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Harley Benton guitars have become increasingly popular recently. More musicians are choosing to play these affordable instruments. But are Harley Benton guitars good? Are they really that much better than other brands?
Harley Benton Guitars are not only good, but they’re also affordable. They’re slowly becoming the top choice for beginner guitars on the market.
Primarily because of their price and quality. If you’re looking to buy a cheap guitar, then Harley Benton has you covered with some great instruments!
A lot of people might think that these guitars aren’t worth it. But once you try them out for yourself, you’ll see just how good they really are. Here’s everything you need to know about Harley Benton guitars.
Who is Harley Benton?
Musikhaus Thomann owns and operates Harley Benton. They are a large Bavarian trader of instruments and sound equipment.
This is a house brand for electric guitars, amplifiers, and more. Thomann.de is the biggest musical instrument and sound equipment retailer in Europe. Harley Benton is essentially their in-house brand. As such, they are only available on their website.
Harley Benton’s focus is the low-budget market. The intent is to provide superior-quality instruments. But only those that are typically found at certain price points.
For the lower mid-price range, you will find features reserved for higher-priced guitars. This includes things like special finishes, stainless steel frets, or roasted necks.
The majority of Harley Benton products are guitars, including basses. The Harley Benton product line also includes other string instruments, like banjos. In addition, Harley Benton has amplifiers and pedals.
Are Harley Benton Guitars Good?
Harley Benton Guitars are well-designed, well-made, and very affordable. They are far less pricey than the majority of instruments of the same caliber.
Their business model focuses around keeping their prices low. While still trying to perform similarly to a more expensive guitar.
Overall, their guitars perform much better than other brands within their price range.
Tonewoods
Every Harley Benton electric guitar is made of decent quality solid wood. You can expect to find basswood, nyatoh, mahogany, and more. There are even models with roasted maple necks and fingerboards.
Hardware
Harley Benton makes the majority of its parts. This includes high-quality electronics, bridges, and locking tuners.
They also sell these parts separately as aftermarket alternatives. This means that they don’t have to use ultra low quality hardware to keep the price low.
Pickups
Harley Benton’s pickups are also quite good-sounding. Roswell pickups are used in the majority of the company’s models.
They are manufactured in Korea. Roswell also produces pickups for other well-known brands, such as ESP and even Fender.
For most high-end humbucker-equipped electric guitars, coil-split circuits are the standard. The coil-split mode is wired into almost all guitars they offer with Roswell humbuckers. They sound great in real-world situations.
You will also find EMG pickups in some of the more metal focused guitars. So if you’re looking for active pickups, you can find them here too.
Harley Benton Guitars are Affordable
Almost every Harley Benton guitar is reasonably priced. This alone makes them the best value versus some other brands. Despite their low price, they feel authentic and valuable.
Harley Benton can make purchases directly from guitar-making factories. Then sell to consumers through the retail operation of its parent company.
This strategy eliminates several middlemen who would otherwise have to be paid. They are not required to deal with any distribution companies. Or even any major brands during the process.
Manufacturing in regions with less expensive labor is a major factor in keeping costs low. Harley Benton instruments are made in many factories across China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
The whole operation of Harley Benton focuses around offering affordable guitars. This really is their niche. The company aims to keep overhead minimal and profit margins per unit lower.
Unlike many other guitar manufacturers. And after that, to compensate for the reduced profit margins, they strive to sell more guitars.
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Who Manufactures Harley Benton Guitars?
Thomann Music, based in Germany, manufactures Harley Benton product lines. Musichaus Thomann is a huge intercontinental retailer of audio equipment and musical instruments.
This company was established in 1954 by Hans Thomann Sr. According to 2012 data. Thomann Music is one of the most popular online retailers in Europe, with a client base of 3 million or more.
Hans Thomann Jr. currently manages Thomann Music. Lasse Thernoe is their Managing Director and design genius. He is most likely to be responsible for Harley Benton becoming what it is today.
You will have to visit the Thomann Music website to buy any Harley Benton instrument. Harley Benton is only available through the retail business of their parent company.
They also do not yet have a retail location in the United States. If you happen to visit Germany, you can visit their physical store in Burgebrach.
Harley Benton Guitars are Good for Beginners
Harley Benton guitars are good for beginners since they play well right away. Many cheap guitars suffer from a common problem.
They look amazing but don’t have great playability. Harley Benton guitars are easy to play and make excellent beginner instruments.
Many individuals think they can’t compete with professional-grade brands. Primarily because they are so much less expensive.
The truth is that a number of Harley Benton models can! Including those in the Deluxe and Pro series. They are undeniably on par with premium-priced brand name guitars.
Which Harley Benton Guitars are the Best?
Harley Benton Guitars are quality instruments, with a price tag to match. Their popularity has never been higher. This is because their products offer so much more than just a great sound.
Harley Benton Amarok-6
The Amarok-6 is really about performance playing, with dynamic leads and smashing riffs. Every aspect of this guitar is intended to satisfy players of hard and heavy music.
For the price, the Harley Benton Amarok does have almost unimaginable high-end functionalities.
I was also really impressed with the contours in the body and the recessed volume and tone controls. These are features you usually find on higher-priced guitars.
The neck is a slim-C profile and was fast and comfortable to play. It’s a great guitar with a neck-through design.
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Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
Rocking out on a Harley Benton Fusion-III guitar is a lot of fun! You’ll realize you’re carrying an instrument meant to take center stage.
This model is similar to those in the Harley Benton Fusion II series. They seem to have everything you’d expect from a professional-grade electric guitar.
Harley Benton MR-Modern
The MR-Modern is a modernized version of the classic design. Most players are familiar with it. The two humbucker pickups of this model keep the true vibe of this vintage design.
All while not sacrificing tone. So, whether you require a warm, and mellow sound or a shrieking lead, the MR-Modern has you covered.
A Few Not So Good Considerations
Like most manufacturers of lower-priced guitars, there are a few issues. There are things that are problematic in a few of the cheaper guitars. These should be considered when buying.
First, you may discover a few flaws in the finish. Scratches, glue, tape marks, and cosmetic issues are also reported. Players who bought the cheaper offerings have made these known. But if you are spending under $100 then it’s hard to expect perfection.
There have also been some hardware issues. Things like bad nuts and bushings that are not quite seated all the way, and guitars that arrive needing to be set up.
We didn’t have any issues with the 3 guitars we recommended above. So if you can, you may want to spend over $300 for a more mid-tier option for better results.
Conclusion
Harley Benton is a good guitar brand. It’s an increasingly popular choice in the mid-range market!
Its affordable guitars are an excellent value that will serve any beginner very well. The company produces excellent guitars that surpass most players’ expectations.
And on top of all that, you get a 3-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee to sweeten the deal even more.
