Harley Benton Electric Guitar roundup
Harley Benton Electric Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a Harley Benton means picking the right model style for your playing and knowing what to check when it arrives — this buyer's guide covers the key decisions clearly.
Choosing a Harley Benton electric guitar requires matching the model to your playing style and setting realistic expectations for a budget instrument. This guide covers the key decisions — style, pickups, scale length and what to inspect on arrival — to help you buy with confidence.
Decide the Style First
Harley Benton produces instruments in most of the main electric guitar categories. Before looking at specific models, decide what style and tone you are looking for. Single-cutaway designs with humbuckers suit rock and heavier styles. Double-cutaway designs with single coil pickups suit clean and bright tones — funk, country and lighter rock. Semi-hollow body instruments produce a warmer, more resonant sound suited to jazz, blues and clean playing. Telecaster-style instruments are versatile and work across a range of genres.
Understand the Price Range
Harley Benton instruments range from around £60 for basic starter models to around £200 for their better-specified instruments. The instruments in the £100–150 range offer the best value — better hardware, better fret finishing and more consistent quality control than the very cheapest models. The top of the Harley Benton range competes with entry-level Squier and Epiphone instruments on price and increasingly on quality.
What to Check on Arrival
Budget electric guitars occasionally arrive with setup issues that require adjustment. Check the following when a new instrument arrives: fret ends should be smooth along the edges of the neck; the nut slots should hold the strings at a consistent height; the action (string height at the 12th fret) should be comfortable without buzzing on most notes; and the tuners should hold pitch through several strumming passes without slipping. Minor setup issues are normal at this price and can be corrected at home or by a luthier at low cost.
Pickup Upgrades
The most cost-effective upgrade for any Harley Benton electric guitar is a pickup replacement. Mid-range single coil or humbucker sets from Tonerider, Wilkinson or GFS cost £30–60 and significantly improve the instrument's tone and output. This is particularly worthwhile if you plan to use the guitar seriously for a year or more — a good pickup set in a well-setup budget body is a significant improvement over an untouched budget instrument.
Comparing the Brand to Alternatives
Harley Benton's main competitors at the budget level are Squier (Fender's student range) and Epiphone (Gibson's student range). Squier and Epiphone have brand heritage and established quality control processes; Harley Benton offers lower prices for comparable specifications. The choice often comes down to price: at identical price points, the specification advantage usually lies with Harley Benton, but the brand equity and after-sales support are with Squier and Epiphone.
For an overview of what the brand offers and its range, see the features and types guide. For beginner setup advice once you have the instrument, see the beginner's guide.
Comments