Harley Benton Tube 15 Guitar Amp Demo and Review

[@martyndormer]

Used mine for a rock and roll session at Western Star Studios last week and got exactly the sound I needed with my Fender 66; had to dip out a bit of treble, initially a bit harsh, but the eventual result was just what I wanted to hear.

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

That sounds fantastic. Link is to your session

[@guitarmuso1]

I have tried many amps over the years ,this one is the closest to my old Vox valve amp .I think its such a perfect tone especially the clean even without pedals

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

@@guitarmuso1 ah, interesting. It is a very nice amp with a low price tag. Ideal clean and crunchy amp

[@em001868]

I have had this amp since Xmas 2020 and it is my daily driver now. Especially when the family goes to bed and I can attenuate it to the 1w setting (I hate using headphones). It has has all of the tube sound that one would look for in an amplifier and I will continue to use it daily. I have other flavors of amps like: 1973 Marshall 50w through a 1969 greenback 4x12 B cab 1966 Blackface Fender Bassman piggyback with 2x12 original Jensen's 2004 Fender Hot Rod Deville 4x10 (gigging amp) They all sound different and the HB/MP 15w tube is right up there in delivering yet another sound flavor. I venture to say that when production stops on these amps, they will become one of those sought after sounds that people will pay good money for in the future.

[@stratocaster539]

Great demo Pete! I've watched a ton of vids on this amp all with positive reviews but yours has made my mind up. I use an Orange crush transistor amp in my home studio which has great tonal range but this will add even more colour to my musical palette. And what a great price.You are right about it standing up against the big boy amps, it's got just as sweet and powerful tone as my Fender pro reverb!

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

I've had Orange tranny Amos before and yes, this amp will be a great upgrade, or alternative sound for your rig. Might have to set your pedals differently to take advantage of the headroom. But a great purchase!

[@jonathanadams2344]

Bought one a week ago and have loved the tones from this thing! Also had the smaller 5 watt ones which is great for the money. I’m getting a Vox AC10 next week and will be excited to see how this stacks up with the Vox.

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Cool. Be interested to hear how the vox compares

[@nunonunes097]

Let us know!

[@jonathanadams2344]

Initial impressions comparing both amps: The HB/Monoprice amp is a bit more flexible than the Vox AC10 thanks to the attenuator. The ability to play on 1 watt is so useful for bedroom practice. The Vox, on the other hand, is awfully loud for 10 watts. The Vox sounds better to my ears, but for the price and added features I’m likely to keep the Harley Benton amp and sell the Vox, but we’ll see. If I were a gigging musician, I might slightly prefer the Vox as it sounds a bit better and higher volumes.

[@nunonunes097]

@@jonathanadams2344 got the vox earlier than anticipated then

[@jonathanadams2344]

@@nunonunes097 A few days earlier than expected, yes. :)

[@sdannenbaum]

I love mine, which I got through Mono Price, The only mods were to replace the stock speaker with an Eminence Cannabis Rex and the reverb 2-spring pan with a MOD 3-spring pan. Sounds awesome...better than my Blues Jr or Bassbreaker 15...and that's saying a lot!

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Superb stuff.

[@ijamsum]

This amp design is sensitive to your light or hard chord slapping touch as when you slap a quick chord it has marvelous slight breakup and full chords can breakup a little but sound awesome ! If you want hifi pristeen tones look elsewhere , as this is a tube amp that does not have shrill highs due too harmonic clipping ! The higher the master volume the less preamp gain distortion results just so you understand ! The amp sounds the way you set up the gain & volume and EQ so a electric guitar sounds like a electric guitar and this amp does that beautifully !

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Well said. Tube amps are mainly for guitarists looking for a warm slight overdriven tone as a baseline. Adding more or less to taste. Some players think that tube amps are 'best', but it depends on what tones you're looking for. Clean tones with this amp are great, but a good tranny amp will give a clearer full range tones without any valve breakup. I myself love the slight breakup of a tube amp rolled back, with the ability to open the dirt up at the roll of a dial! Just my preference.

[@ghalsor]

If you want a bit more “fender like” clean tones, throw an equalizer in the effects loop and boost the last 2 sliders with all others being in the center. Given the el84s, it’s not perfect, but it will add some sparkle.

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Great tip. Assume you mean boost the high freq's?

[@ghalsor]

@@PetesGuitarUniverse exactly. I had a hard time thinking of words last night😬

[@mywholesomechannel]

Lovely shoegazey riff. Really demo'd that overdriven sound very well.

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Thanks so much. That's what a tube amp is about!!

[@mywholesomechannel]

@@PetesGuitarUniverse I ended up buying one after watching your video and I really love the sound. Cheers!

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

@@mywholesomechannel awesome. A great amp for silly money

[@TheFreedutch2008]

I have one I like it better than the VOX AV30, AV60 and the AC15 I had before this one. And it's not just the price. I like the tone. And the weight ;-)

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Great stuff. Interesting. I also prefer this to the Vox amps (I've had the AC15 and AC30TB previously).

[@TheFreedutch2008]

@@PetesGuitarUniverse yours doesnt say Harley Benton on the grill

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

@@TheFreedutch2008 I removed it when I dismantled the amp to look inside. Never put it back on.

[@swinneydillan]

I found out how good this amp was 3 years ago and it still playing like a charm I love it but mine's is stage right by Monoprice

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

The design seems to be popular, with slight differences here and there. Overall, a sweet sweet 15w valve amp

[@The_Macaroon]

Got yourself a new sub . Great video

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Thanks. Really appreciate the sub.

[@BenjaminKanarek]

Just curious, have you tried the HB RB612 CS 12 string electric. I got mine last week. Interesting guitar.

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Sound very interesting. I'll have to look it up. Thnx.

[@Newnodrogbob]

Nice demo, but I was noticing some distortion even in your clean tones. I don't think it was the amp. Sounded to me like maybe you were overloading your mic or mixer and getting some clipping? Otherwise, something might have gone bad on the upload itself. Have a listen...maybe I'm just losing it...

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Ha ha... You're not losing it. There is some subtle tube breakup even on the clean tones. The guitar I used has high output humbuckers and I like a 'warm' clean tone (which has a little tube colouration).

[@mc30052]

Thanks for review !! Just a question, can i use this with headphones and play silently when my little star is sleeping ? I heard some different stuff about this

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Sadly no. You can only send the signal out via the 'Send' on the back, which has preamp tube tone, but no power amp or speaker emulation would be sent.

[@mc30052]

@@PetesGuitarUniverse thanks 🙏

[@Speed13Controle]

Please help me! Does it cut through drums in a 3 piece band? In a rehearsal, without PA?

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

Yes, for sure. 15 tube watts is very loud.

[@Speed13Controle]

@@PetesGuitarUniverse Thank you, my friend

[@christopherguzzi1316]

I appreciate how you think this amp sounds awesome, but to my ears it sounds fizzy and muddy. I was actually considering this amp until I saw this video. I'm hoping it has some chime and better clarity with a single coil guitar or different humbuckers.

[@UCS0608]

With al due respect, Peter, , but I think this video is not doing the amp justice. I have this amp and use it for rehearsals and small gigs and imho it can sound way better and I love it. Christopherguzzi: check out other video's, because you really have to give this amp a try!

[@mikhail6289]

Why bass always on max?

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

In the context of a song with other instruments I'd turn the bass down, but when playing alone it just fills out the sound nicely.

[@MrCboots]

Tube amps sound best with the power tubes cranked but this video well the volume was on 1 all the time ???

[@PetesGuitarUniverse]

The tone just gets hairier. Is that better / best? Subjective. Few people would use this amp set to max. So so loud.