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Harley Benton
Harley Benton is the house brand of Musikhaus Thomann, the German retailer that sells more guitars online than almost anyone else in Europe — the instruments aren't built in-house so much as specified by Thomann and manufactured across roughly twenty factories in China, Indonesia and Vietnam. What sets the range apart from most budget lines is which corners it declines to cut: heat-treated necks and stainless steel frets, features usually reserved for guitars several times the price. It's the brand we point beginners toward most often on a tight budget, and we've used it as the benchmark in more than one budget-versus-vintage comparison. Here's everything we've covered.
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Latest Harley Benton news
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.
Founded1998
Based inBurgebrach, Germany
Parent companyThomann
Articles here52
Makes
- Electric guitars
- Acoustic guitars
- Bass guitars
- Amplifiers
- Effects pedals
Known for
- ST Series
- TE Series
- Fusion Series
- DNAfx GiT
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Harley Benton FAQ4 questions
Who makes Harley Benton guitars?
Harley Benton is the house brand of Thomann, the German music retailer, and the instruments are built by OEM factories in China, Indonesia and Vietnam before being shipped to Thomann's warehouses in Germany. Selling direct with no distributor margin is the main reason the prices are what they are.
Are Harley Benton guitars any good?
For the money they are consistently the surprise of the budget market, and that is the thread running through our coverage. Quality control varies more than it does at higher price points, so check the setup on arrival, but the woods, hardware and finishes are well beyond what the price used to buy.
Where can I buy Harley Benton?
Only from Thomann, because it is Thomann's own brand. There is no dealer network, which is also why you rarely see them secondhand at much of a discount.
Is a Harley Benton a good first guitar?
It is one of the strongest options at the entry level, and it appears throughout our beginner guides for that reason. The main trade off is that you cannot try one in a shop before buying.