100 Dollar Guitar - Harley Benton ST-20 (Any Good?)

[@MrPolevaulter]

What are your experiences with REALLY cheap guitars? Also, check out some of my better gear reviews: kzbin.info/aero/PLNaLwTdlpQNFt5yZFJRiFtoHtPJm6bX-N

[@sommerssamantha]

BTW What can I say more? Yesterday I saw another video of unboxing of the parcel shipped and delivered by FedEx in USA - inside should been very expensive guitar, about a few thousand USD in cost, but it was an empty box, despite on the declared shipping weight of about 25 pounds at the start point. This means that FedEx postman unpacked the parcel at one of the via points and stole the contents of the parcel. And this happened in USA! But I'm pretty sure that if it would be $100 guitar so it would be delivered without any troubles ;) Video is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3PaiGyPe5dsfNk it completely in Russian, but the unboxing itself You should watch from 02:54 up to 03:40 :D

[@oncameramastery]

I kinda like cheaper guitars, there great for learning how to do mods without risking damaging something too valuable! I recently got a 2002 Squier Affinity Strat for just £45 and I love it!

[@justincase6151]

I threw one across the room once.....

[@ehs03y3ol]

As hobbiest player I can only affort

[@donkeevney]

Justin Case dick

[@alfaalex101]

Cheap guitars are good if you have knowledge how to mod and improve them as they often cost less than kit guitars. I'm content if I stray from tremolo use and adapt to high action. My only qualm really is the frets grind away fast. I find today's cheap guitars offer similar or slightly subpar performance of midrange guitars for 1/5th of their price without the fret polishing, improved electronics (I prefer my tone from my amp), and upgraded finishes. I'm okay with that. I'm not okay paying for $500 for a guitar that still chokes it's bends at medium action while a $100 guitar has the same result.

[@AaronD4]

You're a true master of your art to make it sound so good!

[@SkanderGuitar]

I own(ed) one and I‘m glad to sell it.. Here some honest points before you consider getting one: - bad Finishing on details - bad tuning stability - sharp Frets - terrible pickups I was hyped up to modify it but in the end for me its just not worth it. It’s an Individual choice.. the only thing that caught me was the price.. but honestly safe some money and get a better (budget) guitar

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: Never buy the cheapest anything from any company. Always buy at least one level , if not two levels up. I have purchased a middle priced guitar from Harley Benton and it was pretty good. The higher priced guitar from Harley Benton was really good. Spend at least $150.

[@unorthodoxparadox2339]

Not always necessary

[@michaelolz]

Or be prepared to put at least $100 into upgrading it. (It's actually a really good modding platform.)

[@richardrichard5409]

If ya referring to Leo Fender, everything was the cheapest down to the nails used for the guitar bodies, changing suppliers regularly to save a few cents.

[@Ghost12561]

love the unboxing part

[@gioigeniale6711]

When I saw Jeff Beck 2017,Ihad to have a Strat. The Harley Benton 20 .Everything was good. A fat Maple Neck and a maple fretboard. The color... - painted in Lake Placid blue. A real beauty! With this guitar I played a while in a band as 2. guitar player. Guitar player in this band played a reeeeeeeeal expensive Original Fender Strat. The difference between the two guitar? His sounded a little darker, mine a bit brighter. That's it. Some time later I changed the original PUs. 3 toneriders, These were more expensive as the whole guitar. And if I play this guitar on a Fender Amp, I'm surprised seeing Knopfler, Clapton around smiling.

[@johnnorth9355]

Back when I started ? Elmo, that was almost yesterday compared to some of us ! Now when I started ……… ha ha . I would always recommend buying second hand in this price range - you can get some brilliant bargains on real quality guitars. Twelve of my fourteen guitars were acquired this way all costing less than £100. If you are a newbie get someone with experience to help you look. Expensive will not make you a great player but good quality might encourage you to stick at it.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Absolutely :)

[@MagisterTuomo]

I've owned quite a few Harley Bentons. 6 I believe. Two of them were in the same price range as this one that you're presenting and both were utter crap. The other 4 cost about the double and played quite well. 2 things worth noting: they all needed additional setup upon arrival. They all had nice fret-ends. My tele is a Harley Benton DIY-kit. It cost me about $90. It came out real well. Considering the ready-to-play guitars need additional setups, you might as well simply assemble the tjing yourself. It takes about 20 minutes, including pick-up work (they use connectors, so you don't have to solder if you don't want to). And Good luck on scalloping. I've done it myself. Very exciting to learn and do 😊. Excellent video.

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

All guitars I ever had new (or left as new by their first owner) had higher action than necessary, be they Harley Benton, Ibanez or others. This is done on purpose at the factory so a neck moving backwards will be less likely to buzz out of the box when it reaches the customer. All guitars need a set-up.

[@MagisterTuomo]

@@Leo_ofRedKeep Higher action, yes. Although I have had the experience of getting a guitar with the action properly set. But the additional setups are the ones I'm thinking of: fret buzz, neck-problems, inproper mounting of the claw and/or the bridge, even earthing-issues are to be addressed.

[@portuguesebeer5069]

Hi. I had the telecaster verision and its was very good. The only dawnsides were the pickups and the tuneres. Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹

[@sommerssamantha]

So what can I say? True Elmo Karjalainen is able to play like hell cool even on wooden ice-hockey stick made in Soviet Union in 1972, so $100 guitar bought in a good online music store can be considered as a quite good choice, if You are Elmo Karjalainen!

[@MrPolevaulter]

:D

[@Ricky21mt]

Here is an un-boxing video for you 😂😂😂

[@bradleestone5344]

I bought a LTD ec 10 (hardtail) a couple years ago new for $100 . The action wasn't too bad (1mm at 4th fret) , the tuning pegs were alright , but the pickups sounded very weak and thin . I've never seen a decent tremolo system on a guitar under $350 . Elmo played some great licks on this HB though ❗

[@marcomostroso]

The unboxing bit is brilliant! hahaha Thanks for not doing guitar unboxing silly videos

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D Glad you liked it :)

[@michaelolz]

One thing I can’t understand is why Harley Benton won’t simply create another tier featuring these Strat and Tele style guitars, in traditional color schemes and configurations, and upgrade them for a higher price.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I've been thinking the same actually.

[@usuallyclueless4477]

The st62 ?

[@ThePierrezx]

The fact is that when the guitarist is very good then even the worse guitars sound nice... 🔥🔥🔥

[@joesmith5617]

i think when ever you get a new guitar you should condition the fret board and give it a good set up

[@maxsmeraldi]

I think that Squier Bullet Strat Is best of this guitar and when you have played Squier the sound was very very more Malmsteen of this. Can you made a comparative video for demostration the difference between this guitar and Squier Bullet Strat? You're the best. Max

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks Max! Interesting idea. I'll consider it.

[@GabrielNacu]

After working in a guitar store for 5 years, I have found cheap guitars to vary in quality massively. From worse to good to worse again, it all depends on the brand, build spec and batch. For example, I have found myself recommending the 2019 Squier Bullet Telecaster (with a string-through design), vs the more expensive Squier Affinity Telecasters (which are Top-loaders) to new students, as they simply do a better job at a cheaper price! They all still need a good setup though ;) Also, avoid anything with a cheap tremolo unit - block it off strat lovers!

[@Alfredo78666]

Got it, Carialen, yeah!

[@alexanderacostaosorio]

I just got this one for my son. What are you using for the gain? My son wants more of the ACDC sound. It's his first guitar. We picked it up at the store. So I went for new. Though I found an Ibaniez second hand for the same price a couple of days later. It's true you can get a better used guitar but it's a mixed bag. No warranty for those. His Harley Benton ST20 comes with a two-year warranty. We can come back to the store anytime.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I'm using a Strymon Sunset, but that's a bit expensive. Maybe this video will help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6akYaypZ8etZtE

[@nealflett1813]

2nd hand Pacifica are a good choice on eBay UK

[@pepitoPerez344]

"here's a bit of unboxing for you " hahaha brilliant !!!!

[@MrPolevaulter]

:D Glad you liked it :)

[@michaelolz]

I had to work WOOORK to not spit out my coffee all over the place.

[@stuartwilliamjohnson7549]

@@MrPolevaulter I like the short boxing segments also - should show the one where Joe Frasier knocked Ali down - even tho I luv Ali !!

[@RawenWarCrow]

Return policies... That's one thing Thomann have too. And that you could have used if you've checked it when it arrived, like anybody would do in the real (i.e. not youtube) world. Yes, cheap guitars can be not as good as others, especially when the seller service isn't good, but Thomann isn't that bad for this (it seems like sometimes it can be bad though, even if I never experienced it). Waiting too long and just throwing "this is not good, it's crap, don't buy it" isn't really constructive, is it? It's the reason you won't have my sub; not because it's Harley Benton or Thomann (I have not interest with them, so I don't really care), but because it's just ordinary YTbait...

[@sunintheroom]

..low budget guitars by harley benton, fazley and gear4music..cheap and nasty..good for setting on fire or smash to pieces on the stage..but, bought the fazley humbugger with two humbuckers, wich i also fixed the sharp fret ends on with a cheap nail file made of metal, wich sounds pretty heavy connected the marshall amp i got..whammy bars do get out of tune on most guitars..unless it's a floyd rose with a nut lock then.. :)

[@MikeHansen1970]

You are right, better to get a used guitar. You can often get a 'name' model at a substantial bargain as well, and if you are fortunate enough to buy from a local retailer, they often will set it up for you, and give you some kind of guarantee. Too easy to get discouraged at the beginning when everything is hard by adding a hard to play instrument as well ;-)

[@stuartwilliamjohnson7549]

So true - happened to me !!

[@davidjorgenpedersen8010]

IRIN and ISIN make a good Cheap Guitar, But I Agree! Buy Used Mid-Price!I got a Washburn Maverick $85, A BC RICH Asat for $75, ARougue Rocketeer for $69, You can get a Leo Jaymz Strat for $135 it is a Good One,A Grote Tele with HH for $135 is a good One. Used Dean Vendettas are Usually Good$80-$170 if you want a Floyd Rose it's the More Expensive, Ibanez Mikro You can Find New for$149, RG Copy on E-Bay $80 Play OK......Those are Few I have that are good for Students and Players....Till next Time See Ya Elmo!

[@stuartwilliamjohnson7549]

Very helpful details - thanks so much !!

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

So that guitar was hardly playable on arrival but could it be set up nicely or did that high action have to stay? Is the fretwork terrible or was it just a back bow in the neck that could be corrected easily? Does it stay in tune after the brand new strings were stretched?

[@francoisdreesen9684]

I have the same guitar ( though the lefthand version) and the same problem that the distance varies altleast 5 millimeters between the first and last fret. I could solve this partially by tightening the trussrod and lowering the strings on the bridge. Maybe i have to tighten the rod more but i'm afraid of damadgeing it 😖

[@oncameramastery]

It's amazing that they go to all the effort of spraying a pretty nice looking sunburst, but don't take 10 minutes to set the guitar up better! Still it looks okay as a base instrument for upgrades.

[@christophermannmanno6318]

I notice with a lot of these cheap guitars that the pickups are too high up on the lower strings making it to loud when you play chords.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I didn't notice that on this one, but then again quality varies a lot on cheap guitars.

[@-Yukiahh-]

for a begginer hobby is it ok at least?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Probably

[@daniellarson3068]

Would the advice you offered apply to one's first bass guitar? I've been considering either a used bass or a kit bass. I realize the amp used for this bass would need to be a different amp to avoid speaker problems. I look forward to seeing your improvements to your new guitar.

[@EricTViking]

The pickups are usually one of the worst elements of a cheap guitar. So even with a bass guitar you might have to factor in buying a decent pickup for it. If it's an active bass the electronics could also be rope.

[@daniellarson3068]

@@EricTViking I can solder and replace the pickups but I'm not good with ropes.

[@EricTViking]

@@daniellarson3068 knot good with ropes

[@alexanhellberg]

haha Legend. Thanks. Would you say this is good enough for plug ins only? Will it effect the sound goin IN the recording even if its garbage?

[@MrPolevaulter]

It's probably fine for that.

[@alexanhellberg]

@@MrPolevaulter Thanks. Will think about it, Im not a fan of high strings, is it able to adjust?

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@alexanhellberg yeah

[@alexanhellberg]

@@MrPolevaulter Hehe ok, still garbage i guess, will probably end up buying. Thanks again Sir!

[@jacobbockover1628]

I ordered a Harley Benton sorta sg model the neck held up good it had high action and a lot of neck dive so I gave it to my girlfriend. I have to do a lot of neck adjustments because I live in the desert

[@Bowietrope]

Elmo, not to be redundant but you make that guitar sound like $1,000,000. Please tell me what delay pedal you use, need to get one...oh and still have my $70.00 pawn shop mystery prize guitar...the body feels like it's coated on porcelain.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D Thanks! I use a Strymon Timeline. It's very good. I also used to use a Flashback Mini, which also did the job very nicely, on a much lower budget.

[@Bowietrope]

@@MrPolevaulter Thank you so much Elmo! So many delay/reverb pedals...so hard to choose, but I've heard great things about Strymon, would you say it's worth the extra expense? I would rather buy one great expensive pedal now than buy 6 trying to find the ideal one, what do you think? Again, thanks, Bruce🍕

[@chrisbowsman]

10 or 15 years ago, I had a single-pickup Squier Bullet. It had a really nice satin finish on the neck, and sounded awesome when I put a Super Distortion in it. The tuners felt crappy, but did what they were supposed to.

[@richardrichard5409]

What's the point of a dirty signal when reviewing a guitar 😂

[@vikkikrakowski8808]

Thanks cuz I bought one.it hasn't arrived yet.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Hope you like it!

[@alexvoicu5906]

God bless everyone !!!

[@jimelliot1789]

BRUH!!!! that unbonxing funny af hell. make more vids please!!!!!

[@MrPolevaulter]

😀

[@mrscary3105]

What does the "J" Stand for? :) (Don't answer if you don't want to, just wondering)

[@stevetamv68]

Jenny... (;

[@williammolina9792]

Horrible bridge, goes out of tune just by looking at it...

[@66Olli]

Try a SX Strat 😉

[@Harrythe1st]

Elmo J. Carelian , the strat man 💪

[@m.giffin5133]

I tried to buy a Fender from Thomann and was told they can't sell it to me because I live in the States? I guess they would rather have you but Chinese knock offs instead of the real deal. Sometimes I think Gibson and Fender have lost their Freaking minds.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: C.I.T.i. E.S regulations make it complicated to re-import a guitar if it is rosewood. Fender may also have a clause in the distributor contract to protect the USA dealers.

[@m.giffin5133]

@@barbmelle3136 I guess so! But if we let China keep getting away with the practice of selling fake Fenders and Gibson's then what's the difference of banning Rosewood and tying the hands of dealers across Europe? If Fender and Gibson don't start lowering their prices here in the U.S. then I just won't buy their products anymore. There are many other manufactures out there that I'm sure would be willing to take my money for a product that may be even better and cheaper. Thanks for the comment!

[@ChezzOnBass]

I also find taking an item out of box absolutely stupid.