CHEAP 8 String Guitar... EXPENSIVE Upgrades (Harley Benton 8 String)

[@BaenaCarcosa]

Check out Sweetwater's BLACK FRIDAY SALE: ►imp.i114863.net/kjmeyN

[@Andrew_182]

Enjoyed the video man. I'm sure you planned on it, but I'd just hold on to the tuners. That way next couple times you want to swap tuners out on a 7 or 8 you just have to buy one pack.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

It's a great 8 String Electric Guitar and it works. They've improved the design over the years.

[@billyturk8117]

I love watching you progress as a guitarist man. I've been watching you since you were doing djenty Miley Cyrus covers.

[@BaenaCarcosa]

Woah! OG

[@billyturk8117]

@@BaenaCarcosa I had no idea what "djent" was until I stumbled across your channel. 🤣

[@InFamous_Asylum6]

You did it! I’m so glad you actually listen to your fan base and follow through on ideas! This is exactly what I’m doing to my Harley Benton 7 Multiscale and will be doing when I get my HB 8 Multiscale. I’m definitely checking out Eric’s video because I have been very unsure how to tackle throwing the Fishmans in them, so thanks a bunch and I’ll be sure to give Eric some love as well!

[@tw8245]

Fun video but should have included clips of the original pickups and setup so we could compare. Sounded great though.

[@BaenaCarcosa]

Fair enough!

[@AlwayzTired]

That demo in the mix was straight FIRE! Loved it!

[@gnumarco]

Did exactly the same on my Multiscale 7 a week ago: I threw in some Fluence Abasi pickups. Made it a really great guitar!!

[@itsmebelial]

Did you put the 8 string version soapbars?

[@jeroam498]

I did the same upgrades for the Harley Benton R-458BK MultiScale with 2 fishmen fluence pickups and 8 Gotoh locking tuners. The guitare souds really better now. It's my first 8 string guitare. Even if it's not a main project, i will keep it.

[@yeserguitar]

Man thanks for making a video for this and actually making this mod!

[@allendickeson442]

thank you for clearing up the myth that upgrading a guitar makes more it valuable lol

[@Dysomniah]

Sounds good ! And so are your Carcosa's riff, they're god tier ! 💯

[@Screwhead]

I did something similar; I got the R-457BK Fanfret and got a pair of Bareknuckle War Pigs for it.. The pickups were more than 2x the price of the guitar, but it's TOTALLY worth it!

[@Pietreszcz]

Hi there, quick question. I also have the 7 fanfret HB, just the white variant - what version of the pickups did you buy? Is it the same problem as Andrew's (buying 9 string pickups for an 8string fanfret) or sid 7string pickups fit right in?

[@iamdecentatguitar1091]

I really like the sound of the coils split, sounds extra punchy. And even if it got too thin, you could always slap on a gain boost pedal or something

[@SnakePool]

I just got mine today!! Action is really low, 1.50mm to the 1.25mm. I emailed graph tech and they said they would make an 8 string set for me. Can’t wait to swap the pickups out!

[@chinard]

Around the same time last year i was looking into getting an HB 8 string and doing these upgrades I ended up going with the cort KX508MS instead which already had these mods built in plus a nicer fretboard material. All in all i think i would have ended up spending more in upgrading the HB especially considering that i would have had to do some routing and a complete rewiring Nice to hear what this sounds like after the mods tho, comparing to your earlier video the lower end sounds much less muddy than the stock pickups

[@casanovafunkenstein5090]

Was about to say that the Cort has basically the same specs for cheaper. That said, if you want to use a different pickup set from the modern fishmans, the HB may be a sensible option

[@MilkoOfficialChannel]

You took the right path man, sure the Cort is great

[@mo2bel]

no Neck Thru on the Cort though!

[@_gosoka]

I have an older harley benton fanfret 7 string, and yes, the bigger pickup thing is legit. Mine uses standard active size 7 string pickups, and they don't quite reach the high E string all that well. But on high gain I don't really notice it.

[@koloss85]

I ordered a Lundgren M6 in my Squier VM Baritone. Can't wait. Thall

[@davidbaucherel6071]

I've just upgraded a cheap Harley Benton 7 string multiscale (R-457 Roasted fretboard) with a set of Fishman Fluence Modern and Schaller locking tuners, it is an expensive upgrade indeed (almost twice the price of the guitar alone). I was a bit worried about the pickup size like mentioned in your video but then I came accross a post on Reddit with a copy of an FAQ on the Fishman's website stating that Fluence Modern and a bunch of other pickups of their range are fitted for multiscale since they use rails instead of individual poles for their pickups, so there is actually no worry of using 7 string pickups for a 7 string multiscale. Anyway, great video and nice upgrade !

[@CameronBurris1]

This is the sickest demo song I’ve heard from you. 🔥

[@Dale-g4i]

Semi-related, but I bought a Harley Benton Flying V and it’s honestly one of the most solid guitars I own. I put in EMGs and love everything about it. Except how to sit with it comfortably, given the V shape.

[@SnakePool]

I just got mine in the same color!!! FYI... Graphtech will make you an 8 string tuner set!

[@masonguy9534]

I would love to see a video of harley benton r-457 wh fanfret being modded to your liking. I feel like it would be amazing to see a "budget build" that would be something a 16 year old kid easily could do.

[@RobertMunteanu105]

Lol wtf! I was just looking for some pick-ups for my 8string Harley Benton 🤣 Such perfect timing! Thanks for the video!

[@didymuskvist]

I just bought that same guitar as my first 8 string and I'm gunna replace the pickups with Fishman's and the tuners with Graph Tech as well. Yes I'm copying you. 😆 Thanks for the inspiration dude!

[@kryko.]

Been waiting for this vid!

[@urfathersmelledofelderberr9498]

I feel like I shouldn’t be here this early

[@Skinnypete359]

relatable

[@zigazorin8893]

me too

[@ExtremeLiveCams]

Same

[@pipino1313]

how

[@RapidDecimation]

@@pipino1313 r/woosh

[@seandempseymusic]

Man that mix sounded epic with those dope riffs

[@mjrinitiative]

That was amazing man! Just subbed 🎸🔥

[@kadenromig8374]

Sweetwater got my band our live rig which was out of stock within a week b4 our first show

[@dreammachine86]

Interesting that you mentioned about the importance of using 9 string version pickups due to the fan frets. I have a Cort KX507 and as far as I'm aware it uses the 7 string Fishman Moderns. If I use the coil split (and tbh getting the coil split option on the Moderns is a pretty good feature for a cheaper guitar anyway...ESP/LTD don't even do that) then I find the bridge pickup is picking up only a little bit of the high e string. I'm sure that issue is still there in the full humbucker mode but just masked by the other coil kicking in. Another KZbinr that owns the KX508 tells me that the version II of that model does use the 9 string pickups so Cort have clearly identified it as an issue now. And I can see a lot of the other newer mutliscale guitars from other brands that seem to do the same i.e. all of Jackson's new multiscale models with Fishman Moderns have the 1 string up version. I'm not really up for doing any routing on a guitar that whilst is definitely great value and plays very well for the money, is not anything majorly special. I've been advised my only other option is to try and change the wiring to use the other coil for the split but that may also have the same problem, perhaps on a different string. I do like to use coil split a lot actually, I just like the way it sounds both for clean and for djenty stuff as you get loads of attack. But I suppose the high e isn't really going to be so important for the latter so will probably just live with it until I'm ready to upgrade to a higher end djent machine. I already got an Ibanez AZ24047 for the more versatile 7 string stuff (and to get a 7 with a trem that *wasn't* a Floyd Rose) but if there's anything I've learned from this channel, it's just how satisfying ridiculously low tunings with distorted as fuck tones sound. So I definitely want to have a proper djent machine in addition to the more traditional Ibby. The Schecter Keith Merrow Artist III is one of the dream options (as in, attainable at some point dream not £5000+ custom shop dream) but for now I have the Cort to improve my djent game. In all the reviews I read the main criticism was the cheap quality nut but not sure how easy that will be to upgrade being a multiscale shape, and I imagine a custom made nut would be expensive and defeat the point of a more value oriented guitar. Interesting that your way of improving the tuning stability of the Harley Benton was to upgrade the tuners even though they were already locking, that surprised me as I thought if they are already locking then its sorted so I suppose every component's quality makes some kind of difference. Tuning stability on the KX507 isn't bad but isn't particularly good either. The price really is incredible on this Harley Benton btw. I thought my Cort was cheap at just under £600 til I heard what the HB goes for. I suppose leaving out the brand name pickups has an effect but still...just incredible you can get a modern metal machine for that kind of price. The 8 in a line headstock looks really cool, don't see that too often. The green quilted maple veneer top is really nice too. My Cort has poplar burl which seems less 'prestigious' than maple but it still looks pretty nice, I always like a woodsy finish on a guitar. There was a green burst option too but couldn't find the same deal on that finish so didn't really want to pay an extra £100 just for a different colour. I've found the fanned frets to be quite tricky lower down where they angle to the right, especially for barre chords which I'm not great at anyway. Something like an F major is impossible for me. But when they start to angle to the left they feel really comfortable. I'd love to try the crazy looking Dean multiscale (they all have a Kahler tremolo, even the 8 string!) that has the neutral fret from the nut, with all the fans facing left. I reckon I'd find that comfortable. But ultimately I think something like 26.5" would be the perfect compromise to allow some lower tunings but still be very playable. Hence my attraction to the Schecter Keith Merrow, it also has a really thin neck which I like. Very different price league though, around £2000 so some saving needed. I can't see this HB model listed on their website at all so seems they have discontinued it? Same with the Dean multiscales I mentioned above. A shame to see interesting models go away but there must be some reason...could be sales not doing well enough, or a replacement model coming, or they want to focus on other models, or perhaps even not being able to keep production going on what are more niche/unique instruments.

[@smooothybuns]

Hey Andrew, will you consider doing a plugin tier list while a bunch of sales are happening?

[@PickUpGoliath]

Can you drop a link to the locking tuners? I’m not sure which model to pick up!

[@ShadowMantraSteve]

Debating taking the 8 string jump and that Hardly Benton is looking really appealing... Great video, thanks!

[@themorrigan1312]

"No leads, only heavy riffs" and then I get slapped with a beautiful melody I don't think I ever noticed any other time I've listened to Nihilus. Amazing all the same, but cmon, give yourself a lil credit, man

[@BaenaCarcosa]

Haha! All credit to my band mates for all the melodic elements of this track I didn't do any of that stuff :p

[@ScottGlasgowMusic]

Nice! Compares to a CORT with the mods

[@kaihablak2698]

Sick that this guitar has been sponsored by two massive stores like this

[@manoskf]

all my cheap guitars (and expensive) are moded and yes you loose money if you sell them so keep the stock parts

[@LuLeBe]

I want to see those pickups on a 9-string. Especially because of the coil split. Who doesn't want to hear some clean single-coil 9-string music? xD

[@TheWRCS]

I think it’s pretty rad you can customize the guitar, it reminds me of when people built their own PCs.

[@zmb5501]

They still do

[@TheWRCS]

@@zmb5501 I know, I meant in present tense

[@RobertHorvat93]

Hey andy wanted to ask if normal 8 string pick ups are fine for an 8 string fan freted harley guitar ? :)

[@judemisura4323]

Killer track Andrew

[@Atomsk80085]

what would be the biggest disadvantage to something like the RG8 with the 27 scale and non fan fret would you need more or less string tension for the higher end or are there other draw backs to non fan fret as long as you have the 27 scale length

[@brianjamesthomas]

I try to buy what I want in specs BUT if I’m just not finding anything that looks right (despite being spec’d right) or I just can’t find the combo of specs I want, then I actually doing the mod project. For instance, I’m not about to dish out for the Squire baritone Jazzmaster on the aftermarket so I’m buying the HB JA-Baritone and (when it one day arrives) putting Bareknuckle Stockholm 90s on it for that really sick downtuned LANDMVRKS tone.

[@jasonleo11]

Would love to see a mixdown video of how you get to the opening demo track(s)

[@xRaid3n]

Bro the Hypnos riffs are too sick damn

[@IGORTSARENKO]

Great idea for the video as I'm looking for upgrading RG8. Harley Benton guitar itself sounds really bad to me and I was expecting the before and after comparison (I think you skipped the most interesting part). Please keep doing your videos.

[@whitebeltbjj3739]

I literally just watched a video about the RG8 and HB 8 and they sound the same to me even with the passive stock pickups. But hey it’s personal preference. I just can’t tell the difference except for the $600+ more you’re spending to go with Ibanez.

[@IGORTSARENKO]

@@whitebeltbjj3739I’ve bought RG8 and got pickups upgraded to active EMG 81 - it’s so much clearer in the lows but active pickups loosing attack punch. In general I’ve spent around 1k and achieved Deftones kind of sound. It was reasonable but no comparison to expensive guitars. Just a cool entry level

[@Spaul]

I actually recorded a video with the cheaper version :D

[@mo2bel]

Hey Andrew, could you maybe give me the locking tuners model you used? I have the same guitar and thinking of upgrading them. Thanks for all the awesome content!

[@kenny.m.olsen95]

Love coil split sound

[@danme6528]

With Fishmans even a Cutting board sound good

[@jacksonhaynes5143]

can’t believe u skipped the end breakdown;( anyways sick vid thall

[@joesgtprima4609]

I purchased the same guitar except for the fan frets after I seen your vlog on the opening you posted so I had to buy one,,,,,I did purchased online the second after the video was finshed..... question Give me the tuning for the drop E ? because I will receive my guitar in 6 days .. thank you for the awesome tip,,,not only I saved money but now I have a new site to purchase killer guitars

[@BaenaCarcosa]

Awesome, enjoy! It’s just EBEADGBE

[@lordovthorn2747]

5:05 no that's just not true lol... SOME 8 string fanfrets need 9 string pickups but really it depends on the slant of the pickups. The R458's use Soap Bar size 8 string pickups. The DLX 8s (the QEB and QBB) are slotted for 9 string pickups. This I am not trying to be rude but this is just generally bad information/untrue to say that fanfret/multiscale 8s use 9 string pickups exclusively. It depends on the slanting of the pickups and not all multiscale 8 strings use those pickups though a good amount do. For instance my R458 Fanfret now has EMG 808x's in it My R458Bk is using D-Activator X's.

[@Spaul]

Yes i'm gonna do the same :D

[@JoshuaMRichard]

Yeah I'd definitely rather get a really nice guitar that already has what I want. Don't really have the time or energy to spend modifying sh*t. I find that more expensive guitars just "feel" better most of the time too so it's also a comfort thing.

[@elliotsmith5474]

I am looking at doing this so the 9 string pickups are the ones that fit this guitar?

[@Endure_agony_band]

Earlier than usual gangggg

[@edelcorrallira]

I tend to be picky when choosing a guitar. Usually I know early if I want that instrument or not, and once I do it just stays I had a Fender Strat, favorite guitar ever, period. It had all the sound tones I wanted at the time and most I want today. One day some burglars took that and my Marshall amp, as well as my second tier Squire Super-Strat. After fishing around for a decade, having seen some Strats costing more than ten times what I paid (got a very good deal at the time), couldn't find any that really made me happy (some of it was window shopping, but its valid regardles). Yet one day, I saw a 50 dollar clone, picked it up and just played it. I didn't even have an amp but I loved the unamplified acoustic sound it had. it was a very different, sort of a sweet kinda tone, very peculiar. Anyway bought it, took it home and plugged it into an amp and found it had the worst possible electronics. It was basically an AM radio, that reacted to the flick of a light-switch. In short I had a project in my hands, I added some insulation and a pickup swap. I know this won't sound like a thousand plus Strat, but it isn't it does its own thing instead and I'm quite happy giving it the Strat seat while known it isn't one. This instrument has a lot of character, is easy on the fingers, easy on the eyes, and I had a blast figuring out how to make it usable (not sure I'm done to be honest heh). I still would love to have my old Strat back but I'm not looking for another one. I also have other guitars, some of them just as valuable as my Strat (retail-wise), but this little boutique cheapie is just as good to me. The point is that cost and worth are two very distinct metrics. Cost does usually provide you with a concrete vision and attention to detail. You have quality assurance, a set of specific features, reliability (at least in theory, my friends Gibson snapped because with a very minor bump, and it sure isn't cheap)... All of them tend to fall in line being more or less replaceable, a one way ticket to a specific soundscape. That is, if you look for an SRV like sound, you have specific guitars that get you in that tone ballpark - at a premium. On the other hand, you may buy a guitar built by a small shop somewhere or some long forgotten model, maybe even something that was considered defective and somehow had its stars aligned and is amazing in every possible way (just ask Warren Haynes, his favorite guitar of all time was a defectve Gibson that is not legally allowed to be called a Les Paul). It can be a terrible guitar but you love it and it motivates you to practice or inspires you to compose. Thats a very valuable guitar but it can cost very little. And the point is to see if any guitar resonates with you. If it does, forget about the price because it's not going anywhere. Of course, they are really not bad units of store of value. Unlike dumb jewelry, or a bar of gold, a guitar can be sold/exchanged, it can appreciate, and you can have a blast while that happens not just have it locked away (though doing that, may help ensure its appreciation, in which case, get a cheap one to play). You mod a guitar when you wanna keep it, sooo true.

[@kiplingtturner]

sounds amazing

[@Jonathan9727]

Huge fan of Sweetwater and of course your channel! Question for you. I'm currently shopping for a baritone 7 because I don't think I need all 8 strings and 7 would be more comfortable for me. I'm stuck on pickup choice. This will be strictly for recording, stuff like your demo song here and also like the Doom OST. I've mainly been considering SD Black Winter and Dimarzio D-Activator 7s. These Fishmans sound pretty good as well. For Doom style riffs and sparkly palm muting, which would you recommend? Thank you!

[@420THETANK]

yup

[@msi1985]

You think the Lundgren 80s would sound good in this?

[@jamesmandarino6641]

Alright have a serious question I have been debating on making a custom guitar but the price point is insane for the specs. I'm wondering if getting something like this and dropping a ton in upgrades would yield me a similar quality instrument. Balaguer wants 3k to make what I want if I could buy a Harley Benton and drop like $800 in upgrades into it it would still be less than half the cost of the custom do you think I would get a similar quality instrument going that route.

[@mnwwwpt]

Can you put here the complete list of parts?

[@Kalsten]

Which string gauges (or string set) are you using for Drop E?

[@PotatoKing86]

Are the frets stainless steel?

[@jdizzleh3]

I bought this guitar 3 weeks ago and they said that the guitar would be back in stock in 6-8 weeks. I just checked it today and now it says 9-12 weeks, 3 weeks later :(

[@Abyssal-wbosd]

does anybodie now wich song he is playing

[@michaelbarber590]

"Do you like pickles, yes we like pickles".

[@brgerwzrd54]

Would you consider the Ibanez RG8 to be good?

[@BaenaCarcosa]

I never recommend the Ibanez RG8 personally

[@fede.chachagua]

no, worst choice possible actually

[@madjentah]

Guy from The Crossed band utilizes RG8 stock for years, like since 2015, and latest 2-3 albums recorded with it are I N S A N E. Same with the Atena band, but guy from there loaded it with 808's. Great albums, great music, guitar is absolutely ready for playing live and recording in studio, everything else depends on you. Production quality of both bands better than Baena's with his million bucks of gear, lol.

[@TheBanana93]

I have never heard of anyone say you have to use 9 string pick ups when its slanted thats mad

[@BaenaCarcosa]

It is very common - I don't necessarily like it but for whatever reason a lot of companies do it this way. Probably just saves a lot of money on production costs

[@static_motion]

I have another Harley Benton 8 string (R458 Fanfret) and it has regular 8 string pickups that are slanted. Put Fishman Abasis in there and I have no issues with either the highest or lowest string dropping out.

[@SimonMedia666]

@@static_motion i have The same guitar and I pit emg 808 totally suits it

[@rhitosparsha]

@@static_motion I too can attest to this. Recently got my fanned fret custom 8 string built with Fishman Abasi 8s, and have no problem with any loss of output on any string.

[@fede.chachagua]

@@static_motion I have a 7-string with fanned fret too, I put the Fishman Fluence Modern set on it and it works just fine

[@mikerom7991]

Does anyone know what website I can order the same exact locking tuners from? Great vid and guitar btw!

[@BaenaCarcosa]

Sweetwater!

[@peik5569]

Why would you not swap the nut?? 90% of the tuning issues on a guitar come from a bad nut, not the tuners. Throwing more expensive locking tuners is pointless if the tuners already were locking in the first place. It’s the nut that needs replacing if there’s tuning issues. Just swapping tuners for name brand tuners for the sake of swapping them is stupid and doesn’t solve any problems with tuning stability

[@desta9998]

I hope you react to Indonesian metal bands especially "Revenge the fate" metal band from Indonesia

[@ShpookyMetal]

8:11 suicide silence tuning ? addicted to substance

[@travisbashista8868]

Man, I had one of these. If you got it from California it was definitely mine and I wasn't a fan of that guitar at all

[@david2jz19]

With 800 dollard you could buy a Cort 8 string with the same setup 😂

[@TenebrusI07]

A cort for 800? fuck where? i've never seen one under 1,100$ most of their models are 1,400

[@david2jz19]

@@TenebrusI07 I have a KX508MS if you wanna know. But there are little issues like the knobs feel like cheap but it s playable

[@conorbaumgardner3591]

One mans trash is another mans treasure......

[@thestradiosmiles]

Waves of Babies indeed

[@MilkoOfficialChannel]

For that price you buy a Cort with fluences

[@JBCinema911]

COULD I BUY A COUPLE OF THOSE MACHINE HEADS FROM YOU? (SERIOUSLY)

[@TriadAgone]

Last time I came this early, the girl refunded me 50%

[@PeanutButterPavement]

Fishman's just don't work for me. I've had them and hated them.

[@mus0rmus1c3]

That's some Ihsahn sounding shit \m/

[@str11pes]

Copied me!

[@njdarudedovich6126]

Dayum this is great!