Harley Benton SC-450Plus HB Vintage Series

I had heard great things about the SC-450 Plus from all around the internet and finally bit the bullet. I was concerned that there might be problems as the price was less than it costs me to make a guitar myself.

Delivery
After some issues with PayPal the order was successfully placed and arrived in about a week. Packed in two boxes with no obvious or hidden damage. Nice to see individual protection for the pickup selector switch. One of the little bags of silica gel had torn in the packing process, but caused no issues.

Fit and Finish
The finish is perfect. I held off reviewing this for three weeks expecting that I would find some scratch or flaw somewhere, but I really cannot find anything. Really, the (presumably polyurethane) finish has been exceptionally well applied. The same applies to the paint job over the flame maple veneer (or photo-transfer). The colour is definitely closer to cherryburst than honeyburst, which is great and exactly what I wanted. The frets are well-fitted and neatly finished at their ends, though a little more polish (or playing in) will make bends even easier. The setup is excellent, perfectly intonated and the action perhaps even a shade too low for me. I will fiddle with the bridge height/truss rod when I fit my preferred Super Slinkys (008s).

Pickups, Hardware and Sounds
I fully expected to be changing out the pickups for a set of Irongears almost as soon as this arrived, but the Wilkinson Roswell humbuckers fitted as standard are perfectly good. They are slightly higher output than I would normally choose, but they have great articulation and still sound fine when the push-pull pots are used to select single coil mode. The pickups are wired such that the middle position is out of phase.
The machines are fine and work well, though the green plastic buttons do not look particularly genuine, I do not feel any pressing urge to change them. The bridge and tailpiece are both perfectly fine and do a competent job. The nut is plastic and well-cut and fitted. I might change it for a bone or Tusq model eventually.

Cons
Very minor issues. I will be replacing the tone pots as they have ALL their effect at the very end of their travel. This issue also occurs on much more expensive guitars, to be fair.
Some people might not like the Rosacea fingerboard. It is very light and looks nothing like what you would find on a Gibson. I might try a few coats of light finishing oil if I can be bothered. However the neck is really lovely to play and the trapezoid markers are well cut and fitted.

Now I need an SG....

This is a giggable LP tribute that's also a strong platform for electronics upgrades. I've ended up with 2 of these: #1 is a 2018 (blackwood fretboard) Honeyburst model, ordered new from Thomann. # 2 is a slightly earlier (rosewood fretboard) Vintage Burst, bought used from my guitar tech's store.

Here are my actual ratings, on a scale of 5. I'll average the 2 guitars, to provide a random sample of what you're likely to receive. Overall, my experience seems consistent with other reviewers':

5 for value and tone, especially at this price.

4.5 to 5 for design, basic build quality, and playability.

5++ for Thomann's responsiveness and service.

1.5 to 4.5 (yes, very wide range) for cosmetics and finish.

1.5 for quality control (QC).

The SC450+ is an affordable (obviously) LP copy that follows the classic vintage recipe, while adding some clever innovations.

The low price, iffy QC, and value are all real, and all share the same source: Thomann contracts directly with a factory in China, eliminating a wholesaler. So, for about half the price of (e.g.) an Epiphone LP, you get a vintage build recipe, better materials and components, and better ergonomics. You also get a combination of deep '50s neck, flush modern heel, and nice color schemes ? a combination that Gibson won't sell you at any price.

PRO'S:

The flush neck heel is brilliantly designed to solve the traditional LP problem of upper-fret access. Up to the 20th fret, access here is actually easier than on a Strat (because the heel is so sculpted). Up to the 22nd fret, it's still pretty easy. Better access than on a PRS Singlecut (SC/SE 245, etc.). Which is why I chose this.

The Roswell alnico 5 bridge pickup is wonderful. I swapped it for a Gibson Super '57 on my first SC450+, then found I missed it. (This is why I've kept my 2nd copy stock.) This pickup is bright without shrillness, and has body with no nasal honk. Surprisingly great tones, ranging from Allman Brothers to twang.

Split-coil sounds are very usable.

Full maple cap under the flame-maple veneer. (You can see the maple in the treble-side cutaway.)

Long-tenon neck joint, reputedly. (I haven't checked this, but the expected rich tone is definitely there.)

Weight is reasonable, around 9 lbs.

CON'S:

Cosmetic flaws are common (read on, and see other reviews).

Mahogany back on your copy might be anywhere from 2?4 pieces. (I've heard of, but not seen, 5. Mine are, respectively, 2 and 3 pieces.)

3-piece neck, counting a scarf joint and butt joint. (But this construction doesn't seem to degrade the tone.)

Neck binding runs fatter than Gibson spec, and looks plasticky.

NEUTRAL:

The Roswell neck pickup is punchy and entirely giggable, but a bit blunt. It's not muddy ? more like middy. Doesn't have the articulation of a good Gibson, PRS, or even Epi neck pickup. Fast attack from the alnico 5, which you might like for some styles.

Blackwood has replaced rosewood fretboards, to meet CITES export restrictions. Tonally, it's supposed to be very similar. But blackwood can have pronounced grain/color variations, which you might find either interesting or distracting. It also has an unusual feel, which takes a while to get used to: Strings slide around on it. If you've ever tried Ernie Ball's slippery Cobalt strings, regular strings feel like that on blackwood.

The fat neck binding on my Honeyburst copy developed some tiny cracks. I actually like the resulting, slightly distressed look. (Because I don't like plastic binding at all. I'd love a Harley Benton that omitted neck binding, as some LP Studio Deluxes and PRS Singlecuts/SC's do.)

By ordering one of these, you're taking a chance: You'll get a boxed copy that hasn't been inspected in Germany. Shipping to you is very inexpensive, because Thomann subsidizes it. Overseas return shipping is expensive. My experience has been that if you get a copy with problems, Thomann will offer you reasonable options for resolving it.

Here's what I actually got:

My Honeyburst copy sounds righteously full, and has great playability. (Low action with no buzzes.) The top has a pretty, faded-cherryburst finish, on a lightly flamed maple veneer. The back is 3-piece, cut so that the neck fits entirely into the middle piece. Both the back and neck are natural-finished mahogany, with faint grain. Setup was reasonably low and quite buzz-free, straight out of the box.

Problems? There's a sizable spraying blotch under the top's pretty finish, south of the bridge. There's another spraying blotch in the cutaway (which no one but me will see.) The blackwood fretboard has some pronounced color variations, fading to nearly bleached in some places. (The fretboard doesn't look at all bad, just unusual.) The neck binding is fat and also a bit uneven in width, tapering wider toward the upper frets. As mentioned above, it cracked slightly since arriving.

Thomann asked me to email them photos of the build flaws, then offered me the option of keeping the guitar for a partial refund. After staring at the guitar for a few days (and of course listening to it), I decided I could live with the cosmetic flaws, and took this option. I've since upgraded its pickups to a Gibson 57 Classic and Super '57. The guitar sounds nice, plays well, and has held stable action and tuning.

(Side notes: Thomann was outstandingly responsive, courteous, and helpful in resolving the cosmetic glitches, and also with an apparent wiring glitch that turned out to be a false alarm. I actually can't say enough good things about their customer service, and their English is better than most North Americans'. Also, the gummy coil-tap stickers that bothered some earlier SC450+ reviewers are gone. These are now PET stickers, which peel off easily and cleanly.)

My second SC450+ has a Vintage Burst top finish (2-color tobacco burst), over a lightly flamed veneer. Very elegant and classic look. One tiny blemish on the top, not sure if that's from the factory or the prior owner.

This copy also has a natural-finished mahogany back, but with nicely deep grain swirls. The back is 2 symmetrical pieces. (Unlike Epiphone/Gibson, Thomann doesn't veneer over back joins, so you can clearly see how many pieces are involved.)

As an older model, it's got a rosewood fretboard, with light grain and no cosmetic flaws. Same thick neck binding.

This copy required some setup to shake out some fret buzz. But I bought it used, so I can't blame Thomann for how its original owner adjusted or stored it. It set up fine, now plays well, and sounds robust and punchy with its stock pickups.

To sum up: You take pot luck when you order one of these, given the spotty QC. You might get anything from a near-perfect gem to a solid guitar with obvious cosmetic flaws. I can't say that you can't go wrong. But Thomann seems determined to ensure that you'll end up happy ? variously with a great guitar, a great deal, or a return. I'm doubly happy with two of them.

So? I recently ordered my first HB guitars!

The Harley Benton SC-450Plus HB Vintage Series &
the Harley Benton SC-Custom Vintage Black

This review is looking at the SC-450Plus Vintage Series

First off? I have to admit that I was a little bit worried about making an order. I live all the way in the central US (Missouri), and I had no idea of how long it would take to get the guitars?nor, what kind of condition they would be in once I got them.

I placed the order on January 15th, and I received the guitars on January 23rd. From Germany, to the central US. In my opinion, that is pretty good time.

The guitars arrived with absolutely no damage. The large box carrying the equipment was full of those small packing air bags, which kept everything inside mint. The outside box did have a small bit of wear, but it wasn't anything at all substantial.

One reason I made the leap and ordered these guitars, was because I had reached a point in my playing where I was Stratocastered out. For years, that was what I played, and I had just reached a place to where I needed something different. I wanted something that could handle everything I've played in the past, but also something that would inspire me to go into a new direction.

The MWCHB alnico vintage-style humbucker pickups seem to be able to handle pretty much anything. I've played in choirs, at church, the blues, old fashioned rock, and really, just about everything in between. For the most part, Stratocasters get the job done, but I NEED something with a bit more edge. Both the SC-Custom and the SC-450Plus share the same pickups, and they more than meet that "dangerous" edge that I need from time to time in my playing. Single coils are nice, but they don't have that roar. With this, you are the king of the jungle!

The neck of the 450 is nice. I prefer it over the thinner neck of the SC-Custom. The frets are fine. No problem at all. The rosewood fretboard looked pretty. So far, I haven't had any tuning problems. I tuned it after receiving it, and it was only slightly sharp the next day. You have to remember though, this was after a lot of heavy playing!

The body of the 450 is solid. I'm guessing it weighs around 8 pounds? The neck is fixed onto the body tighter than the handle to an ax. No problems there.

I've seen some pictures of a few HB guitars where the flame top pieces don't match up very well. I've seen online one or two people complain about the ones they received. However, I can't do that with this. The pieces look fantastic together. In the right light, they look perfect. The right angle will show they aren't, but I'm not complaining at all!

To be honest, I find it hard to complain about anything. The only thing I wish would have been different is the pickguard. It's just a hard, blah piece of plastic. It doesn't really do anything for me..but it isn't a big deal. I could take it off if I wan't, but so far, I'm not planning on doing that.

Anyway, this guitar is amazing. It's worth the $150 or so price tag. You won't find ANYTHING nearly as good, for this price. More than likely, especially if you live in the US, you will have to pay 2..maybe 3.. times the price for something similar in quality.

These two guitars are the first of several I will be ordering. Thank you Harley Benton!

I don't know what qualities other HB-SC450+ guitars have, but this one I received is one unbelievable good product.
I change strings from 010 to 009 and during the setup i had fall in love to this guitar.
Sound without plug in the amplifier is balanced. octaves tune perfectly, the acoustics noise produced by the playing guitar unpluged refers that the quality of the wood is High Class. I still can't believe I own a premium product, of les paul style guitar with beautiful looks and detailed finishing for 200 euros, simply amazing!!!!!!!!!
Update 10.2022.
I have bouth Mojotone 59 Clone Humbucker Set N, + capacitors and potentiometer instal on HB Les Paul, and WOW :-)
I would lke to say that my observation form previous review get confirmation with changing of pickups.
Now not only looks like Les Paul now sounding tunning great
I am very satisfied

This is a really impressive guitar for the money. I honestly don't understand how it is possible to sell a guitar of this quality for such a low price. Of course it's not perfect, you can't expect to get a top quality instrument at this price, but it's easily as good as many guitars costing more than twice as much.

There were some issues though:

-The nut is poorly fit (too short) and the nut slots are poorly cut (way too high). I had to file the nut slots to get a nice, playable setup. The nut is also made from rather soft, poor quality plastic that affects tuning stability so I'll probably have to replace it with a bone nut.

-The "AAA" flamed maple top was hardly flamed at all. It would actually have looked better with a plain top.

-Two of the tuners were loose and the screws couldn't be fastened in the rather soft, porous wood this neck is made of. The Thomann website says the neck is mahogany but this is DEFINITELY not mahogany. It's much softer. I'm guessing the neck is made from okoume, same as the body. I had to plug the screw holes with a harder wood and re-drill the holes to be able to fasten the loose tuners properly.

-One of the pots was completely loose and had to be fastened.

-The bridge is rather poor quality. Several of the saddles were completely loose (only held in place by the tension of the strings) and the intonation screws are made from very poor quality, soft metal that strips VERY easily.

-The fretwork was surprisingly good (fret ends were actually perfect!) but the frets weren't polished properly. The frets felt extremely rough, like bending on sandpaper. I had to polish the frets, starting with 400 grit and progressively finer grits to make the frets feel ok.

-Plastic jack plate... That's destined to break sooner rather then later. Might as well replace it with a metal jack plate as soon as possible, to make sure it doesn't break at a critical moment (like on stage...).

This may sound like a lot of issues but it's no worse that what I often see in guitars costing 2-3 times as much. Apart from these relatively minor issues the guitar is actually very nice. The pickups are great, wonderful tone. Which shouldn't be possible at this ridiculously low price.

Still, if you aren't capable of sorting out a couple of minor issues yourself, and if you have to pay a luthier or guitar tech to do it, these guitar may not be QUITE as good value. But if you have the necessary skills/tools to sort out some minor defects and give the guitar a good setup (including filing the nut slots) you can get a really nice guitar for practically nothing.

Afordable and good looking vintage style LP.
Pros:
- as written in specifications, this guitar actually have real and thick maple top over mahagony body. Not veener, not print, but thick maple top, which is very rare to found in low level LP guitars.
- neck is straight, good, pretty low action (1.5mm), no dead frets, no buzz, very playable.
- very nice looking
- there are push/pull pots, some people will be happy because of that, although personally I don't see the meaning in splitting humbuckers... I bought guitar with humbuckers because I don't like the sound of single coil.


Cons:
- frets need good and long polishing, because their surface was pretty rough. This maybe should not go under "Cons", as guitar is only 160 ?, so this task to do is somewhat acceptable. On expensive guitars you don't have to do that, but this is not expensive but very cheap guitar.
- no shielding in cavities, same as above
- hardware and plastic parts are cheap
- screew that holds metal clamp on pickguard, is long enough to touch guitar body and sratch finish. my advice is to replace it immediately, before you get mark.
- some minor imperfections

Pickups are somewhere in the middle...can be used, although are bit weak for high gain, but will be enough for some time, at least at the begining. Advise is to use noise gate if you want to crank it up. Neck pickup sound melow and nice, especially with a touch of delay and crunch. But with better aftermarket pickups, I'm sure this guitar will sing.
Regarding hardware, keep in mind that this guitar cost less than a decent pair of humbuckers. So it is not possible to squeeze in Grovers or Gotoh, plus mahagony, maple, nice finish and decent neck.
There is still a lot of place for improvement, but important is that overall price at the end will still be more than affordable.
If you can live with few imperfections on solid, very playable and affordable guitar, then go for it. Stock hardware will be sufficient for some time, and later you can transform this guitar into nice instrument.

I was looking for a copy Les Paul to practice on and also to change the strings to 11 guage. I am fortunate enough to have access to a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul and a Fender Stratocaster but as I spend 99% of my time practicing 'unplugged' I wasn't too worried about the quality of this practice guitar. The Harley Benton guitar I ordered from Thomann came and I was 100% impressed by the quality (except the scratch plate which was very badly scratched but Thomann have replaced this free of charge)
The finish is excellent. The neck has exactly the same feel as the Custom Shop Les Paul but the sustain when unplugged is fantastic! I like to play in the style of Paul Kossoff (from Free) and even unplugged and with full finger vibrato (even with the original 10-46 strings that came with the guitar) I managed to sustain a note on the 13th fret of the 3rd string for 7 seconds and even a Les Paul unplugged can't do that!
Plugged in, it doesn't of course have the quality of a Les Paul but when you think that this Harley Benton (with a mahogany body and neck and the maple cap) is only about 10% of the cost of a genuine Les Paul Standard in the UK it is fantastic value.
My only small cristism is as this guitar's first two knobs are push up and down to switch between a Humbucker sound and a single coil (which is great) and there are two labels inserted under these knobs telling you of this. Instead of having an 'easy peel' sticker they were stuck so hard to the bodywork that it took me two hours to get them off using my fingernails, cigarette lighter fuel and a pair of tweezers. Fortunately the varnish is so good it didn't appear to damage the guitar but perhaps Thomann could get this problem sorted out with their suppliers as all it needs is a simple supermarket type sticker around the knobs or a leaflet in the box. We only need to be told once. P.S. I used a 2mm plectrum to get that Paul Kossoff sound.

The quality of this guitar rivals most Gibsons I have played. What an insane value for money.

The finish is flawless, the flame maple veneer looks absolutely stunning and the guitar plays great. I know it can be pot luck with harley benton and one of my other harley bentons does have flaws... but this one is pretty much flawless.

The only area where it might fall slightly short of a gibson that is orders of magnitudes more expensive could be the pickups... but even then they sound great and really arent that far off.

The only other criticism would be that the frets could use a good polish and although they arent sharp, they could do with a tiny bit of attention... but you are talking an hour of polishing and restringing to rectify this.

The biggest problem I have is that I bought this for my brothers Christmas and now I really really want one for myself!

Id say you are getting 95% of a gibson for a fraction of the price...

I've been playing over 30 years and have purchased 25 guitars and this is the best bang for the buck I've ever had. I was expecting to need to do some fret work and a complete setup, but none of that was needed. The frets were all level, smooth on top and sides, and ready for a final polishing. The neck is straight, C shaped and a chunky (which I wanted), no visible flaws in the fit and finish. The overall fit and finish of the guitar is beautiful. I can't find anything wrong with it. It has a nice solid weight to it and feels nice in any position. The only thing that isn't great are the pickups, but I almost always change those in my guitars anyway. They are fine for a new player or if you want to use this to practice, but they can't handle much distortion without getting a muffled sound. Their clean sound has too much of a hollow sound to it. But I didn't expect a guitar at such an incredibly low price to have great pickups anyway. All and all this is an amazing guitar at an amazing price. Congrats Harley Benton, you have a new customer that will be buying many more of your products.