
I much prefer having 4 different $250 guitars than 1 for $1,000.
And after all, if I am asked about my hobby, I still say: I play guitar. Nobody will say: I play Gibson, Fender or PRS. By the way, I have all 3 brands, the PRS being an SE though and they are beautiful guitars! But playing other cheaper brands is the same fun (at least for hobby.players like me)!
One's wife doesn't have to be a model, your home has not to be a castle, you don't need no fancy car and millions on your bank account to lead a happy life and there're many budget guitars around to have fun and enjoy music. Keep on having fun with what you're doing, Mike!
man, I'll tell ya what. Kids and beginners these days are so lucky. They have a "choice" of great quality, very playable inexpensive guitars to choose from. When I started there wasn't much of any choices. You could buy crappy or crappier. HB and others are great bang for the buck. amazing.
I bought a real Gibson. L.P. made in the USA. I sold it. I got a made in Mexico 50th Anniversary Aztec gold model. It was worth it . Then i bought Harley Benton The guitar in this video. An H.B. GOLD TOP WITH P-90'S. It is what is what i expected my Real Gibson with hot p-90s to be. If i could afford a collection of H.B. guitars I would. I do love USA made vintage guitars. But They don't fit into my budget anymore!
What 50th anniversary model?
@@bushcry1 I sold my les paul and bought a Strat. 50th Aniversery Aztec Gold edition. So to replace my Gibson i bought the Harley Benton Gold top with P 90 pickups. It sounds better that my Gibson did. Sorry for the confusion.
@@davidcatalano3781 Thanks for the reply! Aztec Gold is a beautiful color. I bet its more beautiful than the 75th silver color used. Hope it sounds awesome. And yes. Your comment is appreciated as I always believe there are hidden gems that put to shame over $1k guitars...
@@bushcry1 yes the strat has the tex-mex hot pickups like the ones Jimmie Vaughn likes. It sounds like Texas!
P90's originally came with 330k pots. Audio taper for volume, and linear taper for tone controls would be ideal.
Typically, Harley Benton's P-90's come with 500k, which makes them sound overly bright, _in my opinion._
Pots are cheap. Try some 330k's in there. I think you'll love it even more.
Alternately, you could solder 1meg resistors onto the outer pins of each pot to see if you like it. The taper will be way off, bit it should give you an idea of how the loading affects those pickups.
Enjoy!
😶
some kinda p-90 is one of the few guitars left on me hit-list... great review mate. Big Love from the UK
I can see a Voodoo-Octave behind you... ppl hate that pedal. I love it! Pure chaos and filth!
Careful, P90's can be addictive.
@@grumpymikeguitar Oh I know! i'm over 30 years in... its just, I don't own a P-90 guitar - >at the moment< . Am happy to say, as my belt is tight, that of the dozen or so guitars required, all but a couple remain to get. I literally have, at last, a floyd-rose equipped axe on the way as we speak, leaving only a hollowbody, and a junior/special type of guitar left on the 'wanted poster'. Its been a wonderful year of acquisition, and finding channels like yours, to assist in my knowledge of what is about, and what it is like, real-world use, has been great. Anyway, apologies all these words.... Bless ya!
Harley Benton SC-450 P90 GT - bought back in 2017.
More of a Copper Top than a Gold top but hey ! I quite like the copper colour so no probs there for me.
A revelation!
Encouraged by my first Harley Benton purchase, a lovely HB-35Plus in Vintage Burst, I decided to take a chance on an even more "affordable " model.
Well, This one was even better "out of the box" than my first.
Action was nice and low, no real problems at all.
Pickups sound great; even better with the poles raised a bit.
Pros
Sounds great. These P90s are strong and sound just like they should.
Looks sweet. No flaws in the finish.
Setup was spot on, even with a string gauge change all I needed to do was adjust the intonation.
Crazy low price!!!
Cons - not much
It came with 9s on it, not the 10s I was expecting. I put a set of EXL110s on immediately.
Thomann set me a replacement set of 10s later. Nice one Thomann 8^)
Fret ends needed a bit of rounding off, not a great problem.
A little bit of rattliness in the TOM bridge. Previously I've had to jam stuff (cardboard , fishing line) in there with other guitars to sort that one out but with this one all it needed was a little drop of Loctite Blue here and there; rattles gone.
If you've been wanting to savour that P90 experience I can highly recommend this guitar.
If you can find one ...
No problem finding one, they're in stock atm, I ordered one yesterday 🤘🤘
@@williambelford9661 Aye, for a long time they weren't available.
Good to see they're back 👍
Some great guitars from HB... Looking to get one of these 450 P90 GT's (and a HB35 Lemon drop 😀) when back in stock. Thanks for the considered review.
Hey Mike, I'm rich from Florida I just received my Harley Benton SC450P90GT. Comparing notes with yours I had two finish issues. the tuners were completely inadequate needed to be replaced. My bridgepost bushings were pressed completely into the body. However mine did come with a severe neck bow which was easily fixed. I have to agree with you disappointed in the dime sized pots. I ended up having to relevel about 8 frets. The nut i think is ok i just used some string lube. Its a player and a looker. Ixdecided to buy thus because i wanted p90 guitar. Thought i would buy this on the cheap then upgrade. Nah, I like this. 3 of my friends are them now. Lol. Keep playing man
Take it light.
How low did you get your action on yours
Sounds great Mike! I have other Harley Bentons but got to try my friend's SC-450 recently... now I need one too :)
Saved the best for last! Looks great, sounds great and you like the way it plays and feels. Sounds like a keeper. Like you said, name on headstock doesn’t matter as long it inspires you.
The middle position of 2 P90's clean is a sweet spot and I've never really been a P90's guy. I'm going for the SC-Special TV Yellow instead, Amaranth fretboard, all solid Mahogany, Alnico 5 Pups instead of ceramic, smaller 12 in. radius fretboard and 15:1 gear ratio tuners. Great detailed review on all your vids, keep it up!
I think you are making a great choice. I'm sure you will love it.
Humility is the sign of a true gentleman... You rock sir...
Love the look of that fretboard. I'm glad it's a dark back too. I've always been a sucker for a Goldtop with black P90s.
Bought same guitar and love it. Needed some set up but the bridge pup with blues drive and some crunch sounds awesome. My goto even owning Gibson,fender.
Nice!
Was browsing review channels and landed here, fortunately. Really like your analysis and style. Plus we are close in age and that's refreahing.lol
Really enjoyed, have a great day. SUBBED!
Hi Mike. Bagged one, your review pushed me over. I love it, a great guitar at an amazing price.
Love your videos man, subbed without delay!
i assume it arrived already, do you liked it?
@@elmito2810 love it. Its a great guitar,,
I just got a used one of these, because I wanted a Les Paul Goldtop w/P-90s. The color shade is a little off, but better than the Epiphone sparkley goldtops. The pickups sound great and it plays better than my 2017 Gibson Tribute Goldtop (with Humbuckers), that I sold because I didn't like the slim neck, though that goldtop shade was great.
This Harley Benton (first one I've ever touched) is a great guitar. I use it mostly without heavy distortion because it gets too noisy. Great clean to slight bite tones with the treble bleeds I installed.
Mike, I'm glad you found this one! I still stick with my Tele style guitars, but finding a guitar that you like is VERY important! I think people worry too much about their guitar's makeups, and not feeling the sheer pleasure of it!
That is the main point I hope folks will take away from this video. It really isn't about what it says on the headstock, or how much you payed for it.
Does it inspire you? Does it make you want to play it? Can you bond with it?
These are the really important things.
Get yourself a SC custom and you will be blown away! I don't like the fretboard colour on the new version 2 SC custom. The first version was a dark roasted maple. All mahogany Roswell alnico 5 humbuckers bone nut and Grover Tuners! I think I paid £170ish 3 years ago as a backup for my Les Paul standard. I loved the Matt black look so much it ended up being my most gigged guitar of 2018! As for strings the Harley Benton value strings are my now go to string! At around £1.50 a set it's amazing.
ok you just stirred the pot here. This was the first geetar I wanted from HB but it was always out of stock so I bought others. You answered a lot of the outstanding things for me. Oh looky it's in stock!!!!!! !#@$!@ @Grumpy Mike!!! Really awesome review/demo. Thanks for that. Be well................
i bought this guitar allmost 10 years ago, its a keeper, for shure. i have Gibsons and all the other stuff too, but this one is very close to my heart. i use it for jazz, the sound of those P90 is just awesome .i got two more guitars from Harley Benton, the quality is way beyond the price
Is the body the same thickness as a gibson?
@@kevinosullivan1456 Yes, its the same thickness, and just as heavy .a 50's beefy neck, that adds tons of sustain to it. but of course i dont know how its made today, mine has the original Gibson cutaway, the new ones dont , Gibson seems to have the patent for that, so Harley Benton changed it .
Thank you Mike. I recently got the SC-DLX. Love playing the guitar after doing all the setups. My next is SC-450 P90. Keep rockin' 🤘
I have my eyes on one as soon as possible. And you can make it sound awesome thanks.
Thanks, it's still one of my favorite guitars to play.
I like your phrase "nothin to write home about", I've never heard it before. Well English isn't my mother tongue. But it's a phrase I'll remember. Only this phrase was worth watching your vid. greetings from Austria!
Grumpy - your story matches mine to a "T". I never had any Wow Factor for the Gold Top. But I very much wanted a Les Paul with P90s. The H.B. color options were in black and in gold, as you probably know already. Already have an L.P. in black, so the gold was what was left.
I think the white with the gold is stunning and the epitome of a retro look. So happy with my choice. (My 1st Harley Benton but not my last). Take care and thanks for listening!!
I just bought the same Gold top tonight , I’m super excited to see it and try it thank you for a great demo !
I love basswood personally. It doesn't make you think vintage alder or ash strat or mahogany Les Paul, but Eddie Van Halen preferred basswood and it makes for a super light guitar. At this point I kind've prefer basswood because it's cheap and abundant and I think when it comes down to it, wood types both for the neck and body don't actually make a difference when it comes to tone. Owned too many guitars with too many wood types and too many types of finishes. I think that's a mental thing. Fullness of tone is all in the setup (pickup height etc) and the quality of the electronics, bridge and nut. It always helps to have an amp and speaker cab that you absolutely love as well.
I did a close eye test and who can tell the difference between a $150 HB AND A $6800 LP? Keep in mind and not counting in inflation bit the price for a 1950s Gibson for under $200 back then with the tech and electronics compared to 2020 technology with these newer amps and EQ setting I can't tell the difference.
It's the same with wanting to live in a $200 million mansion and what you're living in now andcan afford in the next 40 years you make do with what you have and modify accordingly to make things nicer for yourself. Great video and I enjoy your honesty in this video. I'm sold. I was looking at this vs an Epiphone Casino. This will give me a similar sound as John Lennon's Casino.
Ah! I'm new to TH-cam and I uploaded a video of me playing this self-same guitar last week.. 2 Harley Bentons actually. Nice to meet you, cool channel. Subbed and liked.
Welcome and thanks for checking out the channel.
I'm really impressed with my HB 90 FLT Tele and I'm really liking the look of this one. Can't believe it is so inexpensive, and P90 pickups are just the best! Thanks for the review.
Also, you're completely right about the difference between in the past and now. When I managed to get my first decent guitar in the mid-80s, I think I paid £260 for an Ibanez Blazer. From memory this was a fair bit cheaper than buying a Fender, which was beyond my means. You would have been hard pressed to find a decent guitar for under £200 then, and that is without inflation conversion.
Ibanez Blazer owner here, one of the best guitars I own. Thinking about a harley benton but still on the fence.
Which H.B. are you looking at?
@@grumpymikeguitar Anything from the SC line, I like the look of there Single p90 DC junior. The thing that's keeping me from buying is the really flat radius on the boards but the DC is closer to a normal 12" radius. What do you recommend and how did you get along with the fretboard radius?. Cheers. Kenny.
I don't think you can go wrong with the DC Jr. The P90s HB usess sound quite good. I don't think they can be beat for the price.
I'm not a fan of really flat fretboard either. However, I bonded immediately with the neck and fretboard on the SC 450 GT. Seriously, one of my favorite guitars.
@@grumpymikeguitar I think I'll hot the DC junior first then try out the SC450. From all the information I've gathered from guys like yourself I think I will be pleased and if not Thomann have a great returns policy. Look forward to more of your videos Mike. Thank 👍
Mike,
I got the HB P90 Gold top back in January this year and have become a big big P90 fan.👍
When I got out of high school I worked in a music shop and Harley Bentons for under $200 feel, sound and play better than I remember $500+ Epiphones and low end Gibsons did in the 90's. It's a lot harder to compare now given 90's era guitars will be played in nicely, most don't have all original hardware etc but I do feel like the HB SC models seem better than new 90's era "budget" guitars that cost a hell of a lot more. I distinctly remember wanting a gold top and trying out (almost daily) the Gibson LP gold tops we had in stock and feeling like the Epiphone version just felt like crap by comparison. It had sharp fret ends, a few high frets and the finish was far from perfect.
I wish we had access to things like this when I started out with Guitar, I definitely would have had an easier time learning with something that didn't have a 1cm high action at the 12th and pickups that had more hum than output. That shoddy hunk of scrap wood cost me over $200 and a further $150 in setup and parts and it still played like hot garbage.
I agree. The quality of budget (beginner) guitars have come a long way. I think guitars as a whole have gotten better. We live in a great time to be a player. So many toys (affordable toys), so little time.
Waiting for mine to arrive by Ups ! Can't wait
I've been looking at these guitars for quite some time now. Would love to try one. Great vid as always. Keep em coming. Very down to earth. My hats off to you sir on another great job.
most responsible review person I've heard think mik6
Hi Mike! I just got this less than a week ago. I actually love it. I am of the same mind with a Gold Top. Never really cared if I had one. Again I love this guitar tho. It’s got some fierce competition in my house. I’ve got 4 of its big bros. And not Epps. I bought this for the P90s. 99% satisfied. Same as you I don’t love the switch. It will be the first to go. But yeah it’s great otherwise, no set up necessary. Only thing is now i just ordered a CST 24. We will have to see where this journey ends! Great vids!
Peace.
NICE!!! I'm glad you're enjoying it. I hope you will like the CST just as much. I think I am liking mine a lot more now that I have it dialed in for my own preferences.
Not going to do anything else to it, though. I have to wait and see if it will be the one I give away. Thanks for watching. Take care.
@@grumpymikeguitar Got the 24 today! Love it!! B Stock. No idea why honestly. I have an idea or theory. Let me know what u think. These “ B Stock” guitars. I wonder if they have a bit of extra attention given to them. Because they( I think) come back for one reason or another and would need to be looked at closely in order to ensure they are good enough to sell. So just that alone makes me think they get almost “ special” attention. What do you think?
But yeah I got the Paradise Flame. Ahh man she’s a beaut!!
I've had mine for about 10 months.
Good deal, and for the price expect some flaws. That being said it's a keeper for me.
Tone pot was loose, fretboard was dry. And the body/wood wasn't as dried as long as it should've been. Minor but expect the finish on the back to reflect this after a season or 2. It's only on the back so far, I can live with it.
And boy is that neck beefy. Took a while to get used too.
Yup, I can't disagree with your assessment, but I really do love this guitar. As for the neck, it took no getting used to for me. It is very much like what I've always been used to. It's thin Ibanez wizard type necks that I have a hard time with. Surprising because I have relatively small hands. Still, I love chunky necks and I can not lie. 😂
Glad you like the guitar, Grumpy. I'm starting to think that color doesn't really matter, or that guitars just grow on us. I recently bought a guitar from a friend that had a color I did not like. After a few days, the color didn't bother me, and now I like it. Crazy. Keep up the good work.
Indeed, if the guitar truly speaks to you, if it inspires you, if it makes you excited to play it, that is the most important thing. However, I can't deny, sometimes just the way a guitar looks can inspire you to play it, so ther is that.
Anyway, thanks for the kind words.
Be good.
Waiting for mine to arrive
I really enjoyed this comprehensive and honest review, Mike. 👍
Hey Mike! Nice demo/review of this HB!
I don't play Les Paul style guitars, so I have no idea about the bushings...are they like that because of the carve in the top? The inside edge looks flush while the outer edge seems to be raised up.
I have that Gibson SG, but it's flat on top, so everything is flush; that's the only guitar I own with a T.O.M bridge.
🐰❤️🎸🎵🤝✌️
No, they were raised about .4 mm on the high sides of the carve. I was able to press on the ends of the bridge and get them most of the way back in.
@@grumpymikeguitar ahhh! ok. that's really odd. I wonder if they're all like that? I haven't watched many demos about these.
Both of the LP style guitars I bought had this issue I might have been a little worse on the gold top, but not sure. I didn't measure on the other one before correcting it.
for the price its awesome. But for everyone who wants 1 guitar that has it all then you should check out harley benton custom II split coil version (with floyd rose 1000 or not is your choice) or Fusion series from harley benton.
I do intend to get a Fusion II, however, it is important to note that I am not a fan of Floyd's. Although, I might consider giving them another chance.
@@grumpymikeguitar I have one of the first gen fusions with maple fretboard, HH and the Floyd 1000. It is and was since I got it, one of my favorite guitars. In fact it was what got me hooked on the HBs. I also have the TE70 Black Paisley and after a set of locking tuners is a fantabulous piece of work. Great video and I hit the sub button.
Hey Mike, I got myself a G&L Tele with P90's about 3 months ago and it had more issues than your HB including the bridge stud's not seated. That guitar cost me nearly three times as much and I was really disappointed with it. I'm selling the G&L and ordering one of these beauties. Great review 👍
Sorry to hear that about your G&L. I'm a bit surprised by that. I've always heard good things about them. I hope you have better luck with the H.B. Just be prepare to have it set up. Of course, that should go for any guitar, right?
@@grumpymikeguitar
I was as surprised as you, maybe I just got a bad one.
You’re one of several I’ve seen give this model a good review! I wonder how it compares to the latest Firefly LP models.
I can't really comment on the Firefly. I may pick one up, but as of yet, I haven't tried one. I can say, however, this HB Goldtop is still one of my favorites. I play it quite a bit.
Joe Satriani's Ibanez signature guitars are basswood.
It would be nice if everyone could get the same quality guitar I bought this guitar from Tom and because of all of the nice ones they sent to TH-camrs. The general public gets away different experience
For the record, they did not send me this guitar. I ordered it and paid for it.
But yes, the larger channels sometimes get cherrypicked guitars.
The bushing sticking out a little bit on the outside of the bridge is normal. The body is curved down right there.
Yes, but that wasn't the issue. They were poorly seated from the factory. A couple of wacks with a fretting hammer fix it nicely.
Honest review, Trustworthy man hard to find these days.
Just hit the sub...waiting on mine to show up...not sure why ur vids showed up... been searching for vids a year now. Did pull the trigger and been waiting kinda patiently. Nice vid. Take care
Blackwood is actually treated spruce so that it resembles ebony. It's modern day ebony of you will!
You may be correct. This, however, was the definition I got when I looked it up.
@@grumpymikeguitar yeah no worries. I actually purchased a tele neck just recently with a blackwood fretboard. Look up blackwood tec and you'll find the info. I really dig it!
Ok, after doing g a little checking, it would seem that Blackwood TEK is a specific brand named product, kind of like Richlite. The specs on this guitar list blackwood as the material, not Blackwood TEK. It may be possible that it actually is Blackwood TEK, but it doesn't say that. I am more inclined to believe that the fretboard on this HB is in fact one of the species listed, and not the Blackwood TEK material. Of course, that is just my speculation. I could be entirely wrong.
@@grumpymikeguitar yeah they could be more specific about this. It seems this world has 2 kinds of blackwood. All I know is that when I got in touch with the dealer that sold me my tele neck, he said that blackwood was wood that was made dark and hard by technology. I could choose between Blackwood and Rosewood, but I was so intrugued by the whole technology thing I just had to try it :)
Yup, who knows if any of this stuff is actually what they say it is. Ultimately, as long as it plays and feels and sounds good, it doesn't really matter what it is.
All I know is that I do really like this guitar. That's the only thing I care about.
Anyway, thanks for watching the video and for the interaction. I hope you will continue to stay in touch.
Be good
Jep, it's not a bad guitar! It comes out of the same Chinese factory like Vintage guitars! The Quality of these gutars (not all kinds! ) is now as good as chinas Epiphones, but much cheaper!
thanks man ! all the best ! marceli from Poland !
And to you, my friend. Happy New Year!!!
Right on, I dig it! Thank you for another video ✌ let's all be good
Basswood is a great guitar wood!
Harley benton guitars are out of sight. I own five. The best are the prs knockoffs..CT24s. Split coils and all 24 frets.
I was at a guitar store to buy a $400 squire jazz master. The guy said “I’ll sell you this Harley Benton Lea Paul for $150 lol” and then plugged it in and let me play it. I bought it immediately. He had an epiphone Les Paul as well and the Harley sounded a hundred times better and had better finish quality. These guitars cannot be beaten for the price. I’d buy one all day long over a squire or epiphone- and I’d choose it over a lot of actual Fender and Gibson models.👍
Yes, the Harley Bentons are a fantastic guitar for the money. However, the new Epi's seem to be really good. My SG Special looks, plays, and sounds surprisingly good. The electronics are far superior as well as the tuning machines. I realize it cost more, but may, in the end, prove to be more reliable.
That said, congrats on the New Giitar Day. Enjoy and be good. 🤘🎸😎
@@grumpymikeguitar yes, the tuners can use a better replacement, but for my skill the rest of fantasic. It’s so awesome that good guitars no longer require a bank loan to buy👍
Absolutely
@@grumpymikeguitar forgot to add: the tone controls on this guitar are way to much. It goes from clear to muddy with zero in between. Definitely needs another different capacitor value instead of whatever comes stock.
@@bobzuruncle8424 maybe you'd find linear pots would suit you better🤘
Hello Mike, thanks for the video, that was a solid review:) Super random question what's the art on the wall behind you?
Thanks for checking out the video. I'm glad you liked it.
Both of the paintings behind me are original pieces by a New York based artist named Leviticus.
I like your honest no nonsense reviews.
I got 2 te 52 HB Teles. One moded with humbs and another that I left as is. A DC Custom and am waiting for a couple of their basses (jazz bass and a fretless). A lot of instrument for little money. Have to pick their SC special too... 🤔
Great job on this & the other video's !!!
Thanks sir. Now i want this guitar
I like bass wood and maple are great
Nice review..honest .not over the top but i take your choice of the 4 LesPauls...but i was leaning that way myself..but thorough job ..im subd and wsiting ..when the 3 o of LPs gets up for winning..i'm definately in fir that dude..See ye then.😎🙌🙏
I got the exact same one six months ago. I did not observe any of these flaws as indicated here. And I guess it’s hit or miss.
Although there were a few flaws, I'm quite serious when I say this is still one of my favorite guitars. I still play it quite often and have been considering doing a follow-up video about it. Possibly the best bang for the buck I spent money on.
Great expossing. Thanks for the vid.
I just got this one and a LP Jr. DC, picked them up yesterday but I have not plugged them in yet.
I bought 3 Harley Bentons and they are great for the money, but I had just plugged in the DC-580 CH Vintage Series Cherry (SG copy) and it is totally dead. I know it is my problem that I let it set for 2 months without playing it but still I am miffed. I guess I will have to have it looked at and pay the piper!
Grumpy , but Honest Mike. You can always sand off the gold and go for Fender's shoreline gold...really metallic sand.
And, Mike can actually play! Who would have known????
Ya know, over time, I've really come to appreciate the hold top. Still not my favorite, but I've already bonded with this guitar and I'm not planning on changing anything except the pups.
@@grumpymikeguitar the late great, Mick Ronson sanded his goldtop...anthow it does complement your whiskers if I may say so. It sure sounds good, too.
Thanks, Mike! I'm ordering one as soon as in stock. Thomann says 2-5 days. Cheers! 🇨🇦
Just remember, as with all budget guitars, quality control can be hit or miss. I got a really good one. Your mileage may vary. I hope you love the one you get as much as I do mine.
Another great Grumpy Mike review!!!
Only needs small pots as they are single coil pickups....
Hey this is great! Great thorough honest reivew! You know what? I was getting ready to order this guitar!! So do you really recommend it! I know don't expect anything like an Epiphone and a Gibson! But I like that classic twang sound of a Tele and I need a P90 guitar!
I absolutely recommend this guitar. I can only vouch for the one I received, but I absolutely love it. The build quality is on par with almost every Epiphone I've ever played, and, for me, it is just a ton of fun to play. You really can't go wrong with P90's. Even the cheap ones seem to sound delightful. The best part is that the price tag seals the deal. The only downside, depending on where you live, is waiting on shipping.
Please let me know if you do get it. I would love to hear what you think of it.
@@grumpymikeguitar Hey thank you very much, for responding to my email. God bless. Have a great Holiday! You sold me. I plan on ordering it today.
great looking guitar like the gold some folks are to pick e. I won't care as long ever thing works .been trying to get enough money to buy one to play gospel music.
You ll get the 1000 subs very qiuckly believe me! Cuz you are real!
Thanks for the kind words. I hope you are right. And, thanks for watching the channel.
Bah, I should've got the gold top instead of the vintage burst.
One detail no one ever talks about is the thickness of the neck, not the shape just the thickness, not even the specs from factory and that hold true from every brand.
I'll be putting new strings on mine pretty soon. When I do, I will take proper measurements.
@@grumpymikeguitar Hi Mike! Enjoyed your vid. Did you take down those neck measurements?
like your review s no bad language kid friendly
Great review man, is the body the same thickness as a gibson?
I haven't measured, but it appears to be. I'll check it when I get in the studio this evening.
@@grumpymikeguitar thanks man
Sorry it took so long, but I did measure. The HB is 1.75" thick and my Gibson is 2"
I must admit to being a little surprised because they didn't seem to feel that different, but now that I've measured, I can feel it slightly.
Very well done, sir. Between all HBentons you have what´s your favourite? Subscribed.
I like them all, but I seem to have bonded with the gold top. I have really enjoyed playing that one.
Thanks for the sub. Stay tuned, I have a Squier video coming soon.
Hey, I love your channel. The guitar is on its way. I am in New York City. From Germany I don't know it get here. Let me ask you which Harley Benton Humbucker have you had and can recommend for Classic Hard Rock sounds? I play a lot of Classic Hard Rock. Think of Zeppelin, Stones, Beatles, AC/DC, Greenday, Allman Brothers, Skynyrd, some Metallica. That kind of sound. A friend of mine recommended the SC-550. Can I please get your opinion?
Thank you.
I think the SC 550 would serve you well, but before you pull the trigger on that, take a look at the SC Custom II. You might find that one also be a consideration.
If you don't mind, the neck width specs are the same as on the other Harley Benton that you reviewed, the SC-450 plus. If you remember you've told me that the neck width at the nut on the SC -450 is 41.9mm, is the same on this one too?
Yes, the width at the nut is the same on the gold top.
@@grumpymikeguitar thank you
I been looking for a nice but not paying my life saveings for one LP. I might just try a HB or mabey get lucky and win the one your going to give away. That would be awesome. And I just subscribed by the way.
Thanks for the sub. It shouldn't be too much longer till the giveaway. I wish you luck.
Incredible for 149 euros
Great review. Thanks X
Bad Trip in the wall behind?
Hi Mike, got the guitar, SC-450 P90. Really cool guitar! It's got great hi-end. However, I do have some thoughts! It's a keeper for sure, but the volume is low. I have to really crank up the amp model on my Helix Line 6. It does go out of tune, a little bit. I wish the pickups would be a little louder. The high end is great, However the low end, the low bass notes a little muddy. Yes, I know this a $150 -$200, I wasn't expecting alot. It plays well. I had to tune it up, obviously. Also, since it is not a humbucker guitar, it doesn't have a whole lotta output. If I do some upgrades and a setup I'm sure it would help right? Maybe upgrade the pots, the electronics, a different nut, and pickups. I don't know what of find P90 pickups I could replace those with? or If I should raise the pickups. 90% of the time I'm always on the bridge pickup. Can I please have your thoughts.
First, congrats on the new guitar.
Whereas, the P90s in my HB don't have quite as much output as the humbuckers, I didn't find the difference to be that significant. I would warn against using a helix as a reference amp. I believe there is great potential to be led astray. Nothing replaces having nothing but the guitar and a physical amp with nothing in-between for that purpose.
As for replacement pups, I would advise to search for as many demos and see (or hear) if any jump out at you. After all, it is your ears that you are seeking to please. Just keep in mind, you're putting them in a $150 guitar. Don't spend too much on them. In fact, you might want to see if you can find a good set of used pups.
As for tuning, it may need a day or two to adjust to a new environment. My HB's took the better part of 2 weeks to settle in. Also, I can almost guarantee that the nut is gonna need a bit of attention. Overall, though, with any new guitar, I recommend to have it setup (I don't know how much you are comfortable with doing yourself, but this is a perfect guitar for you to expand your skills on). The setup has made a huge difference on all of my HBs. Oh yeah, there's also the fact that LP style guitars aren't exactly known for tuning stability.
Enjoy the new guitar and, as always, be good.
@@grumpymikeguitar Tru dat
BTW did you ever find out what the nut is? I can’t tell. Maybe I should be able to but I dunno. When I pick at it it doesn’t FEEL plastic.. that’s as scientific as I get.
I want to say it's synthetic bone or at least that what I remember seeing on the product specs when I bought it. By the time I did the video, those specs seemed to ha been changed a bit which is what caused me to wonder. But, if I had to guess, I would say it a Graphtec style nut.
@@grumpymikeguitar Hry thanks for the reply! That’s my guess too. It doesn’t seem cheap or plastic to me. Thanks again man.
I mean, if you have a link to Thomann, then it seems to me that you want to point out the flaws first. Also, it would be nice to know if you are going to give a thorough review in the beginning.
For the record, I linked to it because I knew there would be someone who would ask for one. I do apologize if the order in which I covered the pros and cons of this guitar was not to your liking. I would like to think my videos have somewhat improved over the last 3+ years since this one was posted, and am always seeking further improvement. I promise, I'll try to do a better job meeting your approval in the future.
BTW, I still have this guitar and play it frequently. I like it a lot. Thus far, I have left it stock, although, I am planning a pickup swap in the near future.
@@grumpymikeguitar
Well I hope you don't give a review that's too much to my liking, because then no one else would watch your channel, and then I would never know if the bridge pins are set correctly on a Harley Benton guitar. I don't think the Guitar Geek, Pauly Henning, Guitar Max, 60 Cycle, Daryl Braun, The Captain or even Pete Horne will tell me that.
Pauly Henning? 🤣
Seriously, if you don't like my videos, please feel free to move along. I'm just and average schmuck who's played a bunch of guitars over the years. I make these videos in my spare time just because I enjoy doing it when I can.
BTW, I'd love to check out some of your videos. Please send a link.
@@grumpymikeguitar
I was just making light of the situation and giving you a compliment for letting people know about the bridge pins, and listening to criticism. I was implying that your review, in that sense, was better than the others.
And I think that is true. Those other reviewers have never told me anything physically wrong with any guitar they have reviewed. Maybe they have once but most of the time they don't. And still their channels are quite popular.
@@valueofnothing2487 I absolutely apologize if I misread your intent. It just goes to show how easy it is to perceive something that isn't really there. Truth is, I'm still struggling with how to best format review videos. It's difficult communicate all of the details, thoughts, and opinions while keeping the video short enough to hold people's attention.
Nevertheless, I'm really happy to know I was wrong about your comment. I hope you will accept my apology.
BTW, the guys from those other channels are very good at what they do. I have learned a lot from each of them. If I am able to point out some small yet significant detail that they omitted, I count that as a success. It motivates me to look deeper for details that others might miss. My ultimate goal is to be as honest and informative as I can.
Again, I'm sorry I misunderstood.
Great vids thanks.
With the bridge bushings - is the reason that the bushings aren't in all the way because it's an archtop and one side of a bushing will go in all the way but because of the curve the other side is still out? How would you fix that?
You are correct in that there will be exposure on the low side of an archtop. Both of the HB LP's i got had about a millimeter of exposure on the hight side. It was easily fixable and neither have since pulled back out.
Thinking of getting this one ,is it really any good ? Looks so sweet
Mine is really good. The problem, however, is that mass produced guitars in this price range, consistency can be an issue. That said, I've heard more good things from other folks than bad stuff. I think they are well worth what they cost.
@@grumpymikeguitar That's the compromise they had to make to get the price down.
Cutting down on the QC.
For us in Europe (or just outside it now😉), returns to Thomann are no problem, and Free.
Elsewhere it's more hassle, and costs apparently.
You could find a Brand made at the same factory but where higher QC scrutiny was part of the contract.
Everyone was wondering when Thomann were going set up a USA warehouse, kind of like what HobbyKing does with radio-control stuff.
Who knows what agreements are made behind closed doors ... ?
Would like to know how much would the shipping + tax shipped to Massachusetts USA? Thank you.
You would have to check with Thomann. It has gone up since I ordered mine.
I’m a bit confused, the Thomann website states that the colour of the backside of this guitar is transparent red, whereas the guitar in the video appears to have a rather dark backside. Is it just a lighting thing is or is it not as red as it seems on the pictures?
The back of the cherryburst sc450 is trans red. The back of the gold top is not.
Hi Mike,please can you tell exact width and length on the body please. And the weight if it's possible .Thank you! By the way, great review.
I will measure as soon as I get the chance.
@@grumpymikeguitar Thank you, I appreciate it.
Don’t badmouse the bathwood!!
🤣
That dirty riff at the end sounds like something I know but can’t put my finger on it 😣
Have you done any reviews on the Fender copies?
Not yet. I'll probably get 1 or 2 more HB's in a few months.
I bought the SC-450 Plus HB for a friend's sons birthday it should arrive today he has been playing for two years. I hope he enjoys it. I'll spring for the tuner and nut upgrade if it needs it but you have me things to look out for on that particular guitar. I'm more of a banjo man myself. Thanks.
@@craigjacob3704 that's great. Let me know how he likes it.
Hey, you still have the guitar?
I do. I still play it quite a bit.
Would you push the bridge post back in then adjust it from there?
Yes, that's exactly what I did.
@@grumpymikeguitar I thought that post looked fully pressed except for where the body carve dives down. So did it press in further?
Nice review man. Subscribing.
Must be hard to stay grumpy playing that guitar...
My friend, guitars are how I chase the grumpyness away. 😁
Billy Gibbons on a budget
Damb! - that's a lot of views.