NOT what I expected! Harley Benton "Mosrite" Review

[@agirotto1]

I don't think I've ever watched a product demo for 30 minutes before, but that was so informative and fun, with such tasteful tones that I stayed till the end. Thx for this.

[@marekw7562]

This is the first of yours guitar demo where I listen the whole "demo track". I really appreciate different style of music than your typical content but it's still absolutely amazing in the case of information and great sense of humor. Best wishes to you!

[@ckdpraha]

So, they're great! I own one and have all the best to say about it! Modified it heavily, custom made Mosrite replica pickups, Grover tuners and Wilkinson bridge. One more thing, you've gotta have hair to play these!🤪

[@carwynvan]

I have a Chapman that came with that exact wrap over bridge and I hated it, sharp as hell. Gladly the Gotoh 510 wrapover bridge is a direct replacement and amazing quality in comparison

[@bartvschuylenburg]

Those p90 almost sound like dynasonics or jazzmaster pickups so bright. And those humbuckers are for sure also not your typical humbuckers. I like the sounds though. In stead of a coil split they should have added a “switch both pickups in series knob” in it.

[@larseikind666]

The mini humbuckers on the Modern actually sound quite P-90'ish, but of course without the hum. So I'd gladly pay the extra money just for that. Otherwise the specs are good on both guitars. Another win for HB.

[@derived-doom]

Thanks for giving advice about in what kind of music style these guitars would fit! As a hobby music maker I know what I like regarding the look - but getting the right instrument for the desired sound is often just guessing... Please consider giving this advice within your 2ct on a regular base. Then we are able to write more songs: we don't have to run to the post office to send back the BC Rich, which doesn't do country at all...

[@EytschPi42]

haha…. country on a BC Rich

[@imretarkany4462]

Check for The Ventures, Nokie Edwards or all Japanese cover players! :)

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

It's midnight now, so I'll watch the rest tomorrow (so I you mention it, I apologize), but I'd love to see you make a video on the tunings used by Ricky Wilson of the B52s on his Mosrite ;-)

[@-suphur]

There are some decent features on the modern model for the price.

[@stonemunkyUK]

They also do baritone versions of these. I've got the "modern" spect version and it's a LOT of guitar for the money.

[@flybynight1929]

Another well done, informative video review. I had a friend in SoCal when I lived there in the 80's that had one and they were really cool and had the lowest action of any guitar in history. There are sure a lot of options these days, but copies are never more than just, well, copies.

[@gae7081]

What an intro!!!🤟🏻

[@DerSearge]

Mosrite ist eigentlich die klassische Surf-Gitarre. Ich liebe sie, weil The Ventures sie gespielt haben. Und ich mag den Sound, den sie macht. Die HB klingt natürlich nicht wie eine Mosrite Ventures, aber sie sieht gut aus, vor allem das Rot. :)

[@verbenasenensis]

Would you be so kind as to share feedback on that trem? It's on basically every HB but it's difficult to find actual feedback on it. Does it stay in tune well? Is it comfortable? Fragile? Can you lay it flat on the body so it's "dive only"? Cheers and keep up the nice vids.

[@thetownspeople6486]

It’s a solid two point trem. Decent block but I’d upgrade the block to a brass piece. The trem should stay in tune just as well as a fender 2 point trem. I’m not sure if this answers your question. It’s not a Floyd rose so if your a divebomber it won’t stay in tune. If your more subtle on it, then it will stay in tune fine.

[@lyell63]

You mean the Wilkinson one? It is great, it is no floyd but I find it more than usable, stable and not very hard to move

[@nicosonic]

it's horrible, I have set the trem to non-floating (dive-only) but it doesn't stay in tune at all as soon as you use it. I ended up not using it.

[@lyell63]

@@nicosonic How odd. I have had it for about a year as a floating trem and it holds tune like a champ.

[@nicosonic]

@@lyell63 You have this guitar ? on the MR modern it goes out of tune as soon as I use it, it doesn't matter if it's floating or not. its a nightmare.

[@aftertheendtimes]

Thanks dear Henning, for a great rewiew, Love cheers ;D

[@StuartBridson]

I really wish they did the Modern with a hardtail bridge. Suppose you could just put 5 springs on and lock it down.

[@D64S]

I have no idea of what that thing is, nor do I care. But I love a review video that criticizes anything. Cheap guitars are not perfect, people don't act like they are.

[@jdram58]

Hey I play squire strat copies I used to see garage bands plating the Mosrites in the 60's I like to experiment n one squire has a mix of single and double coil pickups I love it but I also like the all single coil to me its "the sound" without the hefty price tag and I like les paul Jr or Melody maker to they have that twangy country and bluesy sound to. Without breaking the bank. How would you know the difference from a good quality to a shitty guitar if you didnt experiment once in a while.??

[@ChrisFranklyn]

Seems like a reasonable amount of guitar for the money. The Harley Bentons my brother has in his studio were all surprisingly good.

[@EytschPi42]

I hear FKLN are pretty good

[@ChrisFranklyn]

@@EytschPi42 Frukullun guitars you say? ;)

[@riiko92]

I find that that kinda shiny circus color is a bit too much because the shape is already so outrageous.

[@bumblefritz]

No matter what you play through the guitar it just ends up sounding like "Entry of the Gladiators."

[@standingbadger]

Your comment about the German carve is priceless 😆. I hear that the Eastwood versions of the Mosrite are very good.

[@francoislajeunesse1737]

Hallmark Guitar are the best

[@standingbadger]

Just checked them out. They’re beautiful and what a great too. Sadly, I don’t think they’re available in the UK. I did send them an email to enquire anyway. Thanks for the tip! 👍🏼

[@agentofkariosd1116]

If I got one I would cut that outer bevel off, sand off paint (headstock too) and repaint to taste.

[@ThefabulousJF]

Fuck - I need that "Autoteppich" shirt!

[@TheNeonRabbit]

You can't even throw a Tune-O-Matic bridge on it because the lugs are too far apart

[@EasyHeat]

The cost of post covid living made me sell a rare but similar Fullerton (Aria) branded copy... A copy of... One of my all time favorite guitar shapes and pickup settings EVER! Literally a day later? Harley Benton announced these adorable punk rock riff sticks!!! Unfortunately? I still haz tha poor. womp womp 🙆‍♂🤷‍♂🤦‍♂

[@Barbarapape]

My feelings exactly, i was so excited to hear about an affordable Mosrite, i am a big fan of The Ventures and the unique sound from the Mosrite guitars. So imagine my shock at what Harley Benton have made, the original Mosrites had high output P90 style pickups, but not on the HB, or on the deluxe version either, what are they thinking about? Did they even research the Mosrite they are trying to copy? By HB prices these are not a bragain, and need to much upgrading to make me want one. So frustrating, i will just have to keep saving for an original Mosrite. Thanks for your excellent honnest review.🙂👍

[@101Volts]

You could buy a Hallmark 65 Custom instead. Those are $1,000, with a hard case. They get in the right neighborhood of Mosrite sound; not quite, but they're supposed to not squeal so bad on stage either. Originals didn't have potted pickups.

[@modestoney1577]

every well built guitar under €/$300 is a bargain. if the only thing bothering you are the pickups, just replace them with some hot ones. you will probably still be around €/$500, which is not a lot by any means

[@101Volts]

@@modestoney1577 Thing is, these Harley Bentons don't have a neck angle, and you can't easily get a significant enough one top cop Mosrite tones on a guitar with a Strat style -"tremolo"- vibrato unit. Yes, the neck angle effects how the strings' harmonics sound, and it also effects how much string energy goes into the body, meaning if your guitar's semi-hollow, it'll be louder with more of an angle. Heck, even my 66 Mosrite's "solid body," but with that deep electronics cavity and the pickup cavities, it almost feels like a semi-hollow.

[@modestoney1577]

@@101Volts this guitar is what it is. Nobody ever claimed it was an exact replica of a vintage Mosrite. For sub €300 it is pretty obvious that is hardly possible. Of course if that is your expectation you will be disappointed. Still it is a very affordable guitar for what it is. If you want an exact Mosrite clone you have to look elsewhere. I honestly wonder how anybody can be "shocked" and "frustrated" that a €277 Harley Benton is significantly different to a vintage Mosrite. And Allan Pape was specifically talking about the pickups, that`s why responded to that topic. He didn`t seem bothered by the rest.

[@101Volts]

@@modestoney1577 My beef isn't that it's cheap. I'm just pointing out to anyone (not you) who might think "Oh, Mosrite Ventures shape = Mosrite sound" that thinking in that way is _far_ out of line.

[@dusdincobain1191]

Buying because of the Johnny ramone style guitar body

[@gwoodtones]

Real nice review... next time a bit more neck pickup with distortion;-)

[@Tehstroyer]

Interesting that the humbuckers on the Modern still are P90-sized. Makes it easier to change them if you still want P90s, but you also want all the upgrades from the Modern. Also, surprisingly the Modern is supposedly Adler, as opposed to the Basswood on the Vintage.

[@101Volts]

Thing is, Mosrite's pickups aren't P90s; they're too short. As well as I can tell, they're Mosrite's own design.

[@monmixer]

Thje locking tuners, trem, and stainless steel frets make my woody jump for the price.

[@tunefulcathodic]

Y really dont like the silhouette of this (the video amazing as always) Im gonna buy one as totally beginer Im between: -ibanez grx40 metallic green or the -Harley benton R-446 red blood... What would i choose???

[@amsalespush]

You just had to show off how well you can play, huh? ;-) Great demo, as usual.

[@briandevitt6903]

Nice review HP. I wouldn't buy one of these, the shape just doesn't appeal to me and the tilted neck pickup looks weird to me. Each to their own however. I like the blue colour😀

[@UkiMalefu]

Johnny Ramone!

[@PooNinja]

Wait it’s not a Mr. guitar? I was waiting for the Mrs. guitar to get the set?!

[@monmixer]

Switch that sharp screw with one of the otehrs.

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

Mo's always right... just ask Larry, Curly or Shemp!

[@achimdg6335]

Ich könnte mir ja auch fürn Hunni ein Set Soapbar Humbucker kaufen, auch wenn es keine von Tonerider gibt. Oder vielleicht ein Set Mini-Humbucker, ich glaube, die passen da, wo P-90 passen.

[@Herfinnur]

I just bought a lefthand MR Modern and the aesthetic and sound is so much more me then any other guitar I've ever held in my hand; even after two days I love it the way you'd love a pet! What annoys me to the point of aggression is that Thomann GmbH finally have a guitar model with heaps of personality and it would have taken so little to call them "Mr, Classic" and "Mr. Modern". It would also have given them a great, silly naming scheme for the future. Almost no guitar company these days gets creative with the names, which it would have been such a shrewd business decision; a business decision that would be scary for even the biggest, richest guitar brands, but not for such a diversified company as Thomann. ARRRRGH! Anyways, as I said, I ❤ this guitar. I'm going to figure out the crafts part of decals, name plates and the like, and when I'm good at it I'm going to remove the current model name on the guitar, design a new one with 'Mr. Modern', and then add it to the guitar. Any suggestions for online courses are welcome

[@jaymichaels5187]

Roger Rossmeisl favoured the German carve.

[@bernardrudd9058]

Mosrites were made famous by The Ventures, Harley Bentons version looks good

[@eoinc4091]

Do steel strings on nickel frets cause faster fret wear?? Should you not use steel strings on steel frets?? Also, if that MR was mahogany would those P90’s sound more mellow? Or is it their setup!

[@J.C...]

No. We've been using them since the very beginning of the electric guitars existence. Steel strings are the standard for electric guitars

[@101Volts]

@@J.C... He might be referring to Pure Steel strings, instead of the common Nickel-Wound Steel Core strings. He could use Pure Nickel Strings instead, but it's going to change how the entire guitar sounds.

[@andrewmorgan1640]

Most instances of Freaky Deaky in videos award goes to. . . Not my thing, but seems damn good for the price.

[@ravenslaves]

Seriously, how much more would it cost if Harley Benton got rid of the scarf joints? $10? $20? If that? Consider how much the entire finished guitar must cost to manufacture, I don't think a solid neck would add that much to the cost.

[@QXZJX]

Sounds great❤

[@ctpmark]

Great video, them guitars are a great deal at them prices

[@hayden911]

6:14 I feel so called out lol

[@Muppio]

Here's all i know about Mosrite: Johnny Ramones used one.

[@Krisisawake]

Great video ! It's not for me but these guitars look good.

[@giakira21]

Hello, are you gonna do the bariton versions of those?

[@EytschPi42]

I was supposed to…. not sure what happened

[@benwright6330]

I heard yardley Ben ton guitars weigh a Ton. ..so, talk about how light weight they are.

[@Thoracius]

Don't really sound like p90s, in a good way -- a lot less dull. Also sound absolutely nothing like a Mosrite.

[@101Volts]

Though Mosrite Pups aren't P90s - they're 4/10ths of an inch shorter. But you didn't necessarily imply that Mosrite Pups _are_ P90s.

[@ragnadrabinowitz7629]

these guitars are for rock and roll and ramones songs

[@nicosonic]

I have a MR Modern and even if it's great, I have mixed opinions : the pickups squeal with high-gain, they have put 2 tone knobs (no volume knob...), the tone push-pull works half of the time and the trem throws the guitar out of tune as soon as you use it. I have put Di Marzio soapbar humbuckers and replace the volume and tone, but the pickups still squeal... I also have set the trem to non-floating (dive-only) but when you use it the guitar goes out of tune completely. honestly they could have checked the electronics before it leaved the factory, I expect better quality control from Harley Benton.

[@EytschPi42]

that’s ridiculous… how can nobody notice this. Sad.

[@texacomann]

If you dont like it, send it back. Its maybe a lemon or in Germany we say mondays guitar, because mine works like a Charme

[@BeesWaxMinder]

Coil Taps 🤷‍♂️?

[@antoniocarotti9120]

excellent !

[@vaughnwebbermusic]

Very articulate

[@geoffreyalder7275]

Coil tap on the modern......no demo ?

[@wellenstrom]

Mosrite... the sound of Ricky Wilson and the B52's.

[@Thoracius]

But these don't sound anything like Mosrites. They just look like them

[@101Volts]

@@Thoracius Exactly. Neither Harley-Benton or Eastwood are near the same neighborhood of the sound of a Mosrite model. Harley-Benton are like Squier, Eastwood are like Epiphone. The only one that really comes close is Hallmark Guitars, but they're still not quite the same for a few reasons, though those reasons are more on the "minor detail" side of things. I _would_ go to Hallmark for a Mosrite-ish guitar before I go to any other company, _unless_ I wanted a Danelectro in a Mosrite shape, which is acceptable (so long as I'm not kidding myself thinking it sounds the same.) Mosrites are special, and who goes for them except a few?

[@Tiibero]

Bro is wearing my childhood😭

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

1:30 my cup of Track ;-)

[@ronlight7013]

And how are the baritone models of this very same guitar? 🙂

[@EytschPi42]

no clue

[@limpindug]

Am no sure high end gear is real world evaluation for review of budget guitars/pedals etc. or vice-versa I understand your concept bud. Equal value budget gear is a fairer evaluation.?? Still enjoyed the video bud. 👍🥃Respect to you mate.

[@EytschPi42]

if it sounds bad with value gear you wouldn’t know which part of the chain is to blame… doesn’t make sense

[@limpindug]

@@EytschPi42 thanks for getting back, I do take your point buddy and understand. Take care and keep up with the great reviews and I appreciate your honesty. 👍Respect to you mate.

[@frankpmarsala7682]

Guitar sounds nice, but the weird "German Carve" is ugly. I own a 1965 Mosrite Ventures model and am just used to the uniform carve all the way around the body :)

[@islandlightphotodotcom7162]

Mosrite has a long 'o'. like bone.... and the tone is just not there. P90's are just not right. Way to sharp sounding, I dont really like it, needs to be much more warm and full

[@101Volts]

Part of it is the scale length that's doing it. Mosrites are a strange 24.50", shorter than a Gibson. This is 25.50", Fender scale. Mosrite didn't use P90s, though, they used their own design that just looks similar on the outside but which is 4/10ths of an inch less long than a P90.

[@willybilly51]

Wie so finde ich die Gitarre bei Thomann nicht ? Gefunden aber unter dem Kürzel MR-Classic CAR

[@EytschPi42]

die direkten Links sind IMMER unter meinem Video in der Beschreibung und wenn Du darüber kaufst habe ich sogar noch was davon.

[@willybilly51]

@@EytschPi42 Danke

[@smutsharry]

The real Mosrites are quite idiosyncratic. The ones I have tried have necks and frets that are very similar to classic Rickenbackers, i e very narrow with very low frets… and with a clunky rattly bridge with clipped sustain reminiscent of Jazzmasters and Jaguars. They looks amazing but playing wise I found them very unsatisfying. For gigging I’d rather have one of the Harley Bentons.

[@101Volts]

Generally at least, the 60s Mosrites are the only ones like that. They are the most common, and so the reputation stuck. But after that, they widened the necks at least as early as 1973, and they started using taller frets. The stock bridge of my 1976 model's a lot better than the stock one of my 1966 model, too.

[@mokeimusic]

More of a Univox than a Mosrite. If some one actually made one with a zero fret I would think about getting one.

[@agentofkariosd1116]

Hallmark does. Those are a grand though.

[@101Volts]

@@agentofkariosd1116 Lots of Hallmarks are $900 or $1,000, depending on the model, but you *do* get a hard case with the purchase of one.

[@agentofkariosd1116]

@@101Volts big price difference between the Harley and the Hallmark, but if you go for the Harley you will pay in the subpar quality. Hallmark is worth it especially if it comes with a hardcase. Personally I would probably go with the newer Aria mosrite copy they recently came out with. Ticks all the boxes.

[@Stephen-uk2in]

What wraptail would you put on as an upgrade?

[@EytschPi42]

Graphtech

[@lafinestracatalana8340]

With humbeckers I think is better.

[@thetownspeople6486]

The lower horn is a dealbreaker for me. Got one of their super Strats and it’s great. I’d love to get another HB.

[@OliverAmberg]

They screwed it up. PS: This guitar needs Fuzz. Yes!

[@FranziKoe]

Mosrites are nice but this lower horn on the benton is just so ugly. Same as their junior guitars: overall a good deal but the pointy horn doesn`t work for me.

[@raisedrichnot512]

I do like the P90$ pickups, but the guitars themselves.... Not a huge fan. Kinda reminds me of guitar you would see on a kids pop television show. My opinion is just my own. It's just not for me.

[@boiadedios]

Yes kids like Ramones, Nirvana or venturers just to mention some of them…

[@101Volts]

Mosrite don't have P90s, they're shorter by 4/10ths of an inch, and they're of a different design.

[@svenwalther135]

Die P90 klingen besser, finde ich ..

[@billyrocca9029]

You test the guitars on good amps and stuff saying it makes sure nothing but the guitar will be to blame if it sounds bad... not quite right. There's another element in the sound chain : you!

[@soulagent79]

It's rather a copy of a Univox Hi-Flier than a Mosrite.

[@svenwalther135]

Ob eine Gitarre geil klingt und gut zu spielen ist, kann man Henning am Gesicht ablesen... 🤣🤣

[@ScoriarecordS]

Third string sounds out of tone like an epiphone.

[@xpursangjock8724]

The use of the Mosrite guitars is enshrined in the music of "The Ventures". They made the guitars famous. How can one mention Mosrite guitars without mentioning "The Ventures"? Sacrilege and sinful!!

[@pejoarda772]

Sissies hurt their hands boy

[@valueofnothing2487]

Obviously the sharp screw is a plant.

[@EytschPi42]

a "plant".... what do you mean?

[@valueofnothing2487]

@@EytschPi42 Just a stupid joke. It's great that you really get the guitars we get. This one looked good.

[@Herfinnur]

17:35 _You're_ a... 😬 Sorry

[@20cmusic]

Copy & Paste everything.

[@ivansafont304]

They look bad and sound bad… way better to have (if you want a true Mosrite replica) a Hallmark guitar.

[@domesticengineerlifecoach6938]

That's the ugliest guitar I've ever seen! 🤮🤢 It looks like it was designed after a foot! But I bet it sounds great!

[@boiadedios]

Please start to explain to your audience that is mainly composed by noobs that all the hardware is not real Wilkinson but just Chinese chit branded as Wilkinson so no quality at all in the trem…if you want to by those economic items go for fix bridges not trema and floyds

[@EytschPi42]

I didn't know

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

@@EytschPi42 I thought HB, Vintage (the brand) and Wilkinson are pretty connected, so a closer investigation on this might be due.

[@stefanhennig]

It seems to be as real as Wilkinsons come today. Trev Wilkinson seems to have licensed his designs to many manufacturers over the years. The VS100 on my old Pacifica is labeled "Wilkinson USA", the current manufacturer seems to be Gotoh in Japan, and the man himself can be found on the websites of Vintage Guitars which are rather low to mid priced. So, what would be a "real" Wilkinson to you? The one no longer made in the US, or the licensed ones made in Japan or in UK or in China?

[@boiadedios]

@@stefanhennig i bought last month a Wilkinson term for my strat the 2 pivot..140€…Fender lock-in tuners 80€…I don’t belive u

[@stefanhennig]

@@boiadedios I don't care what you believe. Trev Wilkinson works with Vintage Guitars since abt 2003 and they sell whole guitars with Wilkinson trem, tuners and pickups for less than 500€. So, what's your point?

[@claudecat]

This guy... knows nothing about Mosrite, can't even pronounce it correctly. I'm gonna trust him to rate this guitar? I dunno... they don't seem very close to the originals at all, which were oddball but extremely nice sounding guitars with some unique "features" (ultra low frets, a zero fret, a very severe yet useful vibrato system, body shape, etc). Seems as though there are now more Mosrite people that come to them through The Ramones than the Ventures. These were meant to be clean sounding surf style guitars, not slathered in gain and pedals. The Mosrite pickups sounded fantastic. If you can't replicate that, why bother?

[@EytschPi42]

DID I NOT FUCKING SAY THAT AT THE BEGINNING? Do you have ears? Did I not say that I don't really know much about the originals? And given that information, can I not evaluate a guitar on its own merits? How good of a guitar is it? And when you start a comment on my channel with "THIS GUY", it is a serious sign of disrespect and missing manners. Why in the world would you assume that I don't read this. Please have some respect for the people that bring you free content.

[@johncollins5552]

Of course you can do better video ,let see it then, won't hold my breath......

[@jman1428]

You want a Mosrite, look at the Hallmarks