Harley Benton SC-1000 vs Custom II Double Review and Comparison

[@randymiles904]

Both seem to be well made giggable guitars. Both definitely would make great mod platforms. Nice demo/ comparison.

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks !

[@ΣπύροςΝτ]

Great video and very informative. The demo songs were killer too. I really want an eclipse style guitar but since I'm on a tight budget, I'm divided between these two and I'm not sure which one I should buy. I'm also thinking about saving more to buy the SC custom with active EMG's. I don't know if i can wait that much though haha.

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks ! As far as I'm concerned the SC custom II active is more interesting than the current SC-1000. I have bought one for myself and will review it very sonne on the channel. I enjoy the satin finish on the SC Custom II and that's something you would not have on the SC custom Plus. Of course the Roswell active don't sound the same as some EMG active but they're not so bad !

[@alexrubio8106]

I’m considering buying one of the two as my second guitar since I really like the sound of active pickups but I’m not sure which to buy. I like to play on high distortion/gain and play a lot of Metallica. In terms of aesthetics I wish that the Custom II(if I were to get it) had the same outline as the SC-1000 (that being white)

[@ToroKchannel]

The Custom II is a fine axe but I agress that the look of the SC 1000 in white is very appealing. Now, I have to say that the glossy white painting on the SC 1000 is a bit sticky.

[@edgarkurm8148]

Thats very interesting fact about new shape of SC-1000, cause on thomann there are still pictures with old shape. Very interesting if White version also comes with new shape. I think i'll order one

[@ToroKchannel]

I think they all come with the new shape now. About pics, Thomann is generally late when they have to change it. If you order a white SC-1000, could you please use my partner link ? Here it is, direct for the white SC-1000 : www.thomann.de/fr/harley_benton_l1000_ow_progressive_line.htm

[@johnanthony6742]

I literally am watching this video after ordering the progessive HB today , 7 -2 - 22... Im truly hoping for a good experience. I live in the USA and the shipping was 71 dollars US and coming from Germany im expecting at least a whole month before its delivered. 7-5-22 I received my SC 1000 today I immediately noticed the weight issue of it on the lap. After several tunings because I assume the strings are new and were stretching id tune several times. Afterwards it played 100 % and sounds great. I had no issue with noise from it..

[@ToroKchannel]

I'm happy you received a good one ! HBZ pickups sound good when they're not noisy so you will have fun with your SC 1000 :)

[@McLOVlN]

Great video, ik video is old but hopefully I still could get some help, between Harley sc500 and sc1000 which would you recommend?, SC500 is for 154 euros, and sc1000 for 184, can't decide which one is better for me, because I see reviews here and there on both sides, on good things and bad things, is to be my first guitar, and idk if matters but stuff in into guitar wise is stuff like wes borland, buckethead, rammstein, i have received some suggestions already, like someone telling me to go for sc500 because it will sound better of the pickups, other said to go for sc1000 even if sc500 sounds probably better, but would have easier access to upgrade to some Fishman, or EMGs, could I get some advice?

[@ToroKchannel]

I haven't played the SC 500 so far but according to what I read, the pickups are vintage voiced so you can expect medium output and something way less agressive than the SC 1000.

[@Salkinmusic]

I just bought one barely used for 150$ with a gigbag 🤘 I’m surprised!

[@kennylim6099]

Excellent Review. With the made in Indonesia SC Custom II Active , do u notice any issues like neck not glue parallel to body, nut not glue etc? Is the qc better than the previous made in vietnam sc models?

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks ! I've really been surprised at how much better this indonesian SC Custom II active is when you compare it with the first vietnamese SC Custom II. I have noticed nothing wrong with it. It looks like the QC has become much better in general for Harley Benton guitars, not only the SC Custom.

[@klaustherevenant3592]

Hi ! Thank you for all your guitar reviews. Very interesting. Please could you tell me the right weight of these two guitars?

[@ToroKchannel]

If I remember well the Custom II was 3.3 kgs and the Sc-1000 was 3.5.

[@klaustherevenant3592]

@@ToroKchannel Thank you, my youtube friend!

[@DizzyKrissi]

Did I understand you correctly that today the custom II vintage is also produced in Indonesia? I also have semi acoustic guitar from harley benton and the frets were terrible as well as the plastic parts of the tuning system which partly broke (which never happened to any other guitar I've owned over the past 35 years.

[@ToroKchannel]

You understood me correctly :) Those Sc Custom II are now very interesting guitars, unlike the first ones that were made in Vietnam. What model is your semi hollow ?

[@DizzyKrissi]

@@ToroKchannel : it's a Harley Benton Custom Line Nashville Nylon. The frets were awful but overall it's a solid guitar considering the price-tag.

[@jorg5492]

Hello, of all the Harley Benton SC models that you have tried, which one do you recommend for heavy metal?

[@ToroKchannel]

Hello ! Well all those SC are ok for heavy. The SC 1000 will have an amazing amount of gain, maybe too much for classic heavy or power but you just have to roll the volume off and that will be ok. The tone is very close to EMG 81/60. The Custom II Active has a more vintage sound, with a note definition that's a bit less good than the HBZ pickups, and it comes with a lot of low end. The SC 550 II with Tesla Pickups has less output than the active pickups but much enough for heavy metal. The note definition is pretty good and the tone is very well balanced, those Tesla pickups are really very good ! Eventually the Sc custom with passive Roswell LAF Alnico pickups might be the less good. These pickups have warmth for sure and they're nice for creamy leads, but the output is limited - so you need an overdrive pedal in front of your amp but I guess you've already got that, do you ? - and the note definition is not extraordinary. Plus those pickups are microphonic so every noise you make with the palm of your right hand will be heard. For heavy, my personal ranking would be : 1- SC 550 II, 2 - SC Custom active and SC 1000 and 3 - SC Custom pâssive. Hope this helps !

[@jorg5492]

@@ToroKchannel wow ! thanks you! sc 550 II o sc 550 II PLUS?

[@ToroKchannel]

@@jorg5492 The EMG Fat 55 set has a nice tone but a lot of low end. I think I'd go for the SC 550 II for heavy metal.

[@jorg5492]

@@ToroKchannel thanks! gracias!

[@jorg5492]

@@ToroKchannel What model of Harley benton ex-84 do you recommend?

[@АлександрРихмайер]

Good comparison! I have sc custom 2 fr with active EMG. Very playable guitar. I think sc 1000 cheaper guitar for beginners or for people with a minimal budget.

[@restofthejunk01]

Lol..don't think so. I'm playing for 47 years so not a beginner in any way at all, I also own Fender and Gibson so I'm not on a tight budget...I play the SC-1000 because I like it.

[@xXNickerXx]

Hey, thank you for the great reviews of both SC Custom II. Will definitely purchase a CST24 or the SC Custom II with LAF pickups. I might order both and send back one, based on the Vietnam QC issues in your other video, does anyone know if production of all SC Custom II variants moved to Indonesia?

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks for your appreciation :) It looks like the entire production has now moved to Indonesia, no matter what pickups you will chose. Now if you go for a B-stock, better ask Thomann before you purchase it.

[@prefono]

I had a SC 1000 a couple of years ago, but I sold it because of the unbearable background noise. I blamed the awful electrical system in my house which is actually bad, but neither the new passive guitar nor the active bass give me such problems.

[@ToroKchannel]

the stock HBZ pickups on the SC-1000 are really noisy. For some reason, the same HBZ pickups ont the new ST-20 HH are way more silent

[@senordylanroberto4600]

Ok kinda a wonky question but considering you have all three guitars would you rather have the sc 1000 the sc custom or the ex 84

[@ToroKchannel]

Hard to answer cos' to me, they have different flavours and I enjoy them all. But if I had to keep only one, I would chose the SC Custom II active.

[@echoesreflected8243]

Great review and flawless playing. Nice job, keep it up mate!! I need to hear your advice, I am willing to get a SSS strat type guitar from harley benton, all the guitars I have are metal adressed ones with humbuckers and I would like to get one of those to have a wider variety of sounds, which one would you recommend me?

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks man ! I have never tried a Harley Benton that doesn't have at least one humbucker, so it's complicated for me to give you a worthy advice about SSS strat. I've heard that the ST-62 has a very good reputation but can't tell you more. You could go to this forum and receive worthy advices from ST owners : theharleybentonclub.proboards.com

[@echoesreflected8243]

@@ToroKchannel Thank you so much, I will check it out

[@alekstan]

Informative video. Thank you.

[@ToroKchannel]

My pleasure :)

[@Horseffect]

Is the custom lighter than the L 1000? I had the L 1000 and find it a good guitar but it was too heavy from me

[@ToroKchannel]

If I remember well, the Custom II was 3.2 kgs and the L-1000 was 3.4 kgs.

[@gustavo-GcG]

Olá! Obrigado pelo review, ajudou-me a decidir por comprar a Custom II Active. E, tocas pra cacete, excelentes riffs!

[@gustavo-GcG]

ah, and yes, i used your link to the page before start the shop, thanks!

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks a lot !

[@emilholmgrenmusic]

What is the neck like compared to an equivalent Epiphone?

[@ToroKchannel]

The only equivalent Epiphone I can talk about is my Kramer assault 220. On the bentons, the neck is a tiny bit thicker and rounder but it’s really a minor difference. If you have ever played a Schecter with the 20 to 22 mm thick neck, it’s very very close.

[@smooothybuns]

Love you videos! Can you put your partnership link for purchasing guitars for us that live in USA? It seems to take us to a French version where the prices look different I’d guess mostly due to the currency.

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks ! Here's my partner link for the US. If you encounter any problem with price / currency, go on top right - just outside the "search" bar - and select your country again :) www.thomannmusic.com/index.html?sid=5c75a314b8b313c5ec0ef1644820f044&ref=intl&shp=eyJjb3VudHJ5IjoidXMiLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6NywibGFuZ3VhZ2UiOjJ9&reload=1

[@kodras4808]

is the sc custom ii active better than the sc custom ii Vintage BI? i think the pickups are different and i am not sure which one is better

[@ToroKchannel]

for me the Roswell active are better than the LAF Alnico, they have lore bite and a better note definition.

[@kodras4808]

@@ToroKchannel ok thank you very much my friend 👍👍👍

[@pierrefremion1452]

Tout d'abord merci pour tes vidéos. Une question: Custom 2 active vs Custom 2 active et achat emg Het set vs Custom plus emg. Quel serait ton avis? Pour jouer essentiellement du bon riff (Metallica). J'ai acheté une B Stock custom2 active (il n'y avait plus de stock) mais la première avait un micro qui ne fonctionnait pas et la seconde mériterait une planimétrie et est beaucoup moins bien finie. Le Stock est revenu, du coup j'hésite à commander une active neuve (avec la possibilité plus tard de craquer pour un het set) ou une custom plus emg, car à lire les tests elle semble super bien finie, ce qui n'est pas le cas sur mon custom2 active. Merci ;)

[@ToroKchannel]

Les stock B sont rarement irréprochables, je ne suis donc pas très surpris que celles que tu as reçu ne soient pas au top. Je n'avais rien à reprocher à la Custom II Active que j'ai essayé, je me suis vraiment régaler à la jouer. La forme de son manche et la finition satinée en ont fait un pur régal ! D'un autre côté, je garde aussi un très bon souvenir de la SC Custom Active. Finition impeccable, excellent jouabilité aussi - même si celle que j'ai choisie avait une finition glossy, donc pas la même sensation qu'une satinée sur le manche. Gros avantage de la Custom Plus : ses excellents EMG Hot 70 ! En revanche, les bois utilisés génèrent une différence de son, le combo nyatoh / okoumé donne un son plus sombre que l'acajou. J'ai d'ailleurs fait une vidéo sur le sujet : kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHqWpoqwhq2gfKc Cela dit, les deux sont d'excellentes guitares et l'écart de prix entre les deux est justifié par les micros. Je pense que le QC sera plus strict sur la Custom Plus qui est fabriquée chez Cort si tu veux jouer la sécurité. J'espère que ça va t'aider :)

[@pierrefremion1452]

@@ToroKchannel Merci! J'ai adoré le manche de la première custom active. J'avais craqué suite à ta vidéo ;) Ce serait ma première "belle" guitare. J'ai aussi vu ta vidéo de la plus. Ce qui me fait hésiter ......... J'aimerais une belle finition........Je vais peut être jouer la sécurité.

[@pierrefremion1452]

La custom active 2 ne vient pas de la même usine indonésienne ?

[@ToroKchannel]

@@pierrefremion1452 au pire, si tu peux te le permettre, tu prends les deux et tu renvoies celle qui te séduit le moins. J'imagine que tu vis en France comme moi, donc t'as un mois pour tester (je te conseille quand même de valider ta demande de retour sur le site sous 2 semaines pour ne pas avoir à payer les frais de retour) :)

[@ToroKchannel]

@@pierrefremion1452 au pire, si tu peux te le permettre, tu commandes les deux, tu testes chez toi, tu compares tranquillement et sous un mois, tu renvoies celle qui te convient le moins. Et si tu veux bien utiliser mon lien partenaire - le voici : www.thomann.de/fr/index.html?partner_id=53268 - tu me rendras service :)

[@patricelecanu6150]

if i had the cash i woul take the custom and put some great Het set from EMG GREAT COMPARISON !!!!!!!!

[@ToroKchannel]

It would kick a** with some golden EMG Het Set ! Thanks :D

[@bastianmaoro8278]

wow, that's strange, I saw others SC 1000 and the body it's different! Now I'm confused.

[@ToroKchannel]

The SC 1000 I'm reviewing in this video is the one that Thomann is currently selling. You're right : the shape is different for the previous model, but if you order one now, this is the shape you'll get.

[@steveelpro]

6:19 Is it a song I can find? Sounds amazing

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks ! The only place you can find is here, it's a demo I have written for the purpose of this video :)

[@omgnerv]

very good & interesting comparison!

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks Maggie !

[@thepiter117ify]

If I were to buy a custom II B-stock would i get the new version?

[@ToroKchannel]

I think you would cos' the production has moved to indonesia several months ago. But before you buy one, don't hesitate into contacting Thomann Custome Service so they can check it out.

[@cristhiancalderon6879]

Sick mix omg

[@ToroKchannel]

Thanks man !

[@maze7_7]

The noise seems like an oscillation on the amp. Probably from too much signal. The problem is the amp can't take it

[@ToroKchannel]

It was not a problem of signal. I understood several weeks after the video that the problem comes from my electrical system that's not grounded. I have find a tip that solves the problem.

[@arturoestrada9441]

Have you experienced any dive with the custom?

[@ToroKchannel]

absolutely not. This one had an excellent balance !

[@vjjsdark]

Sc custom II active or ltd ec 256? I can't decide

[@ToroKchannel]

Ok quick comparison : my EC-256 has a glossy finish (purple) and the Custom II active has a matte finish. I would give the point of playability to the Benton, because of the satin neck and better upper fret access. As far as the tone goes, they're very different. Much darker sound on the EC-256 and a bit less output, in both case the note definition is correct but not the best you can find. Good quality hardware on these 2 axes (the LTD tuners on the EC 256 are made by Gotoh). Now, in terms of resale value, the EC-256 is way higher than the benton. Hope it helps !

[@vjjsdark]

@@ToroKchannel in terms of quality and durability would you say it's almost the same? Or the ltd is better? Because i watched another video about the custom II and the guy said that he had to return the custom II, 3 times because of some defects

[@ToroKchannel]

@@vjjsdark I have several Harley Bentons at home and I’ve only had one problem on my SC-1000, the painting started crackling. Now I guess LTD is a safer bet - never had a problem on LTD - but my Bentons are ok as well.

[@stanmil5495]

Does the custom 2 havw solderless pickups?

[@ToroKchannel]

Unfortunately not ! If you wanna change those Roswell active, you need to replace the electronics entirely.

[@stanmil5495]

@@ToroKchannel full emg system it is then, custom 2 and het set ordered shortly

[@ToroKchannel]

@@stanmil5495 that will sound great !

[@rocknaloow]

Please compare the SC 550 Ii and the sc-dlx gotoh

[@ToroKchannel]

I have already compared the tone of the SC 550 II Tesla pickups with the tone of the Aeolus pickups (the same as in the SC DLX). The body shape and the neck are identical , the SC DLX is based on the SC 550 si it's just a matter of tones. Here's the tone comparison video between SC 550 II and Aeolus : kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3LYh5KvrLB6aKc

[@vicpnut1]

When playing clean the custom sounded like a note or two was out of tune during first chord or two everytime

[@vicpnut1]

And I don’t know if was just my surround system but the 1000 sounded fuller all around…..my mind is made up and am ordering myself a lefty 1000 progressive line

[@Scarrus666]

Hey Torok! Did I make you buy and do this video because of the SC-Custom II :)) ? But I see you enjoy it in general.

[@ToroKchannel]

You're not responsible for this video :) I just realized that the Custom II were now made in Indonesia, so potentially my review of the SC Custom II needed an update. I also had in mind this comparison between Sc Custom active and SC-1000 so when I saw these 2 in stock, I had them coming home. But yes, I have enjoyed this SC Custom II active a lot !

[@jessetate9701]

For the price not bad but the QC of the ltd ec1000 is better choice

[@ToroKchannel]

Sure the LTD EC-1000 is better, but it's just 4 times more expensive :)

[@jessetate9701]

@@ToroKchannel that is true :) i got a harley benton white and gold hardware had it since 2019

[@kodras4808]

Is there a device to buy so the guitar sound like that at 07:20?

[@kodras4808]

I don't know anything about guitars and I'm thinking of learning and that's the sound i would like to produce

[@ToroKchannel]

On this video, here's the signal chain I have used : ► Mooer Hustle drive (rhythm) ► Harley Benton Vintage Overdrive (Leads) ► Diezel VH4-2 Pedal ► Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (this means that the Diezel VH4-2 is plugged directly in my Focusrite Scarlett. I'm just adding a mooer noise killer between the output of the pream and before the Scarlett, it's essential to keep a nice tone) Then I'm using a DAW called Reaper with the Torpedo Wall Of Sound cab simulator. For the rhythm parts, I'm using both a Recto Over 4X12 cab with Cnd Thousand mic (right channel) and Califrect2 4X12 cab with cnd rifle mic. For the leads, I'm using the Brit VinC 4X12 cab with the Rbn 160 mic and a single 6L6 tube sim (also included in Torped Wall Of Sound). Then I'm using a few FXs for the lead : reverb + stereo upmix (short stereo delay). Keep in mind that my Signal chain (all the devices I'm using) is made for home recording and playing with headphones. That's how I'm working, but if you want to heard out of your headphones, you will need a power amp and a real cab. Hope it helps !

[@kodras4808]

@@ToroKchannel do you have any suggestions for a power amp and a real cab at an amateurs level cost?

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@AyushKumar-ir4wd]

🤔

[@ardennenwijzer2583]

Very usefull video. Thanks!

[@ToroKchannel]

Thank you !