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.
