Harley Benton ST Modern: A Budget-Friendly HSS Strat Alternative
Harley Benton ST Modern: Affordable Stratocaster-style guitar with poplar body, roasted maple neck, and HSS pickup configuration.
The Harley Benton ST Modern series offers an affordable entry point into the world of Stratocaster-style guitars. Despite their budget-friendly price tag, these guitars boast impressive features and build quality, making them an excellent choice for beginners and experienced players.
Modern - Body and Neck
The ST Modern features a poplar body known for its balanced tone and lightweight construction. The neck is made from roasted Canadian maple, offering excellent stability and a smooth playing feel. The fretboard is crafted from laurel, a tonewood that provides a bright and articulate sound.
A sculpted heel offers better upper fret access, making these models great for players of all levels. They are also available on launch with left-handed options for some finishes.
Finish Options
Available in Sea Foam Green, Shell Pink Gloss, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White, Black, Flame Bengal Burst, and Flame Blue Burst finishes.
The Burst finishes also have bound edges, so they look pretty classy.
Hardware
The guitar has chrome hardware, including a Sung-Il BS-213 Synchronized Deluxe Tremolo System and Sung-II ML-55 Locking Tuners.
These quality components provide reliable performance and rock-solid tuning stability.
Alnico 5 Pickups
The guitars feature an HSS pickup configuration, with two single-coil pickups on the neck and middle positions and a humbucker on the bridge. The single-coil pickups are HBZ Custom Wound VT-M and VT-N models, while the humbucker is an HBZ Custom Wound VT-H.
All pickups have Alnico 5 magnets, delivering a balanced and versatile tone.
Coil-Split
The guitar has a master volume control and a tone control, as well as a push/pull coil-splitting function on the tone control. This allows you to switch the humbucker to a single-coil mode, providing a more comprehensive range of tonal options.
Guitar Bomb Verdict
The ST Modern is a fantastic choice for players seeking an affordable Stratocaster-style guitar. Its high-quality construction, versatile tonal options, and comfortable playability offer excellent value for money. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, the ST Modern is sure to impress.
Having left-handed versions is also a massive bonus at this price point. Plus, there are plenty of great colours to choose from. We love that Shell Pink model and the Lake Placid Blue finish.
These models are exclusive to Thomann and can be ordered now.
- Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS Sea Foam Green
- Harley Benton ST-Modern MN HSS Shell Pink
- Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS Lake Placid Blue
- Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS LH Lake Placid Blue
- Harley Benton ST-Modern MN HSS Flame Bengal Burst
- Harley Benton ST-Modern MN HSS LH Flame Bengal Burst
- Harley Benton ST-Modern MN HSS Olympic White
- Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS Black
- Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS Flame Blue Burst
More Information
- +Affordable price with premium features
- +Roasted maple neck provides stability and smooth feel
- +Alnico 5 pickups deliver balanced, versatile tone
- +Coil-split adds expanded tonal options
- +Locking tuners ensure rock-solid tuning stability
- +Sculpted heel for better upper fret access
- +Left-handed options available
- +Eight attractive finish choices with bound edges on bursts
Is the Harley Benton ST Modern good for beginners?
Yes. The ST Modern is excellent for beginners, offering quality construction, comfortable playability with its sculpted heel for upper fret access, versatile HSS pickup options, and left-handed models—all at an affordable price.
What pickup configuration does the ST Modern have?
The ST Modern features an HSS setup: two Alnico 5 single-coil pickups (neck and middle) and one Alnico 5 humbucker (bridge). The bridge humbucker includes push/pull coil-split, letting you switch it to single-coil mode for expanded tonal range.
What finishes are available for the ST Modern?
The ST Modern is available in eight finishes: Sea Foam Green, Shell Pink, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White, Black, Flame Bengal Burst, and Flame Blue Burst. The burst finishes feature bound edges for a premium look.
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