Harley Benton HB-20R (Cheap & Worthless?)

[@MrPolevaulter]

Check out more amp reviews: kzbin.info/aero/PLNaLwTdlpQNHNo5bubVjV1OW04gkqU8rM Or some of my guitar covers: kzbin.info/aero/PLNaLwTdlpQNFywXvNTY6FFFbVuunBwvDM

[@The_Macaroon]

Total beginners amp , and for that totally acceptable, 12 year old me would have been happy to make a noise with it. Amazing for the money really

[@Harrythe1st]

Yeah back then i used home stereo with rec input to make the level overdrive 😁

[@MrPolevaulter]

Indeed.

[@TheWGLOVER]

I used a reel to reel tape recorder and a matchstick.

[@mediastarguest]

At almost the beginning of the playing part of the video the reverb was tweaked just a little from 1 to 2 to 3 and it was impressive how there was significant impact in effect. Absoultely NOT just for beginners - perfectly suitable for those of us who want to practice without aggravation from the rest of the neighbourhood.

[@jimmyz2098]

Heck. That little baby sounds pretty darn good to me! It's so hard to tell tho... with Elmo rocking it. He could plug into a hand-held AM transistor radio, and rock it. But I mean... this thing sounds pretty darn good to me. I dig it. How can you go wrong at that price? Fun little piece of kit.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@christiantaylor4027]

I agree. I have learned a lot about how to get good and different sounds out of gear. Thanks Elmo. Rock on !

[@Barbarapape]

If you are a beginner with your first guitar, this amp is good enough to get you started until you are ready to to upgrade to a better amp and guitar. It is still cheaper than any of the better used amps, but clearly it is not a Peavey Bandit etc. I use a Vox VT40X for home practice, the neighbours complain when i fire up my AC30! Thanks for this Demo Elmo, i am sure some new players will find it useful.

[@jamjar20049]

I own this model, it sounds best when you turn it up on both channels. I find about 3 o'clock is optimum. It gets really loud too, I think that is when the TEC really kicks in. I would like to see a comparison video of this model with the other digital models that Elmo recommends. Even with the volumes at 12 o'clock in this video the amp sounded good, and I was willing Elmo to turn it up, but it would might have resulted in too high SPL for his mic, in which case a room mic would work better.

[@douglaspate9314]

This review is great. I'm just about to receive one in a Thomann bundle. I am still a "beginner" and practice with headphones so as to not disturb the neighbours. I loved your review and you also gave me a great "how to" lesson of amplifier knobs. I am looking forward to trying it when it arrives. It satisfies everything I need at my stage in guitar learning. Thank you

[@Ryan-gb6gb]

First of all let me say you are a joy to watch man. You're also a damn fine guitar player. You're very technical in your playing. I however am not a guitar player. I play harmonica, blues that is. I really enjoy your reviews on gear and like I say you're a hell of a guitar player. Thank you for doing what you do very informative and entertaining.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks Paul!

[@Ryan-gb6gb]

👍

[@floydhendrix4399]

This is the new Harley Benton HB20R with TEC (Tube Emulating Circuit) technology, recognizable by the symbol above the line out connector. The new sound is really great. I use the new TEC-Combo myself

[@antonakis79ohyes]

At 69 euros, it's cheaper, sounds better and offers much more options than equally priced amps, like the Fender frontman 5g (I have got such a Fender). It's a no brainer for me, I could imagine myself traveling and having fun with this and my guitar...Great review and great playing as always, Elmo!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@BeamMonsterZeus]

Paired with the right tones from the other gear(pickups and potentiometers) I think it's got some real potential. I'd love to hear what a harmonizer type sound coming through that would be like.

[@PegeCovers]

My first amp was also the smallest amp thomann had at the time. It was like 15+ years ago. I think it's the first version of this amp. It's either this model or the HB-10G. It was fine for a total novice.

[@soldierbreakneck771]

For that money seems like it sounds good. Back in the days I played Roland Cube and Cube sounded worse.

[@destroso]

You saved some of your sweetest playing for this little amp

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@hcnilsson]

Nice demo and good cleans from that little box.

[@dimitris470]

I was always curious about that thing. Especially the bigger one that comes with a 12" speaker

[@MrPolevaulter]

Might try it out at some point.

[@cygnus-studios]

Hiya Elmo! Sometimes good things do indeed come in small packages. Sorry for the rant, but I wanted to comment on a couple of compact portable practice amps I’ve run across... - Marshall MG10CF (10 watts): Decent, but very noisy. No tone controls at all, but instead a “Contour” knob which supposedly “shaped” its sound. Nice try, but no cigar. I think that was simply a classic case of paying for a brand name, and not much else. - RockJam RJ20WAR2 (20 watts): Only ¼ the price, $50! So much better sounding and nearly noiseless with a 3-band EQ, and no BS like delay and reverb. IMHO, built-in effects are useless for practice, I want to hear what I actually sound like playing completely clean. The RJ is no doubt an EXTREME cheapo, but in my eyes (or in this case, ears) tip-top sound quality isn’t really all that important for practice. Still, I was shocked to find it blew the Marshall away in every department. Quite enough… Over, and out!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Rant away my friend 😊

[@antonakis79ohyes]

According to the subtitles, you are "mlj cardio line". Sounds like a name of a treadmill for a gym 😄. Looking forward to seeing the review when I get home. Take care, Elmo! 👍😎

[@PooNinja]

Practice guitar on a treadmill to prepare for running around on stage 😂

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha 🤣

[@aharkness5657]

The Michael Jackson type treadmills run backwards.

[@stevesmulski1462]

Damn good sounding amp for the money. I would’ve personally liked the treble to have been turned up just little bit because I did think it sounded a little unnecessarily muffled, but I do realise when it comes to dialling in a tone on any amp, you ideally want a little bit of “cut” without sacrificing “warmth”.

[@kurtmampaey1208]

This amplifier is almost the same as the Behringer HA 40R, only the look is slightly different. I wouldn't be surprised at all that they are manufactured in the same factory

[@71771PAULTHEWALLOFSOUND]

I had one, it was terrible, sound was dull, overdrive was mweehh. So i spent extra and got an Orange crush 20. And that thing rocks, loud as hell with a really nice clean sound. I really recommend spending over £70 for an amp, the crush with tax was only £109.13 including £18.19 tax. So technically you could pick one up for around £90, and its was better than my Fender frontman 15g. Moral of the story is you get what you pay for.

[@Twirlyhead]

It sounds great, very surprisingly so, and is exceptionally good for the money. Spent too much time using the Strymon with it for my demo preference. If I didn't already have half a dozen practice amps I might get one.

[@davidkastin4240]

This amp seems totally worth the price based on the specs and features 👍

[@alumaeu]

Terveisiä sulle! Kiitos tästä ihanasta videosta!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Kiitos :)

[@emilands3635]

I bought this thing as my first amp after playing acoustic only for 20+ years. It's ok, I don't know whether it's just me, but the overdrive channel seems to muddy the signal when compared to overdrive pedal + clean channel. The reverb isn't great either, you can hear a fading in and out that's quite noticable even in this video. Overall though it's great for the price, can't complain when on a budget like this. If you have a hundred bucks more - spend them, please, spend them.

[@heropw2701]

I think that or the 40 watt version could be pretty nice amps to use with pedals, thank you Elmo

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Well I’ll be darned, through my ear buds it sounds pretty darn good - much better than or at least as good as the Diezel or Sol Mini 30 for $300!?!?

[@juanbarre]

Beautiful guitar… happy to have one exactly like that one before they stopped selling it. 😊

[@Harrythe1st]

Very nice review and i like the riffs, good style🤘

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@davecooper360]

Youre an amazing player and that amp sounds really good on my laptop speakers.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@jross68052]

Great demo. That thing actually sounds pretty damn good to me

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@MercutioUK2006]

For that price, slam in an Eight 15 Celestion (£30 from Thomann) and enjoy! Really doesn't sound bad at all.....

[@Serge-u5f]

Thank you for such a detailed review👍 I wonder if HB-40r would be a more reasonable choice. Does it have a better sound or it's the same amp but just louder?

[@darthgibsonlp6631]

I'm consistently impressed with that SC-550 guitar of yours. Might have to grab one. Do you remember which pickups you swapped into it?

[@MrPolevaulter]

My luthier friend made them.

[@bucknasty69]

What kind of tone are you going for? I’ve got a Seymour Duncan Custom and 59 in the bridge and neck, respectively, in my SG, and really like them.

[@TE_53349]

It sounds really good with a guitar with active pickups

[@NotAnotherSatchFan]

I have Blackstar Fly 3 and from what I'm hearing that 20R definitely sounds a lot better, not to mention the versatility... just my opinion.

[@alanknott363]

I thought it was ok for a small, inexpensive bedroom amp. I would have been over the moon with one back as a teenager, when most cheap amps were much worse.

[@nikosmagnisalis6080]

Great review, through the headphones sounded more than decent to me. Proposal for every gear review : why don't you play first with the Marshall you use for guitar reviews as a point of reference, and then the under review gear? Thank you!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! Might be a good idea. Although there are plenty of vids on my channel for that sound.

[@nikosmagnisalis6080]

@@MrPolevaulter That's generally true. I was thinking something like everything at noon etc. Just thinking, thanks for considering.

[@npapag]

The Roland micro cube does not have three band eq. I have one and a believe that in low volume it does not sound as good as my solid state laney amp with a 10 inch speaker and a good distortion pedal.

[@scottsozmtns7534]

Go easy on the Queen there! 😆 Great stuff man! Keep rockin it brother!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@bitterbitterbitter]

I like these "humble" reviews,. they are great! A sidenote to this amp compared to the other miniamps u mentioned, i also like all these tiny practise amps with tons of effects built in but lately i rather go for amps with a bigger speaker. Goint to 8 or even 10" does ALOT for the sound. I just wish they would go for at least an 8" speaker in all smaller practise amps.

[@klopfer_im_baellebad]

i love the tube15 from harley benton....there might be better tube amps but it sounds better than my modelling amp :) i guess, will stick to that for my practice

[@johnnorth9355]

Oh boy - for the price that actually sounds good ! The 8" speaker is a bit muddy but what do you expect for the price ? I suspect that the components will start to glow if driven hard for an extended period of time but by then you will have convinced yourself that you are a guitar god 🙂.

[@MrPolevaulter]

😀

[@Twirlyhead]

No, JN. It sounds good and the price is very good.

[@wernerhahn141]

If ever a 'practice amp' I suggest a Marschall DSL 5 - but I'm using actually a ENGL Fireball 25 on 5 Watts ... nothing better than tubes (oh, sorry: valves: bg)

[@Hiro.the.God.]

To be fair, I’ve been buying a lot of junk at many prices. Including a Charvel 24dk mod pro that couldn’t stay tuned if you never touched it.

[@aharkness5657]

I think the red light green light thing in the beginning is some sort of power saving mode. I've seen it in some amp. I think it needed ay bit of noise in the input jack before it would power up completely. Which was annoying if you just wanted to use the aux in with a keyboard. Which I did. Can't remember what amp that was, but it was completely useless. This one seems usable.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, it seems it was something like that.

[@me.roderick]

Doesn't surprise me I bought 335 lemon drop almost 2 yrs ago out of curiosity and it totally pissed everybody off. I actually lost friends over it, 250 dollars stirred up more shit than anything I've ever seen! Awesome guitar 😆😆😆

[@MrPolevaulter]

The seem like they were easily angered 🤣

[@Thunder_Bricks1]

Man if I lost friends over that I’d just laugh rather than be sad cause that’s a very silly reason to not be someone one friend

[@Ipaarcx]

Mine started "peeping" when playing like 5 minutes. Cannot play with it, need to buy new amp bc it is the only one I have ;_;

[@jibankrishnamuhuri5518]

Make a review of Yamaha Pacifica 012...

[@portuguesebeer5069]

Love when you make those funny voices with alien accents 😂. Fuck yeah! Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹

[@MrPolevaulter]

😀

[@michealgillman7418]

Good fair review. Also excellent German accent and an even better English one...you speak it better than me...and I'm English 👌 👏 Regards Mick

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha 🤣 Cheers!

[@RickMichaelis63]

Thanks for the video & review brother! Cheers! 😎🎸🎶✌🏻

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers Richard!

[@sekukasieet9840]

Ilmasiks sain naapurilt Bentonin HB-20G vahvistimen, soi iha hyvi, piti sulake vaihtaa mut muute ei mitää ongelmaa. Toimii hyvi kotikäyttöö.

[@grene1955]

Great sounding little amp. I just bought a Line 6 practice amp, but I think I like the HB better!

[@portuguesebeer5069]

Witch Line 6 amp?

[@grene1955]

Spider IV 15

[@hbohm1996]

Am I the only one who watches Elmo for him and his playing and not the gear?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@thebeatlessssss]

Hey just wondering what your fender strat costs and where I can get it. Great video!

[@drpfrutti]

I'm a bit creeped out by your Thomann voices.

[@MrPolevaulter]

🤣

[@wesboundmusic]

Call me ignorant or sound-aesthetically "unevolved" - but... I can't find terrible sacrilege in how this little contraption "speaks"... (it helps that someone demo's this thing who's pretty well versed with the six metal "hairs" and knows their way around the instrument and seems to find the sweet spot again). On a side note: Watched the Harley Benton Fusion III before this one and now that I see the Wilkinson trem for the at least second time and found it already massively inspiring how the HB Fusion III stayed in tune after getting "violated" left, right, front and back, it looks as if there was no way around getting one for tuning stability on a strat....? A word on that maybe? (or a link to one of your videos, where my inquiring mind finds saturation :-)? ) Great demo, as always! (making faces sure adds to the entertainment aspect :-) )

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@robertholtom9345]

In my opinion, really if you are buying brand new, you won't find a better amp than this, especially for 69 Euros, that's not even 91 Canadian dollars, for a used amp, Meehhh.......meaning if you are lucky for that little bit of money, if you want to buy brand new, then you are definately going to spend a lot more for something better, like closer to 200 Canadian dollars and more. For a cheap practice amp, what can you even expect for 69 Euros. Anyways, good review, Cheers and keep Rockin!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@athathoth01]

I could find a use for that amp. I make metal guitar videos and I've been thinking of buying another small practice amp. I've used a small Silvertone amp on some of my videos. I don't know. As always you made a great video.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you :)

[@salvat914]

Excellent. Vidéo très honnête. Puis je brancher un multi effets dessus ? Nux mg 300 par exemple ? Merci.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Sure. Clean channel.

[@derekdavis6508]

I may have to buy that SC550ii silver burst combo with the amp and gig bag strap, under $400 bucks.

[@derekdavis6508]

Maybe over with shipping killer deal though.

[@dammitcarl1082]

That's really not bad at all for the price!

[@daniellarson3068]

Sounded very good on my computer speakers. Unlike a lot of new amps, I suspect this one would be repairable, but at a $69 price, the repair would be more than the cost of the amp. Good playing through a cheap amp on a sunny July day.😊

[@bradleyclosson5042]

Sounds better than that low wattage Marshall tube combo with the tiny speaker.

[@ismailymkn]

Guys help whats the song playing at 7:28 i have a hard time trying to remember it

[@shanewalton8888]

those accents were priceless,. Next time do an Elmo (seasame street) accent.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha 🤣 Maybe I will 😀

[@Papriker98]

Sorry I'm an absolute beginner. The clean volume on this one is just the master volume right? :D

[@MrPolevaulter]

I seem to remember it being that.

[@jamjar20049]

No master volume. Two volume controls, one each for the clean and overdrive channels. The channels share the bass, middle,, and treble controls and there is a global reverb as well. Very good beginners amp.

[@bertvdlast]

Did you hollow out the neck between the frets?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, it's scalloped.

[@bertvdlast]

@@MrPolevaulter I vaguely remember a guitarist (even more famous than you) did the same. Ritchie Blackmore?

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@bertvdlast He's one, Yngwie is another.

[@dc3763]

I wouldn't say it's a cheap amp, actually it is real priced... In the other hand, you have way overpriced tube amps, which twist the market value picture :/ From this video sound, it would be hard to guess that it's entry price range amp.

[@GiuseppeRomaGreenMount]

Thank you

[@MrPolevaulter]

You're welcome

[@mattsikes919]

If I hadn't just picked up an orange crush micro dark I might be tempted to pick up one of those to mess around with. It didn't sound half bad. Way better than the catalyst I tried out at guitar center. Ugh! Horrible amp. Harley Benton knocked it out of the park at that price point.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, the Catalyst was pretty "meh".

[@mattsikes919]

Agreed. I tried a strat, a Tele, and a Charvel super strat through it and I was so disappointed. I don't know if it was the speaker or the hardware inside but I couldn't get a good sound out of it. When I told the kid behind the counter it didn't sound good to my ears he made the comment that he's been hearing that a lot from people. It's too bad really. It's a lot of amp for the money.

[@xandrus9068]

I bought this one and its not working, doesnt make any noise. I'm just a beginner so idk how this stuff works, does anyone have any idea how do I fix it?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Can you send it back?

[@artwhat..]

Hi..E, been getting more into my artwork ambitions,talk about trying to learn something, I'm confused..ha..

[@Kurapikasbby]

I need to know if the HB-20r or HB-10g amp is better 😭

[@ss_avsmt]

It's all in the hands. Clearly.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@dr.s.]

Bang for the buck is actually not bad but the model sits somewhere in between. Just for practicing I would go for a more compact model that maybe even runs on batteries, many of them come packed with features (that you don't have to use, if you don't want to). Or save money for a "real" amp (tube, modelling, or whatever one prefers) that you can use to really upset the neighbors or play in your first band.

[@damasterkarej]

I challenge your to try HB-80R now :)

[@MrPolevaulter]

😀

[@scotchgod8478]

Would you prefer the HB-40R for only 40€ extra?

[@ernestschultz5065]

I was born a tube snob and I'll die a tube snob

[@Ashbash75]

I think it definitely punches above its price tag and for a cheap busking amp im sure it would do fine. However it does show that to a certain extent you do get what you pay for.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah.

[@kennyh5083]

Are you kidding me? From my puter speakers this thing sounds great.

[@joshdeal575]

I’ve truly heard worse from more expensive. Worth noting if you just need something to play at the house or in your hotel room.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yep.

[@dennisw3892]

How does this amp compare directly to the Blackstar FLY 3 Mini?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Pretty different.

[@dennisw3892]

@@MrPolevaulter I could get a Fly 3 for 50 Euros, might be a good pick for the money? (warranty included )

[@navrasicsi]

Hi Elmo, may I ask yout what the riff is you start playing at 12'36''? It's like Dokken, but I cannot recognize it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZPXnKCvjrVqh80 Thanks and best regards, István

[@MrPolevaulter]

Just some random stuff followed by a riff by the Finnish band Kilpi.

[@MrPolevaulter]

The song is called Nerokasta ikävää

[@navrasicsi]

@@MrPolevaulter Oh, yeah, I know them. Sielut Iskee Tulta is one of my favourite songs. It's the essence of hard rock genre for me. It's on my running playlist, I hear it every time around the 5th kilometer. :)

[@guitargunnarhamburg8766]

FENDER CHAMPION 20 ???

[@ZARATUSTRA8511]

It's useful for a bass guitar?????

[@MrPolevaulter]

They have one made especially for bass.

[@hbert06]

It sounds crappy but that fits the playing.

[@portuguesebeer5069]

Hi brother! Is it aceptable for thrash metal practice on its own? How would you compare it with Marshall MG15R? Im looking for a cheap bedroom amp. Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹

[@MrPolevaulter]

I like this more actually. Could be good for thras practice I guess.

[@portuguesebeer5069]

@@MrPolevaulter Thanks man. I bought one. Its not that good, but for the price, and only to practice scales, exercices, arpegios, etc, its fine. Saved some money for beer! Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@portuguesebeer5069 🍻

[@dean828]

Did we get thru a demo video without hearing "Lick it u....", oh wait... 15:12... ;)

[@MrPolevaulter]

🤣

[@dean828]

@@MrPolevaulter in the infamous words of Paul Stanley... "Whoa Yeahhhhhhaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaaaaa allllllriggghhhhhhtttt... Come on!"

[@ReverendHellbilly]

Not bad for the money..Cheers

[@hankholliday2223]

Well it sounds better than a electar 10

[@YTOnceAgain]

I mean, it's fun to mock accents... unless it's smothered in your own and only discernable because of the context.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Who am I mocking? I'm just playing at Dr. Strangelove, which is Peter Sellers playing with a German accent. No mocking involved from me at least.

[@aaweet]

Mistä päin Suomee oot?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Turusta

[@gasparepellecchia]

It's a Mg15r clone P.s. 2:37 😂

[@MrPolevaulter]

😀

[@Mexxx65]

I can't get any Harley Benton musical equip shipped to where I live.....you seem to be just a Harley Benton Employee these days Elmo...

[@MrPolevaulter]

They make some good stuff, and it's easy to get here in Europe.

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

I'd have bought that ...when I was 12...lol

[@purplerocket666]

as always 👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

👍

[@TheCybersound]

This amp has a great sound for great value. I dont like the way you make your review, very superficial.

[@timothyjames4195]

My Fura I CAN WALK!!!!

[@brucegraml1418]

Holee Crap - Nice riffin' !