Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame

I’ve had 3 other Harley Benton guitars. All of them lived up to the good value they represent.

This one is terrible. A completely different neck, very light color, a completely different finish, a bad tiger stripes. Fret buzz, terrible nut, cheap noisy electronics. Coil split sounds terrible. Feels like a cheap toy.

Support has not responded to three requests for return. Very disappointed, won’t be recommending Harley Benton to anyone ever again. Will be filing fraud report with credit card because it is so different than what was ordered, well beyond any manufacturing variation.

I see so many people here with great things to say about this guitar. I wish I had the same experience.

It showed up with the absolute worst finishing job I have ever seen. The sides of the fretboard have been sanded down so aggressively there are chunks missing. I get not wanting to have rough fret edges, but it looks like someone took a steak knife to it.

There are also corroded frets, straight out of the box. I have never seen that on a new guitar, ever. Top that off with a couple of dents, a fretboard that isn't stained properly and a top that looks nothing like the photos listed here, and you have one of the worst excuses for a guitar I've ever seen.

I understand that at this price point there will be imperfections, but this is just baffling. I will be returning it.