Harley Benton CLG-70ASR CE SBK AllSolid

Harley Benton, how the funk do you do it?!
You've officially yanked "brand identity elitism" right off my high horse and left it in the dust of your budget-friendly brilliance.

Now let’s be real—does this guitar sound or play exactly like my $1,500 Taylor? No. But for what it is, it punches so far above its weight class it deserves a title shot. The playability, build quality, and sheer attention to detail are borderline criminal at this price point. Seriously—who gave Harley Benton permission to be this good for this little?

I took this beauty to a recent solo gig, and the compliments were flying—mostly about how jaw-droppingly gorgeous it is (and yeah, that wood binding is chef’s kiss), but also the sound. When a fellow guitarist approaches you post-show to ask about your instrument, you know you've struck gold. Watching their jaws drop when I say, “It’s a Harley Benton” is a joy I’ll never get tired of.

Out of the box, I did a minor neck setup, but the fretwork? Impeccable. No buzz. No sharp edges. Just smooth sailing. The open gear tuners hold pitch like a pro, so I’m not constantly tuning between songs or silently panicking during a set.

Comfort-wise, this might be the most player-friendly acoustic I own. I clocked in a full 3-hour gig and walked away without the dreaded forearm dent. That alone deserves a slow clap.

If I had to nitpick? The preamp’s decent, but I’d love to see a slightly higher-end option—maybe something with a touch more clarity or sparkle. I’m a Fishman fanboy, and while the current setup gets the job done (and easily EQ’d post-guitar), a little upgrade here could push this from “amazing value” to “legendary steal.”

All in all, this is my fourth Harley Benton purchase, and certainly not my last. I wholeheartedly recommend this guitar to anyone who wants boutique vibes without boutique pricing.