Harley Benton BM-75 - Tri Sonic pickups and all the switches you could dream of

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

9:02 we’ve all had that moment at a guitar store. I love the Brian May Red Special it is so versatile, i own one. I’ve always said that the Brian May guitar is the only one with the ability to sound like both a Stratocaster and a Les Paul, you can play literally anything on it.

[@teknomanning]

Mine came in a week ago from BMG

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

@@teknomanning how do you like it so far?

[@vincentl.9469]

@@teknomanning the scale length on this is 25" not 24" as on the Brian May original..and its copies

[@maxpeck4154]

I would disagree with that... a Tele with a moderately hot bridge pickup will do that too. Nothing sold more Les Pauls than Jimmy Page's Telecaster.

[@lt.reubenrozeyt5716]

​@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 Use a HSS Stratocaster

[@benhiorns]

I brought this guitar and it’s an absolute fucking beast! Such good value it’s mad!

[@thebeatlesandqueen8817]

for REAL I BOUGHT IT AND IT SOUNDS GREAT

[@relicguitar]

This is a great guitar with great finish, good pickups and good playability! But it has a big problem: It doesn't sound like Brian May's Red Special and I'll tell you why: It doesn't sound like a Red Special because it's harness doesn't provides pickups in series connexion. In other words, this guitar (as it comes from factory) sounds like a stratocaster with phase switches. Almost everybody knows that Brian May most used pickups combinations are: -Bridge + middle (in series and in phase) -Bridge + middle (in series and out of phase) -Neck + middle (in series and out of phase) And you can't have these pickup combinations in this guitar (again, as it comes from factory). So this is how you get those Brian May's in Series and out of phase tones from your Harley Benton BM-75 in a simple cheap mod. Just replace one of the original potentiometers by a PUSH-PUSH pot and get pickups in series and "cocked wah" tones. Now this guitar can sound like Brian May's Red Special! Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to do a video with it because the customer came earlier to take it home. I can say it souns killer!!! Wiring diagram here: www.relicguitar.50webs.com/mods/hb75brianmaymod.jpg Video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l521hn2opLqekMk

[@fabiancrocitti]

Also he’s not using a treble booster or Vox AC30!

[@theothertonydutch]

@@fabiancrocitti He also doesn't have Brian May's fingers!

[@edwardx.winston5744]

The scale looks wrong as well. No way it's a 24.00" scale. Looks and sounds like a Fender 25.5" scale. If the neck were correct (super wide, super fat, with a 24" short scale and a zero fret) I would buy one immediately.

[@jeffreydooley3745]

$300.00 or so delivered to my door step, placed on my short list of needs not wants. There is no such thing as "too many guitars"!!!

[@SaccoBelmonte]

I got my BM70 not so much because of Bryan May, but because it is a very versatile Strat. You can do so much with this guitar. Those surf sounds....you don't need a Tele either.

[@CrazyAuntJoey]

Imo it replaces a Jaguar more than a Tele

[@padywac1970]

Btw, I made sure to watch all of the ads in the hope that you can justify buying that beauty.

[@kommi1974]

What ads? Oh yeah, it's 2019 and I use Adblock and KZbin Vanced to AVOID those stupid ads. Come into the future, it's wonderful!

[@jakubshouseofrock7109]

listen to kommi1974, come into the future with us! it's wonderful here, no darn ads !

[@jean-marcberdoz6321]

Just got mine today and stunned by the quality. And good news it is light weight. Im pretty sure that it's chambered. Much Lighter than the cst 24.unplugged really resonant. Really happy with this purchase !

[@JBEJSting]

what type of sound can u get?

[@overthehillcheapgearnoodle9990]

You know Ryan, it's not often that a guitar just sings for a certain player. I think you just nailed it. This thing sings in your hands. Just don't buy groceries for a couple of weeks and get it!

[@oldrrocr]

Bought one of these because of THIS review...have had it for a year, and STILL loving it!

[@markdunbar799]

To bad you cant try it with a wall of ac30s and a rangemaster type of thing

[@gillesgenete9598]

Like Brian May did for Queen , right !?

[@normanmastrian]

Yeah man..

[@cortnysellers]

Don't forget using a coin as a pick

[@tennies]

It's gotta be wired differently or different pickups. While it's a cool sound, it doesn't sound at all like the Red Special.

[@TheMichaelseymour]

get the rangemaster , ac 30 , coin pick , curly lead ....motorbike wang bar ....and a big curly black wig DONE .

[@joegoesretro]

It's kinda refreshing to hear someone not playing Queen stuff with one of these. I kinda want one even more now.

[@roberthiggins986]

I like the sound of this a LOT! I was leaning towards the red semi hollow tele until I saw this...this would cover 50’s through 70’s music really well, as it would southern rock and country...right in my wheelhouse...I gave that guitar the same look you did...gotta have!

[@carolramsey6287]

In 1962 Jim Burns introduced the Vibra Artiste DeLuxe. Three TriSonic pickups wired in series each controlled by a 3 way toggle switch on off and phase shift.. Simple and effective. Job done . Three switches that's all you need Jim got it right first time.

[@stevenedwards4470]

I want someone to look at me the way you look at that price tag.

[@DMSProduktions]

WRITE $300 on your forehead!

[@Αδιάφθορος]

4:33 out of phase sounds (also 5:15) Thank you, great video!

[@bciecko1]

How excited does that guitar make you. When have you been excited like that. And at that price. Just do it. Get it. You'll be kicking yourself if you don't. You'll okay another and it won't be the same either.

[@MikeLute]

This exact guitar temped when I was shopping for an Ibanez at Thomann. Luckily they were out of stock.... I need to get more wall hangers ;-)

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

Felt so intense watching a man fall in love with his new guitar. Hope you’re happy together.

[@NipplesOfDoom]

❣️

[@francisbouchard7336]

The 2 and 4 positions aren’t wired in series like the real red special but still a sick guitar! Nice review man!

[@DMSProduktions]

You need ALL the switches so you CAN get in phase, out of phase, parallel and serial combinations!

[@francisbouchard7336]

DMSProduktions yeah it’s a strat style selector switch

[@DMSProduktions]

@@francisbouchard7336 I know, it's 1/2 1/2 approach!

[@johncecilia4517]

@@DMSProduktions Good point but could add or do push pull knob to switch to series. You got the hard parts

[@uhoh007]

Ordered one today from HB USA reverb shop, before I saw this wet dream…..from one of your pedal shoots….and found a used O11….i’ve almost forgiven you for the chickenbacker 12 review ;) thanks for many insights…respect.

[@patrickjmolloy]

As a big Queen fan, I've just got to have this guitar. Then I'll do the "in series" modification on the pickups. I was deciding between this and the Cort CR100 for my next guitar, but this has sold the BM-75 to me.

[@alexandrosroussos7180]

hi man!! I just bought it this guitar!! i m big fan also! :) i think that is the best bugget guitar (the original red special cost 1000$ !!!)for BM sound!!! with AC tone pedal the sound is very,very near to 70s sound(bohemian rhapsody,somebody to love etc..etc..) but what do you mean.."I'll do the "in series" modification on the pickups. "can i do it too ?? and how do I do it ?? thanks!!

[@patrickjmolloy]

@@alexandrosroussos7180 The pickups aren’t wired in series like the real Red Special, so positions 2 & 4 sound more like a Strat. One of the earlier comments has a more detailed explanation, as well as a link to (I think) a wiring harness diagram. It’s a straightforward enough tweak to make, if you’re familiar with using a temperature controlled soldering iron. If in any doubt, practice soldering a lot on spare parts & watch a few “how to solder a guitar wiring harness” videos, before attempting any tweaks. It does sound fantastic now though. So versatile.

[@sydmichel]

The switches are all wrong and don't offer the flexibility of brian's original. eg. how do you get neck & bridge on together? Harley Benton previous BM special (BM-70) had the correct switching. I wonder why it was changed for this. All the reviews Ive seen on KZbin seem to gloss over this.

[@callejarvholm]

The bridge and middle in phase is such a good setting, you should try it

[@richardfinney8784]

Ouchi I think your done? Might as well tell the wife? I know you bought it lol, don't feel alone I also bought one because of that great 60s surf sound. Rock on brother.

[@60CycleHumcast]

Its such a trip that this visually very specific guitar sounds so good for surf guitar.

[@nym053]

I would say that even my Harley Benton TE-20 Standard, which is their cheapest guitar, is quite decent as well. It feels nice and sounds good for the price. The neck is quite modern. Flat and wide, which is great for all the bending that I do. Stays in tune quite well considering that. I just got a Harley Benton JA-60CC today, and I must say that while the finish feels a little better, it's not a double in price difference at all. But at first grap on the neck it felt very good. It reminds me of the feel I get from my Ibanez TMB100 bass that is made in Indonesia. Doesn't say on the neck where the other is made though, so that's most likely in China. Sound wise, the JA-60CC doesn't have as much highs as the TE-20. Cranking the highs all the way up my amp makes it cut through better without sounding harsh as the other guitar would. I got the JA-60CC because I can easily swap out the hardtail with a Duesenberg Les Trem ii, and because it comes with 10's, so I can tune down to D and even swap to 11's for better stability. And I can see that they've cut the nut slots significantly deeper than on my TE-20, so that should be no problem (too expensive buying a filing set imo). Also to get something that sounds a little different. But actually it's not that much different. More highs on the TE-20, which has a better sounding bridge pickup imo. The other has a better sounding neck pickup. Maybe because it's significantly further away from the neck on that one. I do prefer the mid position most of the time though. One guitar is not better than the other out of those 2 imo 😊

[@SuperShecky]

Sounds like they wired it with a strat style switching scheme. Why would they go through all the trouble of making a Red Special and not use series wiring? If this thing could sound even remotely like a Red Special, it'll never do it the way it's currently wired. Kinda counts as a fail in my book.

[@johngose6559]

You are correct, the wiring is all wrong.

[@dashinggamer7819]

I know I'm 10 months late. They had one called the BM-70 I believe had the correct wiring but they had to stop producing them possibly due to complaints from Bryan's company or something I don't know. This one they've produced with everything there so it's a relatively easy mod to put them in series I believe. Looking to get one myself

[@Muzikman127]

@@dashinggamer7819 good answer

[@Muzikman127]

@@dashinggamer7819 Oh wait no it kinda isn't actually, they have phase switching on this, but the pick ups are in parallel rather than series. That just seems like a mistake, the Switching options are almost all there on this guitar, but the pickups are just wired wrong.... If they were in series, even with the existing strat style switching, positions 2&4 both in and out of phase would be great tones to have, but they buggered it up by wiring them in parallel. They went to all the trouble of including a phase switch even, but then wired it up the pickups in such a way that it's almost useless, oops It's not like they have to change anything about the guitar to fix this, just wire up the pickups right. That's not anything to do with copyright or anything, it's just an oversight

[@bpabustan]

The Red Special and it's official copies (Burns, BMG, Fryer, Guild Brian May Pro etc) had 24" scale and not 25" like this Harley Benton. And judging from the positions 2 & 4 of the toggle switch, it seems the pickups are wired in parallel not in series as the other official Red Special copies - I even doubt it if the pickups are designed like a Burns Tri-Sonic. To be totally honest, it doesn't sound anything like the Red Special at all. HOWEVER! That does not mean it is a bad guitar in and of itself. Because of the PRS scale length and the parallel pickup wirings, it IS a great alternative for a Strat and yes a great surf guitar too. Would I buy it? Yes but not for playing anything Queen (My Burns Brian May guitar is for that job).

[@Raul1971xxx]

You must replace the five way switch and put three on/off for the pickups.

[@douglaspate9314]

Man!! I watched your face, your reaction... I bought the guitar!

[@douglaspate9314]

And it arrived today! It is soooo cool!

[@darrellmcdonald7883]

Nothing wrong with buying guitars... I have a rule... "if it don't get Play then it don't Stay" I also have a "One for One" rule.... I love that guitar.... use a Treble Booster on a Vox AC30.

[@carlfrei2419]

I own 6 Harley Bentons and they all play great. I own a $95 Dollar HWY-25BKS, SC-450 CB $120, SC-450 P-90 GT $140, VICTORY PLUS BK VINTAGE $160, SC-1000 VB $175, and lastly my CST-24HB $205. Add that all up plus some shipping costs and it less than my PRS Custom 24 S2.

[@danielhartman5086]

Cool Brian May Axe.

[@johncecilia4517]

What was last song played? After surf riffs. On tip of my tongue Cool demo

[@brittsmith8260]

Rumble, Link Wray.

[@johncecilia4517]

@@brittsmith8260 Thanks

[@johncecilia4517]

No that one. I found it. Sleepwalk, Santo and Johnny. Rumble us great too

[@TheKurtTribute]

“IVY Guitars” (same guitars as HB) sells one on Amazon for $180 shipped

[@60CycleHumcast]

link?

[@TheKurtTribute]

60 Cycle Hum It’s currently out of stock (had six in stock two days ago) but they generally add ten every few weeks or so.

[@ronnisullivan9794]

FYI as of 8/25/19 this product no longer available comes up when you go to this link

[@TheKurtTribute]

Ronni Sullivan it says that until they restock.

[@supportingsmallyoutubers4300]

Here is my IVY guitar. Like the Harley Benton, it has cosmetically changed over time. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/fX60poWrhbGBhsU

[@DMSProduktions]

Buy it! It will ROCK you! \m/

[@bobstar76]

“I can’t really play any Queen...” - NO SHIT SHERLOCK!

[@60CycleHumcast]

clever

[@brucifer0]

I love that guitar! Everything about it.

[@johnnydswing]

Love the looks! Nice sounds

[@Kyrieru]

I considered something like this, but the pre loaded pickguards with tri sonics and the switchs arent that expensive, so I went with that.

[@danieledandrea4320]

where have you bought it?

[@sassycat]

The quest for the perfect #Guitarsenal is neverending...

[@kenvorland]

I have one 2 the only thing I did was to change to brass nut now it kills awesome video stay safe rock on

[@duesenberger]

Go the guitar today and to me it is a real winner. Played the Brian May Guitar's made "Antique Cherry" before and what can I say: the HB can compete… a little smaller and different in sound (surf guitar ;)), but I like it!

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

If it is a proper Brian may jobbie the second PU has the magnets flipped so when you put on the outside PU's on it makes the sound a humbucker.. Brian's fav and most used setting is the bridge and middle together creating the humbucker sound.That then goes thru a Rangemaster style treble booster. It is really an upper mid with treble booster and then thru a Vox AC30 amp.

[@wodenoftheangles3339]

Of course it's not a 'proper Brian jobbie'. lol Let's start with the scale - it's not even 24 inch! I won't bother going further...

[@ColinStuart]

Finally! It's now July, but I've somehow managed to miss this from August.

[@BarnacleButtock]

Wish I could see the switches better when you're messing with them

[@baronvonchickenpants6564]

Is the five way switch wired for series or parallel? The BMG is wired in series and gives a much bigger sound

[@skeetschuler1859]

Brian May Red Special

[@tomjohnson5597]

I bought one, love it. Can’t play like Brian May, so I am ok it is not an exact copy.

[@markferguson3745]

The Tri Sonics have an individual sound, hotter, loads of harmonics like Gold Foils.Brutal with distortion, prob a little smoother with fuzz. It's silly that every demo is Queen riffs; yeah, May was great, but can you use them to some more original purpose? Not remotely interested in that particular sound, but I might just put some in a Partscaster. You have to stay creatively engaged,- if some different options spark you off, do what you gotta do.

[@johnterpack3940]

Dude, the look on your face when you found that surf tone. That was like the look on my face the first time I walked into a strip club. Priceless. I want that guitar and I don't even play guitar. Those pickups are insane. Wonder if they make them for bass.

[@jordanmayer5932]

That guitar sounds perfect for you, would love to hear some reverb on that boy (edit- nvm you answered that at the end.) Buy it....!

[@billcosby9695]

I cant wait to rest my hand on that one! Already have some ideas for relic and mods

[@icedvengence3845]

Now that I might buy eventually... to bad you didn't get any Queen sounds going....and yes it sounded good for surf..

[@warthog5562]

There's something about watching a man fall in love with a guitar before your very eyes.

[@StephenFinkNRP]

So thanks. Gearquisition got me again. I bought it. LOL

[@kidwajagstang]

Dude, that NAILED the famous tones from the studio we are so familiar with.

[@mica_micasa]

That was so funny to watch. 😂

[@steamengine4719]

im GASing for this so hard, seems like good for the price

[@steamengine4719]

i bought this :D

[@jvin248]

Curious if those are just Strat pickups dressed up or if they match the Burns Tri-Sonic construction? Give us a tear-down when you get it home with it ;)

[@60CycleHumcast]

there are usually roswell pickups in all the harley bentons, but i cant find these pickups on the roswell site. Id love to know exactly what they are.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Seem ok for the money! I do like the look of May's guitar!

[@stepvanjoe3469]

Hey have to say it sounds great

[@michaelp9061]

I have this exact guitar. A killer.

[@chadzillaification]

I've got a couple kit guitars I'm working on, I think you just let me know what wiring to do in one

[@chrishopkins209]

As it’s 24” in scale, it’s perfect for Surf

[@MillerCustomGuitars]

Ryan, “Red Special”s (and Brian May’s guitar in particular) are well known for having ridiculously huge necks. You said the neck felt like a regular thickness?

[@60CycleHumcast]

i honestly cant remember, i think if it was super fat i would have mentioned it.

[@clivesilk3501]

i wonder how much money harley benton had to give brian may to use this design ? and obviously his initials BM ??

[@TheOtteroo]

I am curious what the scale length is. My signature is 24 inch.

[@SpinTwistPaintRig]

Is the neck on it like the neck on their CST-24 line? Thanks to your video I want the guitar but can't deal with a thick neck.

[@fzdreaddy]

BM guitars necks are famously massive if it's accurate at all...

[@SpinTwistPaintRig]

@@fzdreaddy Thank you.

[@Hazardteam]

*09:06** It's soo fuck'n goood brother!* :) Beautiful feeling ha?

[@ericoswood1856]

The three way selector switch defeats some of the versatility of a real Brian Mays guitar. The unique thing with the Brian May guitars are the individual pickup switches.

[@alanredversangel]

So much twang! Glad I'm left handed..

[@markdunbar799]

I wish they would make a mosrite style guitar.Theres not many good ones out there for cheap

[@60CycleHumcast]

id be down for that. they have a nice bigsby on one of their hollow bodies so a mosesrite style with that bigsby and p-90s would be cool. it wouldn't be authentic but it would be cool and people would buy it.

[@VincentDP]

Loved the video.

[@GregStraub42]

So on their website the pup covers are white but are they all actually chrome..? I've been pondering ordering one of these for quite a while and man does that sound good.

[@60CycleHumcast]

Greg Straub they are chrome

[@GregStraub42]

@@60CycleHumcast Welllll I guess I could deal with that... lol I've been looking at HBs stuff for a while and I think that guitar is the answer.

[@mikenaykki2173]

Sounds great!👍👍😎

[@nazmoking3171]

Good review of a unique style of guitar. However, I think it's going to be hard for your viewers in the US to get their hands on one of these. Aren't these Harley Bento guitars hard to get into the US?

[@savanaviolenta]

Sounds great

[@johngallagher2198]

what is the last song played? I haven't heard it for ages.

[@jimcarter6669]

Yea, I want one!

[@nrich5127]

Sept 1 2020 no longer available at Thomann ...

[@CoyoteDuran1]

They have them now. $308.

[@jerrymaynard2059]

do any shops near Atlanta carry these

[@jerrymichael8177]

Great bang for the buck!!!

[@thomasraven]

I'm not thrilled with the idea of HB copying Brian's guitar. The BMG version was definitely created to be affordable to begin with. Not sure why the idea of them ripping off a guitar from a big brand doesn't bother me quite so much as this.

[@skeetschuler1859]

Get the Burns

[@RalphPacheco2]

I have always wondered why I never see anyone reviewing this Brian May, oops I meant Brad April model, how's the King (Prince) T model?

[@GirlsGamesGunsGuitar]

Hmmmm...The bit of Rumble had quite a lot of "Krang!" My attention is piqued!

[@supportingsmallyoutubers4300]

Does anyone know if the body is smaller than a normal BMG guitar? I know the shape is a big different...just wondering if it’s considerably smaller. Thanks.

[@bpabustan]

it is quite smaller.

[@deepeddyrecords5933]

Just add some reverb and you've got a nice surf guitar!

[@spottedsaint957]

So, did you you end up buying it? I see that this video is almost a year old. As much you promote Harley Benton's gear ,they should just give you one of those guitars. That's a killer secret surf guitar!👍 Great video btw!

[@60CycleHumcast]

yep, ive got one now. and its great.

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

For the price it's a no brainer. Why not just buy it? It looks great great to me and you always DO need another guitar!

[@jackblackman1947]

This Guitar will played in a Queen Style for Demo.He cant do that.so sorry.The Test is incomplete.

[@OliverAmberg]

Harley Benton is flooding KZbin... Nice review though!

[@60CycleHumcast]

Oliver Amberg they get clicks, and they are fun. That’s why I make content with them.

[@alejandronavgar8798]

Damn, I need a bigger house ...

[@BeniZeBest2011]

It took about 6 minutes to get "stuck" on this guitar!!! Meeennnn!!!!

[@padywac1970]

Man, just get the guitar! Sale stuff later. The regret is just not worth it. Just. Buy. It.

[@Darrenprender]

Does anyone know if this guitar neck dives/is neck heavy?

[@renlin8925]

Darrenprender nope, it’s surprisingly light and doesn’t neck dive

[@silverpairaducks]

Need vox and treble booster

[@johnlemon8689]

Where can I buy it! I’m a big queen fan

[@60CycleHumcast]

thomann

[@johnlemon8689]

I just checked they’re website they are not selling them anymore I’m gonna look for it used

[@CoyoteDuran1]

@@johnlemon8689, They have them now. $308.

[@Twirlyhead]

Don't be fooled folks - no whammy bar on the demo guitar - hmmmmmmmmm, I wonder why ...

[@Twirlyhead]

@ivebeen He's at _Thomann's_ Gearhead University. Harley Benton=Thomann: get it.

[@TheAtariCreep]

I totally get the whole "I don't need to be buying another guitar" but bro, you fell in love. Could see that in your fave and body language. You disappeared in that thing for a few bro. I hope to fuck you went home with it or ordered one.

[@60CycleHumcast]

I used my demo guy powers to beg for one, it hasn't shipped yet but its my understanding that it will eventually, lol.

[@TheAtariCreep]

@@60CycleHumcast thats what I'm talking about. Amen brother!

[@60CycleHumcast]

(self justification beginning) I dont even feel bad, TGU equals about 3 weeks of time out of the year (travel time + edit time) where i'm essentially making 0 money. If i beg for a guitar here or there i deserve it! (self justification over)

[@TheAtariCreep]

@@60CycleHumcast 100%

[@Davo2233]

Are you playing thru a vox?im skeptical if I can get that out of my fender bass breaker

[@jairosanchez07]

Did you end up getting it?

[@SgtPnkks]

look at his face while he's playing it... if he didn't buy it while there he ordered one after he got home