Harley Benton 7 String Guitar Review - Amarok-7 BKBL Flame Burst - BIAS FX 2

[@JoseLuRu]

I didn't know this color for the Amarok exists! I'm considering this guitar for being the most affordable option for a 7 string guitar

[@dannyrio]

I really love the color on this one

[@jackbootshamangaming4541]

I bought one, and now I have 3 of them, in only two months since I got my first one. They are some of my favourite guitars I've ever had.

[@dannyrio]

Awesome! It feels great to play and looks amazing.

[@lidiadrums]

WOW !!! Terrific, crystal clear sound and warm beautiful blue color,

[@dannyrio]

Yeah, it's a beautiful instrument

[@rajderasari6713]

Hey Danny, nice vid. Background guitar during your review is a bit too loud though! On the Amaroks, they replaced the grovers with jin-ho tuners sometime last year. The jinho ones look pretty damn nice, work alright, and while I would prefer the grovers, these aren't a significant downgrade. Somewhere around 80% as good as the grovers. But as long as they are locking I wouldn't put a lot of thought into it. I'm 99.99% sure your tuning instability and sharp intonation is being caused due to the nut. I think they may have replaced graphtech tusq with something cheaper (not plastic though that's for sure). Bunch of cost cutting but eh since 2022 it's quite expected. To fix the problems you'll have to sand/file down the string slots appropriately, maybe by a professional. A properly setup nut will fix most of your tuning stability and intonation issues (For the intonation there's the bridge-side settings too, everyone knows that:P). I did one more thing, that was polishing the neck with fine 0000-grade steelwool, and then oiling it with Dunlop's fingerboard oil. Makes it look and feel significantly better. My 6-string version had a perfectly set nut, no tuning or intonation issues thankfully. How well the hardtail bridge holds up, remains to be seen. Pickups are decent, the 3-way toggle switch is a bit cheap but alright. Overall a worth-the-money guitar!

[@dannyrio]

Wow, thanks for the thoughtful response and tips! I did realize after I uploaded that the BG music was a bit loud. I will be mindful of that when editing the next video. I have adjusted the bridge-side intonation already. Just got a set of nut slot files, so I am going to take a crack at that myself. Another viewer mentioned using nut sauce on the slots too, so I will try that as well. Do you mean polishing the back of the neck or the actual fingerboard with the steel wool? I usually tape the fingerboard when I polish the frets with steel wool, but if I didn't need to, that would save some work. I have bee using mineral oil for wood cutting boards on my fingerboards. Do you think the Dunlop oil is significantly better and, if so, why? Thanks in advance for any additional info! Just trying to learn all I can.

[@JD-vj4go]

I have this same guitar but mine has the grover tuners. I had to replace the strings and lube the nut and that fixed my tuning and intonation issues. The factory strings wouldn't intonate almost like they were old strings. I don't like the neck it's too thick but for a bass player it would probably feel just right. It feels more like a bass neck to me.

[@dannyrio]

Great info! Glad I'm not the only one having that intonation problem. What did you use to lube the nut?

[@JD-vj4go]

@@dannyrio i used big bends nut sauce. It's a bit pricey but one tube lasts me two to three years. My Epiphone explorer was the same. I thought the bridge was installed wrong because it wouldn't intonate but it was just really crappy factory strings.

[@dannyrio]

@@JD-vj4go awesome, I will try that!

[@JD-vj4go]

@@dannyrio good luck let us know how it goes

[@dannyrio]

@@JD-vj4go thanks!

[@chocolatecookie8571]

Gotoh bridge and Gotoh tuners will make a huge difference for tuning stability but is costly. Intonation problem mainly due to high frets. Medium frets are better. Another reason could be poor nut cut. Changing strings would not make a big difference.

[@dannyrio]

Makes sense. Thanks for the thoughts!

[@rajderasari6713]

PS: would love to see a follow up after you have the tuning stability and nut slots you are looking for!

[@dannyrio]

Good idea! It might be a bit before I get around to it though. I have a couple more projects to get through first, but I will do my best to get an update out for this guitar eventually! 🙏

[@jackbootshamangaming4541]

All 3 of my Amaroks have perfect tuning stability, and mine are all wound a few times, more than I would ever do on locking tuners.

[@dannyrio]

Nice. Do you have a 7 string and have you tuned it to drop A?

[@jackbootshamangaming4541]

Yes, all 3 are Amarok 7s, and I can handle Drop A, A Standard even. I have a Demon 7 I use for lower tunings more often, I put fishmans in it, it's 26.5 and handles it slightly better, but the Amarok seems to handle what I need too, I haven't tried super low, but I don't play that low anyways really.@@dannyrio

[@dannyrio]

@@jackbootshamangaming4541 that's great to hear! Hopefully the new strings will do the trick.

[@bartekrosner6359]

great video! i was looking into getting one soon and this definitely convinced me a bit😂❤

[@dannyrio]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful! 🤘❤️🤘

[@noahbrewer2476]

Under 600 USD with a five piece neck thru design is utterly insane for the price point. This should be retailing for at least 1K

[@dannyrio]

Yeah, it's a great deal

[@c.m5043]

Hello my friend I have an answer to your intonation issue. Used to drive me MAD many years ago when I first got into 7 strings. Essentially the lowest string is very heavy and loose in comparison to the others. Hence when you press down the string it has a tendency to be slightly sharp due to finger pressure. The only solutions I found were to firstly focus on being gentler when playing, also increasing string guage for that 7th string. I always was a 9-42 guy. The recommended matched 7 string is always 57-59 or something. I however used a 62 and it was significantly better. Hope it helps and happy to answer any questions. Great video as well!!

[@dannyrio]

Thanks for the tip! My hands make strings go dead pretty fast, so I always use coated strings. Ernie Ball makes the Paradigm strings that go to a 62 on the bottom. Do you have any experience with them? I have never tried them, but they sound interesting.

[@c.m5043]

@@dannyrio honestly I haven't played guitar much at all the last 4 years or so but used to play a lot from aged 15 to about 28!! Had mostly 6 stringers with Floyd roses but had one or two 7 strings too. I always used either Ernie ball super slinkies or daddario 9-42. Honestly never tried the coated ones or any of the other fancy versions of strings. Off the top of my head though I seem to recall they offer protection for people with sweaty fingers!! Out of interest what string guage do you have in there at the moment? Also has it been set up I.e intonation and action etc?

[@dannyrio]

@@c.m5043 I did the intonation and action at the bridge and adjusted the truss rod. The stock string gauges are 10-59. I plan to get some fresh strings on it and lower the nut slots as well. Might put some nut sauce in those slots as well to reduce friction.

[@c.m5043]

@@dannyrio amazing well done and yes keeping nut lubed etc also important. You might be surprised going up to a bigger string solved it. In fact I remember it was a 64 I used to use for the low B. Felt correct next to the E string tension wise. Hope it goes well! Might have to get myself a 7 string and try and get back into playing again!

[@nocheckmarkgames]

Made me have to double check what tuners were on mine. I got the Baritone in Red Burst, and yeah I got the Grover Tuners on there, they feel sort of... idk... plasticy, was thinking of replacing them.

[@dannyrio]

Interesting. These don't feel plasticky. Still gotta try the new strings on mine to see if that helps with the tuning stability.

[@hellbreedstudio666]

Got the lefthanded Baritone. Love it! I put EMG's in it though. Much better. Plus I had the intonation done and a few pointy frets made smooth. Same color. They only seem to do the blue ones for lefties I think.

[@dannyrio]

Nice. This one actually came with EMGs. I'm about to file the nut slots to a better height and put some new strings on it. Hopefully that, plus adjusting the saddles at the bridge, will take care of the intonation problems. I really like the blue color. It fits my theme and looks gorgeous 😍

[@hellbreedstudio666]

@@dannyrio Ye, it came with EMG's. I have put EMG 81 and 60 ont it now. It RIPSSSS!

[@dannyrio]

@@hellbreedstudio666 nice! Thanks for the info! I'll keep that in mind if I feel the need for a tone upgrade in the future! 🤘❤️🤘

[@metalfather8139]

Im sure you probably realized strings from most factoys on impoted guitars are not stable. 2 .tention and nut quality and neck stability = stable tunning

[@dannyrio]

That makes sense

[@zvonimirbaljak76]

7th string out of tune.

[@dannyrio]

It actually was in tune, but the intonation was off. A new set of strings helped.