Harley Benton TE-53KR BL Tribute Series

I was worried that a guitar for this money couldn't be a decent player. All my guitars are for gigging, I'm not a cork sniffing collector, so they must actually play and sound well. I am normally a Gibson guy, 2010 LP Trad, reissue LP Special Doublecut and '65 SG Standard - (that one is a 1965 original), so I'm not spoiled for a decent instrument. I wanted to get my hands on a Tele for the band's Stones work in Open G. This caught my eye as it is a Keefy copy. It's not exactly the same as his, of course, but I gambled I would be able to get in the right ballpark of sound with it. I was absolutely right.

The guitar is worth every penny I paid and a lot more beside. It is nicely if not superbly finished in good quality budget materials, has decent if not stunning hardware from scratch and actually has excellent pickups, (both Teslas). This gives tones ranging from the necessary Tele sharp bouncy twang, Joanne Shaw Taylor type raucous blues/rock, and even thicker humbucker neck sounds. You may lose out on the clearer single coil neck sound but, other Teles I have tried seem to miss that ability to thicken up on the neck pickup and the HS layout solves that.

The neck profile is excellent and comfortable, and the frets seem perfectly good if kind of obvious and I find they will play in a little in time. Controls are excellent, both volume and tone are gradual and spread across the whole range of their pots. Body finish is, just as you would expect nowadays, great. There is no excuse for a ropey finish with today's production lines. It isn't TV Yellow but is a nice halfway house between that and a Butterscotch.

Yes it is a cheap guitar and yes it is built to a tight and low budget but you would never know it if you play with your eyes closed. If you have to have ultimate bragging rights with your other cork sniffing mates then a £3k Fender Custom Shop is right for you. If you just pick up guitars on a case by case basis and judge them on their own sound and feel then this is a real find. How long will such a good instrument stay this cheap?

A couple of stars may be missing for natural design limitations but 5 Stars overall for its quality mixed with its basic value for money.

(For the record, this may be a good review but I am an independent customer with no link in any way to Thomann. Neither am I being offered anything for the review. Howevr, I wouldn't refuse anything if it were offered! ;^) )

As the owner of three HB acoustic guitars and eight electric, I have never felt the need to leave a review before. I love the price point and the quality it brings for it. Yes some of my cheaper purchases I love to tinker with. New pick ups and pots etc all enhance the playing .
Years ago I had a Japanese Fender Keef telecaster. I moved it on and like so many of us. I questioned my sanity in the coming years on why I didn’t keep it. I had the HB KR tele in my wish list for the last year however bought the ST 25th Firemist before it went out of production.

I committed to the KR tele and I am not disappointed. It is fabulous. The Tesla pick ups are so good. The Opus 4 humbucker is a class sounding beast. Harley say it’s Alnico 5 magnets. Tesla website state it’s Alnico 2. Bridge pick up is hand wound and competes well with the neck pick up. No weakness is apparent.

What a fabulous caramelised Maple neck. A real joy to play.

A word of caution. This is the heaviest guitar I have played. A real solid ash body. Enhances the resonance no doubt but it really is weighty.

I highly recommend this guitar. £205 spent and I know it has been said on many reviews. This guitar is as good as a guitar four to five times the price.

Well done Harley Benton. Look forward to your next Tribute guitar.