Harley Benton JA-20HH Active SBK

I saw the ad for this guitar on social media. Clicked the link and really the way it looked. The specs show that it has active pickups and I was sold. Placed the order. Thomann was incredible for getting this beauty out the door so quickly. I received the guitar within 3 business days! I was worried that it was going to be in pieces when I received it since I forgot to order a case, but Thomann took great precautions to pack it safely. After tuning the guitar, I plugged it in and was in awe of the sound and tone coming from the Harley Benton JA-20HH Active SBK. No buzz from the humbuckers, but they were LOUD. Loved it. I have to say this is the most satisfying purchase I've made recently. I am very impressed with the Harley Benton brand and equally impressed with Thomann. I will certainly buy more.

I have been looking at a Harley Benton for a few years. I pulled the trigger on this one not really knowing what to expect. To say I was pleasantly surprised is a massive understatement.

The finish of the guitar is flawless from the tip of the headstock to the bottom of the body. The frets are very well dressed both on the ends as well as the crown. The tuners are holding tune perfectly and are very smooth to turn with just the right amount of tension. The active pickups are extremely good. The bridge is bright on the cleans and gets very crunchy when driven. The neck is pure fat vintage sounding cream. And the middle position is the best of both. The setup of the guitar feels like someone cared about the playability of this guitar and took the time to make it rad. The action may be a bit low for some but it is perfect for my style. Very low to the frets and ZERO buzz. The metals used don’t look nor feel cheap and there is a bit of a premium feel to them. The only downside I have found is one that has been mentioned here before. You will need to remove the bridge and sand the paint where the ground wire touches it. There is a bit of noise when you push gain or distortion. It’s a simple fix and I don’t feel it warrants a drop in the rating. I will purchase another HB, and it will be soon! Oh and shipping was fast, 3 days from Germany to the US.

The Harley Benton JA-20HH Active SBK is an impressive jazzmaster husk with great value. The guitar's construction is solid, and it offers good playability. The frets may initially be sharp but are easily adjustable. However, the pickups produce a muddy tone, and there is a grounding issue in the bridge. Considering these drawbacks, I plan to install a single EMG pickup, but it requires an expensive pickguard. It would have been ideal if the guitar came in a single humbucker version, but unfortunately, it does not. Despite its limitations, the JA-20HH Active SBK is still a worthwhile choice for budget-conscious players looking for a project guitar.