How Heavy is Too Heavy? The Harley Benton TE-52 Deep Dive Review

[@shanewalton8888]

"The shaft feels weak"- you get that more and more as you get older.

[@mb13972]

Until it no longer works.

[@Phoebedumplings]

Amen to that!

[@geespar1]

Absolute nonsense, use it or lose it!

[@TexanUSMC8089]

@@geespar1 LOL

[@deHelli]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Lol

[@losFondos]

Of course it's too heavy, you've weighed the guitar BEFORE peeling off the bloody pickguard covering

[@nrich5127]

TE is for Telecaster and 52 stands for 1952 - so it's an homage to this iconic guitar. For $161 + shipping US it's a very playable Tele that sounds like a Tele - that's a bargain. You could change the tuning keys , the nut , the string trees and you're good to go and still be less than any Fender Squier.

[@MikeDuff63]

The NA stands for Northern Ash

[@erickrohn2970]

Is it named after a motorcycle or car? Lol. He was referring to the name Harley benton.. Harley Davidson and Benton sounds like some kinda car. And yes TE-52 Telecaster 1952 as when the model name was used as they wanted to name it BroadCaster but that name was already in use.

[@keithclark486]

I'm really impressed how easy the plastic pickguard covering came off.

[@landonbailey]

I will leave a review on their site: best plastic peeling

[@justfine77777]

It would have been easier to take off, when the strings were off. Just sayin.

[@justfine77777]

@@voiceofexperience for sure, your mom always takes mine off.

[@Catfish2255]

I have to agree..It came of in one piece..Could probably put it back on..

[@LetArtsLive]

I like to hear what a guitar sounds like not plugged in I know the Les Paul sounds amazing not plugged in

[@kct9967]

I told my son that if your giging and a fight breaks out, grab the tele, it's the best weapon you can have.

[@AllThingmac]

I was thinking that tonight!😳

[@robertgallagher2226]

Keith Richards agrees! 😁

[@banzospod]

@@robertgallagher2226 yup, and its on film.

[@kohenm]

its great that you show every bit of the guitar, even while you're playing. I think its a good idea that noone else really does

[@jimmurray8713]

Luck of the draw, I guess. I got mine in February 2020 and paid $122 USD. 8 pounds, which is heavier than I would like, but the fit and finish are exceptional. The neck feels as good as my Custom Shop Strat. It sounds very good. The cheap controls feel and sound good ( my skunk stripe is perfect) and the set up was professional. I might replace the nut at some time, but plan to just enjoy it now. Highly recommend.

[@landonbailey]

Very nice!

[@geoffsmyth550]

A tale of two weighty guitars; I have a Harley Benton TE 52. My wife bought it for me for my birthday, after forbidding me to buy one. When she stopped me from buying one, I decided to make my own Tele. It took me six months to make and when she saw how serious I was about making one, she relented and bought me the TE 52. My TE 52 weighs in at 10.5 lbs. It's heavy but well made and I love it to bits. It has the bite I was looking for and I would encourage anyone who is thinking of buying one to take the plunge. The one I made was from two pieces of wood I have been carrying around for the last 20 years and various house moves. The body is a one-piece, 2 inch slab of mahogany and the neck is Canadian Rock Maple. The truss rod is internal so no skunk stripe. I have small hands so I carved the neck for a very aggressive 'V' profile. The fretboard is rosewood. I put in good electronics with 4 way switching for the extra series ooomph. The neck has locking tuners, stainless steel frets, stainless steel nut (that took a week) and a compound radius of 7.25 “ at the nut to 20” at the last fret. Abalone inlays and Gibson style binding completes the job. God bless Leo Fender by why oh why did he not give the Telecaster a belly carve? Playing a regular Tele is an exercise in masochism. The plank profile body cuts into my ribs and is so unpleasant to play. So I made mine with a serious belly and arm carve, Strat style. The guitar looks great and is the most comfortable instrument to play that I own. I don't believe that the carves have had and negative effect on the sonic quality of the instrument. In spite of the carves it weighs in at 11.5 lbs! A long time ago I bought a really good quality piece of leather and made four straps from it, exactly the right length for me. They are all almost 4” wide in the middle tapering to 2” at the ends. I always use strap locks. If you are finding your guitar very heavy then get a very wide strap. It makes a hell of a difference to your playing comfort. I named my guitar a “BENDER BELLYCASTER” and I'm delighted with it. It is totally different to the Harley Benton in sound an feel. It cost me about £500 to make in parts and materials and six months of my life. The TE52 cost less than £150 delivered to my door and playable, straight out of the box. In my view it's the deal of the century. I'm so tempted to belly carve it but it's just too beautiful as it is. I have it set up for 5 string Open G, a la Keith. My Bellycaster does all the other tunings. It's not until you make your own instrument that you really appreciate what a steal a Harley Benton is.

[@bradrehn1007]

With all the "upgrades" people spend money on, I've always found it odd that the fairly simple answer to weight and comfort is a belly cut. Yet very few mod-ers seem to even entertain the possibility.

[@nobodys.shapeshifter]

I've got a lefty. It has a one piece body that is just as heavy as yours. The neck is two pieces connected with a scarf joint. Plays amazing. I swapped out the pickups for some Fender Twisted Teles which didn't quite fit right, I had to shave away at the pick guard. I expected to replace the pots too, but they were actually really great so they stayed in. 100% would get again if something happens to it.

[@AVM-Music]

Had mine for around 8 months, bought used for the grand total of £70. It is simply incredible. One of the best telecasters I’ve played out of A LOT! It rapidly became my go to recording guitar for drop B stuff. Never lets me down and yeah: it’s a buffalo weight wise, but a nice soft 3” leather strap fixed that

[@simonnotthepieman1581]

I recently took a rasp to a Tele body to remove weight. Created a belly cut and an armrest. Reduced weight by around 15% and had a lot of fun doing it!

[@landonbailey]

nice! I just checked out your video

[@simonnotthepieman1581]

@@landonbailey Thanks. Will prob upload an unboxing later tonight. I've adopted a 1983 Yamaha SG1000!

[@ericbgordon1575]

Did the alterations affect the sound?

[@simonnotthepieman1581]

@@ericbgordon1575 I did it to a different body. I bought a Poplar body in lieu of using solid Maple (way too heavy to begin with). Will be uploading another video of that body soon. After I carved it, I've been prepping it for an Orange Candy (glitter silver basecoat w/ transparent orange on top) rattle can paint job. Have a neck I've turned all black to complete it.

[@Shaun.Stephens]

I'm about to do the same thing with a T-style guitar along with removing the gloss black finish then oiling it. I'll check out your video.

[@jonniegibbins]

Pretty fair review. I bought one last year for £130 new - for me it was a no-brainer as I wouldn't even be able to get an Affinity for that money let alone a Classic Vibe. It's certainly too heavy, but I use it at home so it's not really an issue. The satin neck becomes gloss with use, not a problem for me but might be for others and within a few months I'd started to wear through the stain on the fretboard (natural relic job). The plus is that I love the feel of it, the pickups are great and it was cheap. I was pleased with paying £130, but I would not have paid £230.

[@pantofis]

I guess I'm lucky because my Haley Benton TE-52 weighs 3,5 kg (7,72 pounds). Maybe the woods have dried a bit since then (mine is new from last week)?

[@lazvt8469]

Getting a TE-52 tomorrow...also recently got two CV50s (both Indo, both fine specimens)....be interesting comparison.

[@Carl-V]

How does the Classic vibe stands against this benton?

[@lazvt8469]

@@Carl-V Great question... The HB has a far superior neck/fret job...exceptional. Well polished, and is not Poly-sticky. CV is ok...one came with a low first fret which my luthier had to fix by replacing it with a bigger fret vs doing a complete fret dress. The Rosewell's are as good as the CV pups... CV tuners are hit/miss. I think HB also....may have one that's also hinky. HB is HEAVY!! Note: Fender/Squier necks are NOT interchangeable with HB...very different pocket. Pots/switch...same. Winner? Gotta say, minus the damn weight...HB. All three of my budget Tele's have either Fralin, Lollar or Suhr pups....LOVE THEM!! Get some.

[@Carl-V]

Thanks, taking into account the huge price difference. Seems squier are overcharging a lot. I think i will go HB. Cheers!

[@lazvt8469]

Not sure about overcharging but in USA they are $429 new but can be fetched used all day long for $315. Not sure how HB does it. Slave labor? A used TeleMex is superb.

[@landonbailey]

get the Harley Benton TE-52 here: 🛒Thomann: bit.ly/34UZax9 🛒 Harley Benton USA reverb.grsm.io/harleybentonUSA 0:00 - Hello 0:20 - What we've got here is 1:20 - Quick walkthrough 2:12 - the WEIGHT 2:30 - the resistance 3:00 - Inside the guitar 5:30 - Detailed Specs 7:30 - ASMR Plastic removal 8:54 - Guitar Tones 11:55 - Summary Pros & Cons 18:03 - Goodbye

[@waldemarpierzchalski]

It's cheap and it's one of the best selling guitars on Thomann site, i guess you'll get many views if you make video about how to make it lighter by let's say take out some wood from under pickguard or even back side and then glue slim piece of wood to cover the hole. You could make before and after comparison of the sound. Again, it's one of the best selling guitars on really big site so many people would watch video about how to make it lighter, don't sell it. Beside i'm planning to buy it so i'll subscribe if you do such video ;)

[@hkguitar1984]

You stated at 1:41 it has a 1-Piece neck, at 4:57 you can clearly see the Maple Fingerboard glued to the Neck. A real 1-Piece neck would indeed have the Walnut Skunk Stripe to facilitate installation of the Truss-Rod during manufacture with the Maple Fingerboard consisting of the same wood used for the Neck's body. Where as typical 2-Piece necks have the Truss-Rod installed before the Finger Board is glued on and do not have or need the Walnut Skunk Stripe. Not sure why many manufactures include the Walnut Strip when the Fingerboard is also a separate piece, maybe it is easier/cheaper to manufacture or possibly they wish to include the Walnut Stripe for the purpose of identifying with/looking more like original Fender/Squier instruments/necks. I've an older Squier Pine Telecaster with a Flamed Maple 1-Piece Neck, the Flame is visible along the backs and sides of the neck and can be followed through to where it is also visible on the face of the Fingerboard. As stated, difficult to say why some of these companies do the things they do. Great Content, Thank You Landon.

[@GaryKatz]

Oh! You just saved me $300! Thanks!!!

[@petercyr3508]

April 26 2021. Mine just arrived. I am stunned with the quality.

[@landonbailey]

cool!

[@Genty-xc4jg]

I'm really impressed with mine, it's the cheapest electric I have ever bought in 20 years of playing... I only have one other electric guitar atm as I sold the others. Compared to my epiphone g400 sg... The fret edges aren't as smooth but are fine. The electrics don't crackle when looked at, in fact they are noiseless to operate (only 2 weeks old though - hopefully they will stay this way.. I should fix the sg). The guitar came basically unset up, for a kid buying a first guitar that isn't great. I really like the look of it scratch plate is a bit average. Tuners are a bit tight but seem stable. Frets were dull and I was going to polish them but I have noticed they are polishing up with playing so I'm going to be lazy and wait it out. Its even heavier than the mahogony sg.... But at least it doesn't nose dive into the floor. My skunk stripe I can only just feel a transition so no issues there. And most importantly... I really like the tone as well, not sure really if I would ever swap the pickups. I would probably just save and buy something else.. 4.5/5 bargain really

[@dw9229]

Ive been trying to get my hands on one of these for a while. good sound and the weight is not an issue for me. Ever want to get rid of it...let me know. Thx for the review

[@NoNameNo.5]

It took me like 3 months to get mine and it weighs a ton. Def hurts the shoulder of your standing for a few hours playing

[@andycurley]

I bought one in June just like this. Ordered Sunday night and was at my door in Virginia on Wednesday. My other e-guitar is a 1979 Peavey T-60 with a full ash body. I haven't put them both on scales but I think the Peavey is heavier. I generally really like the TE-52 but had some tuning and intonation problems. Ended up replacing the nut, tuners (with something not all that expensive) and the bridge saddles. Went with compensated brass saddles. Probably added $50-60 to the total cost. Body, neck are really nice on mine but the frets are just a little sharp. I like the way it sounds and plays. I'm guessing there are going to be some variation guitar to guitar. I am not a serious gigging guitar player so I really like it for what it is.

[@douglaspate9314]

Mine arrived this morning. I do like the weight. It feels balanced. I loooove the sound!

[@kle2217]

Any comparison thoughts to Lyxpro or An Indio mono tele?

[@landonbailey]

I don't

[@robjones7725]

Got mine today. 3 Years on from your fair review. 7lb 10oz and well happy with that (maybe HB listened to you, Landon?). Finish and fit perfect. Action a little high out of the box but lovely playable all the same. No sharp fret ends and no exposed skunk stripe wood. Letting it acclimatise but so far fantastic. Unbelievable value for money and I always wanted a natural wood black guard tele (F inspired). Pups are fine by me and I think some guitarists over obsess about pickups - if they don't act microphonically and have a decent sound concentrate on your amp settings for tone. Delighted I have this guitar for £149 delivered to UK/England!

[@guitarmore]

I wanted one of these but can't bring myself to buy a guitar that isn't from a local dealer. Having the option to return/exchange the guitar easily is a must for me.

[@ericbgordon1575]

I prefer equipment that's at least available domestically myself. I'm not motivated to order anything from oveeseas.

[@Geetarpicker1]

Great demo ! Very informative ! I think the pickups height is too high, its over saturating the true tone, lower neck and bridge pickup height by about half of current position and tone should improve greatly.

[@buskerbrown9980]

This is fantastic advice! a simple pickup height adjustment on any guitar, can make make a huge difference to tone. it can take a little time tinkering with adjustments to find the "Sweet spot" but when you get them right.. it can often turn a cheep sounding guitar into something great! it can really bring out the true Tone of the instrument.

[@jameshogan9529]

I brought one of these, changed out the bridge, string trees and tuners and it's a genuinely great guitar for the money. I got it for a bit of fun after a few guys had tried them and it plays and sounds a lot better than the cheaper Fender/Squire models. It is a plank though!

[@НиязМаман-ъ6е]

Any updates?

[@Mr4Strings]

Hey, how could anyone not like your videos, hey? Honesty is the best policy, hey. Love your style. Two things Landon. 1. Harley Benton makes some very fine guitars and many, many people , including myself, wonder how they can sell so low priced. BTW: thanks for *NOT* saying "at this price." If a guitar is good or bad the price should have nothing to do with it. You either like it or you don't. You're the first guy that ever said that and you won over a new sub for doing so. 2. For me weight is a definite issue. I bought a HB bass a couple of years ago and first thing right out of the box, wow, this thing is heavy. I brought it in for a set-up and the first thing the tech guy said was, you guessed it, wow, this is heavy. It definitely became quickly uncomfortable when playing standing up and in the end, although it was my first bass I ended up selling it due to the weight. I was seriously considering buying this guitar but now you've put me off because I know I would find it uncomfortable. I don't know why retailers/manufacturers rarely, if ever, disclose the weight. I can't believe you and I are the only ones that it matters too. Also I wish it was mandatory to print the country of manufacture on every guitar. When I don't see it I assume it's made in China which is another turn-off. Thanks again Landon and don't sweat negative comments from hosers.

[@1000foxtrot]

Thank you for your honest examination of this model ... I am not sure I want to buy it - because of the weight... I always stand up when I sing and play .... I have very expensive guitars - both Gibsons and Fenders .... But I got a couple of cheap acoustic Epiphone's I have played a lot - I bought a cheap H.B. Acoustic I simply love, I guess it is modelled after a Martin New Yorker ... My go to guitar for the small gigs I do these days, is a Fender Nashville Mexico Tele... That's a little worn and could need a "Stand in" .... When you play it I noticed chords were "Ringing" with a nice sustain .....

[@landonbailey]

I've there are some that aren't as heavy

[@SammyFender]

You’re an international star now! You were mentioned in a video from “intheblues” from Australia!! You just keep growing and growing! I’m so proud to be one of your subs!!!

[@atlejohnnyrygg7124]

Landon also took part in a live stream with several other guitar-youtubers initiated by Shane not long ago

[@briano.5746]

That's awesome!

[@atlejohnnyrygg7124]

@@briano.5746 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oInTlZiZhNyXn6c

[@jicklesjingles8134]

Supporting this funny and cool guy and having quite a sympathy for him. That I can understand. But being proud? That would be a way too strong word for me...

[@SammyFender]

@@jicklesjingles8134 It was kind of tongue-in-cheek but it doesn’t come across well in comment form

[@stockholm1752]

The weight. Wow. Like many other aspects of a guitar, it really is a matter of personal preference. My ‘70s Fender Tele weighs just over 9 lbs., but I’m used to it. Anything lighter than 8 feels strange to me. A ten pounder, though... Hey, it sounded pretty good.

[@jasonc1899]

I prefer heavy guitars but my TE-52 only weighs 6 lbs 14 ounces (bought July 2022). They must have heard the complaints of customers.

[@landonbailey]

you got a good one!

[@alexrg1731]

Hi Landon!!!, greetings from Mexico City. I hope you can help me, since you've had both guitars in your hands. Between this Harley Benton TE-52 and the Squier Classic Vibe, which is the better option? Or is the Harley Benton more at the level of a Squier Affinity? Greetings and thanks.

[@landonbailey]

they are both pretty similar in build quality. the HB had a satin neck and the CV has gloss. the HB I had weighed a lot more than the CV. Both are good, just slightly different. Benton is higher up than a Squier Affinity

[@alexrg1731]

@@landonbailey , thank's bro. Here in my country the HB is cheaper than the Squier CV. Another reason to buy a HB.

[@landonbailey]

ya do what works best for you!

[@rico4772]

The legend says, that Landon only runs this channel, that he can buy a new guitar every 2 weeks without getting his wife angry 😂

[@landonbailey]

the legend exists

[@rossw73]

So I keep hearing the comparisons to the classic vibe. I can’t imagine the quality being on par with one, but if it is, the price point(half that of a classic vibe) is a steal.

[@landonbailey]

the build quality on the one I had was good. the body was very heavy. did I mention how heavy?

[@wyattsdad8561]

I put 52 American fender pickups in mine and control panel. The guitar was so nice and yet affordable I figured I had some room to do some upgrades. It didn’t need anything tho. I just did it because I paid so little for it.

[@peterfahey9088]

What is the finish like on the neck? it looks like it's more on the satin/unfinished side. Squire classic vibe Tele has a very glossy neck which I can't stand, so this looks like a fair alternative.

[@landonbailey]

it's a nice satin finish

[@InconsistentCod]

think it’s worth picking up?

[@DavidHutcheson]

Freaky. I was looking at an ad for this when the notification came through. Fate?

[@landonbailey]

KZbin is watching you

[@hadeseye2297]

@@landonbailey Welcome to the Brave New World of 1984.

[@podeeeerdelmembrillo403]

I love it, beautiful, well tuned and easy to play on the entire neck, and for me it would be the perfect guitar, even if it doesn't have Fender, the pickups are a matter for everyone

[@ericbgordon1575]

I'm personally used to the Telecaster body being heavy like that of a Les Paul. The best way to make either lightweight is if its body is chamberrd or if it's got semi-hollow cavities in it. That"s part of what's calling out to me on the Fender Modern Player Thinline Tele, having previously owned a '72 Thinline reissue Tele - unless there's a similar model from another brand that is just as good.

[@Cayres9]

Weight=Quality in my opinion , I know players like to be able to jump around on stage but if they drop those basswood guitars they will ding badly , An Ash body guitar wont

[@gameon2000]

That's why I went for their cheaper model TE-20 as my gig goto guitar. It's only €89 ($99) half the price and half the weight. While the pups sound on clean quieter and thinner - almost like an amped electro-acoustic (which I see as a win) it is better deal all around. Gonna get the TE-52 in the future though for the studio recording sound and better (BOSS Bruce Springsteen type of looks) 😂❤

[@Shaun.Stephens]

Thanks for the video Landon. I see what you did at 14:20 "I'm not really a neckspert"...

[@owlwise69]

Thinking of buying the same (TE-52). I live on Vancouver Island and was wondering did you have to pay duty on the guitar. Thanks

[@landonbailey]

I don't recall, but I would have mentioned it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHelkJunhp2dgZI

[@pedenharley6266]

Thanks for another honest and thoughtful review of a guitar that I find intriguing.

[@jeffreybuckingham3782]

Might I add, why didn't you peel the film off of the pickguard/scratchplate, when the strings were off?

[@landonbailey]

that was recorded before the removal. I don't do everything in chronological order

[@Ukedc259]

V nice guitar. Neck is perfect. Intonates well. Weight of mine is 9lb. It’s ok. Not a dealbreaker for me. The tone is beautiful and it plays really well right out of the box. Fit and finish is amazing for the price. Don’t know how they do it, frankly. The neck in particular makes this guitar worth it for me. Best neck I’ve ever played actually.

[@landonbailey]

it was a really nice neck!

[@johnbweems]

I have that guitar. It’s heavily modified, body and neck are the only things stock. The neck is a two piece on mine. It is a maple neck with a separate fretboard and has the skunk strip. It is my main go to guitar even though it is heavy. I grab it over my Fender because the neck profile is perfect for me.

[@BiggBaddVVolf]

7:34 this has a similar sound like when you do an unboxing of the white protective foam bag some guitars come in 🤣

[@landonbailey]

close! doesn't have the same effect on me

[@airtimedesign]

Looks like it's a maple fretboard on a maple neck. Not 1 piece maple neck. Is that correct?

[@landonbailey]

I don't recall 😊

[@airtimedesign]

@@landonbailey I can see the edge of the neck pretty clearly at 5:58. It's definitely a maple fretboard on a maple neck. Sometimes this is called a maple cap. It's a 2 piece neck. Most of the time there is no skunk stripe because there is not need for one. Some people like these, some don't . It's interesting that they have a skunk stripe when there is no need for it. BTW I love your casual style and in depth reviews. If you get a chance please take a look at what I'm doing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZKVhouGqKhqbNk

[@FantasticF113]

FWIW - a friend bought one. Out of the box, I played it and loved it but even sitting and with a strap I found it too heavy. My friend liked it but found much the same. I have a few tele's myself, so I'm used to playing solid bodies like this. The fit and finish was very good, no problem with the skunk stripe and it came with a tweed case - The case was ok and minimal. It got passed around our group and ended up with a happy owner - so whatever that says. The same guitar with a lighter wood or weight relief (maybe an extra $20-30 bucks?) would probably get it walking out the door. Landon's review is fair and honest. Great job!

[@landonbailey]

cheers!

[@JimiCzerwinski]

Ash is great tone wood and it's heavy looks great.

[@guyincognito320]

Ash is just way more variable than alder. Some are tanks and some are light as basswood, can come in at 7 lbs. .

[@charlesmurphy3979]

I’m probably in the minority but I like a guitar with a bit more weight. I just never could get used to the basswood bodies.

[@altayant3174]

same. I hate playing guitars that feel like toys. I can really fuckin dig into a heavy guitar too.

[@Frijolero18]

You should get an Electrical Guitar Company guitar then lol

[@WW-1995]

Same, love my guitars heavy (~6kg feel nice)

[@topografer]

So about the weight. Generally, cheaper ash is a very dense tonewood and a very heavy one. Swamp ash is not that dense it's more expensive (used in fender custom shop guitars) and it's really light, lighter than alder, whereas dense ash is much heavier. You can assume that this is the cheap type of really dense ash since the body is heavy. In terms of tone, swamp ash has more bass and cheaper ash (I think they call it north or American ash but I'm not really sure) is generally treblier

[@patrickmcdonald2239]

Ave just bought this same guitar your right it weights a tonne a small con but absolutely love it it sounds great I play it through a subzero v35rg tweed amp nice neck it stays in tune for the price can't fault 😎

[@kevinrinehart]

The only suggestion I have for your videos is to take off the plastic while you have the strings off. To be honest, I am obsessive about taking that thin plastic off of anything new that I get as fast as I can so it's probably just me. Love your videos and your dry humor!

[@landonbailey]

I don’t record the video sections in chronological order. :) cheers!

[@23skidoo46]

now, I'm gonna buy one because of the heavy weight thanks

[@itsnitinbansal]

IT CANT FIT IN MY CAR BUT IT FITTED WELL IN MY HEART.

[@ace-rob71]

Hi, didn't know about how heavy the HB tele. Good to know. I owned a Vintage V100 which I sold it for same reason. Too heavy. Even playing seatted was a problem because during playing I was forced from time to time to bring the body tending to turn down thoward the ground. A nightmare. Don't want to talk about my back after a gig in a club.

[@landonbailey]

apparently some aren't as heavy now

[@brendenkucken9117]

I got one of these guitars about a year ago, and I’m being completely honest when I say it’s become my number one when I go out gigging. Changed the tuners and bridge out, and now it’s at the level of a Mexican fender. Next venture is changing the pickups

[@brendenkucken9117]

Also, if you’re looking for a guitar that’s not as heavy as this one, but you like the specs, they have the same guitar with basswood bodies and different colors (paisley and mahogany venier)

[@landonbailey]

good to know, I would probably go that route if I had to choose again. just a personal preference, I like lighter

[@brendenkucken9117]

@Jean Claude Peeters less than that, unless you’re going for used. Tuners were $60, Bridge was $30, and pickups will be $150 (Fender noiseless). Adds up to around $400. Compare that to a fender player tele which doesn’t have locking tuners or noiseless pickups, but costs $300 more, new.

[@georgecolombo]

FYI, the website lists the guitar at 4.50 kg so Thomann is certainly up front with prospective buyers about the weight.

[@landonbailey]

oh good! it’s not something I saw on the Thomann site

[@simonwilliams9916]

Did I mention the skunk strip! 🤣🤣🤣 seriously I loved the part where you strummed the chords. I feel that I got a real chance to hear the pickups properly. It’s my bad but I’m never sure of what I’m hearing on all those single note runs in so many reviews. 🤘🏻👍🎸🤘🏻👍🎸🤘🏻👍🎸

[@landonbailey]

also the skunk stripe! Ya I can't do lead, and I think playing what I can is the best I can play. what? :)

[@doedesjel]

Are you gonna upgrade the electronics and (or) the hardware in the future? 😁 The overall construction seems to be very "50s" where the s stands for slab! The neck looks better crafted than some pricey fenders..... Overall, I see potentially a classy tele!

[@landonbailey]

no I sold it last year

[@PatrickCollins73]

I was going to give out to you for the weight issue, but I just got a Schechter C-1 and I've been complaining about it's weight and it's only 8.5 pounds, so fair play to you on that point.10 pounds is too much.

[@BobRock420]

Ok so I got one and it weighed 10 pounds and I sent it back because it looked like it had water stains throughout the body. When I got my replacement it only weighed 7.5 pounds? Yeah I know makes NO SENSE. I’m wondering IS THIS THE SAME MODEL GUITAR? Everything is the same except the weight and the new one looks more butterscotch color. But DEFINITELY NO WHERE NEAR AS HEAVY. I’m confused as to why. Anyone have an answer for this?

[@landonbailey]

wood moisture content variations

[@BobRock420]

Thanks man. Makes sense.

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

Here’s a question................what is the best HB tele ?

[@pacislav]

I tested TE-20, TE-30 and TE-52. TE-52 sounds and feels the best. I'll be happy to try a TE-90 FLT.

[@GriffMJ]

...... a heavy axe is a good axe in my experience.

[@robertgallagher2226]

Yeah....I'm a sit-down spare room guitar hobbyist. Weight means very little most of the time.

[@jeremyrafuse5330]

My MIM Fender telecaster was made of swamp ash and was heavy too but sold it due to moving. Looking at this guy to replace it.

[@soundscape5650]

Those potentiometers are the brand 'Vimex', and AFAIK they're a fairly high quality pot used in a lot of effects pedals.

[@landonbailey]

thanks for the info!

[@righustle6859]

Thanks for posting demos of some affordable gear man, nice to see some accessible equipment :)

[@landonbailey]

No problem!

[@craigparse1439]

It's OK to comment about the weight of the guitar. I have a Chapman ML-1 and I can't play it because it's too heavy.

[@Bellocks1]

I dunno why people are so bitchy about the weight, looking for faults in cheaper guitars - I have a Les Paul at exactly the same weight. The guitar in my country is £144 inc shipping. When I was a kid, guitars were feedback merchant lumps of wood. I wish we had Harley Benton back in the day. Seriously though, if people have that much to pick faults with these type of guitars, go buy a classic vibe for double the price or a genuine Fender for around quad the price. I’d be well happy with this and around £300 in my bank account left over.

[@lloydnorval1989]

@@Bellocks1 well said! I'm looking at this as my next purchase

[@Tomislav_B.]

Why do you peel off plastic two times? Two plastics, one on top of the other?

[@landonbailey]

sometimes there's two layers for some reason

[@waynetykocki3964]

Possible Roswell pots ?

[@valueofnothing2487]

5.4k is very low for a neck pickup if it has 43 gauge wire. If it's 42 then it's similar to a strat, although there is metal around the pickup which will lower the treble. Telecaster pickups today seem to have 7K and 43 gauge wire. Although maybe the magnets are different here and not ALNICO 5 You would think they would use three conductor wire since the neck pickup is already shielded and you can get rid of a bit of noise.

[@petercyr3508]

If weight is really a concern, get one of HBs poplar body teles.

[@djangle67]

I could feel the skunk stripe on my HB TE62 DB but fixed it with a light rub of some 800 grit sandpaper…..it’s now flush and smooth and feels great. I received the guitar from Germany to Scotland during a recent cold spell that could have caused the issue.

[@AnthonyB331]

Anyone know if the new telecasters are like that from Harley Benton for the TE-52CC? Shell pink one, i was all set to buy, but honestly 10lbs is crazy…. Anyone have one of those?

[@landonbailey]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip2bmZmwedp5jLc

[@ajlmirrormist]

Nice Video... My HB TE-52 was a little under 10 pounds but i had already preeled off the protective plastic :) They must be hit and miss on the build because my guitar has a 3 piece body. Definately not for standing up to play... that said I love it...great finish, quality and sound.

[@landonbailey]

Right on

[@jimwoodswrites]

A Tele that heavy never should have left the factory IMHO.

[@jumpingman8160]

interesting. I have 2. And love their weight. Solid construction.

[@hadeseye2297]

First time I had Vintage V100 LP on my legs I was like: The weight! No I like it a lot. I know I play something. It's big. And round. And curvy. Sounds familiar? :) But light guitars are good as well. I just don't take guitar's weight into consideration when picking guitar.

[@jumpingman8160]

@@sgholt they always said the tele is a workhorse. It's also a weapon. 🤣

[@ericbgordon1575]

The only lightweight Teles I've held or played have had either chamberrd bodies or thinline cavities. I'm accustomed to thinking a regular Tele is this heavy.

[@jasongallman2032]

Weakling

[@cybrunel1016]

Thx for the review. So the radius is 14", that seems a bit flat for a Tele, more of a Les Paul radius. 10lbs also reminds of a Les Paul. Ash is 3 times as dense as poplar or basswood so if you want light 4-7lbs go with those. For the price it's a pretty good deal I think. You're a dead ringer for Corey Haim btw.Peace.

[@georgemacdonald3087]

That nearly 14" radius was a misprint in the Thomann catalogue. They printed 350mm instead of 305mm, same numbers but the wrong order. It actually has a radius of 12.0079inches, still flattish.

[@TexanUSMC8089]

Because of your video I just ordered 2 HB guitars from Thomann. I ordered a SC-custom II paradise flame(PRS LP style copy i think), and a TE-90FLT red blast. The TE-90FLT is a Tele style with more rounded edges like a Strat and a belly cut, with filtertron style pickups. Both look pretty cool. They were on back order, so it'll probably be a couple months before they come in. Thanks for the videos. Great job. I Subscribed.

[@landonbailey]

cheers! the two Harley Benton models I bought were well built.

[@ColonelRPG]

Just a heads up, the logo you used 0:07 is not the real logo, that's just someone trying to replicate the logo with the publicly available font they based their logo on :P The real logo is a little bit tidier, because Thomann made some changes to the publicly available font, so it's not the same.

[@insidious.92]

Nice video and tone demo (I like the overdrive sound). I have a question. How thick is the body (in mm)? Is the same thickness as the fender player telecaster? Thanks.

[@landonbailey]

I believe it was the same thickness. I sold it last year

[@georgemacdonald3087]

For anyone else wondering the same, it is 43mm and the control cavity is routed deep enough to take an Oak Grigsby switch.

[@adamsmith5417]

Are the basswood HB Tele's lighter weight?

[@landonbailey]

basswood is typically lighter, but all wood varies

[@crocketgsxr6]

have you revied the cheaper version the Te-20 or used it for a build?

[@landonbailey]

I haven’t tried it

[@crocketgsxr6]

@@landonbailey eh maybe for a compare video, budget upgrade series or give a away?.....or all of the above? Or better yet a Glarry because they are about the same and it would be cheaper to Canada ship coming from the states.

[@jonatanronaldgonzalezariza18]

Cual es mejor una classic vibe 50 o esta guitarra harley benton TE 52 ????

[@opforgeron]

This tele is a beauty! The maple body is really looking good! By curiosity, how much did it cost to import. I'm in Quebec City so it would cost me almost the same

[@landonbailey]

all the answers in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHelkJunhp2dgZI

[@jeremyrafuse5330]

Price have gone down on these. With shipping it's telling it's $260 and if you factor in the $50 duty fees, it's just over $300 for a quality Telecaster.

[@opforgeron]

@@jeremyrafuse5330 Wow really good price! Thanks for the update :)

[@jeremyrafuse5330]

@@opforgeron your very welcome. I've been on a budget guitar kick recently ever since I managed to get my hands on a Sterling CT-50. It took about 2 months for Long and McQuade to track one down for me. In terms of quality and specs in comparison to price, it smokes my two Gibsons.

[@StephenGarcia-p6x]

I love the weight. I’ve been looking for a heavy tele. My main guitar is a 2008 Gibson Les Paul so, naturally I want a heavier guitar. I have LTDs, Strats, but after the LP I feel like I’m playing with toys. Just my preference, and I understand the problems that heavy guitars create for people. I’m just an old oak. Thank you all for the insight and ejikayshun.

[@MaxMG-xi2ub]

Hey Landon I have heard about another cheap brand of guitars you might wanna check out, they are called SX guitars sold by rondo music and hadean and from what I have heard SX are really impressive for the money. I haven't seen any review done by someone I trust like you and Im actually interested in your opinions of SX and hadean tele and strat style guitars

[@RedShirtGuitar-el8sd]

the weight is fine for mine..(I had a Squier Classic vibe and it was always falling toward my right when seated - very unbalance (pine body). I just tried to remove the plastic nut to install a bone...the old one was totally glued in.. will need to gring it out. Sad.

[@shanesworkshop922]

Thanks for the honest review man. So many reviewers get the freebies and don’t always point out all the questionable issues. Great looking guitar regardless and thanks for doing the deep dive on it. You should do a giveaway with this one and let the winner pay the shipping. Thanks

[@landonbailey]

If a reviewer doesn't say where they got the guitar, ask them in the comments. If they don't reply, question their integrity :)

[@lomoholga]

@@landonbailey yes most youtubers are simply acting as marketing campaign for gear makers.

[@eastriverg3595]

@@lomoholga Almost the entirety of KZbin channels today are just informercials.

[@gamecat666]

I have a hugely heavy bass that's fine for playing sitting down but I wouldn't be able to stand up for more than 30 minutes without my shoulder going. I've been looking at the te52 for a while, and I think i'd be fine with it as a bedroom noodling guitar, but it would certainly remove it from the list if it was for gigging. Thanks for the review.

[@paqboii1907]

Which one sounds? The benton or the affinity?

[@Hickeroar]

FYI in the states, a harley benton is often valued higher since someone went through the trouble of importing them, and you get a lot for the money.

[@viktorbagdan3844]

Thanks for the review! Could You have the chance to compare it with a JET JT-300? (I'm in a hesitation now in between three guitars, almost in the same price range: Harley Benton TE-52, JET JT-300, Squier Affinity Telecaster). Thanks in advance! Greetz, Viktor

[@buzzbuzzerson3592]

I just got one. The bridge pickup is way louder than the neck pickup. Other than that, nice guitar.

[@landonbailey]

see if you can raise/lower the pickups to help balance the volumes

[@buzzbuzzerson3592]

@@landonbailey I will give it a shot

[@arodrigues14]

Landon, I think your playing improved!

[@landonbailey]

oh hey thanks! I'm trying to capture better sounds

[@wozc7341]

Thanks Landon. Any chance you can do the same for the Artist TC-59?

[@johnpulaski3293]

So I may have missed it so I want to follow up just to make sure it’s clear: the skunk stripe is a little bothersome and it’s really heavy? I didn’t see anything about that in the video and I just wanna make sure about those two things.

[@landonbailey]

no, the skunk stripe wasn't heavy at all.

[@CastlesMadeOf...]

Doubles up as a sledgehammer for all those outdoor DIY jobs! Seriously tho what about some smuggler routes? How much weight would that relieve?

[@MrSouzy]

I bought myself the te20. I weighed it at 3.9 Kgs. I thought that was heavy. Overall though I am really happy. In particular I find the neck to be very nicely made. I sort of forgot it was only 87 euros and imagine that it is some sort of Fender custom shop. As a beginner I can allow myself that fantasy because I never even came close to a high end guitar so I don't know what they are like. btw mine doesn't had a skunk stripe and neck isn't one piece and has a separate fretboard. But you have to look very (and I mean very) close to see the join. One thing I really like with mine is the colour of the body and of the neck (which is not too pale or too yellow either). Only problem is I want the Strat version now........wife doesn't allow it lol

[@mmccartney6579]

I know some will think this is a stoopit question, but...why not peel the pickguard plastic off before you put the strings back on? Not judging...just an observation. :)

[@landonbailey]

I don't film/edit in chronological order

[@mmccartney6579]

@@landonbailey Gotcha. :)

[@janichmondieu6505]

Amazon generally gives the weight of their guitars. My Squier start is 11.5 lbs. with the upgraded hardware. I just purchased an Eart telecaster that 6.5 lbs. Eart guitars are fantastic values. The lightweight Tele is carbonized mahogany

[@landonbailey]

I've never seen guitar weights listed on Amazon

[@janichmondieu6505]

@@landonbailey If you scroll down a bit, beyond similar suggested guitars .It's like the last thing on the page. My Tele didn't have the weight, but most do have it. (shipping weight?)

[@janichmondieu6505]

@@landonbailey Sorry Landon, I wrote 6.5 lbs. The Eart tele is 8.5 lbs. They are very nice affordable guitars.

[@ondmon818]

Yea, the Harley benton 'thing' - i paid around £120(i'm in scotland) so price was fantastic but my one had terrible tuners and finish issues. I put a wilkinson compensated bridge and tuners on and it's great , the weight isn't that bad for me- i used to own a wal cusom bass! It's a great sounding guitar for little money. Now review 'Vintage' (company ) strat?

[@AllThingmac]

Hey! I have a Harley Benton Tele. Would you mind letting me know the model of the Wilkinson bridge you bought? Mine is a TE-20 and it’s a top loader only. I’m looking to get some grommet holes drilled in and it would probably work where the Fender bridge I bought isn’t going to fit right.

[@ondmon818]

@@AllThingmac - it's the 'Wilkinson WTB Telecaster"Ash-Tray" Bridge with Compensated Brass Saddles'