Thoughts on "the truth inside Harley Benton" video?

Did you see this video? I did and found it interesting.

https://youtu.be/85SnZueP6eM

My immediate thought is that I would like this same test to be done on Tele style guitars from HB and Squire, to see if there is a difference.

Secondly I think Les Paul style guitars are a bit more complex to build compared to Tele or strat style, so I think it should not be such a problem on those guitars.

Still, it is worrying a bit, because you can tell the quality of the body wood is abysmal, and this guitar honestly seems like garbage material wise... so if I had ideas about getting an HB, i would likely not get it after seeing this video, which is a refreshing take after having seen so many videos praising HB.

Thoughts?

5 points · 12 comments · view on lemmy.world

12 Comments

Jobe@feddit.org · 9 pts · 14d (2 replies)

Which video?

baronvonj@piefed.social · 3 pts · 14d (1 reply)
akmur@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 14d

Sorry forgot to add the link, edited the post

baronvonj@piefed.social · 4 pts · 14d

The moisture content he measured after cutting it up was pretty crazy.

Jobe@feddit.org · 4 pts · 14d (2 replies)

After having seen it, I wouldn't put too much stock into it. What really matters is how a guitar sounds, and that video didn't have a lot to say about that at all. The part where he played it sounded like camera audio, so not a basis to judge sound on, really. The pickup thing is interesting, but Thomann will just send you a new guitar for any reason if you send it back iirc.
Materials seem like what you'd expect for a 300€ guitar and don't really affect sound anyway. If you're not in Europe, it's a different story with import fees etc and you should probably get something else.

akmur@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13d (1 reply)

i tend to agree although the thing he said about the neck not being straight is worrying. but it is true Thomann would have replaced the guitar no problem.

baronvonj@piefed.social · 2 pts · 13d

Dylan does have a history of Harley Benton haterade, in general. I agree with comments on the video about moisture testing other high price point guitars to give some legitimacy to that.

rugburn@fedinsfw.app · 2 pts · 14d (1 reply)

After watching the video, I more or less agree, especially when it comes to a beginner guitar - if you're fighting moisture problems and the guitar setup is unpredictable every time you pick it up, you'll lose interest quickly as a beginner, or learn bad technique to compensate. Any beginners I talk to, ill generally steer them towards an epiphone, low end strat / tele (will i be sued by Fender for typing that?) or something used along the ibanez/Washburn vein.

akmur@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 14d

Yes I agree, I usually would recommend an Ibanez too

pH3ra@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 10d

When it comes to Harley Benton, especially the cheaper models, I believe it's a bit hit/miss: some instruments had one or more quality issues during the assembly chain, others are crazy in terms of value for money.
I have a TE-62 I bought 4 years ago and never had huge problems in the wood department, except maybe the need to adjust the truss rod a couple times instead of once during seasonal changes.
I also have a JB-20 bass I got second hand and that never had a problem either.
I don't know how much difference there would be with a Squier of the same price level (e.g. the Bullet/Sonic range) as I never owned one, but basing my opinion solely on customer ratings I'd say HB is received slightly better.

wildflower@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 14d (1 reply)

Haven't seen the video, but I have tried both the low and high end HB guitars, and the low end are just crap, the high end are better than a Fender Mex or a Squire (IMO).

akmur@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 14d

What's a high end HB? The fusion?