Harley Benton CLD 15MCE VS Budget Electro Acoustic Review & Demo

[@fretworkband3204]

Glad to see you reviewing an acoustic guitar for a change. I’ve been working on expanding my repertoire on electric but I always turn back to acoustic when I have something in me I need to get out. Would really like to hear a comparison after you do a complete setup, sort of a before and after vlog. To my ears, the mic’d version sounds better now.

[@famtoonen18]

OMG mate, great vid again. Lucky me, I have Patreon. All JR followers, get your Patreon. It's the same price of just one beer in a pub. PER MONTH. I have a love/hate relationship with HB guitars. But..... my best guitars are HBs for 25% of the price of my Gibson's and Fender's.

[@mototakahe836]

Well it was the big screen this afternoon not Monday. I got some computer time I was not expecting. Love your straightforward evaluations. For novices like myself perhaps a playable guitar fills the bill. We do not need a spot on pro level tool to use for work, unless of course you have pots of money to spend on a beautiful fully fettled guitar.

[@davidfrank2824]

It is so funny where you pointed out the problem with the frets. For some reason from the very beginning of the video something looked odd for some reason. It's almost like there's a difference in the color. When you pointed that out I started wondering if someone had tried to work on it in the past. I know you had said in previous videos that you get some guitars on consignment. I wasn't sure if this is one of them or not. Like always love the video I always make sure to give you a big ol thumbs up before watching the video so I don't forget. For some people who work out there thinking how do I know if I like the video before watching it. I can say on rare occasions never on this that I changed my mind after watching the video. It really doesn't happen that often. I figure just someone showing something in the video is worth a thumbs up. And if I'd like the content and the person I make sure to subscribe to. I most definitely subscribe to your channel. As always I look forward to the next video.

[@Barbarapape]

You can't expect perfection at this price point. All the Harley Bentons that i have bought required a bit of tlc and new tuners and pickups. Thankfully i am capable of doing this without the expense of a luthier who don't always to a great job.

[@LuisSilva-rk1ye]

Looking forward to see you working on those frets!! Cheers from Portugal!!!😊

[@GRBAquatics]

So Very Cool, Thankyou. Nice to see you 'Picking" on an Acoustic. Nice Guitar and Awesome Playing. Cheers

[@malcolmspillett8172]

As I am currently primarily an acoustic player with a range of acoustics, Taylor, Martin, Yamaha, Epiphone. All of them sound better to my ears than the Harley Benton, although someone who plays at one of the monthly acoustic sessions has one that sounds great unplugged.

[@grene1955]

I have the Harley Benton Custom Line CLA-15MCE, it's a great guitar, though it did need a bit of work on the bridge. It's great in a band mix being a 000...a little less bass, a bit more mid-range. For the first time ever, my other guitar player said my acoustic was killing him! Awesome! It was definitely worth putting a few bucks into.

[@stephenskipper1500]

Please add a video of you doing the 'fetling' it would really help to see how it's done!! Cheers

[@BenjaminKanarek]

Lovely performance and guitar!

[@jimmyjames2022]

I had to go figure out this Harley Benton, logical if not memorable, naming system. The CL is "Custom Line" for the Fishman Presys II preamp models. D is "Dreadnaught". M is "mahogany". CE is "cut-away" (but who knows what the E part of that means). VS is vintage sunburst, such as it is. Makes perfect sense?

[@davidmurphy4844]

The E will be for "electric" I'm fairly sure.

[@adriantodor3458]

Congrats on the new guitar. Perhaps it will sound better after the top will open up and with some new strings. I think HB has some good acoustic guitar models (the Custom Line King jumbo has real Grover tuners, for example). The CLD-41 is a nice Martin D41 copy and CLA-15 is a Martin 000 knock-off. I have the CLJ-503 model which seems to be inspired by Taylor models and it has great playability and sound.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

When recording acoustic guitar, I always use a blend of the mic-ed up and DI sounds (and always make sure that the two signals are in phase). I personally thought the plugged in sound of this guitar was pretty awful, it had a lot of that unpleasant "quackiness" but the room sound was pretty nice.

[@Maximuscottius]

Been watching your channel for a couple of years now John...I like that you are trying out quite a few different 'budget friendly' electrics which I enjoy (I bought a Sire S7 based on what you thought of it - didnt get on with it myself though!) I appreciate that you are more of an electric player, so what I would say is as far as acoustics are concerned in my experience you really do need to reach a bit deeper into the pocket to get a decent one. The materials and assembly process of building an acoustic is far more costly than knocking up an electric by (essentially) bolting a cricket bat to a chopping board so £200 is pretty meagre; to my ears that HB sounds really pretty poor. I'd suggest looking at some Faiths, Yamaha or some of the eastern Europe makers many of which are well under a grand. There are some great guitars available - try one of the Yamaha Transacoustics, or an older LL 6 or 16 you will be amazed at the difference. A good acoustic will make you want to play more acoustic guitar, take if from me, I'm a semi-reformed metaller/progger of a similar vintage to yourself. Cheers

[@williamcampbell7387]

Bit of the Kinks' "This Time Tomorrow."

[@michaelbelliveau8755]

I purchased an hb cld 28ce as an extra guitar for the jam room..those who use it are amazed that it's a Bonfire guitar..I enjoy it as well but like you I think the pup system is lacking something so I mic up when I need to..

[@OzzyMandias]

It a very nice guitar for the money John but you are a far better player than £200...now that you are famous I'd of thought Martin or Taylor would be sending you something more suited to your level...it's good for the money...but so are you John

[@sgtmac62]

Agreed.

[@edyb2097]

🥱

[@jrchanning]

Thought it sounded best through the microphone 😀

[@booster1616]

IMO, The cheapest acoustic guitar with the cheapest microphone will always sound better than the most expensive acoustic guitar through a piezo pickup. This guitar sounded very acceptable via the mic, but absolutely beyond dreadful via the piezo.

[@PegeCovers]

Used this guitar in a cover. It's good.

[@BrentAdams]

Listening through decent quality headphones from AKG..... I felt the plugged in sound was "meh". Mic'd... not much better. That guitar does have a Solid Top. The rest of the body is laminated. I'd say it's fine for backing rhythm parts, but not for a recording that is Acoustic based...unless you can "fix" the sound in your DAW, but I would guess that you would have already addressed in the play through demo.

[@berrykrautboy5368]

Hi John, as always I do like your playing, but to be honest I do not like the sound of that HB guitar. You should return it... By the way, why don't you purchase a removable pickup for your 70 quid acoustic on the wall behind you? That will probably sound much better and will be even cheaper... Keep on Sir! From Germany with best regards...

[@waynetykocki3964]

Another bargain Harley Benton can’t really go far wrong

[@bohmao]

I may be a heretic John but I prefer the unplugged sound!

[@steviesynapse]

Hi John, that Harley Benton doesn’t sound good mic’d up or plugged in. Similarly, I bought a Harley Benton acoustic (CLA 28VE WN) a couple of months ago, which is more than double the price of the CLD-15 MCE VS in your demo, it was awful! The guitar was dull and lifeless, with no resonance or projection. I should have returned it as the guitar was virtually unplayable when it arrived, the action was ridiculously high, even after truss rod adjustment to take the up-bow out of the neck, and it had fret issues. I decided to do the required work on the bridge saddle to lower the action and address the fret issues. Playability was excellent afterwards but it made no difference to the guitar’s awful tone and sound. I’ve been a fan of Harley Benton guitars for years and have owned many, I currently own 3 HB Fusion’s which I’ve modded and these are great guitars but based on first hand experience, your demo and other demo’s I won’t be buying another HB acoustic.

[@davidmoss7245]

Hi John i always watch your channel and enjoy every minute,have you ever thought of changing your name to Harley Benton? Or maybe Harry Bentoni?😂😂😂😂😂

[@mat900ft]

Each to their own, but to me, plugged in, that sounds like the equivalent of a pint of freshly squeezed lemon juice

[@The_Macaroon]

How is the action on this?

[@JRobsonGuitar]

Just under 2mm @ 12th fret.

[@The_Macaroon]

@@JRobsonGuitar thanks John.

[@DjkKelly]

Send it back, get a Yamaha or a sire a3 if you can the one you want double pick up system, £300, if you don't like it I will gladly take them of your hands, Sunderland, Good luck, Djk.

[@elbauldo]

I have a sire A3. Recommended