Harley Benton Double Cut Junior - Unboxing and second? Impressions.

[@noeffnwaypal]

Just received my first Harley Benton (DC 600 VI Vintage Series) and I am blown away considering the sub $200 price tag. The intonation was perfect upon arrival. No cosmetic issues, smooth frets, and no buzzing anywhere. Highly recommend them based on my experience!

[@matressi6843]

"lets try it with some drive" *moves gain knob to 1*

[@daltonkyrie6975]

a tip: you can watch series on instaflixxer. I've been using it for watching all kinds of movies lately.

[@jamesonemory3413]

@Dalton Kyrie yea, been using InstaFlixxer for since december myself =)

[@seanlukas3300]

@Dalton Kyrie yea, been using instaflixxer for months myself :)

[@davva360]

Shipper opened it to see what it was. Hoping it was a Fender or Gibson, realized it was a Harley Benton and decided to not steal it. LOL. The frets being a bit gritty is not a big deal, easy enough to polish them up. Out of the box tuning was hilarious.

[@dunlop7rush]

Got one of these about 4months ago. Absolutely fantastic for the money. Put a Seymour Duncan Antiquity dogear in it and it sounds great. The Roswell that comes in it is pretty good but I already had the SD and it is absolutely better. This is an amazing deal! That makes me 50/50 on Harley Benton.

[@dunlop7rush]

Full size pots and braided wire.

[@guitarstech2215]

@@dunlop7rush it has full size pots and braided wire? Or you put them in?

[@dunlop7rush]

@@guitarstech2215 came with full size pots and braided wire. I was surprised.

[@Crow-jg4sj]

Ya, the Roswell and Artec pickups they use are pretty good. I bought a Moserite classic. I will probably leave the pickups in it.

[@leeoffender8406]

I got mine used on reverb. I had a couple originals back when you could find them for under 200. These dc juniors were a favorite modding platform of mine in the 70's. I'd take one of the coils from a dimarzio super dist, remove all the allen heads and press some alnico magnets from a fender bronco pickup into the holes. It made for a sweet sounding single coil that would mount in a very shallow neck rout. Changed out the tuners, put a toggle on the lower bout and a leo quan badass on the posts, a paf in the bridge. Wished a hundred times since I never sold the two I've had, figured I could always make another, but no way I can take a router to a $2000 gibson nowadays. Who would have known? Thanks to harley benton's faithful recreation I'm finally able to revisit that dear old friend.

[@cresshead]

just had a look, left handed ones due in 2 weeks or so!

[@EricMerrow]

cresshead I just looked for the same thing 😂

[@CCWeazle]

@@EricMerrow Looks like Thomann is getting a lot of orders for these leftys. They jacked the price up to $203 overnight (11/21). Right handed model is still $185.

[@EricMerrow]

CCWeazle what??? That’s kinda BS... I mean, it’s still pretty affordable but c’mon!

[@davidkastin4240]

LEFTIES ARE IN 😈😈😈

[@EricMerrow]

David Kastin 🤔🤔🤔

[@joebodynobody764]

Looks like a nice spicy brown mustard. Sounds like a gem.

[@60CycleHumcast]

like a deli mustard?

[@skraegorn7317]

Mr. Fister Oddly enough i think that yellow looks pretty cool. Would go well with a tortoiseshell or a white guard.

[@joebodynobody764]

@@skraegorn7317 definitely tortoiseshell.

[@joebodynobody764]

@@60CycleHumcast deli mustard mixed with some paprika

[@60CycleHumcast]

i was thinking it would be fun to get some white on there to match the tuning pegs. might be hard to find a pickguard that matches though. i could always try my hand at cutting one. A new p-90 cover and knobs would be easier.

[@zerolatitude2923]

Just got mine.... Frankly I am stunned. I have a Gibson LP hanging on the wall and play this one instead. 187$ is about 1/3 of what it should cost. On the fence... Buy both the single cut and double! Really great guitar.

[@Icantdrive55]

Customs probably opened it, there usually is a mile of backing bubbles inside.

[@davidkastin4240]

Hmm maybe they played it 😆

[@fuckyoutube4]

EU has a no plastic packaging law which came into effect since a couple of months ago. That is why Thomann sends all the boxes with those cardboard and paper rolls inside. Instead of how it used to be - the plastic air packs and bubbles.

[@MikeLute]

Customs having opened the delivery came to my mind, too. I think Thomann stopped putting plastic bubble protection in the packages. The last shipments I got contained only the crumpled paper.

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Legend says those who work for customs and excise get a kick out of bursting the bubble wrap while they watch our every move 😉

[@jreagle58]

My understanding Thomann has a US warehouse.

[@Kludos2005]

Got of these today, great intonation and action, the pickup is amazing. Get one now!

[@modergav]

Sounds like a preety good DC Jr. Nothing else to add. Only that i want one

[@ColinStuart]

Finally! I haven't seen you this enthusiastic since your demo of the Brian May HB! Glad you are happy, now it stands between the DC 580, and the Jr. Jerry Rainey (local hero), has played one of these for as long as I can remember!...(and Jerry and I have known each other since the '70's)!

[@60CycleHumcast]

I need to do a follow up on the brian may, its a really fun player.

[@mike5177]

I have a ton of fun playing mine. It just feels phenomenal in my hands.

[@ColinStuart]

My friend Jerry Rainey (From the Beat Famers) has played one of these for as long as I've known him (since the early 1960's)!

[@JaFoste_Studio]

Ordered the faded blue, yesterday. Never had a guitar with a p90, but from all the demos I've heard, I really like the sound!

[@Crow-jg4sj]

P90s are great pickups. Versatile. Not great for distortion but they really can growl with crunch and they still have sparkle on clean.

[@alexhobbins7491]

Love your channel, showing a new light on affordable guitars

[@PooNinja]

Mustard monster or...Dijon double cut

[@bryansimmons4550]

I bought one that was alleged to be Pelham Blue (even the Thomann photos showed that) but it is actually a much darker blue. Finish notwithstanding, everything about the guitar was very good. The neck is a bit thicker than I prefer, but I don't find it unplayable or uncomfortable. The overall guitar was so good that I put a DiMarzio P-90 in it, and it went from good to REALLY good.

[@akwamarsunzal]

Love it! Colour is a bit "off" but, at that price... Relic the hell out of it! Slap some stickers on it! Bash it with a hammer etc etc etc Got some good tones there!

[@craigfish7890]

Cool guitar and while I love the brighter TV yellow I'm kinda diggin the darker yellow color Thanks for posting it.

[@jltrem]

Wish they made them in cherry.

[@robmontier639]

They do!

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Just got the cherry version of this. Very sweet

[@fuchsia5899]

They do lol

[@backwaterskinny]

I purchased a HB solid body and an electric/acoustic based on all the youtubers saying how good the HB line is. The guitars sit and never get played due to how poorly they play. They look great, so as wall art they will do fine.

[@60CycleHumcast]

i dunno, i play mine often.

[@jacksonhornady7474]

Dang it sounds awesome. I want a dual p90 version

[@johnrau2265]

On the Thomann website, it appears to be TV yellow. Not to be crass, but that instrument is baby-diaper brown. Had kitchen cabinets that came that shade-- we pained them turquoise on general principle.

[@TonyHookedonVanlife]

I actually like that better than tv yellow

[@davidkastin4240]

It's got my interest. It sounds very good.

[@robmccarthy1018]

You've done well with that straight out of the box. I recently got the same model here in Australia. Cost quite a bit extra in shipping due to the virus according to Thomann. Love the finish, solid mahogany build, tuners, and sound BUT.....I could not get the darn thing to intonate. It was going to take too much trouble shipping it back so out with the tools etc. Somehow this one got through the QC with the bridge posts in the wrong position! It was at least 2mm too forward. I screwed in the adjusting screws at the bridge back to max and it was still sharp. I ended up making a small steel block which I fitted against the bass side bridge post. Finally... with the bridge right back I got it to tune perfectly. It's stable and holds tune well but I shouldn't have to do all the work involved to get it right. I'm enjoying playing it however. Wonder if any others have had this trouble. My previous HB JA-60 was perfect. :)

[@Crow-jg4sj]

They usually use Roswell or Artec pickups which are decent. I have two HB guitars. I play left handed so HB provides more selection than most makers. The kits are almost the same price so. The pickups are good enough to gig with but maybe something higher end for recording. My favorite is my MR Mosrite classic. It's a fun guitar. The only thing I don't like is where the jack comes in.

[@nickyd9361]

I got the SC version, after getting the polepieces higher on the pickup, all it needs is changing the bridge & tuners.

[@Luthiart]

I'd dig it more if they had a real TV Yellow finish... Even a vintage sunburst, or (ugh) cherry would get my attention, but that baby-poop yellow doesn't do it for me. That hollow sound you're hearing is probably because it's a ceramic pickup. I have an SX Furrian that came stock with with 2 ceramic P90s, and they sounded hollow and boxy. Not exactly a P90 tone, but they still sounded good. I ended up swapping them out for a set of Epiphone P90 Pros (which sound awesome, BTW), but I kept the ceramics to use in another project.

[@CCWeazle]

Thomann website says its Alnico-5.

[@williammolina9792]

Of course the guitar is nice. Thomann would never send him a bad guitar, it would be bad for their name.

[@60CycleHumcast]

I dunno, the ms-60 they sent me had some issues. I think theres always going to be a luck of the draw element with guitars at this price point. It is fun to have conspiracy theories though, I get it.

[@jonljacobi]

Polishing refs to mirror smoothness is easy. Micro sandpaper then buff with red jewelry compound.

[@tinystacker]

Placed the order right after watching this video yesterday. This will be a fun one to mod/upgrade. Thanks for the heads up Ryan!

[@bassa69]

what wwould you mod/upgrade i hope to get my first guitar next year so im stuck between this and epiphone sg special

[@raceface_m2579]

I really dig the looks- especially the color! Might pick one up.

[@JWCFB]

Another good review Ryan. It does sound a little muddy. If I had a Gibson or Seymour Duncan pickup put in, would it drop right in and sound noticeably better? I'm wanting a junior but I'm not paying Gibson $1500.00 for a stripped down guitar.

[@jaimemilionazario6077]

The best honest guy !

[@wbm3085]

Be great for a power chord thrash about on a cranked valve amp 🤟

[@74dartman13]

It's hard to build one cheaper! For what you get at that price it's hard to beat!👍😎🎸🎶

[@p6x2]

The typical Moutarde de Dijon is lemon yellow, not gold yellow. Those that are with a deeper gold color are usually the ones with grains and pepper or aged or what not. The one oh one brand of Moutarde in France used to be Amora, back in the 60's. Amora was created in 1919. Back when I was a kid, the Moutarde was really hot, and there was only one kind. Amora has been purchased by Unilever, and what they do today does not taste like it used to be. Anyway, I love this guitar.

[@johnora3857]

I got mine a few weeks back. It is ok, but not more. And it got one big problem: the sc custom p90 with two pickups, nicer finish and most importantly: grover tuners! All that for the SAME price. So think about it!

[@erlannderrantem6972]

I genuinely think, this is Löwensenf mustard yellow!

[@lancefraijo8585]

Cool guitar 😎 Great Review and I like your playing, I might buy it

[@triplesevensix291]

Still waiting on my Harley Benton knock off bass VI that was meant to be here days ago! Snail mail.....that juniors a keeper my man!

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Did it arrive then ?

[@PJandtheBeard]

In honor of Pennsylvania I’m going to go with Heinz spicy brown mustard color!

[@Chemist1076]

90% of the world's mustard is from canada

[@rindred]

If I had any criticism, it would be that it might look nicer still if it had black speed knobs.

[@randyzingaro1986]

Just got one for X-Mas. Loved it as it came, but had to up grade it with the Seymore Duncan antiquity pick up and cts pots and a bumblebee cap. Love it to death, can't put it down.

[@briandowling8372]

Neck "joint" looks the same as my '80s Gibson DC Junior. It looks nice and sounds pretty good. Definitely good value for money.

[@lawabidingcitizen5153]

Sounds like a capable rockabilly guitar tbh

[@croc3862]

I'd still love to see you do the sl59, because I think that would suit your kinda style.

[@60CycleHumcast]

Thats the slick guitar one right? i wounldn't mind trying one. they have more of a melody maker shape right?

[@croc3862]

@@60CycleHumcast Kinda sorta. The stock p90 on them is p good and owning one of the slick tele copies I can see why the brand has a massive cult following. Definitely might have to get it set up tho. Mine came with super gritty un level frets and others will get a slick with as good a setup out the box as a harley benton

[@CCWeazle]

@@60CycleHumcast I bought an sl59 in surf green. I'm lefty, and had made myself a pledge to never buy a right-handed guitar again due to the quality of lefty guitars in all price ranges nowadays. I broke that pledge because this guitar was so easy to flip. Wish they didn't relic them, though. I don't think there's anything like them on the market today. I enjoy it more each day I get to play it.

[@al271987]

I have one of these and stock mine was oddly bright and snappy. I changed the electronics out to 250k pots, traditional Gibson style wiring, put a byog alnico 2 p90 in it and it helped, but the guitar is still rather “snappy” for lack of a better word. Not that snappy is bad, it’s just the way it is. I also had to do a lot of intonation work on mine but that’s more because I prefer 11 gauge strings. All said and done it’s quite a fine guitar and even after the mods I’m less than $300 in. Nothing wrong with that.

[@davidkastin4240]

What did the original pot measure, 500k?

[@davidkastin4240]

Bright sounding is good, better than not bright enough. Tone control knob is most useful........

[@al271987]

@@davidkastin4240 Yup.

[@al271987]

@@davidkastin4240 Tone control didn't quite do it. It's weird how that can work sometimes.

[@davidkastin4240]

If your pickups sound snappy try lowering them a tiny bit. It should help

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

I wonder how much these (albeit a Gibson) would cost back in the 50s ? Maybe about same price these cost today ☺

[@zaigar111]

Sounds great! Might have to get one!!

[@Edward-MTBKR]

Ryan, can you comment on the neck profile/depth? My only experience is Fender modern C.

[@PaperBanjo64]

I'm also wanting to know about the neck, love the deep C on American Teles now.

[@brendanbehan2289]

You will need to change the bridge if you want to lower the string height, the bridge that's on it won't adjust any lower than its set

[@eliwebster509]

Great review, I will probably be buying one. I smashed the bell and it didn't crack. Damnit.

[@Terry3Gs]

I think the consencus is the color is " TV Dijon " ;) :D Well done as always sir

[@jasong546]

It’s okay to say nice things about a guitar if you like it.

[@grilledspaghetti]

May think of getting a scratch and dent one at the musikerflohmarkt next yearsince I'd have to paint it and want one with a humbucker.

[@DMSProduktions]

Shane is doing the DC & SC tomorrow!

[@Wardell43]

In 1968 I paid $60 bucks to a friend that bought a new Gibson Jr dc for $139 Between those 2, the Benton's upper bout is more correct and so is the pickguard.

If they make a DC special I'll all over it like Winnie over hun.

[@ValRTattoo]

Great video! Just a quick question (because you know the 2 guitars) I hesitate between an Azes31 and a Les Paul Jr Harley Benton double DC... what would you choose? Just in gaming comfort? for a finger Blues style? Thank you very much in advance...

[@powerslide46]

I really enjoy your vids! Keep up the great work! Very helpful!

[@williammolina9792]

Howe thick is the neck on it.??

[@Mark_Williams300]

Did you ever find out what happened between the parcel leaving Thomann's warehouse and reaching your doorstep? I bet it had something to do with the Feds.

[@chriscuthbertson]

I once had a Warwick bass turn up in tune, but it was in a flight case.

[@Allen-tm9xn]

Customs probably opened it up to see if it had any Contraband in it

[@joebloggs4369]

Indonesian made ones are made in the Cort factory, so much improved quality build.

[@asiaasia2157]

I really like the sound of this guitar.

[@skittlybeepbop13]

All I was thinking was dijon and then you said it.... happy brendan

[@sturusk3620]

I'd prefer TV yellow, maybe that's the honey mustard talking. That's a cracking guitar and if they do a leftie I'll get one . Spend the rest of my life in the garage knocking out "Pipeline" .

[@davidkastin4240]

Stu the lefties are in 😈

[@andreapasillas8478]

That little axe sounds pretty sweet to me.

[@mitchpalmer5116]

That is not TV Yellow...that's "Gulden's Mustard Yellow"...LOL! I'd love to get a Harley Benton but I'm too cheap to pay shipping and too impatient to wait.

[@Grayjacket11]

How close is this guitar's body shape to that of an actual Gibson DC Junior? Harley Benton's single cut looks a little wonky, but this double cut looks almost identical to the genuine article.

[@justinstratford]

Harley benton just put up a tele version of the fusion series on the thomann website

[@60CycleHumcast]

Justin Stanford oh what? I’ll have to go check it out

[@willistaylor4077]

@@60CycleHumcast Seriously? Telecaster.... Yum yum...

[@madbam]

Awesomely cool guitar 🎸 Ryan. Playing through the Princeton? I really love the tones

[@60CycleHumcast]

the princeton and the revv d-20

[@Mark_Williams300]

How was the bridge? Henning was having problems with sharp saddles on the FAT version.

[@bobashley5596]

You have such a beautiful and unique collection!

[@riffdigger2133]

Love the fuzz. And the dark tones, thru a Gary Moore patch on my Line 6. Just bought one, shipped to Canada from Burgebrach, Germany, well-packed-delivered by UPS. Nice gig bag for a few bucks more. And I agree, so much fun to play. You nailed it.

[@ERIC-65]

Estragon mustard is a bit brighter, yes.

[@guitmickify]

Honey Dijon

[@ME-dg5np]

Good job Broo 🤸🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️ !! More about Benton hoooopp

[@MikeAndersonvinyloldies]

Stoked on getting this. I think I'm gonna go for the worn red satin one, but it looks and sounds great!!

[@mauriziominazzi7636]

I really hope they make one with two p90s, bridge pickup only is not so versatile

[@lotusmark2]

If that were true TV yellow it would be ordered!

[@teodelnorte]

Customs often open boxes when it's imported from abroad

[@bluerfoot]

Great review a few questions..:looking at the lefty and wondering how it balances on the strap. I had a similar (rondo music agile) what was great but the neck sank when playing with the strap. Also wondering if after some time the tuners are still ok since some KZbin reviews were not glowing on that front. I’m actually looking at the single cut but figure these must be closely spaced. Thanks.

[@dustdevilz4771]

That’s baby stuff yellow.

[@jogorek1961]

I really like mine, but would like to swap out the tuners. Anyone have a tuner replacement recommendation for this HB DC Jr?

[@rafaelgutierrez6275]

Planet Waves auto trim if you want to get fancy and with locking tuners, personal recommendation just like with Sperzel Lok tuners. Otherwise go with Grover for standard or locking.

[@raffyzoo2130]

Edwards E-LS-115LT DC this one has the tune-o-matic & tailstop, excellent japanese quality.

[@corafoxyfowler]

great review its made me go and buy one today ...what pedal were you using for the ambient piece you played that sounded so good i really wish you lived here in the UK I would bring my guitars to you for service and checking out have you kept the Harley and used it live how did it do best wishes from Nottingham UK

[@iesiediesie74]

Buying this one next week, after i´ve sold my HB-35VB

[@greenfly1264]

How much did you get for it ?

[@nathanwilson2116]

What is the white guitar with the black pickguard on the left please??

[@AuntAlnico4]

The fralin p90 I have sounds bright and tangy with alnico 3-5 can't remember but yeah.

[@Allguitarinfo]

Hey man just a thought tune to standard and put a good tone so we can hear it try a blues Junior they're great for testing guitars

[@60CycleHumcast]

Was I not in standard tuning?

[@dunnigan66]

How long does it usually take Thomann's to ship to the US?

[@threnm]

Hey, mind telling us what pedal you used to get those ambient sounds? Thanks! P.S. love your videos.

[@dereisrichardson5766]

I would say a spicy brown mustard also.

[@Miningfordiamonds1]

It probably was tv yellow but the poly finish might have changed the color a little bit. But I 100% wanna get one.

[@PaperBanjo64]

How does the neck on these feel? I'm thinking about getting the single cut version but if the neck is extremely thin that's a deal breaker. I'm not looking for a 50's style neck but I don't want a shredder's neck either, or a neck that feels like it should be on a kid's guitar, I had a full size Squier Strat like that and it hurts my hands to play it...I don't have large hands, they're small for a guy but bigger than a woman's but I can play on a 50's style neck but prefer a neck like Fender's deep C on the American Teles now, does it feel similar to that?