Cheap vs Expensive LP Style Guitars $2200 vs $285 (Blind Test)

[@intheblues]

Can you hear a difference? The answer is revealed at the end f the video. 😎 I have decided to keep the Tokai and it's currently getting a few mods which I will explain on an upcoming video. Rock on!

[@jakevoss7885]

Sounded like Guitar A was a bit better intonated

[@kamarienedwards1757]

intheblues Can you review the Ibanez ax120, they look pretty cool and I don’t see any KZbin videos on them

[@donhancock1721]

Your facial expressions gave it away when you turned up the gain.

[@anthgee296]

I had a lefty Tokai LS110 great build and miss it. I must say the Harley Benton looks better than I thought. Cheers on the Vid.

[@leightnite3056]

Weird, totally thought that Benton sounded better all the way round!

[@DennisAlvarezMusic]

Sounded more like P.A.F.'s on the HB than the Tokai to me.

[@antonyivanov9024]

As a guy who had a couple of Les Paul and PRS Singlecuts...I got this wrong. And I liked how that Harley Benton sounded.

[@stanislavmigra]

same here. Liked A sounds better, so guessed it is Tokai 🤷

[@mikecaldwell4442]

or ..find a squire body and good neck for the strat of your dreams at a small percent of nash or?

[@wodenoftheangles3339]

@@mikecaldwell4442 or just spend your money on good pick ups

[@tomy96175]

Same here, i thought A was the Tokai

[@KarlSheridan]

Sold my Gibson Les Paul and bought 2 Harley Benton LP’s an amplifier some affects pedals and I still had change🤘🏼

[@Имбирнаяпеченька-ю6ь]

But can you play well? This is what's really valuable.

[@TiagoMorbusSa]

@@Имбирнаяпеченька-ю6ь having fun is what's really valuable.

[@KarlSheridan]

The Raddest Scorpion 100% 👍🏼

[@Steven_SK]

Old ears are happy with any sound! I thought A was a tad brighter and guessed it was HB. Us cheap guys are very happy with the HB!

[@robertmm1505]

Great video. Sound wise both are good and with a bit of playing with the EQ on the amp I reckon most players could get either one sounding just how they want it. Thanks for highlighting the neck heel on the two guitars, I think that is the most important difference between the two. As someone with short fingers the Harley Benton is lot more playable for me than other LP style guitars.

[@geoffedwards189]

I couldn't hear a difference which means I would be happy with the HB. Amazing for the price. Great video as always Shane, take care mate.

[@cuptie71]

A..sounded brighter with a bit more clarity so assumed it was the Tokai. I'm glad I was wrong👍

[@Martin.Christopher]

Just listened to which I like better, wasn't looking to "guess"... Legit liked A more up 'till higher gain. Great video and showcase of Price ≠ Sound. At least not anywhere near a 10 to 1 rate.

[@64north20west]

I guessed B for the Tokai because it seemed warmer and a bit more refined. However, there was not a sonic difference that justified the price gap. Maybe the neck, the design, construction quality help fill the gap. That means the cheap one is very good, indeed.

[@BesharALAzzawi]

That HB squeal was an orgasm! I use Harley since 2002 and still have one of their first curved back nylon strings which plays and sounds way better than an ovation that’s 10 times the price. Budget guitars but they are great. If I have the extra $$$ I’d get a Gibson LP, but I’ve used my HB SC550 in serious professional recordings and it sounds HUGE given that you have the sound in your head first and know how to mix. Cheers and thank you

[@misterknightowlandco]

I couldn't tell the difference, but my wallet sure as hell could so I'll go with hb.

[@taylor914ce]

I personally liked the cheap one better. I've been trying to get myself a MIM stratocaster or Telecaster for a while now, and seeing so many of these cheap vs expensive comparisons, I'm starting to question if the mid price range of the aforementioned is worth it, as there are many cheaper options with overall same quality.

[@ravenslaves]

Soundwise I'd be happy with either one. The HB sounded a little more "authentic" ...going back to the old days. When your pickups were much more likely to go wild on you.

[@TheRosswise]

I love my Benton, hated the pickups so I swapped those out with some GM Hot Rods. Turned out a great little gigging guitar that rivals my Gibsons. Would definitely recommend.

[@MusicbyLou]

Thanks for the honesty! I, too, found the HB a bit brighter. This was an enlightening comparison.

[@johncartelli]

i bought a brand new Harley Benton SC450 in 2017 for under $200 dollars delivered from Thomann in Germany . they called it lemon flame. it had a bright orange edge which i hated.i sanded off the top and under the color found a coating over the entire top that appeared to extend out to the edge and became the binding. I stained it yellow..tinted the edges a bit darker, threw in some Stew Mac Parson Street Pafs, and modified the head stock to the gibson shape. Rounded off the sharp horn then relic'd it. It became my bar beater..looked great, sounded amazing and played really well..

[@stevegardiner8473]

I've never played a Harley Benton but, I've owned a 1985 Tokai Love Rock LS-80 for 20 years, and can say that it is a fantastic guitar. I've fitted it with Gibson Burstbucker Pro's, and it does everything a Les Paul type guitar should. I've owned dozens of guitars over the years, Gibson, Fender, Jackson, Charvel, Washburn, Yamaha, Peavey, Aria, Epiphone, Eggle, EVH, Ernie Ball, Ibanez, PRS, plus others that have all come and gone, but the one guitar I've never considered selling, is the Tokai.

[@woodyamsterdam]

I own a HB and still got it wrong lol! Maybe I'm biased but I liked the sound of the HB (without cheating!) better, especially the clarity.

[@kor2112]

I have a Tokia and love it, I was surprised on how close it was though. But the Tokia had more clarity for sure.

[@mrlionel1965]

It certainly wasn’t that much and absolutely not enough to justify the price difference. I would definitely go HB!

[@muziekvoorfeest]

@@mrlionel1965 besides clarity is in the pick ups

[@lubossajda3705]

As someone who owned a HB LP as well as a Gibson LP at the same time, this comparison was easy for me. HB is simply missing that 5 % top end frequencies (I am not talking about brightness) and generally has a more 2D sound if you know what I mean. The top end and 3D sound is what I prefer and that's why I eventually sold my HB. Nonetheless, someone less cork-sniffy is absolutely well served with a budget HB.

[@TheEchelon]

He's comparing HB and Tokai though.

[@michaelbarbour9827]

I preferred A, and really thought it would be the Tokai; they’re practically impossible to get here in the US. Additionally, it’s just really nice to watch a fellow lefty try out guitars that I can actually buy! I’m close to pulling the trigger on a Harley Benton DC Jr. I need a P90 in my life!

[@Floodland-bn3ol]

Its lemon color reminds me of ESP LTD Lemon Drop EC-256. Wonder if same factory.

[@MrLorne7]

I didn't know which was which during the blind sound test but I did prefer the brightness and tone of A over B. I never play super high gain so the squealing would never be an issue for me. I'm glad it turned out to be the HB because I'm not a label snob and would never pay a $2000 premium for an inferior tone (to my tastes) . Single coil tap is also a huge bonus, imo. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for HBs now. I live in Canada and have never seen one in person.

[@BradPham]

Initially thought A was Tokai but after a few riffs realised B was a bit darker with slightly lower output but more clarity and detail ... so changed my mind to B as the Tokai. HB sounded very good but not quite as much depth.

[@4stringkingstf]

I liked the Harley Benton’s tone as much as the Tokai. Thanks for this blind comparison.

[@DennisAlvarezMusic]

I thought that A was the Tokai. Because it was a bit brighter. I'm surprised because I've heard that the Harley Bentons are just a little bit muddy. Although I've never experienced either in person.

[@grayaj23]

I liked A all the way. It was less dark and less muddy. Both sound great though.

[@dylanadams1455]

guessing A is the Tokai. Hope it's the HB tho, want to start buying them soom. So many lefty models!

[@williamf.9615]

I got it wrong and I own a HB in vintage burst. I thought the Tokai would knock the pants off the HB. In a full mix you wouldn't hear much difference at all. Budget guitars nowadays are like upper mid-range when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's. I have a HB tele and it's comparable with at least Classic Vibe/Mexico, sound wise and finish. Good guitars for such little money. Times have never been better for buying a guitar.

[@Kris-P343]

I actually guessed right on this one! I have owned (and subsequently sold) a couple of HB's and the pickups were not so great... overall they were good guitars and a sweet platform for modding.

[@lennon1482]

when you're feeling lower than a rattlesnake riding a subway train, some in the blues vids ironically lift my mood

[@DeWittPotts]

I actually own the Harley Benton SC450 Plus in the same color that you have. I also use the Marshall DSL40C as my amp. I bought mine last March. A few years back I sold my 1975 Gibson Les Paul Standard and wanted another LP style to replace it without breaking my bank. I live in the US and paid $180 for the guitar shipped to my door. I have loved this guitar since I bought it and it has quickly become one of my favorite instruments.

[@akwamarsunzal]

Good on ya Shane! Transparency is important!

[@Chemist1076]

It's not only how they sound but how they play. Action, frets, feel

[@darrenpritchard8911]

I got an LS138f Tokai on the back of one of your reviews and it's an awesome guitar can't fault the quality. I preferred A sound wise, stunned it wasn't the Tokai. I guess if you want a 50s style LP go for the Tokai and the Harley Benton for a modern take on an LP

[@gillesgenete9598]

Whoooo, I was wrong , I thought A was the Tokai. I have a Tokai LS1000 25th anniversary in which I fitted better pick-ups: it is now comparing to a real R9. But this HB is impressive 👍 thanks for demo 😁

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

Shane, I’m very happy that you still have the love rock!

[@45327chris]

Since I found Harley Benton stuff at Thomann I really like it. During I've seen you're Video I hoped that guitar A is the Harley Benton. And it is! Great! Once again a good guitar for a small price. Shane, I like you're channel. Please go on with it. Greetings from Essen, Germany

[@AudreyDurden]

But you have a great point about the $230 harley benton, as far as being able to play a gig. My $200 turser, which I modified, certainly makes it to the stage along side the Tokai, they both sound great in their own right. For musician's the instrument is merely a part of what we do. It seems these days that far too many people associate the brand of something, like a guitar, with magic wand like properties.

[@darrenhunt7838]

Definitely going to check out a Harley Benton. I’m more of a Strat man but want the option of a Les Paul style guitar in my collection and this has convinced me as the way to go on a budget. It won’t be a heavily played guitar so it makes perfect sense. Cheers.

[@richardbinder9662]

Your opening riff sounded like the Darkness. That is a very good thing.

[@danielwoll6917]

Thanks Shane great job and I appreciate the integrity.

[@BeardedBluesDude]

I could tell the difference. A/B I did prefer the Tokai. I dunno if I would have been able to tell very easy in a mix though. I'm fairly certain that at this point, you can get a great guitar from just about anyone. You can get nicer guitars for more but it is definitely a diminishing returns kind of thing. I just picked up one of the new Epiphone specials.. and it plays and sounds every bit as nice as a Gibson I was playing a month or two ago.. It doesn't smell as nice though :D

[@uncleaj87]

They may sound similar but how did they feel in the hands? And which one you would prefer and if the money made a difference after that comparison. That’s the video I want to see. But another great video Shane. Thanks!

[@mfrockguitar2229]

A: HB B: Tokai Me sorprende la inapreciable diferencia, lo que dice mucho de la calidad de HB ....en mi opinión es tan insignificante la diferencia que no justifica el precio de la Tokai.. buen video saludos..

[@dk2428]

B is the 2200$ one.Edit: But i'd never use that much gain anyway, as usual the HB sounds rediculously good for its price. I'm looking at the SC-450 P90GT which at this moment is 149Eu, delivered at my door...how is that even possible!? LOL

[@tonefish3825]

I got the SC-Custom P90 and it is fantastic. I heard some iffy reviews on the 450 version

[@GuitarTabsDaily]

I purchased it over the holidays and for the price it’s amazing. Plays better than $500 epi P90

[@dragan4658]

The initial comparison I thought the HB sounded better ooops. I think the HB is a great deal for the money and is most likely going to be my guitar of choice when I buy a LP style, after all the quality for the price, cant be beat imo. Leave it to Shane to always give an honest opinion! 👍

[@davidharvey8812]

Wow 😮! You got me there , I was convinced it was the other way around .great video 👍

[@johndimarco7043]

I thought the tokai had more note definition and clarity in the increased distortion comparison, but that wouldn't be noticed in a live performance.

[@DavidHBurkart]

Thanks Shane. Both are incredible. By the $285 guitar and build your pedalboard if need be. You will have far more versatility than if you bought the $2200 version... and still have plenty of money in your pocket.

[@toddsteele72]

Great guitars. I really like that finish on the HB.

[@anthonyward8587]

Yeah, got it right Shane. I always close my eyes and listen with good speakers as well...As you said, it was the noisy pickups that gave it away at volume.. Set of S/D 's to the H/B and you're all set for a great playing axe. T.

[@xoxb2]

I guess A is HB and B is Tokai. A was brighter, B sounded a tiny bit richer and more controlled. Posting just at the end of the playing!

[@russellesimonetta3835]

I went to guitar street in Ochanomizu Tokyo yesterday. It was chock full of tokai's, edwards, et al. It was fantastic!

[@ROLEPLAYA64]

In all honesty I prefered the sound of A for everything except for ultra gain (which i dont do anyway). I'd have no problem using an HB to gig with.

[@mattvanmantgem8600]

Hi, Shane- Sorry if it seems like I dropped off- I got a Roku, and stream youtube content on my TV, so I can't comment, or like videos unless I do what I'm doing now. I got this one wrong- but I think it's interesting why- I used to own a HB 450+, but it was from before the Roswell pickups- and so, even though the neck played great, it was so very dark that it would get lost in the mix. If you added reverb, it would just disappear almost entirely. So, I heard B as a little darker and thought that has to be the Benton. I've owned a ton of HB guitars, and whittled it down to 2- I've got the TE-52 and DC-580. The TE, in my opinion, sounds as good as the Squires, but has a slightly flatter radius, so is more comfortable for me ( I grew up in the shredder '80's- so anything under a 12 inch radius feels odd to me) and the DC 580 is a real nice alternative to my SG's- a little more fretboard, and brighter pickups, so real good for lower tunings. But otherwise, a lot of the Harley Benton stuff just doesn't work for me. I'm good with my Epiphones, my PureSalem, and my SX guitars, for the most part.

[@fendafred]

I like A better than B... Will listen to it again with my monitor speakers but with my headphones A had more (pleasing) grit with overdriven tones.

[@Arfonfree]

I preferred the HB... but I recently discovered that I have some high frequency hearing loss. So the additional brightness is a big part of my preference. Anyway, I am often blown away by the quality of guitar available at a low price. Certainly my guitars are all from the budget bin, and I enjoy them!

[@LOFIGSD]

I have an old Tokai Les Paul Black Beauty, with Gold Hardware, yeah, not a cheap Guitar, sounds fantastic, plays as well as a Gibo LP I used to have, only gripe is same as you, the dusty end access, which tbh the Gibo used to have as well, the HB's are great, my latest bargain buys are a Jet JS400, a year ago, and a few days ago, a fazley telecaster with a P90 in the neck, you would love that, cost £113, insane.

[@wecc3002]

Thanks so much for the comparison. It is always good to hear honest comparisons between expensive and affordable options within a guitar range. Many people are on a budget and even though it may be only $200-300 dollars you still would like to have a heads up on the pitfalls and pots of gold at the end of the rainbow when spending money on an instrument whatever the price-point. I can't seem to find a single revue on the Tokai 'Legacy Series' Is this something you would be looking at doing.....????? For instance the internals and pickups??Quality rubbish.. who knows?

[@mikepj1025]

Shane you really have the best channel on the tube man. Love the video. I just bought a Tokai Love Rock LP jr in tv yellow and the thing kicks @$$. I had to do some tweaking and nut filing but in no time the thing is feeling and looking incredible. Contemplating on switching the electronics but the more I play it the less I’m seeing the need for the swap.

[@diogobastos2256]

The HB sounds so much better! That extra top end on the other one i would cut out in post prod anyways! Awesome really

[@jjeffreyhanson]

Both sounded great, but Tokai definitely had a slight edge in fullness and clarity.

[@thaynes1963]

I ace'd the quiz... But I thought both sounded great. Since I can hear better than I can play, it wouldn't matter which one that I play, they would both sound like crap... Which leads to most of the tone is in the fingers and mind!!! @Shane - you are a fantastic player!!!

[@antma9028]

Great reply!!

[@geespar1]

The HB stood up well tone wise considering the price difference, the Tokai has excellent intonation though, but that’s where the HB let itself down a bit - but what can you expect at the price! I don’t usually get all the way through guitar comparisons but yours are excellent and to the point and ‘no nonsense’ so I really enjoyed this

[@Tarsan97]

I actually preferred the Tokai, and I am a happy HB owner already with another style guitar. The Tokai sounded clearer in the midranges to me, but at the same time there was almost a bit lack of lower midst to bases when firing of chords. As you said, I wouldn't think twice of taking the HB to any gig. Conclusion : I dont know what I prefer....:-o need to try it out for real my self

[@KaddysJamKave]

I was pretty amazed how good my $205au HB flying V was. Bloody amazing guitars by these guys! I like it better than my mid priced mij guitars!

[@SuperVivisektor]

Both guitar sounded equaly , in my headphones. But HB is little bit warmer and brighter . I have 450 Plus Vintage burst wit Rockwell pickups and it is very good sounding guitar.

[@peterschmidt9942]

I couldn't really tell the difference Shane, I sort of had to take a guess that the HB would be feeding back a little early so A: HB B: Tokai Even though I couldn't hear much of difference I reckon playability would come into it. But for the dollars the HB's a steel. But if I was in the market for an Epiphone and going to pay around the $1000 mark, I'd actually get a Tokai.

[@jonnybeck6723]

Did I wink out or wuz the clean tone demo missing from the Tokai? ...also in the beginning when you said "a little more gain" I thunked 'how izzit possible!' Thanx and cheers mate

[@andrewldm7335]

Nice video! Can you make a video about the harley benton te-52 vs squier classic vibe '50? I can't decide wich one to buy.... Keep on the good work! I'm enjoying your video's!

[@bbkingwasthegreatest711]

Ok my guess is B is the tokai it seems to have more clarity in the sound, but both sound great, just thought I would post this before I heard the end. Ok guessed right, I think if you set up the HB properly and look anyone can do it if they take the time it would be the better stage guitar for most of us as the sound is more forgiving

[@xCrimsonGoldx]

I guesses right... I thought the benton sounded better in the first sample, but the tokai for the rest. Also, I bought this same guitar model because of you, thanks!

[@jamalabdul2009]

I got it right but to be honest, it was pretty close!!! I would be content owning either guitar although my snobbery would lead me close to the Tokai!!🤣😂🤣 Cool comparison video Shane!!! In all the years watching your channel, I’ve always known you to be a straight shooter when it comes to your videos. It’s refreshing to see honestly here on KZbin!!! Cheers! 🎸🤙🏾🎵🎼🎼

[@mrlionel1965]

I got this wrong also. The differences were so little, that with some “slight” amp adjustments, it really wouldn't make a difference.

[@JuddLofthouse]

You are the one you tuber who I really trust thank you for that Shane 👍👍😀

[@jonnybeck6723]

Tokai makes some truly beautiful stuff... Their 335's especially!

[@Czyszy]

How the heck did Tokai get away with THAT headstock shape?!

[@jdw1066]

I preferred the Tokai because the HB pickups sounded harsher (too bright) but you could buy the HB and put in whatever pickups you wanted and it would still be half the price of the Tokai

[@MrSkunk1964]

love your channel. what model is the Tokai ?? In uk really good ones are £1300 to £2000. and cheaper ones at £500 0dd ...

[@carminelombardi9575]

With a good EQ pedal such as either Boss or MXR (10 Band EQ), you can make the Harley Benton sound as good or even better, and if you upgrade the pickups on them like I did with either the DiMarzio Super Distortion set or the Seymour Duncan JB Hot Rodded Set, you'll have an amazing sounding LP style guitar for a ton less then the original. I bought them for gigging and recording not for collecting and hoping to keep its value and even increasing it as an investment. So by changing to high end pickups, machine heads bridge and tail piece I now have killer guitars for sooooo much less. Hope that helps.

[@canaan_perry]

Where do you buy Harley Bentons from in Australia? Ebay mainly has listed items in the UK.

[@Blodtann]

They both sounded pretty good to me, I'd prefer the Tokai though, the clarity and silkier sound compared to the rougher growl of the HB wins it. Are the HB pickups higher output? I'd be very curious about how the HB stacks up against the chinese made Tokai's instead though, can't afford a Japanese one...

[@sleepy4x]

I guessed it right, but it was very close. Not enough difference for the price gap, tonewise. But the feeling and playability might play a role. I think, if you want a les paul as second or third guitar, it cannot be so wrong to get the HB.

[@crmo8315]

Have you seen the Eascoast GL130s at Andertons in the UK? Andertons is really talking them up, especially on a quality control aspect. Curious how it would compare and what you might think of them.

[@dragan4658]

Just a heads up! HB sc custom lemon drop is a similar version with a belly cut, AAAA top instead of AAA, a dark cherry back, no coil split, with a different neck joint, headstock logo, a few differences, made in Vietnam for 309 AUD. Worth checking out!

[@sonikku997]

I got it right. I don't know if I'm the only one that hears this, but one thing that I always hear with cheaper Les Pauls, even with the epiphones, is that they always sound kind of out of tune when you play a big distorted chord, even if they're perfectly in tune. I really don't know what component causes this to happen. Is it the pickups? Or the hardware? Let me know if you hear it too.

[@Имбирнаяпеченька-ю6ь]

You're not the only who hears it. Well, I believe it may be caused by different reasons, but the major one is poor fret work on cheaper made guitars. Some frets are not pressed well, some are set at slightly wrong places, some are not polished well, it all causes dissonancy in chords when the strings are pressed, so some of them are slightly overpressed then needed, so it makes the pitch go a little higher. Also the cheaper the guitar costs the higher probability that it's going to be not set up well in terms of string action, string tension and intonation, so it will cause a player some discomfort while playing maybe making him (or her) work the sound out harder than usual which will also effect the sound. I personally guessed the Tokai on this video by two major signs - brighter sound and a lot more joyful face while the dude was playing it. You can easily spot he almost hurts his ears, when he plays that big chord with distortion on Harley Benton because of dissonance, while he looks alright doing the same with tokai.

[@roaddog7542]

Only when cash is exchanged does it qualify as payment or sponsorship??? I like your channel Shane but that viewpoint is wrong.

[@Dreyno]

I couldn’t hear a difference. Maybe the Tokai had a little less output. No preference either way. I have a Les Paul but it’s ebony and I always thought I’d like a burst. Might pick up a Harley Benton just to scratch that particular itch 🤔

[@m.whitleyacton821]

I like thre attention you give Tokai. Do you know how or where to ge ahold of them in the States?

[@MCGguitar698]

Awesome video as always!!!

[@dondacosta6712]

Considering how little technology they're actually is in an electric guitar. I would say good quality sound comes down to good quality control in the manufacturing process.

[@Jaggedknife11]

Definitely prefer the Tokai. HB's pups sounded darker, muddier, squealed more. Actually noticed it more with distortion. clean the tokai sounded better but not as much. thing is this probably means the Tokai has a nicer pickup set which one could buy and throw in the Herley Benton for a lot less then the $1915 difference between the guitars. Really shows that the difference between (almost) bottom of the barrel and (almost) top of the line is there but not huge. to be fair HB is probably making nicer guitars at that price then most other companies, and Tokai as well. In fact it may just be that HB skimp on electronics to get better woods/assembly/general Quality.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

I chose B, but only because I had to. Not much between them. It would come down to the feel of the neck.

[@tonepilot]

The longer I listen, the more similar they sound. So, I’m picking A as my fav. Don’t know which one it is though.

[@NINEWALKING]

Shane can you tell us are the necks one peace on the Tokai? If not how is it configured? I guess HB is 3 parts and headstock and few first frets are separate peace from the neck. Then heel has one peace more to achive needed thickness. I find it very important that neck is one peace true the whole length. On the video Tokai looks like Gobson neck, one peace accept for the side peaces of the headstock.

[@jasonladd6400]

I have a high end tokai lp and it feels and looks amazing.

[@jt3483]

I forgot which manufacturers you were testing during the video, but I thought that B sounded better the entire time. More clarity and definition in the notes at all levels of gain. This is especially true with the higher gain though. A sounded fine, but it was a bit muddy compared to B. Makes sense that B was the Tokai due to that alone.

[@DMSProduktions]

DID you use the same sets of strings & have the pick up heights roughly the same? I thought the Tokai was A! The Tokai was darker!

[@jayhill5982]

Seems easy enough A is the Harley Benton