€400 Guitar Challenge - Pro Specs On A Budget!

[@jamiebriggs8277]

There's no doubt in my mind that Fender holds back better components that they could include, because they want to artificially segregate the better features to the significantly more expensive guitars. The big guitar manufacturers have put a lot of time, money, and effort into making people believe only expensive guitars can actually be good, and they need to keep that concept going. Thankfully brands like Harley Benton are helping dismantle that paradigm.

[@zakklee2556]

Harley Benton for the win. Not to mention stainless steel frets.

[@shaharbar]

What a time to be alive!

[@desslone]

We've had Harley Benton Budget range for years and well worth the money. This lot from the pro series means no need to upgrade pickups tuners etc. Hope one day they introduce a Custom Build (not the current cutom range) where you can choose options to get a truly customised built guitar. From a Harley lover and modder.

[@guitarman1129420]

What about the trem ?

[@obbor4]

I have one of each and love both, but companies like Thomann and Firefly keep giving us more for less. What's not to like? That neck on the HBs is really something! Thanks for the honest review, guys.

[@scottpickel1282]

HB for the looks and spec - but The CV sounds better - sounds like a strat - so CV for me

[@guitarman1129420]

I didn't realise Strats had two volume pots ? 😃

[@diggerd6489]

Would love to know why we are expected to pay top dollar for a flamed maple neck like that on other more premium brands when Harley Benton can offer this option at such an affordable price 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@kennethdarlington]

Because of "sound" and other relatable characteristics are almost the same, but they need at least something to differentiate huge price differences/mark-ups. Especially while "made in %somewhere” stickers aren't worth much in terms of quality as instruments are being mostly made with CNC machines. And laborers are the cheapest ones location can provide. There is no huge difference there as there isn't much time humans spending per instrument anyways

[@ecowill10]

Because sadly not all woods are the same quality just because they have the same name. I dont know about this one, but i've come across flame maple necks that they just feel 'empty'.

[@GerryBlue]

China worker wages vs USA worker wages

[@Rolf_D]

Great Video, I realized, that a realy great neck - Herman's Guitars on Ebay - makes a big difference in Tone. The Neck alone is around 250EU!

[@Czeslaw-d4e]

1) To many String trees = staggered tuner’s 2) Better bridge please 3) Push,push pot 9.5-12 compound radius thread board Than it will be all good Thank you

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Great job Rats! I way prefer the sound of the Squier when you A/B'd the cleans 😎👌 The gloss is super annoying tho 🤬 STModern specs are bonkers for the price 🤯

[@peskypesky]

Hey, some of us like glossy necks!

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@peskypesky That's cool mate 😁👍 I usually take the gloss off those necks anyway - 2min job with a bit of steel wool 😎👍 It would be harder for you if it was the other way... If it was unfinished and you wanted to gloss it - would take more than 2mins, no doubt 😜

[@peskypesky]

@@stevecassidyguitar 😂😂😂

[@philhudge]

Great to see the truss rod adjustment at body end - Musicman style.

[@NO-TALK-GuitarPlugin]

Harley Benton sounds really good. And stainless steel frets are a huge feature

[@mattjazz3]

Was that a 57 on the Katana? Don’t they have an XLR out? Sounds great as always, just wondering!

[@stewarttomkinson3356]

I got the left-handed Harley Benton Strat in black and white white one has the roasted neck and yes, it sounds different but I like both and I have on order one of them new player twos

[@lazvt8469]

I have 2 CV50 Teles....and 2 HB TE's....HB much better made, MUCH!! Pups are equivalent....decent. Hardware are equal. HB also cost MUCH less. All four have aftermarket, high-end pups (Suhr, Fralin, Lollar, and NoCaster) and play and sound as good as any MIA Tele (just sold my Pro II). My HB TE-63DB is flawless, absolutely flawless in fit and finish and fret and fastness.

[@jasonodell79er]

They both sound great lol

[@akjl01]

Aye, interesting..They both sounded good. Decent chops too. I bought a Squier fsr classic vibe a few years ago but moved it on. The set-up when delivered was quite shocking really. I paid about £330 for it. I ended up getting it sorted by a local guitar tech for about £40. It made a world of difference having it professionally set-up. Couldn't get away with the high gloss neck though as mentioned plus it was the sss version which I think is less versatile than the HSS. Yeah, that hb modern looks and sounds great but some may be put off with the headstock. I personally thought the neck was a bit ott.

[@markspin4596]

Where are they made guys?

[@Gilmourdom]

Prefer the cleaner tones of the Squier tbh 🤷🏼‍♂️ The HB just sounds……..muddy, by comparison. Fatter, yes, but muddy with it. Stick a RM Satin neck on a Fender/Squier and its game over, glossy necks should never have existed, ever. Just my tuppence 👍🏼

[@marcohermans3207]

Sure the Harley Benton is equiped with better woods and components but I prefer the vintage sounding Classic Vibe. That's how I want to hear the beautiful glassy Strat sound. You can't go wrong with either because it's a matter of preferences. The sticky neck can easily be solved with some fine sandpaper. There must be a reason that a lot of pro musicians are using classic vibes when they are touring...

[@spencercarter8008]

It's also because it's relatively inexpensive and easy to replace if it goes missing. Bit like building your rig around boss pedals. You can go into a music shop anywhere in the world and they'll stock squire and boss.

[@marcohermans3207]

​@@spencercarter8008​, I play made in USA and masterbuilt Tele's and Strats at home or in the studio. A student of mine gave me a Classic Vibe for a set-up and I ask him if I could do a gig with it afterwards, he agreed. I was stunned because it plays and feels like a good Fender after a good setup. My band members didn' t here any difference. The only thing what I would immidiatly change are the tuners. Great instrument.

[@matekerek1039]

The brand name is spelled SQUIER ... ( check the thumbnail )

[@lwwells]

@6:00 Steve Vai!

[@jaunianise4172]

Why isn't anyone talking about the strings that don't fall in front of the plots on the HB stratos ?? They removed the photos from the product sheets that showed the problem head-on. And when I pointed it out on the HB/Thomann KZbin channel, they deleted my message!

[@atmosfear667]

"that don't fall in front of the plots on the HB stratos ??" What do you mean with that?

[@jaunianise4172]

@@atmosfear667 *Magnetic pole piece*. "Plot" is in French language...

[@runwin3]

Mine are fine. Might not be an issue on every guitar. This also happens with other brands too. Best to check it out before you buy it, or have a good return policy in place.

[@atmosfear667]

​@@jaunianise4172 Thanks, so you are complaining about misaligned strings over the pickups I assume, well, maybe the rats didn't a model with have misaligned strings and maybe it was just a bad production model on the website. I get the impression they do not cherry pick HB's for the photoshoots (I've seen HB's with wonky tuners, cracked paint etc. on Thomann's website) and as someone said before other brands sometimes f***k up, even the big names.

[@boomstick1643]

Sitting side by side, these guys look like Bob Dylan and Pastor Greg Laurie 😂😂

[@schaerfentiefe1967]

It is spelled SQUIER, not Squire. 😆

[@belo1971]

Nut width and neck shape of each one ?

[@atmosfear667]

It's on the thomann website

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Paul also James also i cut my wrist when my family was sleeping ❤😊

[@GerryBlue]

Squier isn't bad sounding at all

[@TheStudioRats]

Agreed

[@belo1971]

Why all those cheap (but good) guitare HAVE thinner neck and nut than US ones ? 😢

[@Utube-s8m]

Yea the custom shop guitars or higher end on a lot of brands have chunky necks.

[@bobbrowne3027]

Brand names mean nothing to me and the big boys ( Gibson, Fender ) have let their standards drop over the years , pushing out lower quality guitars at stupidly exorbitant prices. Whilst the Squier is a nice guitar I'd opt for that Harley out of the two , looks better all round ( necks a beauty ) I prefer the Fender style headstock I'll admit but doe's that really matter unless you want to pose ? Not sure about the humbucker as I prefer single coils on Strats , I do have an HSH one but hardly use it , can understand the versatility but love a standard Strat configuration. I keep being tempted for the Harley 335 Lemon Drop , looks gorgeous , oh my , another guitar , I'm doomed.

[@Gibbo1050]

Got a b stock ST modern a couple of weeks ago and its a lovely guitar. BUT, the neck is no where near as nice as the one in this video.

[@andrewgent5887]

The Squier sounds the better instrument to me, will have to take your word about the “playability”

[@thelolguy007]

HB

[@matt926uk1]

Harley Benton is great value but i just can't live with those headstocks.

[@runwin3]

Really? I don’t feel they stray too far from the norm. At least it isn’t a James Tyler.

[@matt926uk1]

@@runwin3 yeah they are really not bad i just prefer the Fenders

[@keithmulcahy3417]

Soloking is another cheap brand that have great specs

[@TheStudioRats]

Very true!

[@davidramos4317]

Always too much compression bro

[@TheStudioRats]

These is no compression, I’m in a shop plugged into an amp

[@ReasonanceHead]

@@TheStudioRats maybe youtube compression is what he means

[@plamenpenkov2865]

And now the ST Modern (non plus) is out at half the price, and it still shites on the Squier. You are giving up the SS frets, Babicz bridge, flame neck, possibly the rolled edges, none of which the Squier has.... So for the price of a Sonic, you are getting a better guitar than a Classic Vibe....😂

[@diddymies]

True, but i still prefer squier. It sounds more like stratocaster.

[@plamenpenkov2865]

@@diddymies It is a great guitar, but the price has ballooned too much. They were

[@PrantoKoX]

Even before the far superior specs (and looks), just from the short intro playing the intonation difference is pretty obvious. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Fender (and by extensuon their Squier sub-brand) are totally resting on their laurels, and have grown into this horrible habit of sending poorly finished & even more poorly setup instrunents to the stores, so much that one must look at the VASTLY overpriced Professional or Custom Shop series just to be sure to get an instrument that plays properly without a trip to the luthier first. They're shameful and shameless, IMHO.

[@Utube-s8m]

They used to be great. If you ordered online perfect. Now they need set ups etc. the only one that I was disappointed in was my first mim guitar only because someone pissed on the fretboard. It took yrs to have someone tell me what it was. Nobody else repair guys etc knew what it was. I avoid it.