TEST: Harley Benton SC 550

 When the author of this review was a curly-haired youth, there were 2! Guitar brands with which you could make a statement for your personal ego and your circle of friends. Both came from America, both were very expensive, one was called Fender, the other Gibson. Anyone who didn't come into the illustrious circle of these two providers had to make friends with an impressive hodgepodge of Japanese providers, all of which had the same shapes as the two protagonists, but differed massively from them in detail. Mind you, Japan was just starting to build electric guitars and had correspondingly little expertise, in China people were still walking around in boiler suits and God knows countries like Vietnam had other problems than building guitars for European boys like me. Anyone who receives an instrument manufactured in Asia today usually receives a completely different level of quality than in the early days of the electric guitar, which brings us to our test instrument, the Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB.

Structure and construction

The hanger of the Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB is associated with a very simple number, 279. That is the retail price in euros at Thomann for this Les Paul copy, which is manufactured in Indonesia. Just let this price melt in your mouth for a moment and then think about how it is even possible to sell an instrument, even if it is only of average quality, at this retail price. This is only possible due to direct imports, the elimination of middlemen and the use of OEM production, otherwise the instrument would have to have at least double the sales price.

Thomann's house brand Harley Benton serves the major trademarks of Gibson's #1 driving force, but skilfully avoids the details that have already ended up in court with many other providers. A direct model cannot be identified as a template; rather, Harley Benton incorporates several elements that were used in different decades of the Les Paul.

As expected, mahogany is the primary tonewood used in the body and glued-in neck. However, the neck has an inclined connection at the base of the neck, making it a little easier to play in the high registers. However, the first time you pick up the instrument it becomes clear that this instrument has a “chambered body” for weight reasons. The weight of still 3.7 kg would probably drive an RG player screaming out of the room, but the classic LP player can only smile at such information. Gibson itself recently shelved this design again because customers rejected the hollower and sustain-reduced sound in favor of protecting the back. The interested customer can form his own opinion here, for me personally an instrument can't be heavy enough, but that's another story.

As a visual eye-catcher, an intensively stained and eye-catching curly maple veneer was glued onto the mahogany body of the Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB, but this does not affect the sound of the instrument due to its small thickness. It's still pretty to look at though. The fingerboard was once again made of Pau Ferro, which comes very close to the resonance behavior of rosewood, but is significantly cheaper in price. Pearloid trapezoid inlays are used as fingerboard inlays in the LP Standard Style.

When it comes to the neck profile, Harley Benton is based on the 1960s LP neck profile from Gibson with the thicknesses of 20 mm on the 1st fret, 22 mm on the 12th fret and the shape of a moderate “C”, while, for example, the potentiometer attachments of both Volume and Tone Controllers were borrowed from the fifties collection. You can see that Harley Benton is not looking for authenticity, but rather pursues her own approach.

As befits an instrument of this shape, the short scale length of 62.8 cm was used, which means that the string tension is slightly lower than with the long scale length. 2 pieces were used as pickups. Tesla Opus-1 AlNiCo-5 humbuckers installed, a company I had never heard of before and which is apparently based in Korea.

Everything is fine so far? Now, I don't know which designer at Harley Benton has the final say before the instrument goes into production, but I believe that position should be filled as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the attractive appearance of the instrument is severely compromised in the area of the headstock. On the one hand, we have a saddle made of bright white plastic. Unfortunately, a real downer when you consider that all other plastic parts such as the binding on the neck and body, the frames of the pickups and the art plate below the three-way switch are in a vintage-colored cream / ivory. The visual discrepancy reduces the appearance enormously, especially since the cream-colored neck binding rests against the white saddle.

However, this is nothing compared to the tuning pegs of the mechanics, which were made in green (!)! Yes, you read that right, green! Not a bright grass green, more of a jade green, but definitely the most inappropriate color scheme on a Tobacco Burst colored guitar I've ever seen in my life. Whether the designer thought this is what vintage tuners would look like after decades of use, I have no idea, but if you value the visual appearance of your instrument, you should plan on getting a set of new tuning tuners when you buy the instrument. It's actually a shame, because there's nothing wrong with the mechanics in terms of their control and quality.

The Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB in practice

When you pick up the instrument for the first time, everything seems very familiar. Harley Benton easily manages to create a good feel for the game from the first moment and does not create any haptic inconsistencies. As is already known from other Harley Benton products, the vibration quality of the instrument is well above the advertised retail price. While you used to get a plank of plywood with the vibration characteristics of a kitchen table for this course, the Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB offers a good basis for a satisfying game. Although the body cavities once again prove to be easy sustain killers and give the instrument a latently hollow sound approach, the always solid construction of the instrument in general easily compensates for this point.

Only the Tesla pickups don't really convince me. Although the pickups in the crunch area leave a really good impression with their subtly brittle sound and the high gain area is also quite acceptable, the clean area in particular shows that the pickups lack sonic character. The basic sound seems a bit “occupied”, it lacks liveliness and the necessary frequency peaks to climb to the next higher level in the quality scale. But you should also keep in mind the retail price, which sets its economic limits somewhere. If you want, you can always buy a set of high-quality humbuckers and it will still cost just under €500.

Incidentally, the tester received the instrument very well set up, a fact that is still not a matter of course with inexpensive Far East production. Proper adjustment of the instrument during the final inspection must always be done by hand, takes at least 20 minutes and since human handwork is the main factor in the final price of the instrument, other manufacturers are sometimes happy to save money here. What didn't I get from Asia in the past, concave necks that you could slide a finger under, crooked necks, octave purity, what is that?

All in all, the Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB impresses in many areas and will not only appeal to users who will only focus on the retail price. The sound files were created with an ENGL Savage MK II, Cordial cables, a Marshall 412 cabinet with Celestion G75T and 2 pcs. Shure SM 57 created.

Conclusion

With the Harley Benton SC-550 II DFB, the Thomann house brand has a good and very affordable LP copy in its portfolio. The instrument is very well made, offers a good basis in terms of vibration and, thanks to OEM production and direct import, delivers an outstanding price/performance ratio. If you can get used to the somewhat brittle sounding Tesla pickups and ignore the most mismatched tuning pegs of all time, you should give the instrument a try.

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Additional Informations:

Introduction:
Harley Benton, a brand renowned for its affordable yet high-quality musical instruments and equipment, has gained attention for its range of products that bear striking similarities to those of other manufacturers. These offerings, often referred to as replicas or inspired gear, have sparked discussions within the music community about their ethical implications, quality, and value proposition. In this comprehensive article, we delve into Harley Benton's replicas and inspired gear, examining their origins, characteristics, and impact on the industry.

1. Origins and Evolution:
Harley Benton's foray into replicas and inspired gear can be traced back to the brand's mission of providing musicians with access to quality instruments and equipment at affordable prices. Recognizing the popularity of certain iconic designs and sounds, Harley Benton began offering replicas and inspired versions of sought-after gear, ranging from guitars and basses to effects pedals and amplifiers.

2. Replication vs. Inspiration:
It's essential to distinguish between replicas, which are exact copies of existing products, and inspired gear, which draws inspiration from existing designs but incorporates unique features or modifications. While some Harley Benton products closely resemble those of other manufacturers, others take inspiration from classic designs while adding modern improvements or innovations.

3. Ethical Considerations:
The production and sale of replicas and inspired gear raise ethical questions within the music industry. Critics argue that replicas may infringe upon intellectual property rights and undermine the originality and creativity of designers and manufacturers. However, proponents argue that replicas and inspired gear make iconic designs more accessible to a broader audience while fostering innovation and competition in the market.

4. Quality and Craftsmanship:
One of the primary concerns surrounding replicas and inspired gear is their quality and craftsmanship compared to their original counterparts. While some musicians may perceive replicas as lower-quality imitations, others attest to the impressive build quality and performance of Harley Benton's offerings. Factors such as materials, construction techniques, and attention to detail all contribute to the overall quality of replicas and inspired gear.

5. Value Proposition:
Despite the ethical and quality considerations, Harley Benton's replicas and inspired gear offer a compelling value proposition for musicians. By providing affordable alternatives to expensive or hard-to-find instruments and equipment, Harley Benton enables musicians of all backgrounds and budgets to access iconic tones and designs. Additionally, the brand's commitment to quality control and customer satisfaction ensures that musicians can rely on their replicas and inspired gear for reliable performance and longevity.

6. Range of Replicas and Inspired Gear:
Harley Benton offers a diverse range of replicas and inspired gear across various product categories. From guitars inspired by classic models from Fender and Gibson to effects pedals inspired by vintage circuits, the brand's lineup caters to a wide range of musical styles and preferences. Whether you're a beginner looking for your first instrument or a seasoned player seeking an affordable alternative to a boutique pedal, Harley Benton's replicas and inspired gear provide viable options.

7. Community Reception and Reviews:
Feedback from musicians and reviews of Harley Benton's replicas and inspired gear have been mixed. While some musicians praise the brand for offering affordable alternatives to iconic designs, others express concerns about originality and authenticity. However, many users appreciate the value and performance of Harley Benton's offerings, highlighting their reliability, playability, and sound quality.

8. Future Directions and Innovations:
As Harley Benton continues to expand its product lineup and reach, the brand may explore new directions and innovations in replicas and inspired gear. This could involve collaborating with designers and manufacturers to create unique hybrid designs or incorporating proprietary technologies and features into existing replicas. By staying attuned to the evolving needs and preferences of musicians, Harley Benton remains poised to push the boundaries of what's possible in replicas and inspired gear.

9. Conclusion:
In conclusion, Harley Benton's replicas and inspired gear occupy a unique space in the music industry, offering affordable alternatives to iconic designs while sparking debates about ethics, quality, and value. Whether you view them as innovative interpretations or contentious imitations, there's no denying the impact that replicas and inspired gear have had on musicians worldwide. As Harley Benton continues to evolve and innovate, its replicas and inspired gear will undoubtedly remain a topic of discussion among musicians, enthusiasts, and industry insiders alike.