Is Harley Benton SC450 Plus Better Than Your Gibson Les Paul?

In this video I take a deeper dive into the Harley Benton SC450 Plus in Lemon Drop Yellow. Listen to it in a mix as well as isolated and I give you my opinion on this budget Les Paul.
Find this guitar here - www.thomann.de...
#harleybenton #harleybentonsc450 #harleybentonlespaul #gibsonlespaul
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[@andyshipway3717]

Ordered one for my son recently as a cheap starter just as good as my 550II apart from stainless steel frets. Now I want one.

[@shawnthesheepy]

got this guitar a few years ago, and it still plays wonderfully (though the toggle switch has since broken and I've rewired it so only the bridge pickup works) still, very happy with my choice!

[@IgnazioPillitteri]

bought the same guitar 4 years ago to try a les paul-ish guitar after 20 years of strat. Good quality and playability, very good pickups for classic rock tones, tuners ok - could be upgraded but they work fine. Guitar worth every cent, I like the lemon drop color

[@jeremyrafuse5330]

Love videos like this. Brings out the name brand snobs in droves. I got my first HB a few months ago when I got my Amarok baritone. Plays and sounds just as good as my Gibsons, for a fraction of the cost. Seriously debating selling my Gibbys and buying HB clones instead and save all the money. Ridiculously good guitars (AND SPECS!!!) for under $1000.

[@Watzline]

Hey, I went down to an open mike jam. I took my Harley Benton CST24, some half assed snob wannabe putz guitar player made a comment about my cheap guitar. I played, blew the roof off the place, he got up later playing a Mex Strat, and the guitar sounded ok, but he sucked, LOL. I have 3 HB guitars, and am going to get this SC 450 LD also, mod it a little.

[@notmyrealname11]

@@Watzline No amount of money will let you buy your way to being a great guitarist, even if you've got the world's greatest guitar. If you'd handed Hendrix one of these, or even something inferior and he'd still find a way to make magic. Hand a half-assed player a Gibson and he'll still find a way to make it sound like garbage.

[@geoffsansom2008]

@@Watzline hi mate, I have one of these on order, you said you would mod it a little, what would you do, iv'e just bought some Wilkinson WVC pups second hand, they fit these on the Vintage greeny/moore distressed lemon drop with the neck pup the wrong way round to give it that out of phase effect and they sound great, what's your thoughts on that

[@reneebear3641]

Haha why sell the gibbys now when you can let them rot in cases never seeing sunlight for a few more years and make some guitar collector pay 4x the price for a “vintage” instrument

[@istimamrian5300]

The type of video i keep waiting for. Spot on!

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment :)

[@jamesmehigan2407]

Bought it after watching this vid - awesome playing, Jake! I changed the tuners for Gotoh Keystones 15:1, polished the frets, and it's a beauty! Split coils were cumbersome with the stock tophats, so I replaced them with HB speedknobs in gold. Mine has a subdued flame-but-bookmatched maple top, and I wouldn't hesitate to gig with this through my Katana EX mic'ed or direct!

[@RobJ-Lob]

I have one as the beginner I am. FOR THE PRICE, I find it's a great guitar! Can't afford an epiphone inspired... even less a real Gibson so got that one. And after I changed strings and worked a little bit on the neck + leveled up the humbs, it sounded better than when it stocked arrived. I find that split coils possibility on this budget guitar is a great additional value though. I wish there were guitars as good as this one at the same price 20 years back! The only drawback I have with this guitar is that it tends to untune a little bit after a session of intensive strings bending.

[@elymolloy8333]

Nature of a 3x3 headstock

[@aftertheendtimes]

Hi dear Jake =) i have both the Harley Benton SC-400 SBK Vintage Series and Harley Benton SC-400 SGT Classic Series and i love them and the SC-450 is probably even better,..Sounded great, and with you passion and playingskills, it was one of the best demos of the SC-450. Love cheers 💚🙏

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Really glad to hear you're enjoying your Harley Bentons. Thanks so much for your really nice comment! :)

[@mylogify]

Very nice playing, and guitar. If Harley Benton did another version of this guitar with Nitrocellulose laqueur finish, I am sure it'd get a lot of attention too :D. It'd be nice!

[@iwanttoplaywithspringsteen9188]

Own a 50s and 60s and i will pick one of these up . As a guy with 6 or 7 premium guitars though you get what you pay for but took the plunge with the tele copy and I got what I believe to be a really good tele . Now no hesitation, how they do it I’ve no idea but they are good guitars at any price

[@klausrusswurm3506]

Hi Jake , i have a SC 450 B Stock. Ist's a cool Mod Base. The Guitar is not Bad, but i change the Nut, the Bridge and the electonix. 🎼🎸🎼🎸👍🙂

[@dannyday1984]

I have the SC450 in black. Love it. Set it up myself once I unboxed, put on amber top hats knobs instead of the gold ones (just an aesthetic thing for me) changed to Ernie Ball strings, and I've been using it for 2 years. My only gripe (and it's hard to believe that this is my only gripe for a guitar of this price) is that the pickup toggle design makes it stick up a little taller than a Gibson one does. But you can easily just drop a Gibson style toggle in there and you're done.

[@TheYjmfan]

Nice playing jake and a great review

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@user-abcxyz-xr2eg]

I have this guitar, bought second hand, must be an early model as it has Wilkinson pickups. I like it and compared to my G- Tribute (which I prefer of course) differences are not worth about 1k Euros. For bedroom players like me it's a good enough guitar to have fun. Pros use pro gear anyway.

[@lengross4126]

Nice playing dude. If your not being paid by Thomann you should be. I am ready to by this guitar even though I've never owned a Harley Benton that I kept for more than three months. They're cheap enough to try and if you don't like them they make great wall art.

[@iz_drag0n_896]

Thank you for this in depth demo of rhe guitar. will be buying

[@damasterkarej]

Good video! Really had a nice time watching. Cheers!

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Thanks so much for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@nicolasfliedl1009]

Daaaaaam didnt know Jake could play me away like that. I'm currently considering a Sc450 plus or a sc550 II. But I really like the looks of the 450plus more than the 550. Gotta compare specs

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Haha! Thanks so much :) I played the 550 recently, it was maybe a bit better but not a dramatic difference.

[@nicolasfliedl1009]

@@JakeLeighGuitar Is there a significant difference between the 450plus and the 550?

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

@@nicolasfliedl1009 there was a difference but I definitely wouldn’t say it was significant. I don’t think you would be missing out if you went for the 450 Plus.

[@nicolasfliedl1009]

@JakeLeighGuitar Okay, thanks, and keep up the work. Im looking forward to the SC 25

[@paulchapman2569]

I searched for a SC450 review because I've just been offered one for a €100 , I'm a beginner and have a cheap strat with a very cheap amp, I'm thinking I wonder how low the owner would shift on the price. Glad you played it clean, I would like it. Then buy a better amp.

[@rayfranchi1507]

Brother you have some serious chops❤

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@alicegrant3731]

I'm so tempted with this one......

[@relaxandplay]

Inspired with your video I just got mine couple of days ago, and WOW, man it's really good, looking awesome and sounds completely allright... really awesome "second guitar" for drop down tuning for example... or for taking out on a gig... So far, I can't put it down... So thanx :)

[@michellewilson8845]

A very balanced opinion, its good to hear accomplished players like yourself doing this. Agree about the nitro, its the smell for me its addictive but that aside the differences are minimal. Great reviews.

[@fransgroenen834]

And for the money better for shure

[@stevehobbs1199]

I ordered this model Jake, nice review man, except for taking off the pick guard and miss matching the knobs I probably will leave it like it is, My playing is only really for bedroom use, so probably just right.

[@robertschultz7612]

Sold all my expensive gibbons years ago……never looked back ………absolutely no difference in tone or feel ……especially with super high gain …… all nuances of tone completely get lost…… the hb sounds great for clean tones ……

[@australier263]

Harley Benton... has a good standard and sound for this low price! But the quality spread is to high! A bit of rework and servicing, so they are not to bad!

[@milesrowe991]

I bought this guitar a few months ago after watching your comparison video. I'd be interested in knowing your opinion on this versus the same versions of Epiphones (since they have a poly finish as well, but are officially Gibson-owned). As far as mine is concerned, I don't plan on making any upgrades, unless it's to repair worn components.

[@jimmyz2098]

Cool vid. But let's go ahead and just answer that question. NO!! LOL That Harley Benton is not better than my Gibson Les Paul. But I LOVE Harley Benton guitars and I will say this. That Harley Benton guitar is absolutely 100% a better value than my Gibson Les Paul - by 2 and a half miles. And by the way... I wouldn't say that about all Gibson Les Pauls, because some of them are sinkers, and hard to play. I've got a good one. But yeah - I love that guitar, and in general, I love Harley Benton and what you get for the money. I think they are incredible. Best value out there probably. Oh - by the way... AWESOME playing Bro! Rock on!

[@Ottophil]

I commenter almost the same thing. Good call

[@jeremyrafuse5330]

I've got a Gibson goldtop LP and my HB sounds just as good through my 6505. I bought my Gibby when I was younger but to be honest, for the price, you don't get nearly as much guitar for the price of Gibson LP to a HB. Now that's not even close to debate.

[@SeleDreams]

What's funny tho is that with a harley benton we *can* get a better les paul than a gibson cheaper by upgrading its electronics and co as it would still end up cheaper

[@jeremyrafuse5330]

@@SeleDreams you can get a SC-550 with EMGs and locking tuners already.

[@SeleDreams]

@@jeremyrafuse5330 my issue with the 550 is that from what i know it doesn't have split coil, that's one of my favorite features of the 450

[@iainholmes2735]

Looks amazing.

[@SAPlaysMetal]

Great video Jake. Love watching you play. Could you tell me if the frets are medium jumbo or Jumbo frets? Thanks mate \,,/

[@nobelj3137]

mine arrived with a cracked neck (right at the nut 1st fret) , and chipping around the cracks that cut into me when i ran my hand up the next now i gotta return it and some other poor sod is gonna get that repaired as bstock thats nasty , i might just get a refund i initially really wanted this guitar but now im kinda soured on the experience . just my experience but this was my 1st purchase with thomman and it might be my last disappointed to say the least.

[@6m1ke66]

Would you recommend this guitar for playing metal?

[@Kb-xq2ry]

Fuck it I’m getting one

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@stephenvignovich8654]

Not impressed, all I hear is the amp.effects

[@passenger1jaro]

what do you want to hear? crappy dry direct signal??

[@stephenvignovich8654]

Wow that statement tells me a lot. Yeah just a tube amp at various volumes gives you a better idea as there is no hiding the instruments quality. Did a shoot out between a 74 LP and a real1958 Les paul into a peavy bandit. At the time it was a 30K vs a 400.00 USD guitar. There was no hiding which was the better sounding instrument even with such a lack luster practice amp.

[@passenger1jaro]

@@stephenvignovich8654 sigh

[@alwaysright3718]

Most HB's need all the frets levelled the nut and tuners changed otherwise it won't stay in tune. Terrible guitars....

[@jonathanowens9298]

I have 3 HBs. None needed fret leveling, new nuts, or tuners. Sorry, you are not even sometimes right.

[@alwaysright3718]

@@jonathanowens9298 and you are full of chit, all the positive reviews are from people that can't play and are being paid. HB's are the worst guitars on the market...

[@ryant3600]

yeah here you are on another HB review spewing nothing but BS...

[@Lordcock]

​@@alwaysright3718 😂😂😂🤡🤡🤡🤡🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jonathanowens9298]

@@alwaysright3718 Thanks for confirming my suspicions that you don't know how to work on your own guitars. Please post a link to a video of you playing so we can all judge your skills.

[@Ottophil]

The answer to your clickbate title is no. It isnt. Don’t pretend it is. HB is fine if thats what you want but its not even close to better

[@jeremyrafuse5330]

Given the price compared to what you get, yeah it's pretty good. The only people who care about Gibson on the headstock are collectors, not players. TRUE players will play anything that feels good and sounds good, no matter what the price is. Fuckin poser...

[@ryant3600]

the 450 probably not, but I'd put my HB 550 plus EMG against any single cut guitar. My LP Custom and my 60s Standard have been in a case ever since I got that HB nearly 2 years ago. Out of my 20 guitars I have right now, it still gets played the most. And it's not because it feels, looks and sounds cheap.

[@elymolloy8333]

So what is the magic dust gibson sprinkles on thier guitars hrmm? I'm a Luthier of 20 years. We make guitars like gibsons all the time and over charge YOU at least 800$ more than it costs to make. Gibson charges you about the same. Mahogany is mahogany maple is maple. The hBs ( albeit after a pickup change) are every. It as good as any other guitar built pretty much THE EXACT SAME WAY. That said I absolutley LOVE people with your mindset. You make people like me ALOT of money. A suckered born every minute 😉

[@PeterErikson-rd5tj]

Nice job w/. this. detailed truthful. review. and. I like that. it. is. good. to. go. A Graftec. nut, Music Lilly. (. $28.00 ). locking. tuners and a Guitar Fetish. Crunchy PAT. in the Bridge IS ALL. I. WOULD. WANT TO. DO. TO IT. less. than 100. bucks. and. not. even necessary.