Top-of-the-line Harley Bentons: Dreadnought vs Grand Auditorium

[@boblelezard]

My favorite would be the Grand Auditorium. I think it has a more "rounded" sound for my taste ;) Great job!!

[@johnrenshaw9688]

I think the CLG-650SM-CEVS (which is Euro 459.00) sounds better. Thomann should make sure all aspects of quality control are right prior to delivery. These are Harley Benton's highest priced guitars, buyers should not have to "polish frets" on arrival.

[@martinsander7112]

The super fancy one, to me, has a softer, but very articulate sound. Though I like it better, both sound great.

[@PooNinja]

I normally just order the most expensive things I can afford ( the cheapest or second cheapest available). That Armrest cut is a cool feature.

[@MaxSoloMusic]

It is! I wish the CLD had it too. That might as well be the reason for the price difference

[@PooNinja]

It’s a small change but adds so much

[@jamesreaves5534]

I've seen right many of Your Videos. Anytime I had a question about something in the videos or anything else you always responded back to me very quickly. I really appreciate that as I highly value your expertise as a musician and your valuable time. You have never produced a bad video. ALL of them are excellent. Keep up the great work. God Bless You and Your Family!! Jimmy in NC....

[@larrycortner6321]

I love the way You set up this comparison . You did a Awesome job . I noticed the dreadnought had a slight little more bottom end .Oh and thanks for the inside veiw of the guitars interworks. It looked very professionally done . Very clean and looked like they tune the bracing . Good job!

[@jamesreaves5534]

Another great video as always. What I like about your videos is the fact that you're honest about what is good as well as what is not good about a product or at least what is it is not good in your opinion and the reason behind it. Most videos people just take what they like about it and kind of gloss over what they don't like but you don't mind pulling any punches and you say straight out here's what's wrong with this, it functioned poorly, this is not designed well etc. Not only do you state the pros as well as the con you explain why you like whatever it is the same with why you don't like something you explain why which makes it good for somebody watching a video because they get the feel of it a lot better than just saying I like something or I don't like something. When you're watching a video you cannot be in the room so you can't really tell like the person in the video playing the instrument unless it's well-described because that is all the viewer has to go on. You do a great job of describing the pros and cons of everything that you review plus your excellent guitarist and I really like your playing style.. God Bless You and Yourn!! Jimmy in NC....

[@martyndormer]

Excellent in-depth and focused review! The dreadnought for me without doubt, but that might be as much my ears as the guitar itself.

[@fukiu5154]

For the acoustic sound and the comfort of the armrest my choice would be the CLG 650.

[@marsch2064]

Perfekt review. For me, none sounds better (only different), but the Grand Auditorium looks far better and seemed much more comfortable to play (if I look at the position of your strumming arm). I really like the armrest (reminds me to Washburn Comfort Line), and the perfect finish. I can't play dreadnough a long time, because of the sharp edges of the body It's one of the best comparisons I've ever seen (sorry, the best 😉). Clear voice, mentioned all facts, good playing. It was a pleasure to watch your video. Thanks a lot! Greetings from Bielefeld (Krautland) Martin

[@kuzWich]

Dreadnought one would make my day all the way frankly

[@houtarooreki5751]

I am a huge dreadnought fanboi so it's a clear pick for me. I want a grand auditorium

[@barrywebber100]

I love the quality/value for money ratio that Harley Benton offer with their products. Overall I think the grand auditorium just had a nicer ring to it plus that comfortable arm rest cutaway. What with the multiple mikes, slick editing, presumably not first language usage, terrific playing, all around I think you can claim to be a genius! Thanks for posting the great review.

[@jimmyt9446]

Its interesting how the D is more bright and trebly than the Auditorium. I would expect the other way round

[@stefangarciaperez4222]

Completely agree my friend!

[@pauldalby5413]

Great comparison video. The dreadnought has more mids and cuts through better - so wherever that is needed then that is the choice for me. The Auditorium sounds mid scooped by comparison and so is softer and more pleasant to hear in isolation. You can hear the Dreadnought cut through much more in your mix at the end. Recording - I imagine the Dreadnought being my 'go to' and choosing it 80% of the time. Live - I would probably choose the Auditorium.

[@daltonotto9536]

For my listening pleasure I choose, Harley Benton CLG-650SM-CE VS SolidWood! Very nice!

[@hippisak]

This video convinced me to stick to my old acoustic, which was sitting and vibrating in front of loudspeakers for years

[@Whitman1819]

Nice review man...I cannot believe the values of these guitars...grabbed a CLA-15m coming in the next day or two..I don't think I've been so excited about a cheap priced guitar...lol

[@SG-js2qn]

The Grand has a sweeter tone, making it better for melodies and folk music, while the dreadnought had better projection, which fits my impression of what a country music guitar should sound like.

[@michaellubrecht7224]

As I might have expected, the dreadnought body had both a bigger, boomier bass as well as a brighter top end - I have a couple of dreadnaughts and that's kind of what they do. In contrast, the GA seemed to have a more balanced sound to me, plenty of punch when you hammered on it, but also lots of delicacy in quieter playing. The solid mahogany on both guitars gives a great warm tone. I currently play a 1970's Guild G37 (maple archback body, spruce top) and an Epiphone EJ-200 - the maple Guild is really bright and sort of lacks the low end. The Epiphone really booms. I've been looking for another acoustic with a rounder, richer tone and was looking at acquiring a Koa guitar, but that mahogany Grand Auditorium is very tempting! Too bad HD doesn't make a Koa version!

[@zackvanhalen]

I like the Dreadnought better. It looks better, it's cheaper, and it sounds slightly brighter when strumming chords.

[@childofthe60s100]

Brilliant comparison - extremely well put together!

[@1958seeker]

The dreadnought seemed to have a richer tone. The other had more of a ring to it

[@НикитаБондарев-л8ц]

Макс спасибо! Лучшие обзоры. Все объективно и профессионально. Крутой чувак 💪👍

[@iloveitall]

I come from Germany, 30 km to Thomann, actually. My lifelong fave guitar is the Ibanez RG for a reason. I came to your channel due to YT proposal and quickly saw that your reviews are quite serious. Been tempted by some HB guitars. Some were decent, some were turds. Just as they are of any other brand.

[@MaxSoloMusic]

Hey, that's pretty cool. You can get there and check any guitars pretty much anytime. For me it's still a 4-hour drive one way

[@iloveitall]

@@MaxSoloMusic "any guitars pretty much anytime" That's what I did for a long time and it is still my Mekka. Since I published that this is nearly my living room in a German music forum, I honestly got testing requests! 4 hours is quite a long way, but for comparison, KZbinr "Cory Mura" did have 7+ hours to go (I met him there just like "Henning 42" (?) or also the Spectre Studios guy.).

[@MaxSoloMusic]

@@iloveitall There's another nice place nearby, called Meinl. Which means Ibanez Germany. They have a huge demo room with all the stuff

[@iloveitall]

@@MaxSoloMusic Thanks, Max! But as a really die-hard Ibanez fan I know that showroom at Gutenstetten.

[@Drinkyoghurt]

Yeah, I have a "travel" guitar from Harley Benton and the neck relief bolt is pretty much stuck. Some frets are too high, but at the price back then (75 euros) I literally can't beat it. I have a 300 euro guitar which sounds much better (cause it's bigger) but plays much worse.

[@geofkane2365]

What a great comprehensive comparison. This is a very worthwhile demonstration.

[@ericktheone]

I came here to listen to the dreadnought, but I liked the other one a little better. Great video!

[@Kevlanco]

Interesting how everyone has different opinions about what kind of timbre each guitar has. I thought the Jumbo sounded like the mids were scooped out, which makes it sound brighter but kind of hollow. The dreadnaught sounded like it was full of lower midrange that made it fill out the recording at the end better

[@rodrigo329]

Super high quality video, message, everything. Great job man! You are one of the best music youtubers, I love your analytical, very complete style. One think I want to know is your own personal opinions about which one you liked.

[@MaxSoloMusic]

Thanks Rodrigo. It wasn’t easy to pick one out of these two. I always was more into jumbo guitars. Maybe that’s why this time I felt like going with something different and picked the dreadnought at the end

[@muddypawsadventurer7775]

To me, the 650 sounded thicker, meaning the mid range projected where as the dreadnaught had deeper lows and higher highs on the acoustic level. Electrified, I doubt that with tonal tweeking that it's sort of a toss. Esthetically, the jumbo has a beautiful look and presentation. Soloing in front of friends or the occasional mike pickup ... nobody will know the difference except for the purest namebranders... I'm prolly going to buy the jumbo because I don't have one. OH.. BTW, excellent content and real world testing, . Don't need a Martin now that I have heard these on my Bose headphones. I've tuning skills, so I plan on tweeking the neck and testing different strings that will change overall tone. OOOHHH the future of a new guitar is looking good!😎🤠🤟🎸

[@jontystoz43]

I'm waiting for delivery of the GLG-650SM-CE. Hopefully arriving in the next few days.

[@_.Egor._]

Great video! For me it's dreadnought no doubt. Sound is just more full-fledged on it. Anyway in line they are mostly the same.

[@bohmao]

To my ears the Grand Auditorium sounds much better that the other guitar - and I'm listening through decent speakers - not some crappy laptop ones. You normally get what you pay for and this proves the point. BTW your editing is on another planet compared to what's normally offered here.

[@Jonny-Saurus-Wrecks]

Hey, Max. They both sounded great. I can notice subtleties. For instance the D note second string in your G's and Cadd9's rings better on the jumbo, but the dreadnought has a touch more volume, though I don't have the best headphones in the world. I found your channel just following whatever interesting titles KZbin puts in front of me, and you seem like you really enjoy your channel. Cool. Guitars of mine . . . My Les Paul Custom Silverburst is probably my favourite för sentimental reasons. She's a 1981 Gibson. Also, she tears it up when I need a dirty girl . . . I plan on getting some HB's, the first being the DC 600 as I enjoyed an old friend's SG with 3 pickups. And I am really interest in the Baton Rouge guitars which, I believe, are made in Russia. They sound freaking awesome from parlour to jumbo. So, glad I found you and will check out some more videos when I get the chance.

[@peterbrozmann9807]

Hi @Max Solo Music, you mentioned the easy fix for the fretboard. What you used to polish the fretboard please? Thanks

[@alabaiCA]

Классное сравнение. Без усилителя звучат по разному(светлая имеет более глубокий звук), а с усилителем практически одинаково. Nice video. The second one(light in color) sounds much better without amp but with amps both sound identically for me. P.S. I own a dark one. Bought it for $220 in brand new condition.

[@MultiGuitarDave]

I have de CLC-650sm-CE BK for almost a year. I'm very happy with this guitar. But due to Covid-19 I haven't been able to try the guitar in the studio and live on the stage.

[@karl-wilhelmschreitz8549]

Why do you play a big G-chord on one guitar in the tone comparison and a C-chord on the other??

[@bond6132]

Yo, coming from mn usa here, my favorite guitar is my orange fleabass, its the most iconic thing I own and it plays great :) I was looking for a comparison of these two types of acoustics and here I am. I preferred the Grand Auditorium over the Dreadnought in the instances where I could hear a difference, which was only with the room mic test. The Dread is muddier, classic acoustic campfire vibe while the GA sounds brighter.

[@MaxSoloMusic]

I found the Dreadnought to be a bit louder as well

[@TheRusolandia]

Hola, tengo una duda sobre la 650. Que tal se comportaria la guitarra con calibre 0.12 la tapa aguantaría? Se doblará? Tengo una Harley benton cl.41 y la tapa con el tiempo ha cedido y está abombada usando 0.10. no quiero imaginar con 0.12

[@victorhernandez3930]

Thanks for the video. It helps a lot. If it is possible, can you try the Harley benton CLD-30SCM-CE SolidWood?

[@chriswhiteside6879]

can you test Wolf guitars for quality?

[@jafakeks9241]

Hey Friend, dont worry about the different Material of the Neck between these two Guitars. Okoume or Mahagony, it is the same wood.

[@stephanematis]

Awesome Max! This is the kind of detail I was hoping for. I have (and loaned out) the HB Travel acoustic, but wanted a "full size" unit. This might be just the information I needed!

[@stephanematis]

FYI, I really liked the Dreadnought when it was played first, and always stayed in my mind during the entire video.

[@MaxSoloMusic]

@@stephanematis that's the one I've chosen as well :)

[@camillovonkralitz2067]

What do you think about guitars HB CLD15 solid wood, CLD Java exotic and CLD KOA exotic. Have you got any experience? Thank you for reply.

[@84jdgregory]

I guess I just don't hear the difference. Maybe I'm hard of hearing. Got my HB CLM-H15CA(I think?...dumb name) and it's the auditorium size. Love it. Sounds amazing for the price.

[@jofragoso6050]

great video, i prefer the sound of the large auditorium and the format better suited to my morphology👍

[@RichLunaMusic]

The dread has a warmer, deeper sound but without as much sustain as the grand. The grand cuts through and rings.

[@___Tom]

great review, thanks!

[@tatuniek]

Grand Auditorium - one for me please ;-). I come from Poland, I live in Germany, and I love your videos!!!

[@karl-wilhelmschreitz8549]

I would like the one with the armrest.

[@str1ng787]

where is the kx500 video....i m waiting too long for it!!

[@MaxSoloMusic]

Goes public on Apr 26 unless something unexpected happens

[@inatorquoisemood93]

Grand Auditorium is the better sounding guitar - no question

[@alexijanetti]

все круто извини А куда точно ты написал нащот спонсорства гитары?? просто интересно))спасибо

[@darkestfugue]

i wanted the grand auditorium to sound better because its a nicer looking guitar but the dreadnaught sounds better to me although its pretty close

[@chrisjeneson3763]

I like the sound of the Jumbo best and I prefer that body shape to play as well. Dreadnaughts always feel slippery to hold to me. Or, perhaps it's my body shape that's wrong😎

[@MaxSoloMusic]

I was always in the Jumbo camp. Until I figured that wasn't the sound I wanted :)

[@SapperRJMorgan]

Agreed.

[@rakash4118]

I would love a harley benton SC Custom floyd rose review from you

[@bassmana2z686]

Thanks for the great content.

[@christianboddum8783]

The NU-X Stageman is seriously good Di/preamp, love mine (the mid scoop is pure gold)!! Love the H2N too, but it needs a little post eq. to be accurate ;-) This is a great video!!

[@Lemmi1de]

In my opinion, the dreadnought sounds better. more solid sound more rounded, when I can describe it.

[@Leemuzhko]

Да, звучат они по-разному. И вообще обе звучат странно на записи. В данном случае дредноут мне чуть больше зашел.

[@MaxSoloMusic]

Странно в каком смысле?

[@OBEH85]

To all guitar manufacturers, please, send more gear to Max! We need more great reviews! We can use SMG (Send More Gear) as a slogan but I believe Max would say: "need more space"! :)

[@MaxSoloMusic]

Haha, I'm afraid SMG is already taken by Mr. Glenn Fricker. Feel free to leave the comment above on guitar manufacturers' social media, that might help :)

[@artioms544]

Гранд аудиториум более сбалансирован во всем ,в низких чистотах и высоких а дрэдноут больше к низким ноткам ,басовым

[@antonz.8637]

Угу, в миксе разницы не слышно. Как звучит гитара сама по себе, то тут мне больше понравилась clg-650sm: звук более томный. Дредноут, мне кажется, плосковат и более верхаст.

[@aluminoter]

in auditorium more collected sound, and some prety then dred

[@spiritzweispirit1st638]

Thank you, Cool video! If that battery pack is made from 'cordura' a canvas type material? Its goin to eat the bass tones, from porous texture, some might say, that's not of sizeable concern? It doesn't take much to change the delicate environment, of an acoustic guitar!😶🖖

[@bobbyr]

Internal Fishmans sound like sadness. I see the convenience of having them but still I never heard any that sound good.

[@phackwer]

Thanks, this helped me to decide (you can tell your sponsors, hehehe). I will order all. :-D Big help on decision, no? hahahaha.

[@viktor099]

Brilliant! Thanks.

[@djordjecolic5818]

Awesome video man! U did one awesome comparison! Will u maybe do Orangewood guitars Sage vs Hudson ?

[@domingogarroramos8223]

Las guitarras electroacusticas Harley Benton son intocables. Ni calidad precio ni gritas.

[@positivevibration7145]

Great vid, Just pinch that dread-note 🤪

[@petermnogoznaev5530]

Ground auditorium sounds better it is more balanced

[@pmcommando]

I dont like the composite fretboard, almost feels plastic in a way

[@mikefinley4367]

in my opinion you never switched guitars but made it appear you did with the camera.Innother words you used one to record and then put on a act.

[@KajLind]

Oh jeah

[@karl-wilhelmschreitz8549]

sorry, later on you changed that procedure

[@Yogi231faza]

Super 🇵🇱🧐🤗

[@sovicz4799]

Excellent review, shitty guitars. Would pick neither of those two. Any of beginner Yamahas will sound far better than this.

[@algreen1231]

they sound identical to my JVC headphones. I found the grand aesthetically more pleasing.

[@marconardelli]

And they also perform better when you use string gauges for men instead of feminine strings.

[@marconardelli]

as long as you are not on your period of course!