Harley Benton Delta Blues MJCE

I've had a Sigma travel steel string for the past few years, and every time I pick it up I wish I'd bought a full size guitar. I've been looking at Harley Benton guitars on the website and youtube yada yada yada for about 12 months. This guitar got great reviews on both, including a great one by Jonathon in Singapore as mentioned in another review here.

My first Harley Benton - online ordering easy; delivery to Scotland tracked all the way and at my door within a week of ordering. Double boxed, no damage to either box or guitar.

The colour of the guitar was a dark brown/blue/black - darker than on the photos on the website and nicer for it. All strings were tuned down. All tuners worked and held tune well; all felt smooth, no noticeable 'bad ones'.

The sound was amazing for such a well priced guitar - loud enough when strummed, very clear single notes, and good resonance.

The finish of the guitar was not so good - the joint between neck and body looked rough, and the fret ends felt sharp all the way up the neck. Unfortunately I don't have the knowledge or tools to file the frets.

I played the guitar for an evening, and loved the sound but didn't like the frets. The guitar is good value for money (I went for the bundle including gig bag, as it was only £5 more than the guitar on its own with shipping), especially as it comes with an preamp (and free battery). Unfortunately I decided the finish outweighed the sound so I sent it back under the 30 day return, spent twice the money and got a Harley Benton Custom Line CLA-15MCE B-Stock.

A note on the returns - this was a simple to do as the original ordering - go on the website, hit return item, (no need to give any explanation), print off return label, package up the guitar in the original packaging, take round to local post office (return slip had instructions for the post office staff too, just in case), they scan it, and you can track it all the way back to Thomann. Took same time for the return to reach Germany as the replacement guitar to reach Scotland - great service!

Took a chance in ordering this guitar as I was very much smitten by how it looks! After a simple setup, I was pleasantly surprised by how this guitar sounds! Even though it's listed as a mini jumbo, I feel it's more like a parlour guitar to me. The condition of the delivered guitar was pretty much flawless. I'm seriously impressed!!
My review for this guitar is at my youtube channel :)

This guitar punches way above its price range!
Looks great in the flesh. Feels manly, like a barrel of whiskey. Mini Jumbo shape is underrated. Especially in full mahogany, the clear, punchy midrange cuts through the masses of dreadnoughts everyone seems to have. You won't be louder that your friends, but you will be heard.
Neck is semi feels like a D profile, but slightly chunky. I have tiny hands and still fits me well. Frets are too small, unfortunately. The guitar body feels dinky, slim and very comfortable.
Pickup is alright. No Fishman, but still way better than early noughties TCY. Built-in tuner is a lifechanger. I don't understand why electrics don't have it as standard.
Tuners don't please me, but they do the job well. Minor finish flaws can be found, but seriously, when guitar looks like this, it would look all the better when you bash it up a bit.
I filed the fret ends, oiled the fretboard, changed strings a few times and swapped the bridge saddle for a TUSQ and pins for brass. I recommend it.
I can't believe how much guitar Harley Benton provides for the money.