Harley Benton

Creativity at its best
Crafted with love
A bunch of unique creations
Masterbuilders everywhere!
We were blown away by all your entries to the #DiyKitChallenge ! Most creative people in the world! Kris and Guillaume got to try two of your creations that were sent in for the video and go through some of the crazy ideas that came up during the competition!
Check out all the guitars mentioned here:
1st Place: / oldshadowmusic
2nd Place: Telephonster: / system.dd
3rd Place: UkuLEDle: • UkuLEDle #DiyKitChallenge
Honourable Mentions:
TNT Cajon: / skizzenmonster
Fantastic woodwork bass: / whats.next.otto
3D printed flowers Tele: / andreirosuofficial
Metalcaster: • #DiyKitChallenge Metal...
Wavey carvings Tele: / scion_of_darkness
Dragoncaster: / dragoncasterdiy
Adam Tree handpainted guitar: / zhannadryha
IKEA guitar+bass combination: • Doppio manico basso/ch...
Handpainted Strat: / dianajmc91
Aged shell-pink Caster: • Harley Benton Stratoca...
Gartenbass: • Mein Gartenbass #DiyKi...
BMO Guitar: • The BMO Guitar ! (Adve...
Rick & Morty Bass: / gijswaelkens
and many more! Just look for the hashtag #DiyKitChallenge
Get your own DIY Kit here: redir.love/tho...
We use Triad-Orbit stands for our cameras, lights and mics: tho.mn/triad
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Intro Jam
1:24 Introduction
2:06 First place: oldshadowmusic | Talking
4:44 First place | Playing
6:06 Why we picked the winners
7:46 Third place: UkuLEDle by DorAndy | Talking
10:17 Third place | Demonstration
12:50 Third place | Playing
13:24 Second place: system.dd
15:32 Honourable mentions
21:44 Goodbye!
Webshop: www.thomann.de
Facebook: / thomanninternational
Twitter: @thomann / thomann
Instagram: @thomann.music / thomann.music
Pinterest: / thomannde
Visit our blogs:
GER: www.thomann.de...
ENG: www.thomann.de...
FRA: www.thomann.de...
ESP: www.thomann.de...
ITA: www.thomann.de...
NED: www.thomann.de...
FIN: www.thomann.de...

[@DorAndy]

Thanks for all the nice comments and the well done showcase of my Uke :) looking forward to the next DIY-challenge :D

[@jonathanyun7817]

I'm far from the only or first person to say this, but these light up necks *need* to be a thing, on a uke or any stringed instrument, especially on fretless ones! If you can get the business side to work, I could imagine this tech being picked up by Fender for special edition Strats or as a standalone boutique effect. For sure, I'd be one of the first in line to buy!

[@ChrisFranklyn]

Mate, it's amazing. Have you entered this year too?

[@DorAndy]

@@ChrisFranklyn I wanted to do so but my Wedding tomorrow took a lot of my time - so maybe next year or I will just upload something without an official Challenge;)

[@ChrisFranklyn]

@@DorAndy Priorities man! Yeah, fair enough :) Well, I look forward to it if you do.

[@svens.3743]

I completely underestimated what people would build for this challenge. I thought it would just be nicely painted and built guitars, but these are just masterpieces. The amount of work put into these instruments is just mindblowing. Congratulations to everybody who won/participated and just keep on building these amazing instruments.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

100% true!! I couldn't believe it myself. I love modding guitars and know how extremely long it takes to make these beauties. Massive respect to all, as told many times! :) //Kris

[@svens.3743]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Yeah, I changed the pickups on my bass and changed some other small things, but the planing alone takes a lot of time. I can't imagine the time it takes building something as complex as these instruments.

[@woulf1031]

This LED ukelele idea is really great. Imagine this as a guitar for beginners. But they are all crazy and creative, i couldn't name a first place.

[@mariusvermin]

make the tele a production model, and pay the guy royalties

[@getenlightened]

Congrats to the winners and really to everyone who submitted an entry.

[@josephhughes9490]

Kris, I've never seen anything like these entries. Just incredibly inventive. Another phenomenal show. The ukelele was just insane. A phone notary on a guitar wow. Just fantastic show guys.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks a lot! Yeah it's too bad we didn't get to play and show the telephone caster, that thing is mind blowing. :) //Kris

[@michaelolz]

That is the coolest Tele I’ve ever seen. Crazy retro 60s styling and gorgeous beveling. You guys chose wisely.

[@Thoracius]

Yeah the headstock is even art-deco-ish. Very cool.

[@theprogguitarist]

Thank you so much for the kind words about our 3D printed Haru guitar! It was a really fun challenge :)

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

You both did a fantastic job with the Haru guitar! The filming was beautiful too. Great build, absolutely one of a kind! And the t logo on the back... wow!! :) Thanks for being a part of this fun challenge! Cheers //Kris

[@pepezoomba]

This is great! You should give prizes at least to 10 artists. And maybe increase the top prizes value. People is really dedicating so much love to this challenge.

[@allboutthemojo]

Such brilliant work from the artists and creative minds. I would be worried that Thimann would steal some of these ideas. You guys have provided them with free R&D projects of ideas they could never come up with on their own.

[@hearpalhere]

Wow, I'm speechless! Congratulations to everyone who took part in this wonderful contest!

[@reneliebregt6319]

I would give the guy with the LED ukelele the first price. Completely insane what this guy did. Of course the tele style guitar was also awesome 👍🎸😀

[@DorAndy]

Thanks alot

[@sirgear-a-lot8582]

Hey Kris and Guillaume. Thank you very much for putting me into the honourable mentions. 😊 the contest was absolutely exciting and i am looking forward to participating in the next one. Keep up the good work. Cheers! Sir Gear-a-lot

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Loved the guitar, thanks for participating! cheers //Kris

[@tramlad2]

There some really talented solo guitar builders out there, as long as decent kits are about, the world is your oyster, some of these look superb, they all deserve credit for the work they put in, excellent project, well done to all

[@christiansigl1]

You should continue this series every year. Its so great and inspiring

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks a lot! Guillaume and I really want to and we are doing our best to make it happen! :) //Kris

[@leepek3575]

this is the most inspiration for building your own instrument ;d great job for all

[@mentalcog2187]

Absolutely love the Winning Guitar! Just stunning! Ukulele is insane! WOW! Then he plays IZ's version of Somewhere over the Rainbow! Perfect, lol.

[@overvieweffect9034]

the winner is the one I'd buy if it was a production model (specially with ss frets), but to me that damn ukulele was the most impressive and the winner, just from the work put on programing those leds, and actually installing them into the fretboard, man, that's a winner for me!

[@bubuAndBass]

all those projects are result of pure genius !! so cool ! 😍

[@nym053]

This is not meant as a negative critique, but just an interesting observation 😊 I've got both a HB T-style DIY and a Squier CV 50s Tele. The neck feels shorter on the HB, even though they should be exactly the same in scale length. So I measured them, and the HB is actually 1 cm longer if measured between the nut and the lowest fret. But the neck is also mounted 0,5 cm deeper in the body. Though the fredboard on the HB has a overhang of about 8 mm. And there's some difference in measurements regarding the bridge as well, when measuring the entire scale length. Though to make a relevant measurement, and since they're slightly different in bodyshape, I had to place each guitar on my lab where it felt most right, and then measure the distance between the nut and the mid of my thigh. I have quite good eye-measuring, and checked several times with one eye closed to be sure. But yeah, the HB falls about half a cm shorter in distance. The same difference when measuring from that flat rest on the body just behind the bottom of the neck where it's mounted and up to the nut. Incredible that such a small difference for such a relatively large item can make such a significant difference in feel 😄

[@CANNIMAGINE]

You guys should post links to the builders so people can order custom guitars from them as part of the contest top builders.

[@ipuya]

Wow! Amazing entries! That ukulele though!!! 🤯

[@jomamma1750]

Hey, you guys need to get with the uke builder. If you could build guitars with the led lights and the chord programming every guitar student on the planet will want to buy one!! Make it happen and split the money with the builder/engineer. You could even program it to show the fingering for tunes, scale runs, the solo for Stairway to Heaven(lol) ect. Pure Genius Idea. And you guys are a guitar company as well. I'm not joking. 😎

[@DorAndy]

[@VintageSlide]

I wish you would make two kinds of kits besides the existing ones: A tune-o-matic one with 3+3 headstock and a pair of humbuckers, and one with a strat vibrato and 6l headstock. Both with uncut headstock shapes and a large square body. You could shape it into anything, and really design your own guitar. Yes, you can kinda do that with the tele as shown in the video, but you are very limited because of the existing shape, and the body will end up rather small. I’d love to get a kit to make the offset guitar of my dreams, with an unique body shape.

[@PolytheneBoy]

Came here for inspiration for this years challenge. Might just give up now!

[@benmaguire4098]

Fabulous I hope you do this every year. Beyond my skill levels but huge respect to all .

[@Behrater]

For shure I´ll buy this Ukulele, if Thomann / Harlery Benton will release this. I dont know the Chords on Ukuleles and I could be fun to learn from the LEDs

[@06szymonszymanski]

Every single entry was amazing but there is something about that white T-style 🤩

Matt black with orange leds and that black strat at 20:24 were the coolest, I think

[@bobafett4889]

That should be a real model. It's so freaking cool!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Yeah right? It REALLY looks awesome. I mean how many companies try to come up with a great fresh body shape, right? It's very hard actually. I love this modded t-style guitar a lot. //Kris

[@duarteestelita7257]

Bloody hell... Sick entries !! Congrats everyone!

[@maomao180]

The white tele is tasty!

[@johnriley8314]

I was wondering who won this contest ya'll. Great sounding(& Looking) Tele style that took 1st place!!!! Great job to ALL WHO ENTERED !!!!!

[@stefanfyhn4668]

S--- DOUBLE CUT!!!

[@BenFTI2K]

You need to make that ‘Tele’ a production model, I’d buy it in a heartbeat

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

What did I just watched 😳 Thank you for this crazy dose of inspiration ❤️

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Haha, it's pretty insane, isn't it? :) Best community ever! Literally. //Kris

[@Makivala]

Just crazy! I love this video. It's incredible. Congratulations to all.

[@chriscuthbertson]

Harley Benton should put the winners guitar into production.

[@peterdegoeij6234]

Harley Benton should make a guitar that looks very similar to that tele DIY guitar!

[@derekwalton16]

Beautiful!...

[@ottolandgraf6737]

Vielen Dank für das coole Video. Hab mich sehr darüber gefreut so viel Lob zu bekommen. Auch super das andere Projekte noch gezeigt wurden. Hätte etwas mehr sein können 😉. Ich freue mich auf nächstes Jahr, aber rechtzeitig Bescheid geben, damit ich mehr Zeit habe. Danke allen

[@guitarbattleru]

the sound is great!

[@18CC]

I want a guitar with the leds. PLEASE

[@Steven_SK]

There are some talented folks out there!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Absolutely! I honestly wasn't expecting such masterpieces. haha! It's so nice to see all the impressive entries. Cheers Steve! //Kris

[@Thoracius]

Is there no DIYKitChallenge23?!?! I missed last year's and was really looking forward to participating this year.

[@trjb1767]

Amazing

[@LupinoArts]

A guitar with programmable LED indicators is generally a great idea for beginners, don't you think? Thomann, go original!

[@ChadwickRider]

I want to document the creation of the $78 JA kits, but unfortunately it cost more to have it shipped to the states than the kit itself. :( Definitely want to get my hands on one of these kits, somehow.

[@weedyguitarstudio1715]

I wish I could have entered love your channel you guys play so tasty jams and licks!!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks so much!! Well, you might have the chance to enter a similar challenge in the future... who knows. :) We loved seeing all the creative instruments and we're looking forward to seeing yours too next time. Cheers //Kris

[@weedyguitarstudio1715]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Thanks awesome guys been wanting to work with your company a while I'm a lefty though😎⚡🤘

[@lucagambetta5842]

We need a HarLED Benton.

[@HavendaleBlvd80]

I'd love to get that ukelele if it is ever in production.

[@boomerbassmeme]

Great job by everyone! Wow really creative and well done! 😎👍

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Couldn't agree more! Loved this challenge! //Kris

[@PooNinja]

Soo much fun!

[@jochen970]

Can we get that body shape as the next HB model?

[@KarlKarsnark]

Anyone know where to get the White, Tele bridge pup? I've been trying to find one for years.

[@lone-wolf-1]

The builder painted it white himself

[@KarlKarsnark]

@@lone-wolf-1 ahhh, way too obvious. LOL! Thanks or the pro tip. cheers!

[@gerryloughran1676]

WoW ...great stuff

[@marccarter1350]

Because we tune in to listen to you -play?

[@sperl42]

Kris' socks 😄

[@DEZZA12]

cool socks dude

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Haha! Tone socks for life! :) Thanks man! //Kris

[@Briansgate]

was there a 2023 challenge?

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

Lololooool 😛😅🌊🌊🌊 ich krieg ein rohr 👏👏👏 das muß man einfach gesehen haben. Volle punktzahl 💯🥳 🐈

[@fredericadda]

Kris’s face when he’s playing is the closest thing in real life from one of the 2 muppet show grumpy grandpas 🙃

[@KrisBarocsi]

I’ll go ahead and take this as a compliment. 🤣🤣 I like those two grumpy bastards. Haha!

[@fredericadda]

@@KrisBarocsi oh sure, they have always been my favorite characters! We all make faces when we play, at least yours is famous 😉

[@AndrewAHayes]

You failed to notice that the TNT box was a homage to the Crash Bandicoot Playstation game!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

You are so right! Damn it, we're too old... Haha! Loved the Cajon anyways. //Kris

[@salmonline]

Looks like Bloomfield's Tele.

[@sperl42]

Are this the KIT Pickups in the tele?

[@deandee8082]

so its more about gimmick than a good quality great playing sounding guitar then?

[@nowherebrain]

it's a shame so many people here(ja, Deutschland) do not know rick and morty....makes me sad...ofc, I work in a factory(normal mitarbeiter) and most of those people, while they are not stupid, are un educated...I really don't like the school system here, but that's a whole other thing.

[@captainchaos3053]

I didn't like the wining guitar that much. It looks and sounds like a tele with a basic carve job.

[@edwardlayer4259]

Ah, I thought winners were going to be chosen randomly. Oh well.

[@Aint1S]

That carved tele was crazy and the tele, TELE was equally insane! The telephone tele would be perfect for a guy like John Popper of Blues Traveler! A real shame I missed one of their shows about 40 miles from home and just before the *Plandemic* was kicked off!

[@lowtunedg9211]

That white one is terrible 😂😂😂😂

[@a.jcostello2984]

Do thomann reply?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Indeed! :) //Kris

[@ottolandgraf6737]

Vielen Dank für das coole Video. Schon toll wenn man gelobt wird für seine Arbeit. Schön das auch andere Projekte noch gezeigt wurden. Alles wunderschöne kreative Instrumente. Ich hoffe wir sehen uns das nächste Jahr wieder. Aber rechtzeitig Bescheid geben, damit ich mehr Zeit habe 😉

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

@@ottolandgraf6737 Ich kann nicht mal vorstellen, was du baust, wenn du noch mehr Zeit hast! haha! Tolle Arbeit Otto! Mach's gut! //Kris

[@kirbonite]

it's smart to wear all black so the viewer can see the instrument. distracting to look at Kermit the frog socks.

[@catzdollz9810]

The white stray is too loud.It hurts my Perfect pitch ears. It shouldn't be that much louder than the one playing a nice soft rythm.

[@minkorrh]

Maybe make sure the entrants aren't professional luthiers? Most people buying these kits are not that, rendering this video useless. Just buy a guitar.

[@NissEhkiin]

huh? dude I'm one of the people who's guitar was in this video and I have never built a guitar and everything I did on the guitar was my first time doing those things. I don't think the others were professional luthiers either