£400 Harley Benton Resonator Vs £4,000 Mule Resonator
Vložit
- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- Check out the Custom Line CLR-ResoElectric here redir.love/uFEYMLEk
£400 Harley Benton Resonator Vs £4,000 Mule Resonator
Greetings and thank you for watching this video. Below are some links to products that I use:
Thomann
My guitar ►► redir.love/61EwP3na
My amp ►► redir.love/Am2rUYK6
My practice amp ►► redir.love/hGiV1UpQ
Strings I use ►► redir.love/vFGoL1Ym
My favourite Reverb/Delay Pedal ►► redir.love/6IwjXx4G
Amazon US
Favourite interface - amzn.to/3zD1feO
Favourite strings - amzn.to/3HN1Hdk
Favourite tuner - amzn.to/3qSzuuM
Favourite overdrive - amzn.to/3F1P8cB
Favourite pickups - amzn.to/31DnpRP
Favourite Pedalboard - amzn.to/33bsqRV
Above are affiliate links for the parts used in this video, meaning, at no cost to you, I will earn commission if you click through and make a purchase.
➤ Great Videos:
Reunited with Andertons - • Reunited with Andertons
What did I get from 15 years on CZcams - • What Did I Get From 15...
The best pedal in 15 years of demos - • After 15 Years Of Demo...
Clockwork Wolf & Co :
Clockwork Wolf - Live Your Fate - • Clockwork Wolf & Co - ...
Clockwork Wolf - One Thing I Feared - • Clockwork Wolf & Co - ...
Clockwork Wolf - Idle Hands - • Clockwork Wolf & Co - ...
➤ Disclaimers
No comments on these posts have or will be deleted. CZcams will automatically hide comments that they think are spam for review and then my team need to manually approve these. Please bear with us if your comment is not immediately visible.
I own/or am endorsed/sponsored or have done paid for advertising by the following brands:
►► Snake oil fine instruments, Chapman Guitars, Andertons, Thomann, Ernie Ball, Gravity, Victory, BadCat, Boss/Roland, Orange, Universal Audio ,Vans, Faith, Barefaced Audio, Mooer, Olimpus Music
➤ Time Stamps
00:00 - Intro
01:50 - How the Mule Resonator sounds
02:32 - Harley Benton Resonator
03:48 - How the Harley Benton resonator sounds
04:47 - compared to the Mule resonator
05:23 - Resonator sounds
6:01 - is it any good?
7:40 - Resonator jam
➤ Links to me
CZcams ►► czcams.com/users/RobChappers?sub_con...
INSTAGRAM ►► @Rob_Chappers
FACEBOOK ►► officialrobchapman
➤ Tags
#RobChapman #Chappers #RobChappers - Hudba
Me 10 minutes ago: what’s a resonator? Me now: where’s my credit card?
Expertly done Rob - keep it coming!
Even did not ask your wife? Very risky
@@BubnHubn 😆 easier to ask for forgiveness than permission
I really love both but I kinda fell in love with the thinner sound of the Harley Benton that almost gave it kind of a slight banjo character. It resonates well too, sustain isn't too short. :)
Love these types of vids. Keep reviewing stuff!
I honestly found the sound of the 'electrified' HB more pleasing and full than that of the Mule. Unplugged however, the Mule mule-kicked the HP into oblivion.
I've had my HB reso for just over a year now and love it.
I find it brighter than a few other makes I've tried at a similar price point (Ozark , Dean, Recording king), and has plenty of presence that cuts through a live mix well. I use slide in open tunings a fair bit, but in standard tuning the intonation is spot on when fretting a note rather than slide. I found other brands I tried sounded a bit off above the 10th fret. If you're on a tight budget, well worth considering the HB.
Thanks for the video very helpful to a newbie
I have been considering an electric resonator guitar for awhile but just couldn't make up my mind...well you sold me on the Harley Benton CLR reso electric, and I just ordered one ,!
Great sound, looks and quality for the cost💯🎵🎶👍
I am surprised to realise that they both sound wondeful, different, yes, but both sound amazing to my ears. Great review.
Dang those sound cool. Good thing epiphone makes a few. I will be checking out these immediately. Thanks for the idea!
Well gee thanks Rob! Just when I'm trying to curb my addiction to guitars. I guess I know what the next guitar is going to be! Damn you! :-)
Amplified the HB sounds so clear and “genuine”. The kinda guitar a producer would ask you to use on a track even though you really want to use the expensive stuff lol.
Hey Rob, big fan. I just purchased a Gretche resonator this week and your video has inspired me to plug it in and see what kind of sounds I can find. I’m curious what tuning you have both the guitars in the video?
The Mule sounded warmer and more subtle, but-for my purposes-I wouldn’t want subtle out of a resonator. If I played a lot of resonator, then I’d probably want the Mule. But as someone who would just use one for some different color where I really want it to stand out as different, the HB seems a better fit. Not that I could justify the Mule’s price in any case. 🙂
I almost turned the video off once i realized i was halfway through and there was no slide yet. Glad I held out though as that was wonderfully played rob 👍
Wow that's an absolute steal at £400. I liked the brighter sound for cutting through a mix better, and the thinner neck would be my preference having suffered with thick neck guitars before. Plus I can't afford the other one !
Great Demo! The relic'd looks of the mule make it look very authentic. The gold/silver combo looks horribly kitschy in contrast - it would have to go straight into an etching- bath, if it was mine! Sound-wise, they are both very cool!
Shiiiit could not recognize you without the hair!!! Well as always great videos champ!!!
Nice. Preferred the acoustic tone of the mule. But wouldn’t/couldn’t bring myself to part with that kind of money for a resonator. The Harley Benton looks and sounds great! It would have been good if they had gone a bit deeper with the body depth just for that extra volume.
There are other Harely Bentons you can chooes from, if you have different preferences... both metal and wood bodies. I have one just like the one tested, and I'm so pleased with it, both amplfied and natural. It holds the tuning well too, and no problem with "out of tone frets". I often have a digital tuner attach to it, but I rearly have to do any adjustments. In fact it's all I hoped for, and more.
Loved the rock rif you played at min 5..
Can you tell me what song was that?
Thank You!
Yeah I'd say the Mule does sound a lot warmer with more depth and that sells it for me. Cosmetically I'd prefer the the HB if it wasn't so shiny. The laser etchings look really nice though.
I prefer the mule slightly, because it does sound a lot more "solid". If you're recording, though, I think you could get the HB a little closer to the sound of the Mule with some simple EQ and maybe a little compression. I mean, It won't be magic but...
I bought a HB reso for 139€ many years ago. It's a single cut wooden spider-cone black goodness. Although Initially my first producer didn't "felt" it, my second producer absolutely loved it and made it to the record. It has its own mojo for sure. But it has that same kind of pickup, as in "lacking the tone". For the money, it's absolutely worth it! So yes, I'd definetly buy that HB reso as it is stunning to look at!
They both sound great.. different paint brushes as i say lol... The Mule to me sounded like it was up front more. kind of like "presence" turned up. I am researching as Id like to get one but I tend to like finding a cheap gem that plays and sounds great.. just have to try many out but hard to find electric resonators in my area and i dont order guitars online. Even the same model made the same day, they just all feel unique with variation in quality of setups. I wonder how you set intonation on these guys? -- Great video sir
Both sound great
That HB has a Swampy/Banjo quality to it!
The Mule sounds ghostly, like it's already got lifetimes of stories to tell. It sounds absolutely beautiful. The Harley Benton sounds good. They don't sound the same. But I simply can't afford a Mule, so regardless of preference a Harley Benton is more the price range where I'd be looking for a Resonator.
Yeah they sound very different but both are good in their own way. Way more low end on the Mule though.
I have a mule tri cone with pickup, it’s is simply phenomenal.. I also have an ozark wooden spider cone which is superb, difference being the ozark was 450 and the mule 4600 (shipped etc) however I sold a lot of nice guitars and saved hard for a while to get the mule, and I don’t regret one penny.. Matt is a superb guy and helps every step of the way…
The difference in price makes no sense. I think the hb sounds far better, more mids etc. The comment about lifetime of stories is bullshit, this is not how sound works.
@@wijons522 Well, no, it's not bullshit. It's subjective. We don't all hear the same sounds the same way. You think the Harley Benton sounds better, most people don't. Aural subjectivity. No different than guitars, acoustic or electric. Some people really like how the $200-600 ones sound, some people swear by the ones that cost thousands of dollars. To each their own. Edit: And actually, yes, that is how sound works. It's not something you get to dictate. That's why you'll hear guitar players going on and on about a particular make, model, year, pickup, pedal, strings, whatever. Peace though, hope your day is good.
What a rip off 4,000 euros it’s overpriced should only be worth $999,99.
There was this great mellow instrumental band from Chicago called Pullman that did two albums featuring resonators and various other acoustic instruments. The band featured the best indie musicians of area. That guitars sound is so iconic and those wonderful albums feature it heavily. I highly recommend them.
Hi rob what tuning do you use?
Hello, how is your guitar tuned to 6’58 ? Thank you
What strings are you use on the HB resonator? Electric or acoustic strings?
Dare I say the Harley Benton sounds more resonator-ish than the Mule? Wow Harley Benton really is impressive...thanks Rob
Hi Rob. This is a fantastic video thank you and I really enjoyed the HB more as it has more of a Ry Cooder sound which I adore. But having said that you as a musician can make anything sound good.... I mean that you could probably take a piece of dental floss stuck in your teeth and turn it into a riff to die for!
They are quite different, the body is thicker on the Mule, the strings are probably better and thicker gauge on the Mule, and the HB has a tone pot, which wasn't being used it seemed. So, wonder how the Benton would sound with better and thicker strings on it and the tone rolled off a notch?
That Mule ate HB acousticly. HB sounded thin, but as you said, it is thinner actually. Plugged in HB sounded not too bad.
It looks very bling Rob, but if it does what it says on the tin. My Resonator's wooden and double bound. It sounds nice, well they both do actually.
Great clip . I have the HB and i love it same as the price . can't afford a Mule or other expencive resonator's
The HB sounds more like what I expect a resonator to sound like, so they nailed the tone.
The Hb is loverly.
The Mule had more low end and I liked the warmer tone more. However, not having 4000 for a Mule, I would have no problem dropping 400 on the HB. The HB sounded similar to my no-pickup Goldtone PB GRS that I picked up for $750 used.
The Mule sounds like a baritone and the HB like a tenor. Both sound good, but different of course. I've always thought that a lot of bluesy rock songs could be improved with a bit of Resonator in the mix.
BTW, that HB looks to be a copy of a Royall Palmulator that featured primarily nickel and copper finishes.
But since Thomann carries that brand I'm pretty sure they licensed the guitar and if it's of the same build quality, that's around a $300 discount.
The Benton unplugged sounds like a toy . There is a great technician in the UK Bournemouth, that sells the icarus resonator guitars. He installs the continental cone inside. The sound is a lot more like the mule resonator and in my ears a lot better than the national cone(more projecting and resonating with 1db less attack from the nationals). He uses bell brass for the body and he sells them around 800 euros or less. You should try them. Greetings from a reso player from Greece . Great video from a great player
All these people are pretty quick to jump on board with the mule. I noticed you had a little more distortion on with the mule and it sounded as though there wasn't as much as with the mule. I kind of liked the HB. Maybe the Mule does a little more tone wise, but I wouldn't feel bad about buying the HB before the Mule.
The mule sounded better without a question.
The HB sounds alright. Gretsch also makes some affordable resonators. Feature them on your channel sometime.
The mule sounds far better, as one would expect. Your playing is great, as always. The video would have been much better, however, without the mic stand in the middle of the shot, blocking the view of the guitars.
The Mule was beautiful and definitely had a better sound but it is a Mule after all. Nice video sir.
Always wanted a resi since I saw one on the cover of a Dire Straits album. Can't justify the mule, might give the HB a shot though!
I love the Harley Benton range, beautiful and amazing value for money.
Thanks for posting.
What a hb resonator I want one bad..I was on there website but didn't see it.. Iigjr not have been on the acustic half of the site tho
Acoustically, the Mule by a mile, but it does have that larger body, so there's absolutely no surprise there. The Harley Benton still sounded great though, and add in a bass to fill out that low end, and it'll be perfect.
Plugged in, they were definitely different still, but it was a lot harder to choose between them based on what you were playing. I feel like the HB might work slightly better in a band context, while the Mule just sounds full and rich, making it wonderful solo.
The HB sounds great, but the Mule sounds like it's been dowsed in whiskey and cigarettes and it's partner has just kicked it out on the road, and it's got nothing left but it's strings, and they're getting pretty worn out too. The Mule sounds like it's got a story to tell in some dark smokey bar, while the HB just sounds like a decent resonator.
Maybe ive just got the wrong impression of how a resonator should sound (romeo and juliet) but i thought the HB didnt really have that iconic sound. Looks good though which is half the reason id have a resonator. Just for the vibe lol.
Totally different sounds. Both very good. The Mule has a lot more depth, warmth, and bottom end. The HB is clearer, brighter, with bell like tones. I think the HB would cut through a mix better, while the Mule stands on it's own better. At the end of the day, I suppose it depends on the price, and what your needs are.
Funny. I never remember resonators, until someone brings them up. Then, I think, "damn! I need a resonator." Then, promptly, forget all about them, again. Maybe, someday, the stars will align in just the right way...
just bye one
Serious question.....do you think we could compare Harley Benton to the 70's-85 Hondo Guitars ? Hondo had as many as 400+ different offerings before they closed in 85.....they made guitars, bass guitars, acoustic, mandolin, banjo, pedals, ect .
I think a loose comparison is fair....long live Harley Benton.
I liked the Harley Benton more
that Mule Resonator f---ing wow , nothing wrong with the harley but that mule is special ...
MetaaaaaaaaaL 🤘🏽
i can see how you'd made an angel weep wolf whisker...........lol thanks for the vid
Honestly I gotta give it to the HB, especially if it's going to be playing in the context of a band, or a recording. I can see the Mule's low end being a lot more satisfying to play solo, but that HB sounds like it will slice right through a mix and sit at the front with little to no EQ required.
I think my next guitar purchase will probably be an HB reso.
I use a Gold Tone "Beard" model with a wonderful cone! If I could afford more I would buy a National.
I’m gonna buy one as soon as I figure out where to buy one
Extra reverb for the word 'Resonator', or am i tripping? 🤯
The Mule sounded a lot better to me, but for what it costs, the HB was pretty good tbh.
For 6k I would expect to see a cover over the truss rod access hole but the Mule did sound good.
That harley benton sounds so sweet.
Man I wish there was a fully metal left handed resonator. Would love to play one 😢
Just flip the strings and it works like a charm. I'm left handed and I play a HB resoelectric.
Unplugged the Harley Benton leaves quite a bit to be desired, especially compared to the Mule, but plugged in it sounds pretty good! The Harley Benton is miles brighter when unplugged, and some people may actually like that. For me personally, it sounded too boxed in and focused.
unplugged it sounded like a box, plugged I preferred it to the mule. Ironical.y, it has more kick, but stubbornly, it only sounds good amplified.
That Mule sounds sick...
I am always thinking about Mark Knopler when I see that guitar type.
To my ear, it sounds like the Mule has a Dobro style spider cone giving it a less twangy attack, but more sustain and a mellower tone. The HB has a typical biscuit bridge single cone which gives it the brighter sound, but very little sustain.I like them both, but I'd rather sit and listen to that mellow Mule.
If they just made that HB with a bigger body to better round out the the low end (this is purely a physics thing; bigger boxes have lower resonant frequencies) they would probably be selling a few from this video. Something to think about Thomann.
EDIT: the size difference is pretty small actually, so I wonder what is producing the stark difference in low-end response. Hard to say without taking the two apart though. Hey Mr. Chapman, feeling adventurous?
The sound from the Mule comes from a different construction inside which lets the back vibrate much more plus there is more/thicker steel used in the Mule. Buying a mule is more than buying a reso. It’s something you realize when you do it. Saddle up the Mule….
I just ordered the Harley Benton 😊
And now we know how both those sound when you don't, you know, use a slide. On a guitar pretty much built just for that.
If you want a resonator that sounds exactly like a national and as good as a mule check out the Michael Messer lightning. Awesome and well affordable.
Tge Mule is just a stunning guitar no question, but I think the HB was let down by the strings, they are too light and not putting enough pressure on the cone, hence the lighter thin sound, interested you won't get any sort off resonator tone plugged in on either guitar with the on-board pickups. I would buy the Mule in a heart beat if I had that kind of spare cash.
How does the Harley Benton compare to a Honey Dipper ???
The Mule was better, but the HB might be a good intro to resonators.
I started my reso journey with a Vintage (the brand) single cone, eventually upgraded the cone, but then it suffered a neck break, so I moved up to a Czech made Amistar Tricone, which was far better. I now have a National Resophonic single cone. The National sounds awesome, but has a baseball neck and high action, if I had started in that I would have given up! So for a first reso the HB is not a bad idea 🤔
I'm resonatin' towards that HB.
I’ve been a big fan of Mule for years since they had aquaman giving axe throwing lessons. The HB sounds impressive but why so shinny needs leaving in the garden for a week
Up until the Crossroads Movie I'd never really heard of slide guitar, then my mate told me all about Ry Cooder. I decided to learn on a cheap Ozark. Eventually I got myself a Tricone from Busker Guitars. Anyway to cut a short story long I prefer the sound of the HB 😂
unplugged the HB sounded like a box or boxed in, which goes against the definition of a resonator, but plugged in I preferred it to the mule. Ironically, it has more kick, but stubbornly, it only sounds good amplified. Nevertheless, it seems a more genuine guitar sound than the mule when amplified. Of course, the mule's biggest amplification is its price, which doesn't resonate well with my wallet. Furthermore, the HB almost looks kitch its so flashy. Do angel tears reveal truth or just the blues?
No contest!! When it comes to acoustics and the likes you need to spend to money, however the HB still sounds great
Unplugged, it was no contest. The Mule ate the HB for lunch, probably because of the deeper body. Plugged in, they both sounded pretty good. I'd do a plugged in gig with either one and be happy.
The Harley Benton would look more appealing to more people (probably) with a bit of a relic job. Not with hammers and screwdrivers and dragging it across the floor, just with some wire wool and oil-based paint to dull the finish a little bit, the paint would sit in the etched patterns and give it a much duller but more refined look to it.
I wonder if it would change the tone too 🤔😉
Tone paint?
Mule for me, seems to have more character. The HB sounded a bit too thin
The HB sounds thinner. I’m not counting electric performance as that is no resonator characteristic. One could buy a Michael Messer reso and be done.
Really enjoyed this change of pace vid. Rob you're a busy man but I think CZcams shorts needs some of your old characters from skits, I still laugh at 'oops I've dropped my plectrum'. Take care boss
Bought that Mule Resonator to record some tracks at £4k plus.... Yet you are still crowd funding to record the album?! WTF.....
First impression: mule is a guitar. HB sounds like a can with strings. Plugged in its quite decent though!
mmm , the hb will sound a lot better with an replacement national buiscit cone in it , there also for sale at thomann for about 150 euro's , this upgrade will transform the hb to a real good sounding resonator .
It’s a choice between 1/ a resonator or 2/ a resonator AND a good car 🚗
Since we're talkin Reso's ya might as well test drive a Recording King Tri-Cone too, that would blow your mind.
The mule on it's own is wonderfull but the HB in a band context would cut through the mix.
Now... I need a resonator even if I don't play that style of music ^^
thf they've got different styles of pickup in, by the looks of it.
I watch a lot of these videos, where a very expensive guitar is compared with its affordable version. I always have trouble deciding which one I "Like Better". Here, the Mule guitar is warmer and has a more articulate sound. The HB one is so treble-ey and loud that the notes drown each other out to a certain extent. However, it has that distinctive biscuit-bridge metal guitar sound. I'm pretty sure that most of the tone in a resonator is down to the cone itself, which is a part that can be upgraded fairly easily. The Mule sounds much more like an original 1930s instrument, while the HB one sounds more like what I feel is the modern idea of what one of these things is supposed to sound like. Also, it looks to me li,e the Mule guitar is actually brass-bodied, while the HB is steel. Brass bodied resonators are known to have a warmer sound. I like them both very much. I suppose I like the Mule a bit better. But I agree, the HB guitar is very impressive, especially considering the price.
This is Very Expensive vs Very Inexpensive comparison .
If you stretched " reasonably affordable" to about twice the price of the HB , but still under $ 1k , the Republic ( Asian bodies , but essentially rebuilt in Texas ) would sound much closer to the Mule .
I think the Mule sounded miles and miles better, plugged and unplugged as would be expected. If you’re looking for a lower priced entry level resonator go with a Michael Messer model. The quality build and sound are much better than the mass produced budget models.
Well, the metallic guitar sound that made me fall in love with was of course Romeo & Juliette from Mark Knopfler.
If I compare both, I feel the Benton is the closest to the National played by the amazing Mark Knopfler.
So I vote Benton ☝️
I just ordered it 🎉
I bought a Mule. Paid nearly $4k US and waited eight months for it. I thought it was a forever guitar. Loved the tone, but it never felt comfortable. You nailed it. The big chunky neck, too big, too chunky, for me. That was a surprise, as Matt shaped necks at Huss&Dalton, guitars I’ve played and loved. After a year of trying to fall in love, sold it. I’ve been without a resonator since, but bought a Harley Benton last week. Still in transit. Hoping you are right about the neck being more like a Taylor. But even if not perfect, a $400 mistake is easier to live with than a $4000 one.
Hi, did you fall in love with your HB Resonator? I got one today and the tone is a bit thin for my opinion. How about you as former Mule-owner?
@@amiderfenn Yes. I love my Harley Benton. It plays like a very nice acoustic. The neck is comfortable and easy to navigate. The action was very low, where I like it, right out of the box. The tone is thinner than the Mule, but that doesnt bother me. Id prefer a bit more bass in the tone, but when I plug it in and run it thru pedals, I can beef it up. Ive been playing a fair amount of Open G - finger picking Romeo and Juliet - Mark Knopfler and Water Song - Hot Tuna. Had it out for some slide blues the other day. Thinking about attempting some Little Feat - Fat Man or Roll Em Easy, maybe some Blind Owl Canned Heat…Anyway, to answer your question. Im fat, dumb and happy w this HB resonator.
czcams.com/video/MjFpHsw5oDc/video.htmlsi=0HY7OmIfpobf05Sj
@@thcarter123 Thanks, that's nice to read! Did you ever thought of replacing the cone? Right now I have an Ortega RRG30E and the Harley Benton here. The Ortega PU transports the reso-sound much better then the HB PU does and the Ortega is lighter. THe action of the Ortega is very high and I won't fidle around with the trussrod. The HB is so beautifully exotic. Two resos is one too much, at least for me. But which on has to go? Time will tell, soon.
They both do an excellent job, just in a slightly different manner. But when you factor in the price, the Mule got its arse kicked.
I much preferred the tone of the Mule, but this is an apples to oranges comparison. The HB is a single cone and the Mule is a tri-cone, so they are going to sound very different. That is actually one of the reasons the Mule is so unique. It looks like a single cone, but sounds like (and is) a tri-cone. I don't think there is another resonator builder who does that. A more relevant comparison would be a National single cone vs the HB single cone.
I can kinda understand Rob not having access to multiple high-end resonators considering the prices they command however :D
😅😂🤣Nice one Rob. ‘You need the Holy Trinity Of Strat, Tele, Les Paul...and an acoustic (4) and a resonator ‘5’.
Proof again of the Plank Constant, x=y+1, whereby x=optimum number of guitars and y=number of guitars currently owned.
Pretty much impossible to compare the two unplugged since the HB has half the profile width... one thing for d@mn sure though, is the Mule sound doesn't merit being more than 10x the cost of the HB.
The Mule Resonator is much much better with a warmer sound. But if you don't have much money and you need a Resonator guitar to had some different flavor to your songs on your demos, the Harley Benton seems alright.
Just about to buy the HB partly due to your vid. 2 days ago £435, this morning £525. Please justify the increase Thommann. Shame as I won’t bother now.