Buy This NOT That | Jackson JS32 DKAM vs. Harley Benton Fusion-III FR

In this episode of Buy This NOT That we take a look at some budget guitar options! The Jackson JS32 DKAM matches up pretty nicely with the Harley Benton Fusion-III FR. Which one will win??
Licensed Trem/Floyd Video: • What Are LICENSED Floy...
If you like the content and wanna support a Vet, you can buy the team a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/nikroumellj
-CONNECT ON SOCIAL-
Follow me on TikTok!
vm.tiktok.com/ZM8bXabn3/
Follow me on Instagram!
reelCYzApF...
-AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS-
My Guitar Gear:
The Guitar Cables I Use: amzn.to/3LbHaBO
The Guitar Strings I Use: amzn.to/3GpyAvz
The Guitar Strings I Use: amzn.to/3gtopvs
The Picks I Use: amzn.to/3gtcdeq
My Favorite Pick-ups: amzn.to/3LapTJf
Fretboard Cleaner/Oil: amzn.to/3J6hgO5
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2: amzn.to/3AYzDBP
My Camera Gear:
Sony ZV-E10 Camera: amzn.to/3LbG74Q
Memory Card: amzn.to/3GC0chq
Govee Multi-Color Bluetooth Lightbulb: amzn.to/3rvlE3l
Govee Smart Light Bars: amzn.to/34EpMFa
Lav Mic for IPhone: amzn.to/3Gux1fW
Lav Mic for Camera: amzn.to/3rrTm9N
LED Lights Desktop: amzn.to/3rqvRxQ
Tripods: amzn.to/3uzs3wl
My Coffee:
Mayorga Mayan Blend: amzn.to/3ouhJ4J
Have a guitar history idea/request? Fill out our Google Form!
forms.gle/eoWMABryoWjfmfwF7
Goals:
We are a veteran ran channel and love providing for our community. We have the goal of growing the channel and business to someday be able to provide free gear and guitars to military and their families. We would also like to gear-up military recreation centers with awesome guitars and music equipment! If you want to help us out that would be greatly appreciated!
Brought to you by my Sponsor the DROP strap!
/ @dropstrapofficial41
Let me know what you think in the comments! Also, please subscribe if you like the content and want to see more guitar history!! Thank you!
#harleybenton #jacksonguitars #floydrose #harleybentonfusion #jacksondinky #jacksonsoloist #floydrose1000 #licensedfloydrose

[@kenjo.gitarero]

I think the stainless steel frets and roasted maple neck on the Harley Benton are also a huge plus over the Jackson

[@nikaxeguitar]

I totally agree Ken. Benton does this a lot wit their guitars. It’s a strong plus for a budget brand

[@Alfredo78666]

On one side you have better tuners, stainless frets and a superior bridge, man we've got a clear winner!

[@nikaxeguitar]

True true

[@douglascarneiro2881]

Another cool video Nik, very helpful. Appreciate it! Keep it up and looking forward to next ones. I'd love to see an episode about 7-8 strings guitar

[@alexanderholden82]

I am a lefty and purchased a Jackson three years ago, being a lefty I have a lot of experience playing cheaper guitars... despite being made in China my js32 dinky smashes my Indonesian Ibanez, korean Epiphone and Mexican strat in terms of overall playability, tone and build quality. I've honestly had zero issues with the Jackson Branded Floyd Rose, all they are is rebranded floyd rose specials out of Korea , they even have the FR logo stamped on the sustain block. The neck and fretwork was absolutely perfect and it honestly has better sustain than my mexican alder strat despite being a poplar body stock. I swapped out my bridge pickup for a Duncan distortion and switched out the alpha pots for full size CTS, it will probably be getting a Duncan '59 in the neck soon. The Jackson pickups really are pretty good though, what I got with a Duncan Distortion upgrade was just a bit of a fatter tone with a tighter low-end, the Jackson pickups sound a lot like a Duncan JB with that boosted mid-range just thinner and less compressed... But I will say that the Duncan Distortion kind of thickened up the overall tonality of the guitar making it a whole other animal.. in short the Jackson Dinky is a great base for customizing to your liking. I will personally take a Jackson neck over anyting else as well.

[@JamesPetroff]

My guess is the Dinky's neck is waaaaaaay better than the Harley Benton. And that makes it definitively better. Some people say the neck is THE most important aspect of a guitar.

[@theguitargrappler9352]

Surprisingly, the HB neck is much better. The roasted maple is very high quality.

[@carlosclaptrix]

I agree! I love the wizard necks of Ibanez, but the HB necks are just too thick for me!

[@alexanderholden82]

The Jackson compound radius necks are pure butter... as I mentioned in my comment on this thread... my Chinese Jackson Dinky smashes my Indonesian Ibanez, Mexican Strat and even my Korean mahogany Epiphone and once I put in a Duncan distortion on the bridge, there was no contest.

[@ryant3600]

In this price point you get way more for the price w/ the HB Fusion. If Jackson, Ibanez or Charvel sold a guitar w/ everything it comes with it would be around the 700-1200 USD price point. I talked to a guy that works in production for Floyd Rose in German and he told straight out, only difference between the OFR German made and the 1000's is that the 1000s are outsourced for guitar manufacturers that want to offer the Floyd, it is made of the exact same metals and materials as the German made floyds unlike the Specials and the licensed Floyds, so saying it's just a step above the licensed is sort misleading. It's a huge step up. I have guitars that were over 1000 USD that come w/ Floyd 1000s. The Floyd 1000 costs around 200-250 each. So saying you'll swap it out for what? I mean I did take a Floyd 1000 off of one of my Jackson soloists, and put in a Gotoh, just cause I wanted black hardware on it and i had the gotoh laying around. I did put the 1000 I took off which was the smoked chrome and put it on my Ibanez Jem Jr. Anyway, Floyd Rose Specials would just be a step up. As for saying the HB doesn't look all "shreddy" it has more of a strat look. You mean looks a lot like those shreddy charvel and Shurs.. Which is what these are based off. Also a step up from China is Korea a step up from Korea is Mexico and Indonesia.. you're step ups are killing me bro. Their leaps not steps.

[@nikaxeguitar]

Thanks for stopping by Ryan!! I appreciate your support

[@vitobratta_WL]

Agreed, for $400 and $330 used there is not a better guitar, its just not possible to buy any guitar with the harley benton specs for such a low price, I own the guitar and the pickups are great, like every other pickups, the bridge does not go out of tune and nothing needs replacing what soever, I think he's just a jackson fan

[@vmathias2023]

I think you meant Korea is a step up from Indonesia. Korean made guitars are every bit as good as Japan of 10 years ago. I have a Korean made Schecter solo 6 that is flawless.

[@ryant3600]

@@vmathias2023 so you have one Korean made guitar and that makes you think Korean made is better? Korean made is getting better, but lets be real they're pretty much all made by Cort to whatever specs the brand is calling for. Korea is where brands had their entry level/cheaper lines made, Indo was where their mid level and import signatures are made. Still that way for the most part but I've had excellent made guitars from Korea and China and I've had a couple higher end Indo guitars that needed a lot of work out of the box, but that's rare, usually it's the other way around..

[@vmathias2023]

I own guitars from Indo and Korea. Look at Schecter for example. Their higher end pricier guitars are Korean, and their more budget lines are Indo. I am not saying Indo are not good, and I do believe it depends on specs. I have owned a plethora of higher end US and Japanese made guitars, and my Korean made Schecter sits right there with them. I believe Korea holds a slight edge in quality. Show me an Indonesian guitar as good as a newer Schecter solo 2.

[@TheOffroy]

Me has solucionado mis dudas sobre estas guitarras,buen video,felicidades!

[@justjesse3640]

Ive got a hb explorer modern coming soon but between these I'd take the Jackson. So much great metal made on Jackson's. Great vid man thx

[@sebsteezy]

Bought their somewhat recent Harley Benton Fusion-III with EMG's and its absolutely amazing for metal. i keep mine in drop C and its just a beauty

[@Koiraves1]

Wish they had a floyd version of that

[@johndesrosier1672]

​@OhMatuZ I think they will eventually be based on the bridge spacing. It appears designed to be able to accommodate a Floyd.

[@juliodefreitas157]

Awesome video..Thank you for sharing your tips ❤❤❤

[@nonya5475]

Thanks man. I learned that to play good I have to look good. But I am already good so I must already look good. Feels good man

[@nikaxeguitar]

Hahaha awesome 👍🏼

[@joedavis8481]

I just started ordering multiple Harley Bentons so the shipping is cut in half 🎸🤘🍻

[@nikaxeguitar]

Now this is a smart man!! Way to go Joe!

[@tonchuazkarreta1262]

I want to thank The Axe a lot!! I bought the Harley Benton Fusión III following your comments and couldnt be Happier!!! Thanks a lot!!

[@nikaxeguitar]

Hell yeah dude!!!!

[@alanswanson7515]

Sound comparison would have helpful.

[@homer1268]

great video - I've been eyeballing HB's for a little while now and have been somewhat interested

[@idealmethod]

I took a gamble on a cheap guitar bought the jackson js22, it was so good a year later I ordered the jackson js32. The jackson has heritage and amazing quality control, the jackson has graphite reinforced neck, its the same as the wizard neck! the arch top body is sooo comfy ( I always avoided the archtops) the pick ups are banging tuned to jackson perfection. over all if you want to buy a winner you buy any jackson js22/32. for £150-£250 sherddy metal guitars its this jackson, then kramer strat , then harley benton. On Paper HB sound good, but Jackson has heritage and HB feedback is often hit or miss. you dont want to buy a miss! you want a garanteed winner, that looks good too.

[@carlosclaptrix]

I love to play thin and rather flat necks like Ibanez' wizard or Cort. I guess the neck of the Jackson might come close to that. Too bad Harley Benton doesn't produce this kind of neck, I would really immediately buy a Fusion-III. I live an hour from Thomann so I could even pick it up there.

[@joshuasanchez7270]

I have the Jackson Dinky, and the neck feels amazing. I've always liked Jackson, and although the trem is Floyd Rose licensed, the guitar doesn't let down. It is a great deal for the price. BUT, I've also heard the Harley Benton Fusion. The variety of tones you get, the fact that it comes with the splitting, the Floyd Rose 1000, AND the price are a HUGE plus. If the Dinky came with a Floyd Rose 1000, it would be up in the $800 - $1000 price range or more. So, personally, I'll give it to the Haley Benton.

[@mpmonzon]

great comparison!!! Can you compare thr Jackson to a LTD MH-250 ?Thanks!!

[@mikescott5655]

Well I have last years model of the JS32 in Neon Orange, as you said I put a set of Duncan’s in it & up graded the term to a Gotoh. I was still having a little tuning problem & noticed all my other high end guitars with Floyd’s had string retainers after the locking nut, soooo I bought a retainer & problem solved 🤘🏻

[@nikaxeguitar]

Mike, GLad that fixed the issue!

[@caseybaldwin4282]

I did the same. Very stable.. Jackson needs to upgrade there design for the string break. The angle isn't refined.

[@richardjones2811]

Why would that make a difference if the strings are locked at the nut?

[@vitobratta_WL]

@@richardjones2811 because when you lock down the nut without the string retainer you HAVE TO retune using the fine tuners and you gotta do alot of it, I've tried with and without retainers and the retainers just make it 10x more stable

[@GlorifyGodInEverything]

I've got the js 32 in natural wood. The stock floyd on that guitar..... problems upon problems. Swapped it out for an actual floyd rose but there is a problem doing that, there is a mounting plate in the cavity that does not allow you to sit the floyd down far enough so you will have super high string action, your strings go out of tune because the bridge isn't floating (it's bottomed out) so if you have the guitar all tuned up and do a dive bomb, it will actually cause the knife edges to move on the studs/posts throwing the guitar out of tune because it will not return to zero. That mounting plate has to be removed and it's a pain because it's super stuck and has to be pressed out like a bearing, once it's out and you start putting in actual floyd hardware, that is also sketchy because you can damage the wood. The wood dents very very easily.... Other than that, the neck is sweet, and I swapped in all better hardware and went for some budget gfs crunchy rails which really woke up the guitar playing through a tube amp. Might be getting the Amarok series from Harley Benton next, I also want to try one of their vintage series strat guitars when i'm not playing ear melting metal lol.

[@AmerikkkaGuitars]

Stainless steel is a huge upgrade. Think I'm gonna get the harley but schecter looks so awesome, but I have to think with my head.

[@czt1dave]

Shipping for HB is pretty pricey, but I've found that you can get multiple guitars from them for the one shipping price of $70. You could get a couple of friends and pool your $ together to buy a couple of guitars on one order to save on shipping!

[@therifflair724]

HB neck thickness? Thinnish D like Charvel or Kramer? or tele or thick C strat?

[@caseybaldwin4282]

Have a JS 32 dka put a EVH Floyd Rose I got off of stratosphere.Dragonfire Screamers. This before the H.B. ..😎🤘

[@krogwaugh]

Too bad Guitar Center's Mitchell brand couldn't change the industry like HB and Thomann are doing.

[@tone6827]

jackson js series di js32 dka How is the Flayd Rose system? What are the pros and cons? I'd like to know.

[@tomaslopez2940]

Should've settled which is better by playing them...

[@TruthSurge]

It's 2022. Why is anyone still calling the vibrato bar system a tremolo system??? tremolo is a change in volume, vibrato is a change in pitch. cmon. 2022? Anyway, interesting comparison.

[@nikaxeguitar]

Ah Man good point Sir. Thanks for that info.

[@TruthSurge]

@@nikaxeguitar :) I'm like a grammar Nazi but for guitar. hehe

[@nikaxeguitar]

Lol. No worries my man.

[@TruthSurge]

@@nikaxeguitar ya. I'm just watching random vids on YT at night killing time. I dabble on guitar once in a while and sometimes I just watch some guitar based vids. I waste my life watching "how to play fast" vids. Why? I don't know. It's like watching how you will never achieve it over and over. hahahah anyway, take it easy!!!!

[@TruthSurge]

@@nikaxeguitar I think I stumbled on your vid cuz I watched some reviews of this Harley Benton guitar and so yours popped up. Sounds like a nice guitar for the money. anyway, thanks!!

[@darkestfugue]

id go with the harley for the stainless steel frets alone, im a gigging musician, within months i have fret wear, ss frets it eliminates that problem, harley all the way for me,

[@nikaxeguitar]

Yep I hear that man!

[@carlosclaptrix]

Do you get along with the bigger neck profile?

[@darkestfugue]

@@carlosclaptrix Its not that big, but id like it if the fretboard was a bit wider, i have 2 fusions the neck on the ebony fretboard version fits my hand better

[@davidmartinez927]

Don't know about the Fusion, but I have a JS24 DKAM with roasted maple neck and a Harley Benton SC Custom II. The Jackson is pretty high level, I think it's on par with my 40th anniversary Squier Strat, maybe a little worse because of the plastic nut or tuners (which are functional, but not great), nothing that you can't change because the rest of the guitar is surprisingly good. And the Harley benton, which isn't the fusion (mine the sc custom II) is another excelent guitar, really surprised, looks quality (again, nut is probably the worst part, and maybe the neck pickup wich is a little boring), but both guitars in terms of construction, feeling, necks, quality perceived etc are very on high level, so, i don't doubt that Fusion is something like too.

[@rolfwahl7132]

Was do you hesitate so mich?

[@iwannn]

Have you heard of Soloking guitars? Seems like another affordable brand with great parts for the price

[@nikaxeguitar]

I haven’t ! I’ll check em out!

[@sbrave]

Thinking hard about that purple burst Fusion III, replacing the bridge PU with a Duncan JB and it would make a great guitar for gigs. Biggest complaint seems to be the frets, but maybe a after a fret level, they're ok?

[@mrjoe9308]

For the same price you can found japanese jacksons on the second hand market with quality pickups and hardware :) :)

[@9StickNate]

I tend to play my Jackson a little more when hitting higher notes or Metal.

[@kaskalo2]

I dare some1 explain to me why the hell are tuners important when having floyd and locking nut.

[@georgestone3957]

Locking tuners are great at saving time during string changes(Time=$). And daring someone to give you an explanation makes you look like a fool

[@onomado]

I'm the new owner of a HB HH Tele, and I just can't put it down! It sits among my high end guitars, like a USA PRS, Charvel San Dimas pro mod, and a Japan ESP eclipse... WTF is going on at Thomann?? I have 4 more HBs in the shopping cart already... Guess what everyone's getting for Christmas?? 😏😎🤘

[@nikaxeguitar]

Yeah man! My HH Tele (I feel) was constructed so well! It’s hard to look at name brands anymore haha

[@kenpg31]

Ya everyone is getting the non Harley Benton guitars for Christmas lol I bought the fusion 3 roasted Maple neck with a FR and the HH Tele and i love both guitars. Awsome guitars for the money.

[@onomado]

@@kenpg31 just remember to ask Thomann for the stockings in a guitar size!!

[@mike5177]

I'm have 3 HBs and they are all amazing

[@ondrashin]

i'm considering buying the jackson js 32 warrior, because of the tremolo and the warrior look, i just love the way the guitar looks, and i'm a big wes borland fan and he used to play on warriors, what do you think about it?

[@053180jlove]

I have the HB Fusion with a Floyd Rose 1000. That will destroy the js 32. It's a far better buy

[@ondrashin]

@@053180jlove well, i bought the warrior 3 months ago, already i can see, that the floyd got kinda wiggly and it's not that good anymore, so the trem isn't a good deal in low end jacksons, but i don't regret it, because the warrior look is still something i really enjoy. In the future, i'll upgrade the guitar with floyd rose 1000 and maybe new bridge pickup

[@053180jlove]

@@ondrashin I also like the warriors shape. I considered buying a 90's jackson pro warrior about 4 months ago but for what the guy was asking I could've bought a usa warrior. The HB is probably the best value out there. Ofc it doesn't hold its own to my SL2H but it's as good as any import for 500-1k guitars out there

[@Ratselmeister]

The Harley Benton now is 315 EUR with Bag, which is equal to 315 USD.

[@unmitigated-claustrophobia]

Pretty sure the dinky has a Japanese made neck. At least the one I owned did. 2005 or something like that.

[@iskandarchiptoh502]

Have u heard of the custom guitar brand, Ran guitar? they are great as many of the signature series like jeff waters, pat o brien and such...

[@nikaxeguitar]

I have not! Looking into them now. Appreciate the insight.

[@joshblank1]

No demo?

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

Having played a few JS32 guitars, I'll never buy one, myself. I'm gonna have to check out that Harley Benton, though.

[@nikaxeguitar]

Kaine. The HB’s do seem like a good deal. The only bummer is it is an online company and you cant really go to a shop to try one out. Otherwise, it seems like a deal

[@Rikardoz]

As an owner of JS32 DKA-M I have to agree :) Neck feels a bit more to my taste than Super Wizard Prestige neck in my Ibanez. But the tremolo is horrible. There seems to be some kind of a "bump" in the fine tuners which always happens to be just in the wrong spot and is quite hard to get to correct pitch. I also replaced pickups with EMGs, but there was not a big difference. Maybe I just need to let this one go :D

[@alexanderholden82]

​​@@Rikardozthat's a bummer, I am three years in with my Lefty Jackson Dinky and I have had zero issues with the Jackson branded Floyd Rose tremolo and it gets played nearly every day and I seriously have to never tune it up and that thing gets banned all to hell and back. As far as the pickups go, The Jacksons are actually really good but I swapped out my bridge with a Duncan Distortion and it made a huge difference with fattening of the overall tone and tightening up low-end... I'm personally not a huge fan of actives but I guarantee if you were to swap those for a Duncan JB or distortion you would see a difference in the tone of that guitar.

[@Rikardoz]

@@alexanderholden82Yeah, those were my first and propably last active pickups :D I did try also Super Distortion in the bridge position and it sounday way better. But since then, I have sold both the EMGs and JS32 and have acquired two more guitars: Squier Telecaster Deluxe and Ibanez Jem Jr. which are more suitable to me :)

[@alexanderholden82]

@@Rikardoz I hear that, for me to Jackson pinkies necklace Worth's told me that my hands perfectly... and also to be fair in the world of left-handed guitars, I own a Korean mahogany Epiphone Les Paul, Mexican Stratocaster and Indonesian Ibanez and honestly after the few upgrades I made... The Jackson Dinky smashes all 3 in tone, playability and build quality... so much so that I actually sold my Mexican strat which on paper should be the best of all four guitars. Queen my mahogany Epiphone and Basswood Ibanez.. I actually like the Ibanez better with playability but the Epiphone is warmer and thicker. The Epiphone lacks a lot of high-end though, I've often wondered what a super distortion would do to help brighten it. I've been wanting to revamp my Ibanez but on the fence about what bridge pickup will bring out the best of it.

[@asdqwe4427]

If you’re gonna change a lot of the hardware, it’s no longer a budget guitar.

[@asdqwe4427]

@Dude my point is more that most people looking for a budget guitar do so because they don't want to spend a lot of money. But it is probably a good idea to keep upgradeability in mind, like you say. Even though they probably won't change anything for some time

[@alexanderholden82]

No but Hardware gets changed out eventually from wear and tear, and I know a lot of musicians you change our Hardware on very expensive instruments... Budget guitars like Jackson make great foundations for modifying to your liking... but the Chinese Jackson dinky is seriously great out-of-the-box, and they have the best stock pickups I've ever played, and I have had zero issues with the Jackson Branded Floyd Rose even after three years of daily playing.

[@ah-rr1lk]

How's the Harley compare to the Ibanez wizard 3

[@nikaxeguitar]

More like a Strat neck. It’s still fast but doesn’t have the dynamics like the wizard

[@soc2902]

Very similar to a G&L 12” radius medium C.

[@kenpg31]

Check out Wolf guitars and sire guitars they are also a great bang for your buck.

[@kenpg31]

AIO Wolf Guitars

[@nikaxeguitar]

Oh man!! I will! Thanks for letting me know

[@jayschulz8060]

Looks that Jackson has should not equate playable and sound

[@richardjones2811]

Buy cheap buy twice.

[@mike5177]

Of course HB is better. They are becoming a big dog real quick.

[@eoinjames4018]

Harley benton all day why would you put $300 or €400 into a guitar that's still an overpriced Chinese built guitar worth to much already..paying for the name