Harley Benton Shakes Up Budget Gear Market with Hand-Aged HA62 and LA62 Guitar Series
Harley Benton launches HA62 and LA62 hand-aged guitar and bass series with factory relic finishes for under €250, challenging premium road-worn offerings.
Harley Benton brings factory "Heavy" and "Light" relic finishes to ST, T, Offset, and Bass models for under €250, directly challenging high-end road-worn offerings.
Factory-aged and "relic'd" guitars have grown from a niche Fender Custom Shop experiment into one of the most dominant trends in the guitar industry. While some players prefer breaking in an instrument through decades of touring, many want the broken-in feel, checking lacquer, and battle-worn aesthetic straight out of the box.
Harley Benton is democratizing that aesthetic with the launch of its HA62 ("Heavy Aging") and LA62 ("Light Aging") series. Priced at just €249, these instruments deliver hand-distressed vintage visuals at a fraction of the cost of traditional relic models.
How Harley Benton’s HA62 & LA62 Compare to Market Relics
Thomann’s house brand has just launched a range of hand-aged guitars and basses that will make players stop and look. These new models offer relic-style instruments and a price point which cannot be ignored.
To understand why this release is creating noise, it helps to look at where artificially aged guitars currently sit in the market:
- Fender Custom Shop Relic Series ($4,500 – $7,000+): The gold standard of nitrocellulose lacquer checking, hand-worn neck backs, and meticulous historical accuracy.
- Fender Vintera Road Worn Series ($1,200 – $1,500): Mid-tier nitro-finished instruments designed to recreate stage-worn 1950s and ’60s models.
- Vintage ICON Series ($450 – $600): Designed by Trevor Wilkinson, previously one of the few entry points for factory-distressed poly/satin budget guitars.
- Harley Benton HA62 / LA62 Series (€249 / ~$270): Breaks new ground by offering hand-applied aging, caramelized maple necks, and Alnico 5 pickups in a sub-€300 price bracket.
Because each guitar in the 62 Series is aged by hand, no two instruments feature the exact same scratch patterns or wear spots—a rare feature at this price level.
The Lineup: ST, T-Style, Offsets, and Basses
ST-Style Models: Versatile Workhorses
Aimed at generalists and classic rock players, the ST-style HA62 and LA62 models feature:
- Body & Neck: Solid alder body paired with a bolt-on Canadian caramelized maple neck and fingerboard (C-profile).
- Electronics & Hardware: Three ISOLA VT-ST Alnico 5 single-coil pickups and a vintage-style tremolo bridge.
- Finishes: Black and 3-Tone Sunburst (available in both Heavy Aged and Light Aged treatments).
T-Style and JA-Style: Indie & Alternative Vibe
For players leaning into indie, surf, or grunge aesthetics:
- T-Style: Finished in retro Lake Placid Blue and Green Light. Equipped with a classic T-style bridge featuring brass saddles (TB01) and ISOLA VT-TE Alnico 5 pickups (neck and bridge).
- JA-Style Offsets: Feature a Tune-O-Matic bridge and ISOLA CL-JM Alnico 5 single coils. Available in Shell Pink and a multi-layer "Candy Apple over Sunburst" finish—simulating a guitar that was painted over in the factory decades ago, with the top coat now wearing away to reveal the sunburst underneath.
P-Bass and JB-Bass Models
Bassists aren't left out of the road-worn aesthetic:
- P-Bass Variants: Offered in Black and Olympic White with a traditional split single-coil pickup setup and a standard 34-inch scale length.
- JB-Bass Variants: Available in 3-Tone Sunburst and a dual-layer Lake Placid Blue over Sunburst finish, offered in both HA and LA wear patterns.
Market Comparison Overview
| Series | Approx. Price | Aging Intensity | Neck Treatment | Pickups |
| Harley Benton HA62 / LA62 | €249 (~$270) | Light (LA) & Heavy (HA) | Caramelized Canadian Maple | ISOLA Alnico 5 Single-Coils |
| Vintage ICON Series | ~$480 – $600 | Medium / Heavy | Hard Rock Maple | Wilkinson WVC Humbuckers / Single-Coils |
| Fender Vintera Road Worn | ~$1,300 | Light to Moderate | Nitro-Finished Maple / Pau Ferro | Fender Pure Vintage Single-Coils |
For beginners looking for a distinctive stage instrument or experienced modders seeking an affordable road-worn platform, the HA62 and LA62 series offer high vintage appeal at a low cost.
- +Hand-aged finish gives each guitar unique character
- +Priced at €249, undercutting premium relic brands by thousands
- +Caramelized maple neck adds vintage feel and appearance
- +Alnico 5 pickups deliver classic single-coil tone
- +Multiple body styles (ST, T, offset, bass) accommodate different genres
- −Hand-aging means cosmetic inconsistency between units (may be pro or con depending on preference)
- −Limited finish options compared to custom shop competitors
- −Mass-produced aged aesthetic vs. authentic road wear
What is the price of the Harley Benton HA62 and LA62 series?
Both the HA62 (Heavy Aging) and LA62 (Light Aging) models are priced at €249, approximately $270 USD. This makes them significantly cheaper than comparable relic guitars from Fender Custom Shop ($4,500+) or Vintera Road Worn ($1,200–$1,500).
Are the hand-aged finishes on each guitar unique?
Yes. Because each guitar in the 62 Series is aged by hand, no two instruments feature the exact same scratch patterns or wear spots—a rare feature at this price level. This means each guitar has individualized character from the factory.
What pickup types are used in the HA62 and LA62 series?
The series uses ISOLA Alnico 5 single-coil pickups across all models: VT-ST for ST-style guitars, VT-TE for T-style guitars, and CL-JM for offset models. These are proprietary pickups designed for vintage tone.
What body and neck materials are used?
The guitars feature solid alder bodies paired with bolt-on Canadian caramelized maple necks and fingerboards in a C-profile. The caramelized treatment gives the neck a vintage appearance and feel.
