GUITAR REVIEW: Harley Benton SC Custom PLUS (+), New March 2021 model - is it worth the money!?

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[@zynosgd9982]

I just ordered the Floyd version, thanks to all the amazing reviews on YT

[@genelaskowski3679]

Excellent review. Thank you! I love Harley Benton guitars and you certainly gave this one justice. Thanks, I am now a subscriber.

[@georgereiss5494]

Great sound...lows are so nice as well..amazing.

[@TheAsrgrant]

Excellent review mate, nice sounds and your hair looks lovely.

[@Metallex]

Thanks! :D I actually got a bit of a chop the other day and may have taken too much off!

[@SuperSpear2009]

Just got one with the floyd , great guitar.

[@Metallex]

Oh nice! It's a full Floyd 1000, correct? I love how they don't skimp on the hardware at all.

[@SuperSpear2009]

@@Metallex Floyd 1000, Grover Tuners, Pickups are not bad. I bought a B Stock and am really happy with the guitar for under $300

[@ryant3600]

I got the 550 I think it's called Tobacco or bourbon burst, can't remember. I'm glad I got it before it sold out though. I can't seem to put it down. I've never been big on EMG cause back in the day EMG's were usually on guitars tuned down made for metal, which is great but that's not all I play. I like versatile pups and these EMG fat 55's are just that, very versatile. They sound amazing playing metal, rock, jazz, blues, etc. I have quite a few guitars in my collection, and i know it's typical to say the new guitar is the favorite to play, I've had a month now and I can say it's still my favorite next to my Ibanez Genesis Rg 570. And I do have a LP Custom that I am in the process of installing EMG 57/66's in it. I had a hotrodded Seymour set in it, but decided to put those in an Ibanez. So, we'll see but this HB sounds great, feels, great, looks amazing and sounds amazing. I'm tempted into trying a Custom. But another great thing w/ these are the locking tuners. I'm sure their some sort of outsourced Chinese made or something locking tuners, but I have Schallers on a few others and I think these are just as solid at least for now, we'll see how they hold up over time. I just did my first string change the other day, since I was changing them, I went ahead and wiped some F-one oil on the fretboard (This was my first HB that did not come with an overly dry) but treated it anyway while it didn't have strings on it. And I was impressed w/ these locking tuners. Everything about this guitar has impressed me. Can't wait for them to get more in stock later in the year and hoping they offer more colors next time.

[@darrindegroot8133]

Did you install the EMG 57/66? how do you think they compare to the fat 55s? I'm torn between the sc-custom plus, the sc 550 plus, or an ltd ec-401 (which has EMG 81/60, but I don't know whether i'll be as keen on the 81/60 as the 57/66...)

[@ryant3600]

@@darrindegroot8133 Really different from each other. I think the Fat 55's are probably the best "all round" pups I have. I can play anything on that guitar and they sound great and clean up really nice. The 57/66's, They're hotter, they clean up nicely but very much more geared for metal/hard rock. They're the only active combo's I'll use, anything else is just to one dimensional for me. I prefer the fat 55's, unless I'm just wanting to play like Metallica, Zakk Wylde, Priest, etc stuff. As for the list of guitars you're looking at. I love my 550plus and first time they released them they sold out in like a week, and it's been months since they're getting ready to release more. That should say something, they're in very high demand for a reason. The locking tuners, the Fat 55's, the feel and look are incredible too. I didn't have one flaw w/ mine. I actually went to order a second one, which is how I found out they sold out, I couldn't get another.

[@darrindegroot8133]

@@ryant3600 awesome, thanks very much. really tempted by the sc-custom plus. hopefully they come back in stock soon!

[@dorzluf]

Dude I've watched about two minutes and I'll keep watching, but you got to lower the volume of the background music

[@Metallex]

Yeah, I realised way too late that the background music was too loud. Thankfully I've learned my lesson.

[@dorzluf]

@@Metallex still - good review, subscribed. I'm seriously thinking about getting one of those. What are your thoughts about the nickel fret vs the stainless steel on their cheaper model (I think it's the custom ii) ?

[@Metallex]

@@dorzluf It's the SC-550 that has the stainless steel frets :) I think there's much more stark differences between the two models that you need to take into consideration. If you want a traditional Gibson/Epiphone style singlecut, the SC-550 is the one you want. This guitar is much more in the LTD vein of model design with the thinner body, contours and it is MUCH lighter. I've got the new Fusion III with the stainless steel frets and I have the Cort G290 with nickel frets. In terms of the fret material, I can't really tell the difference. The stainless steel frets maybe feel a bit more...present? Whereas the nickels on the Corts feel a bit more fluid, but there's much more to consider like neck shape, size of the frets, etc rather than the material. The big difference between this and the SC-550 is the EMGs, the body contouring and the weight relief. This scratches my hard rock/metal itch waaay more than a guitar based on a traditional LP ever would. In the end I just didn't get on with the neck on this, but it's a great guitar. Remember Thomann have their 30 day return policy as well!

[@nicopoppe4838]

nice review man! (Ceramic in the bridge and alnico 5 in the neck)

[@aenema7229]

nice shirt, adventurer of tyria

[@Metallex]

More violets, less violence!

[@robhall5622]

I'm looking to buy one of these so was wondering what your opinion is now, one year on?

[@GothicXlightning]

f ckn Despise the Belly-cuts but i am obsessed with a Good Black Metal looking LesPaul and have huge appreciation for HB also their Headstocks designs are one of the coolest love the more fair prices ... but hate Belly/cuts XD

[@Metallex]

Ha, fair enough! If you're after a more traditional LP experience, I'd look at the SC-xxx ranges - the Custom line seem to be going for the LTD/ESP Eclipse type body. But for me, the body was light and very ergonomic :)

[@emilianonegrete5670]

Excellent review man Do you know if it has push pull?

[@Metallex]

Thank you! This model doesn't, I think it might be the Custom II that has push pull. Honestly, I didn't miss it from the Custom +.

[@benallmark9671]

I’m guessing Thomann sent you this to do a video on. This is one of the few models still in stock , they’re probably trying to dump them.

[@Metallex]

Hey Ben, as I say in the video I bought this with my own money - Thomman did not send me this guitar nor did they pay me for a review. This version has only been available for a few months with the EMGs: www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_custom_plus_emg_vbk.htm I didn't know they were trying to get rid of these, they have had supply issues this year so that could potentially be the reason other things are low on stock.

[@ygtblt2967]

Dude u look like John Lennon too much

[@ManMark7]

How much does it weight?

[@Dave062YT]

3.5 kg /7.7lbs [i just bought one]

Tuners aren't wilkinson bro, they're WSC, chinese parts brand. Not to say they're bad or anything.

[@Metallex]

Oh thanks for the clarification! I always thought WSC was Wilkinson's 'official' name, but TIL!

[@juanocybe]

is this guitar good for blues??

[@Metallex]

Yeah, it's great for it. Roll back the gain on your amp and it really pops!

[@swat99G]

dude dont put so loud background music, we can barely hear you.

[@M_Alexander-v6k]

Listening back, it is a little loud!

[@swat99G]

@@M_Alexander-v6k awesome guitar btw, i have it myself

[@idealmethod]

Harvey bentons jumped up in price lately....with eu tax these Harvey bentons are not that cheap anymore. The agile beats this.....I was about to buy this hb guitar tho but a new jackson with Floyd rose is cheaper and better......

[@InconsistentCod]

you are paying for the logo, harley benton’s slap any other guitars in the price range

[@idealmethod]

@@InconsistentCod I payed for quality control,jumbo frets, carbon fibre reinforced wizard neck and kick ass pickups js22 £185. So good I have a new js32 on order. I am a fan of harley benton , love the prices as they are honest worth the money. But the best cheap strat new is a classic vibe, the best cheap shredder is js22, the best cheap single cut new....I don't know ...what do u think

[@RodC14]

Nice review but the background music is very annoying and not necessary.

[@sixsledges5474]

I know that you probably won’t see this comment, but can you do the Les Paul "kill switch" using the pickup switch?

[@Metallex]

You should be able to, as it's got a volume knob for each pickup :)

[@sixsledges5474]

@@Metallexthanks dude!

[@JimiHove]

Your affiliate link to Thomann doesn't work :)

[@paan36ty]

Alnico is in the neck pickup

[@wordsmith451]

I wish HB were a bit clearer on distinguishing models - I was confused at first since the model I’m looking at has the same specs save for 24 frets and the Floyd Rose.

[@Metallex]

The model that you're looking at is the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG FR VBK, most companies will use the 'FR' to note it's got the Floyd bridge :) But yes, I will certainly agree with making naming conventions clearer, but at least it's not an Ibanez! :D

[@petryz2tv]

The older model had coil split, does this one have? I'm little confused about the differences between the Custom II and the Plus

[@Metallex]

This one does not have coil split, no - the other main difference is that this has EMG Retro-active 70s instead of the Roswells and is made in Indonesia, not Vietnam.

[@phenixreturns]

Gibson should make one like that with a decent price under 2500e

[@Metallex]

What would you say would be a decent price for a Gibson with these specs? The locking tuners, the active EMGs, the binding; all will have that extra premium added to an already expensive instrument. Having played both this and a few 'real' Les Pauls, the difference in price in no way matches the difference in quality. If you still really want the Gibson experience for an affordable price, Epiphone do the Inspired by Gibson range which is as close as you'll get without sinking the full price.

[@idealmethod]

They did its 4000e