Cheap vs Expensive Guitar Blind Test: Harley Benton vs Fender

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  • čas přidán 2. 02. 2020
  • Check out my guitars in this video:
    ►Fender Telecaster - imp.i114863.net/50sTele (Sweetwater affiliate link)
    ►Harley Benton - bit.ly/2vmpJZP (Thomann affiliate link)
    In this video, I am putting to test your ears! Can you hear the difference between a $200 Harley Benton vs a $2000 Fender Telecaster? Let's find out!
    The answer is at the end of the video!
    -
    ►Patreon: / intheblues
    ►My Socials - linktr.ee/intheblues
    ►My Sweetwater Gear Page - imp.i114863.net/intheblues
    ►intheblues Merch - bit.ly/2KLR5CV
    (Links to Sweetwater, Thomann, Amazon, B&H, Artist Guitars, and Walmart are affiliate links.
    -
    #fendertelecaster #telecaster #harleybenton #intheblues ‎
    This CZcams channel participates in Affiliate programs. These programs are designed in a way for the channel to earn an income by using the links provided in the description or pinned comment section. Please note: Not all links on this CZcams channel are affiliate links.
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Komentáře • 1,4K

  • @alexisdrosopoulos
    @alexisdrosopoulos Před 4 lety +792

    I hope you'll get a commision, because you just sold a lot of harley bentons

  • @aplakides
    @aplakides Před 4 lety +430

    Honestly thought A was the fender in each sound test. That Harley Benton is impressive! I simply preferred its sound from clean to dirt

    • @lwwells
      @lwwells Před 4 lety +10

      I also thought A was the fender and I own an HB fusion pro II.

    • @mikolajbojnar
      @mikolajbojnar Před 4 lety +5

      Me too!

    • @sastrecasado
      @sastrecasado Před 4 lety +2

      Me too!

    • @joguipo
      @joguipo Před 4 lety +5

      I was certain A was the Fender on the neck pup... Wrong. Couldn't tell on any of the others... Interesting

    • @SteveCremulation666
      @SteveCremulation666 Před 4 lety +7

      I've got 2 harley benton guitars. They are solid dependable guitars. My V recently fell down a set of stairs... Picked it up fearing the worst and it was absolutely fine, no chips or breaks, just out of tune.
      Like I said, SOLID.

  • @putko993
    @putko993 Před 3 lety +118

    In Australia, even guitars are upside down 🙃🇦🇺

  • @chunkysucks
    @chunkysucks Před 4 lety +439

    The HB sounds more like a fender Tele than an actual fender tele

    • @mrbluez2898
      @mrbluez2898 Před 4 lety +14

      yes exactly

    • @davidmorrison5411
      @davidmorrison5411 Před 4 lety +8

      Ridiculous statement! How can a Fender Telecaster not sound more like a Fender Telecaster than another brand? LOL My vote goes to the Fender Telecaster. I could tell the difference.

    • @butternutter9847
      @butternutter9847 Před 4 lety +20

      I honestly thought the fender was A because it had that signature low end honky tonk sound. All the more reason to get a Harley

    • @JimmyRadloff
      @JimmyRadloff Před 4 lety +3

      The HB sounds good but lacks the clarity of the Fender. When you crank that HB up and put the dirt to it, it sounds good but a little muddy compared to the Fender. Great guitar for the money for sure. Put some more expensive pickups and a nice aftermarket harness in that HB and it will probably sound just as clear and good as that Fender for a lot less money.

    • @jlsagely6892
      @jlsagely6892 Před 4 lety +2

      It really doesn’t.

  • @reallyordinary
    @reallyordinary Před 2 lety +41

    I was *certain* A was the Fender. It sounded so obviously better. Was genuinely startled to discover it was the HB. Amazing!

    • @Icisex
      @Icisex Před rokem

      I Dont belive this guy ..a whos 100% fender

    • @reallyordinary
      @reallyordinary Před rokem +3

      @@Icisex I have the HB TE-52 - it's amazing. The neck feels incredible. Plays great. Pickups sound great. I have a Fender MIM strat that cost 6x more and I prefer everything about the Harley Benton.

    • @MrRofi-jp7mo
      @MrRofi-jp7mo Před 8 měsíci

      @@Icisex LOL trying to justify all the money you wasted eh?

  • @Dude_Guyman
    @Dude_Guyman Před 2 lety +35

    Genuinely surprised. I had A as the better guitar in my head, and B as the cheaper one with slightly muddy, less defined pickups. Wow, Fender needs to step up their game...or drop their price by a factor of ~10.

    • @Jeremya74
      @Jeremya74 Před měsícem

      They don't have to "step up there game"...they have the name

  • @matijaklaj8535
    @matijaklaj8535 Před 3 lety +404

    Lesson of the day: Just buy a good amp

    • @matijaklaj8535
      @matijaklaj8535 Před 3 lety +26

      @Rocknrolladube That's true, but if you have a budget of let's say 1200€ and you buy a 400€ guitar and a 800€ amp, It's gonna sound better than a 1000€ guitar and a 200€ amp. But honestly, these days you can get a very good guitar for 400€ so...

    • @willw1375
      @willw1375 Před 3 lety +3

      HB play and feel GREAT!

    • @mahguardaiotidico7103
      @mahguardaiotidico7103 Před 3 lety +3

      Every good amp can sound good a crap guitar, It doesn't matter if it's a tube amp or a simamp

    • @lhommegoujon4492
      @lhommegoujon4492 Před 2 lety +5

      Just buy fingers..

    • @Julius-vz7pb
      @Julius-vz7pb Před 2 lety +2

      The amp is the 70%

  • @sonatabigdeal8683
    @sonatabigdeal8683 Před 4 lety +191

    Blown away. I was thinking "A sounds incredible, B sounds like it's trying to be A."
    I don't need more guitars but at $200 who's gonna stop me? That HB sounds magnificent.

    • @tehalexy
      @tehalexy Před 4 lety +7

      same thought here. A had a more organic sound and was more pleasing to my ears then B :D

    • @testtube1195
      @testtube1195 Před 4 lety +1

      Horrible sound of cheap single coils :D

    • @skymarbles7953
      @skymarbles7953 Před 4 lety +12

      @@testtube1195 you must be very deaf..

    • @testtube1195
      @testtube1195 Před 4 lety +1

      @@skymarbles7953 No, but you must be very stupid.

    • @MichaelLevine
      @MichaelLevine Před 4 lety +6

      I agree! A sounded much more alive and dynamic to me. B has a little more warmth, but in this case it just made it more dull than A. Wow!

  • @garrettendi
    @garrettendi Před 4 lety +14

    I guessed that B was the Fender. I own a Harley Benton and absolutely love it, but A sounded a bit more muddy, and B had more "sparkle". I preferred the Fender, but the HB still rocks

  • @petkopeet
    @petkopeet Před 4 lety +40

    Damn, I was convinced benton was B. It seriously rocks. I was thinking bout squire classic vibe, but now i might buy a benton. Cheerio!

  • @alanst.4417
    @alanst.4417 Před 4 lety +4

    Great that you did such an honest back to back comparison, Shane, including a player's experience! Always appreciate that. I was convinced to hear better dynamics in A, which made me think it's a Fender. So HB for me, incredible value indeed.

  • @gaborporempovics2415
    @gaborporempovics2415 Před 4 lety +9

    I found that B had a more defined tone, while A had more mids. So with these setting I preferred B all along. But I thought that A has nice dynamic, rich tone as well. I only would adjust the middle tone control on the amp a little bit.
    So wow, this HB really shines!

  • @fishypaw
    @fishypaw Před 4 lety +14

    You make both sound great, and once again you prove that great tone comes from practice and being a good guitarist.

  • @yaguitar
    @yaguitar Před 4 lety +6

    I did something similar with thr TE52 and my fender noir redline tele. You really cant tell much difference recorded. Playability is obviously a bit different, but the te52 is an awesome instrument. Great video as always!

  • @pablorages1241
    @pablorages1241 Před 4 lety +151

    Both companies f'd up ... the cutaway is on the wrong side of the neck

  • @74dartman13
    @74dartman13 Před 4 lety +130

    I think if a lot of people were honest, they prefer the more expensive name on the headstock! Me, I don't give a rats ass what's on the headstock as long as it plays well and sounds good!👍😎🎸🎶

    • @grilledspaghetti
      @grilledspaghetti Před 4 lety +6

      I don't gig, and I'm too old and lazy to be starting something. I understand that some club owners might not take you seriously because of name brand bias, but that simply does not apply to me. So, I'm totally with you there.

    • @guitarstech2215
      @guitarstech2215 Před 4 lety +12

      @@grilledspaghetti club owners don't even know what a headstock is 😂

    • @OnTheFritz602
      @OnTheFritz602 Před 4 lety +5

      Totally agree!

    • @jamescorth9930
      @jamescorth9930 Před 4 lety +1

      Ya you do.

    • @panamared2402
      @panamared2402 Před 4 lety +1

      Well said

  • @schreds8882
    @schreds8882 Před 4 lety +12

    I'm astounded that I prefered "A", the HB over the tone of the Fender. I thought the Fender was thick sounding. I liked the spank of the HB. Learn something new every day. 😀

  • @MrErdner
    @MrErdner Před 4 lety +15

    To be honest, I could tell that they were two different guitars. But, they were very, very similar. More important, I couldn't say which one was better. So the Fender definitely wasn't 10 times better.

  • @dazzel9475
    @dazzel9475 Před 4 lety +6

    Outstanding tone from both!! I prefer A but honestly B’s tone is just as superb that I’d say it’s a matter of personal preference. A was a little cleaner but B had a great punching clarity too - your great playing isn’t lost on either.

  • @RGMDG
    @RGMDG Před 3 lety

    Thanks Shane. You last comments ring so true (regarding when you add gain to the tone, all guitars start to sound very similar). Too many You Tube videos DO NOT play the guitars on clean. To me that is where you get an idea how the pickups really sound.. Thanks again for what you do. Wishing you continued success. Cheers

  • @TempleOfFive
    @TempleOfFive Před 4 lety +5

    I didn't guess which was which, just went on A being the better sounding to my ears. Impressed!

  • @JackTheRabbitMusic
    @JackTheRabbitMusic Před 4 lety +97

    these are so close, I honestly would not care which I had. My guess is A = Fender.
    (edit) Just saw the end...gimme the H.B please. 🐰👍

    • @DMSProduktions
      @DMSProduktions Před 4 lety +8

      I thought so too! A was a bit clearer! F/A in it!

    • @oklive4021
      @oklive4021 Před 4 lety +3

      I actually prefered the Hb soundwise of course i don't know how the neck feels but hey I've got 10 Harley's and they all have great necks so I'll probably get the newHarley Benton Fusion-T HH HT Roasted to add a Tele to my collection🎸😜 -it's just x+1 I guess(still have to talk to the Chef😇)

    • @DMSProduktions
      @DMSProduktions Před 4 lety +1

      @@oklive4021 WHAT is he cooking?

  • @josephbrewer7026
    @josephbrewer7026 Před 2 lety

    I only heard an appreciable difference under drive/delay and actually found the HB cleaner. Really impressed with the true classic Fender Tele tone from both. Thanks for posting!

  • @kcw8676
    @kcw8676 Před 4 lety

    Perfect timing for this video for me, just bought and received my TE-52 2 days ago. Normally play my 1993 Gibson Les Paul Standard through my Kemper but a band I'm in required some tele tones in my opinion so decided to go for the HB. Found it lacklustre at first but after a quick set up I took it into band practice last night and the band were genuinely blown away with how good it sounded and cut through the mix (bass player even joked that he was constantly getting distracted with how good it sounded he kept missing his cues!)
    Can't believe how good this guitar is, think I'll add a b-bender of some sort which will funnily enough, cost more than the guitar itself!

  • @cradlecap123
    @cradlecap123 Před 3 lety +9

    The Benton sounded better. I thought A was the fender as well. The fender sounded a bit thinner and the benton seemed to have a better finger response than guitar B so I assumed it had to be the cheaper neck - you know when the frets arn't quite right and somethings wrong.

  • @DemisFenech
    @DemisFenech Před 4 lety +4

    Both sound amazing. To me the HB sounds better on it's own but the fender will do better in a mix as it seems to have more mid range which helps in such situations.

  • @vernonleemonii3334
    @vernonleemonii3334 Před 4 lety +1

    Great video man. I have a LP style Harley Benton and the thing is incredible to play and sounds so good!

  • @elderberry-hamster
    @elderberry-hamster Před 4 lety

    Holy Cow! I really was drawn to the 'A' guitar during the demo. Freaking amazing TONE!!!! Love low cost guitars of today. Your playing was mad crazy good!!

  • @hutchfromba
    @hutchfromba Před 4 lety +6

    I picked "B" but they are very close in tone. Great playing Shane. Blues On.... 💙

  • @MattyK-USA
    @MattyK-USA Před 4 lety +32

    Quick early comment... this is going to be very interesting! Back to the show -
    Back from the show - got it right, but there's obviously a larger point here. Either guitar is clearly gig-able, which makes the HB an incredible value.

  • @nickjimenez6138
    @nickjimenez6138 Před 4 lety

    Great vid-again. You just sold me on the HB. Your abilities has a lot to do with it as well. I've heard great players make anything sing. But that Harley sounds wonderful.

  • @robertknapp9054
    @robertknapp9054 Před 4 lety

    I purchased a 52 HB and can not be happier with my purchase, this thing rocks and beats my MIM fender tele all to pieces!!! Great Video! keep them coming.

  • @runjogwalk
    @runjogwalk Před 4 lety +6

    I liked both of them .Especially when played by the left handed down under tonemaster guitarist😎

  • @sebjulien3
    @sebjulien3 Před 4 lety +19

    I need to hurry up ordering a HB before they raise the price like JOYO did when everyone will realize that HB is better than a lot of brand... I really thought A was the Fender.

  • @simontemplar3359
    @simontemplar3359 Před 4 lety +1

    I'm glad to see Harley Benton getting some love. I have a TE30 and it's fantastic. I put Alnico pickups in it (you should check out Fleor pickups- seriously), new tuners, and an orange drop capacitor, and damn it's just phenomenal. The stock pickups sound great on their own, but these are tremendous value and great modding platforms. Indio has some good guitars for modding, but HB overall is top of the charts for me.

  • @gertlettorp3137
    @gertlettorp3137 Před 4 lety

    Good vid. Just got my HB 52 from Thomann. Apart from a very small adjustment of the truss rod it plays fantastic out of the box. Really outstanding for the money!!!!

  • @ThatOneGuyWeAllKnow
    @ThatOneGuyWeAllKnow Před 4 lety +8

    I liked tone of B more. It was more tele. A sounded way more modern and more rock. It was a tone machine. But B was what I want my tele to sound like. It was thinner and shiny and twangy.

  • @biglen957
    @biglen957 Před 4 lety +10

    This proves that while teles, strats, les pauls ect, have a distinctive sound, there is no such thing as the distinctive sound of an expensive guitar.

  • @joeabstractjoe
    @joeabstractjoe Před 4 lety +1

    I really liked the HB! Thanks Shane. Great playing! 🎶🎸👍🎶

  • @Robster-Craw
    @Robster-Craw Před 4 lety +1

    I knew A was the Harley Benton because on the riff where you added the delay you had a bit of a smirk/smile on your face that looked surprised some. It was a dead give away that you were pleased that the cheap guitar sounded so nice.

  • @u563rick6
    @u563rick6 Před 4 lety +5

    When it comes to Blues I enjoy the Harley Benton much more, a bit of natural dirt to the signal. Although I’d want to play twangy country music on the Fender. The lead tone comparison really shows how clean of a sound signal the Fender puts out. crisp clean highs with the Fender as where the HB treads into muddy. The Harley Benton really has a lovely tone to it though, like an old recording.

    • @stephanguitar9778
      @stephanguitar9778 Před 4 lety

      Have the HB52 cant get the tele twang on it. Otherwise tone ok.

  • @MrParkerfly1
    @MrParkerfly1 Před 4 lety +20

    I actually guessed it correctly from the first lick. Guitar B always sounded slightly warmer and less shrill with more complex overtones. Having said that, that cheap guitar sounded amazingly good for the money. Very interesting.

    • @davisworth5114
      @davisworth5114 Před rokem +2

      stop calling inexpensive guitars "cheap"!!!

    • @allighast9714
      @allighast9714 Před rokem +1

      A sounded cleaner, a more pure tone for manipulating with effects (as is standard in today's world) as well as amp sims. I would take A any day of the week, every week of the year. B sounds like a cheaper product that tried to compensate with a tarnished name brand that no longer maintains the innovative spirit or quality control it once had

  • @davidstein7906
    @davidstein7906 Před 4 lety

    Shane, thanks for a great comparison. Honestly since I possess older ears perhaps I don't hear all the subtle differences, but I have to say at first listen both guitars sounded wonderful. For me the clean tone is the real test and worth of an instrument. I have never been a snob about guitars if I like the feel and tone I don't look at the name on the headstock or price.This was a real eye opener. Harley Benton is producing some serious guitars. I bought one of their little acoustics last year and I am really enjoying playing it.

  • @EightNineOne
    @EightNineOne Před 4 lety +1

    Watched so many of these blind shootout videos. Watching this and expecting little difference, I was first surprised at how much difference in sound there was and how much better I thought A was. Shocked to find out the Harley Benton sounds this damn good

  • @cpcolella
    @cpcolella Před rokem +4

    They both sounded really similar. But I liked how A sounded just a little bit better. I was ready for A to be the Fender and was ready to be shocked at how close the Harley Benton was. Well I’m even more shocked that the Harley Benton sounded slightly better to me.

  • @chaz__
    @chaz__ Před 4 lety +16

    B was so obviously the Fender. Can't deny that bright tele twang, even in the neck position. is it true that a poly finish leads to a more muted tone compared to nitro?

    • @JoshBattershell
      @JoshBattershell Před 4 lety +6

      Chaz the material of an electric guitar makes such a little impact on the sound that it would be inaudible

    • @Eeuwit
      @Eeuwit Před 4 lety

      Josh Battershell true

    • @guitarandstuff8265
      @guitarandstuff8265 Před 4 lety +1

      Josh battershell I've been playing 22 years and I can hear differences in every guitar.

    • @JoshBattershell
      @JoshBattershell Před 4 lety +1

      Daniel Francis and you do! Because the vast majority of the sound comes from the electronics. A lot of which has a very bad tolerance for the accuracy in the ratings of the components. You could buy two of the same set of pickups, potentiometers, and capacitors, and put them in the same body with the same strings and they will sound like completely different guitars. The only time you’re going to hear differences in wood or any material is acoustically. If you actually think your ears are sensitive enough to hear the difference electrically, then you’re fooling yourself.

    • @guitarandstuff8265
      @guitarandstuff8265 Před 4 lety +2

      @@JoshBattershell u need to watch the tele video with Ash, alder, and mahogany body. Same electronics yet each body sounds different. Just get some acoustic guitars to see the difference. Can get a maple vs mahogany body and tell a drastic difference. You are mistaken about tonal qualities of wood. Even in electric guitars.

  • @ronnienose8608
    @ronnienose8608 Před 4 lety

    Yay, I got it right! Honestly though, the Benton sounds amazing, just a little more brittle, but that's it and pickups can be changed. I definitely want a TE-52. Nice one Shane. I love you to review the sparkly silver Fusion Pro they do.

  • @cheapskate8656
    @cheapskate8656 Před 4 lety

    I liked both of them and didn't know which was which. Good test and good video.

  • @deke441
    @deke441 Před 4 lety +18

    Both sound good not over $1800 in difference. HB is now $162 shipped to the US.

  • @Superjet113
    @Superjet113 Před 4 lety +14

    More clarity on the clean tones and more of the Fender twang on the Tele, but man that TE52 sounds pretty damn good. If you put the Tele pups in the TE52 it would sound the same almost I suppose. Great comparison Shane!

    • @philipboug
      @philipboug Před 4 lety +4

      So Ishould put the Fender pups into the HB? No Thanks!

  • @davewood482
    @davewood482 Před 3 lety

    Just finished HB tele kit, very enjoyable and I am amazed how easy to set up and sounds so twangy tele. So impressed. As good as my mex which cost 5 times as much.

  • @tonyfoster986
    @tonyfoster986 Před 4 lety

    After this I think I may finally pull the trigger on one of these te-52s. Been debating since they came out. I am in Canada so they aren't quite as cheap as if I was in the states, probably be just under 300 shipped.
    Great video as always🤘

  • @redlespaul8139
    @redlespaul8139 Před 4 lety +4

    Listening through headphones on my iPhone, guitar B sounds like it has a little more articulation. If I listen back using the iPhone speaker they both sound similar.

  • @JoelWetzel
    @JoelWetzel Před 4 lety +3

    My TE-52 weighs 10 pounds! I love playing it but, damn, it's heavy. I had to shield its innards because it was unuseably noisy and I put in a Fender switch and CTS pots while I was in there.

  • @bobainsworth9571
    @bobainsworth9571 Před 4 lety +2

    I recently bought on a whim an HB "similar to" a Gibby LPjunior. It is great and came out of the box (in the UK from Germany) tuned and nicely set up. Only negative is that the tuning sometimes drifts after heavy playing, seems like the tuning pegs are not great because the strings are fine.
    I agree that the name on the headstock does matter to a lot of people (who seem to have lots of money!) but for £177 including shipping why would anyone pay around £700 more for the name at the top!

  • @MrJoeydano
    @MrJoeydano Před 4 lety

    I’m a new amateur and guessed right on first play but I am always surprised how good some of these lost priced guitars sound 👍 ROCK ON 🤘

  • @fishypaw
    @fishypaw Před 4 lety +12

    1:05 A clean neck PU
    1:24 B clean neck PU
    1:48 A dirty neck PU
    2:02 B dirty neck PU
    2:21 A clean bridge PU
    2:32 B clean bridge PU
    2:52 A dirty bridge PU
    3:24 B dirty bridge PU

    • @landonbailey
      @landonbailey Před 4 lety

      0:00 The beginning 🤪

    • @fishypaw
      @fishypaw Před 4 lety +1

      6:35 The end 😈
      Hey man. I recognise your name, partly as I saw your latest video on Reddit's "Guitarpedalsjerk". They have thing about butterscotch teles there. 😉
      Hadn't subbed to your channel yet, but I have now. Cheers.

    • @landonbailey
      @landonbailey Před 4 lety

      @@fishypaw Guitarpedalsjerk? sounds mean. 😁 thanks for the sub! 👍🎸

    • @fishypaw
      @fishypaw Před 4 lety +1

      @@landonbailey Guitarpedalsjerk is a response to some of the silliness that happens on the Guitarpedals sub. I'm not sure why they slag off butterscotch teles so much. I think it's maybe that they are associated with "dad rock" or something. They can be a little mean at times but it's done in a fairly light hearted and tongue in cheek way. Personally, I do love teles, but I prefer mine in black or red. Saying that, I am currently contemplating sanding down my red relic-ed US standard tele, mainly so I can carve comfort curves on it. Not sure how I will refinish it. If the wood looks nice, I might just seal it with some Tru Oil, to let all the beautiful "toanz" seep through. ;)

    • @landonbailey
      @landonbailey Před 4 lety

      @@fishypaw ah k got ya. I find reddit pretty negative in general. I stay away now

  • @jacquesd5781
    @jacquesd5781 Před 3 lety +7

    A : Fender
    B : HB
    EDIT : WHAAAAAAAT!!! Wow, I'm blown away... I'm totally pulling the trigger on the HB!

  • @SteveLittleRiffs
    @SteveLittleRiffs Před 2 lety +1

    I just bought the HB based on this review, I was convinced guitar A was the Fender, I might even do a review myself when it turns up.
    Great video 👍🏻

  • @grilledspaghetti
    @grilledspaghetti Před 4 lety

    Fooled me, until you looked up on the overdrive sample and said "That's a good tone". I've seen that waaay too often on cheap gear reviews from you. Seriously impressed.

  • @landonbailey
    @landonbailey Před 4 lety +6

    Im saying A is fender and B is HB (at 2:36) (and A was the better sound to me. Damn!! won't ruin it for others)

    • @dafud77
      @dafud77 Před 4 lety +1

      Lando, go back and listen for the clarity in the pickups. The Fender is just a little cleaner. Same difference in your test, only a little closer.

    • @landonbailey
      @landonbailey Před 4 lety

      @@dafud77 I completely disregarded my own blind tone challenge rules. 1) never listen on a smartphone. 2) never listen on a smartphone. 🤪🎸👍

    • @dafud77
      @dafud77 Před 4 lety

      Lol, love it!

  • @shorerocks
    @shorerocks Před 4 lety +8

    Interesting, I found B to be my favorite, and that never changed. But then, with the price difference, it would be down to how the guitars feel when you play them. Great vid!

  • @UCS0608
    @UCS0608 Před 4 lety +1

    Nice reviewe, like always. And yes, they sound almost on par. I got it wrong!! :)
    One question: what about playability, tuners and overall quality control of the HB? Good fretwork etc? And will every HB TE52 the same quality?
    BTW, one can ask the same questions about the Fender of course... ;)

  • @manoskf
    @manoskf Před 3 lety

    I was completely wrong. Wow the low mids in HB fooled me big time. The clarity was there for both so... yep! THNX for this beautiful video

  • @paulcasilio1119
    @paulcasilio1119 Před 4 lety +4

    I honestly thought “A” was the Fender...wow. Would love, though, if HB would copy the butterscotch color of the Fender. I’m kind of originally a Fender guy and I really did prefer the HB.

  • @toddsteele72
    @toddsteele72 Před 4 lety +36

    Submitting this before hearing the verdict
    A: Fender
    B: Harley Benton.

  • @Reeldin58
    @Reeldin58 Před 2 lety

    Fantastic post. I just bought an HB guitar not a Tele type, I went for a Gold Top LP type with P90s. I honestly couldn't really tell either guitar apart, makes me glad I got a Harley. The guys at Thomann should buy you a beer or two after this .

  • @grindstone25
    @grindstone25 Před rokem

    HOLY COW, completely floored that A was the Harley. Sounds so clear and defined!

  • @michiellombaers3198
    @michiellombaers3198 Před 4 lety +5

    I really liked B better. Just a better warmth and detail in the single pu's.

  • @RobertStiles
    @RobertStiles Před 4 lety +3

    I knew A was the HB as soon as he strummed the strings and I heard mud from the pickup.
    B was cleaner. No doubt.

  • @dariocintra3183
    @dariocintra3183 Před 4 lety

    Nice review! Liked guitar B in all comparisons although in the last one I found them very close. That being said, being a proud of a squier Tele custom and being very surprised how these Harley Bentons sound, I would definitely buy the Harley Benton as I am not a professional although if I had ridiculous money to spend I might consider the Fender. I am not obsessed by name on the headstock anyway... Thanks for the review

  • @paulhicks3595
    @paulhicks3595 Před 3 lety +2

    Wow! I was so sure the nicer sounding PUs just had to be the Fender but I was wrong. Astounding. How does Harley Benton do it? What you didn’t tell us, however, was how they felt to play.

  • @mauricekilday
    @mauricekilday Před 4 lety +3

    Got it wrong :( Thought A had the bite of a tele and B was a bit too warm for a tele.

  • @jimmcdougall9973
    @jimmcdougall9973 Před 4 lety +7

    Yip, you had me. The HB had an overall warmer tone that I would associate with a played in, high end guitar. Plus, single notes seemed to have more definition/clarity with the HB. Surprising outcome and a winner for guys on a tight budget (like myself). Thank you.

  • @theroguetomato5362
    @theroguetomato5362 Před 4 lety +2

    Most of the time I preferred A, but there was one time (the last riff) I liked B more. I've got a Harley Benton Tele-style guitar (different model) and love it.

  • @lkgreenwell
    @lkgreenwell Před 4 lety +1

    I’m scraping dosh together in the hope of getting a MIM Player, to give me a base to judge others. I’d have gone for A, if anything, but they both sounded pretty good (edit - got it, in Capri Orange, MN, and it’s a treat! Now I’ll be able to tell if the HB is any good)

  • @alaricpaley6865
    @alaricpaley6865 Před 4 lety +5

    I kept sitting there going "B has this weird overtone I don't like..."
    WELP.

  • @GuitarOverdrive
    @GuitarOverdrive Před 4 lety +44

    Easily heard the difference and was team B the whole way. That said, the A is still a good sounding guitar, but didn’t have quite the same tonal richness as B.

    • @guitarandstuff8265
      @guitarandstuff8265 Před 4 lety

      Same. thought A sounded like a Mexican fender

    • @murphyebass7837
      @murphyebass7837 Před 4 lety +2

      Absolutely. Both sound good but the fender sounds streaks ahead.

    • @mattesb4281
      @mattesb4281 Před 4 lety +4

      For me A sounded better the whole time...

    • @jackspicer8796
      @jackspicer8796 Před 4 lety

      HB wasn't holding tuning very well either. The Fender just sounded like a classic Tele and you can tell there's more oomph to it.

    • @bobcavicchio3279
      @bobcavicchio3279 Před 4 lety

      @@jackspicer8796 Depends on your needs. The Fender is 4 times the price.

  • @rutgergooszen9774
    @rutgergooszen9774 Před 4 lety

    This is why I ordered the HB and it arrived yesterday when this video was posted! I also like the looks of the HB over the Fender, more grains en not yellowish. It is a bargain indeed.

  • @scottreynolds6317
    @scottreynolds6317 Před 4 lety

    Hadn’t seen this one yet, but loved it now that I have!

  • @moimeme7839
    @moimeme7839 Před 4 lety +3

    I could hear it, mostly on the bassy notes, the cheap one sounds like broken wood

  • @orvalmcneeley2621
    @orvalmcneeley2621 Před 4 lety +3

    I’ll admit to being a brand snob when I first started playing. These days tone is all that matters. This HB was the winner.

  • @SuperBettyswollocks
    @SuperBettyswollocks Před 4 lety

    Very impressed by the Harley Benton and had been toying with the idea of getting one last year. Ended up getting a Redwood RT2 from Dawson's music, and was absolutely blown away with it's playability. I own a Gibson les Paul standard, a Gibson Les Paul studio, and an EKO NXT parlour. I figured I had all I needed and was just missing a tele sound, and by God it's all tele. The neck is as smooth as silken skin and feels great in the hand. The frets were great with no sprouting at all, and the pickups are excellent too. I bought it for £78 and they sent me one with a scratch so I contacted Dawson's, so they sent me a replacement. They also advised me to dispose of the scratched one for them. It really was a smashing deal all round and to be fair, as a Gibson owner I know expensive, but can truly say it's a far better axe than my standard on ratio. These companies that turn out these quality guitars make it possible for everyone to own a fabulous instrument for little money. To say if you love your guitar you will be inspired to pick it up and play, so they are in a sense creating players, and that's pretty awesome.

  • @ButWhatDoIKnow
    @ButWhatDoIKnow Před 4 lety

    Got it right! I liked the fullness of the Fender but, the spank and sparkle of the HB was smokin' too. I would gladly play both.

  • @analogoutdoors
    @analogoutdoors Před 4 lety +7

    I guessed right, and absolutely prefer the Fender. What everyone is calling clarity in the Harley Benton sounds like thin, no bass, screechy to me. The Fender was smoother, had better bottom end, the high end was rounder and fatter. The HB is everything I Hate about cheap teles. MHO.

    • @testtube1195
      @testtube1195 Před 4 lety +1

      I ask myself what's wrong with all the people here, liking the hb sound. You are totally right, it sounds like what it is, a cheap tele.

    • @BingsBuddery
      @BingsBuddery Před 4 lety +1

      Totally agreed, the Benton is midless and empty sounding. No richness or fullness of tone.

    • @treloysis
      @treloysis Před 4 lety +1

      Exactly. I'm impressed people like the benton that much, I would 100% save up

  • @dk2428
    @dk2428 Před 4 lety +4

    *Me:* B sounds better!
    *My wallet:* You're wrong mate!

    • @RicheyV
      @RicheyV Před 4 lety

      Harley Benton are great

  • @imagzz4942
    @imagzz4942 Před 4 lety +2

    Would've liked to hear how their necks compare in a little more detail. Especially when it comes to the frets and fret ends.

  • @craighambo
    @craighambo Před 3 lety

    I am into the tele but actually preferred the HB.I am now confused and need some time to figure things out.Awese video and thanks so much.

  • @softwareengineer8711
    @softwareengineer8711 Před 4 lety +18

    Most fenders are really cheap guitars sold expensively. After so many years, they still charge too much for a carved neck heel you can get on any cheap guitar nowadays.

    • @DarioRubilovic
      @DarioRubilovic Před 4 lety +1

      "Carved". Compared to others, their "carved" heel looks like a chip on the joint.

    • @jonsmustache7704
      @jonsmustache7704 Před 4 lety +1

      Yknow, it is possible to like affordable guitars and not simultaneously dismiss expensive ones as overpriced trash.

    • @Emma-kz3zr
      @Emma-kz3zr Před 4 lety +1

      @@jonsmustache7704
      I like Fenders, but they haven't just been convicted for price fixing in Europe for nothing.

    • @jonsmustache7704
      @jonsmustache7704 Před 4 lety

      @David Willis, You have a point there.

    • @shaunduffy3912
      @shaunduffy3912 Před 4 lety

      @@Emma-kz3zr that being said they do make stellar instruments compared to Gibson for the money sure i spent €600 on a Mexican player series strat and i don't know if i just got lucky but you wouldn't get a new Gibson that feels that good for that kinda money, although it is still very scummy what fender have been doing im regards to pricing here in Europe

  • @wklorenzino
    @wklorenzino Před 4 lety +4

    I guessed right! To me the Fender had a lot more definition in it's sound. That being said, the Harley Benton still sounded gig worthy. What I want to know is how does one feel compared to the other.

  • @oskios3739
    @oskios3739 Před 4 lety +1

    Hi there, I was right in my appreciation. A H Benton. But a question, I noticed some intonation problems on the Benton. Could you please make another comparison of both of them with the first presets... I hope I'm wrong but it could be the most important thing for my decision.... Thanks. Lot!!

  • @bobbyhanson1940
    @bobbyhanson1940 Před 6 měsíci

    Our boy intheblues can play! Nicely done! ;)

  • @sgtgrash
    @sgtgrash Před 4 lety +5

    Well, I am officially shocked, I was certain 'A' was the Fender. The HB was tonally superior to my ears, by a significant margin.

  • @DarraghC
    @DarraghC Před 4 lety +4

    I thought A sounded much cleaner and less muddy, great video, might just have to pick meself up one of those Harley Bentons. Cheers.

  • @robertwhyte3435
    @robertwhyte3435 Před 4 lety

    I always think it would be interesting to see what guitars sound like unamplified. I don't know if it would amount to anything but still, it would be nice to hear if there's a difference the pickups don't find. Great video, thank you.

    • @sectionq1
      @sectionq1 Před 8 měsíci

      They'd both sound different for sure, they're made of different wood and the HB is heavier. But honestly, as much as people like to tell you how much difference the wood make, it really is so small to barely make a difference. You don't buy an electric for its unplugged sound, even if you do play it on your lap in front of the TV more than you do plugged in! The pickups account for most of the sound. Especially in a mix, there's no way you'd pick up any subtle differences. Even with drums it's the same. People spend a fortune on all of these exotic woods. Bear in mind that a drum kits sound is ONLY the wood and the drum heads sitting on top of that. When you put 2 drum kits that are tuned the same with different woods next to each other as soon as they're in a mix you'd have to have bat ears to notice a discernible difference. If you really want the sound of the Fender for cheap, pop a couple of Fender pups in your HB. The pickups would cost more than the cost of the guitar but hey...

  • @Twirlyhead
    @Twirlyhead Před 4 lety +2

    I have a Harley Benton Tele. First tele I have owned in 40 years of owning electric guitars and I really like it; great guitar. I have swapped out the Roswell humbuckers on two LP type Harley Bentons with good improvement but I have no intention of swapping the pups on the tele as they sound great already. Get a HB tele and you will be all smiles like me.
    PS. Mine is the TE70 Paisley.

  • @johns4751
    @johns4751 Před 4 lety +5

    Wow, that Harley Benton is impressive for the $. Especially liked the driven tones!

  • @AdaptivePhenix
    @AdaptivePhenix Před 3 lety +4

    I've had a direct clone from China for about eight years now with the Fender logo. I had to lower the nut and action overall and of course changed the strings. Beautiful sunburst with binding. My purist buddies believe that it's real 😂😂
    $200 delivered. Sooo much BS in this industry.

  • @baldbearded9601
    @baldbearded9601 Před 4 lety

    I have a Harley Benton TE-70 and it's amazing.. details weren't perfect on the guitar when received but once I fixed a few things.. that instrument is surprising!! Great tone, amazing feel! I have small hands and usually don't like fat necks but this one feels just perfect!

  • @BEGOTT3N
    @BEGOTT3N Před 4 lety

    Great idea this test!