Harley Benton SC Special Hybrid: The Ultimate P90 & Humbucker Single-Cut?
Harley Benton SC Special Hybrid pairs P90 and humbucker pickups for versatile vintage-modern tones. Okoume body, roasted maple neck, coil split.
Harley Benton is once again expanding its highly popular Vintage Series with the launch of the SC Special Hybrid. Billed as the direct successor to the fan-favorite SC Special, this new single-cut electric guitar bridges the gap between gritty vintage bite and modern high-output roar by offering one of the most versatile pickup combinations in the guitar world: a P90 in the neck and a humbucker in the bridge.
P90 Meets Humbucker for Maximum Versatility
The original SCs gave us dual humbuckers, and the SC-Specials delivered the classic dual-P90 experience. The SC Special Hybrid brings the best of both worlds to a single instrument.
This latest Harley Benton model looks suspiciously similar to the Nik Huber Krautster II. Just at a fraction of the cost of those boutique hand-built guitars.
In the neck position, you'll find an Isola CL-P90 Alnico 5 pickup, delivering that unmistakable gritty bark and warm articulation that single-coil purists love. Down in the bridge, the guitar is armed with an Isola VT-500CR Alnico 5 humbucker, ready to back up your riffs with a powerful, thick roar.
To take versatility a step further, Harley Benton has included a push/pull coil split on the master volume control. This allows players to split the bridge humbucker into a true single-coil, serving up spankier, snappier tones on demand. Paired with the standard 3-way toggle switch, this guitar covers an incredibly wide tonal spectrum, making it a true workhorse for rock, blues, and beyond.
Vintage Inspiration, Modern Playability
While the SC-Custom III series leans into modern aesthetics, the SC Special Hybrid proudly wears its vintage inspiration on its sleeve.
The foundation of the guitar is a lightweight, resonant Okoume body finished in a smooth satin. Attached via a classic set-neck construction is a Canadian medium-roasted maple neck carved into a comfortable "C" profile. With a thickness of 20mm at the 1st fret and 23mm at the 12th, it strikes the perfect middle ground—substantial enough for chording, yet fast enough for lead work.
The neck is topped with a classic rosewood fingerboard, featuring a 12-inch (305 mm) radius and 22 medium jumbo nickel frets, ensuring effortless bending and a familiar playing feel.
Road-Ready Hardware & Finishes
Harley Benton hasn't skimped on the hardware. Designed to be a gig-ready rock machine, the guitar features a dependable chrome wraparound bridge for maximum resonance and sustain. Up at the headstock, HB locking tuners paired with a 42mm graphite nut ensure tuning stability and make string changes a breeze.
The SC Special Hybrid comes strung out of the box with Harley Benton HQS strings (.010–.046) and is available in four striking finishes, all complemented by a 3-ply pickguard:
- Vintage White Satin
- Smoke Black Satin
- Sherwood Green Metallic Satin
- Maya Gold Satin
Full Specifications: Harley Benton SC-Special Hybrid
- Body: Okoume
- Neck: Canadian medium-roasted maple (Set-in)
- Neck Profile: C (20mm at 1st fret, 23mm at 12th fret)
- Fingerboard: Rosewood with dot inlays
- Fingerboard Radius: 305 mm (12”)
- Frets: 22 medium jumbo nickel (2.7 mm)
- Scale Length: 628 mm
- Nut: Graphite (42 mm width)
- Truss Rod: Double action
- Pickups: Isola CL-P90 Black N Alnico 5 (Neck) & Isola VT-500CR Chrome Alnico 5 Humbucker (Bridge)
- Controls: 1x Volume (push/pull coil split), 1x Tone, 3-way switch
- Hardware: Chrome
- Bridge: Wraparound
- Tuners: HB locking tuners
- Pickguard: 3-ply
- +P90 and humbucker combination offers exceptional tonal versatility
- +Push/pull coil split on master volume adds single-coil snap
- +Roasted maple neck and rosewood fingerboard for classic playability
- +Chrome wraparound bridge maximizes resonance and sustain
- +Locking tuners ensure excellent tuning stability
- +Set-neck construction provides warmth and sustain
- +Four attractive satin finishes with 3-ply pickguard
What pickups does the Harley Benton SC Special Hybrid have?
The guitar features an Isola CL-P90 Alnico 5 pickup in the neck position delivering gritty bark and warmth, paired with an Isola VT-500CR Alnico 5 humbucker in the bridge. A push/pull coil split on the master volume lets you split the bridge humbucker into a true single-coil for snappier tones.
What wood is the Harley Benton SC Special Hybrid body made from?
The body is made from okoume, finished in a smooth satin. The neck is constructed from Canadian medium-roasted maple in a set-in design, carved into a comfortable C profile. The fingerboard is rosewood with a 12-inch radius.
Is the Harley Benton SC Special Hybrid good for rock and blues?
Yes. The P90 and humbucker combination delivers both gritty vintage bite and modern high-output power, making it a versatile workhorse for rock and blues. The coil split adds additional tonal flexibility, covering an incredibly wide spectrum.
What are the neck dimensions on the SC Special Hybrid?
The neck is 20mm thick at the 1st fret and 23mm at the 12th fret, striking a balance between substantial chording feel and fast lead work. It features a 305mm (12-inch) radius and 22 medium jumbo nickel frets.
Keep browsing
Get this stuff first.
Leaks, deals and reviews in your inbox, once a week. No spam, just gear.