-
Just arrived in the post.
Looks very good for £60.
It was a "B Stock" item.
I wanted an inexpensive Tele type guitar for leaving at places overnight, this might be just the guitar for that.
Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Seri B-Stock – Thomann UK
-
04-02-2026 05:43 AM
-
These Chinese guitars are really cheap.But probably in practice you have to replace parts.
-
Some of the Harley Benton guitars and basses get great reviews, and bad ones. Let us know your honest opinion, Guy - not that you would ever be dishonest, I hasten to add!
-
The first two reviews in that you link you gave sum the situation up perfectly. The first guy absolutely loves it - after he had to wash the fingerboard! - while the other guy moaned about a variety of things.
But at these prices, if you are short of money, they might be worth a gamble. One does wonder about the ethics of it all, though.
-
Replacing the frets in my Tele luthier cost as much as three Harley Benton Teles.
-
@GuyBoden - I’d be very interested to hear your thoughts on this guitar. I have an inexpensive Alvarez “parlour” guitar that I play all the time, much more than my posh guitars…
-
There was nothing wrong with the guitar, it was very playable out of the box with the original strings.
The guitar was "B Stock", probably due to a notch in the wood being visible in front body finish.
But, while I've spent a lifetime doing guitar DIY and have the tools:
1.) Adjusted the Truss rod, to a very slight relief.
2.) I dressed/polished the frets, out the box they were ok, but the fret ends were a bit sharp for my standard.
3.) I dressed the 12th fret, to lower it slightly, it was buzzing at very low action. less than 1.5mm.
4.) I cut the nut very low, as I like it.
5.) New TI flat wound strings.
6.) Setup and intonation on the bridge.
6.) I drilled and replace the Strap button holes/screws, for longer more secure screws. (From experience, I prefer very secure strap buttons.)
I took the pickguard off and had a look at the neck pickup cavity. I will need to enlarge the cavity, if I install a Humbucker in the future.
Like many, I've never liked these original type Tele bridges.
A very nice playable guitar for £60 + 8 postage. Very pleased.
-
That's insanely inexpensive.
-
Yes, incredibly low price, so it wasn't really a big gamble.
Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
They are £77 new, but I bought a "B stock" for £60, due to a blemish in the finish.
Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series – Thomann UK
-
When covid occured,Mike Rutherford of Genesis got stuck in Cape Town because of a lockdown without a guitar and he went to a local shop and bought a Fender Squire for $200.He liked it so much he kept using on tour afterward.CNC machines today work the same irregardless of what name is on the headstock and can produce a more than viable guitar.
-
I think Im gonna grab one of those.
Though I have a number of guitars its only from slowly picking them up over the years.
Im really more of a one guitar kind of guy. I love my carved archtop with a floater. I have an unplayed es125 and an Aria laminated archtop too. None of my other guitars get much play and someday I may sell them to fund something superior to my Eastman but for now Im really happy.
That said, I love a project and a cheap tele with a pickup that costs more than the guitar may be in the cards. If I dont play it much the cash outlay will be minimal. I have toyed with the idea of a Charlie Christian floater in my Aria. The humbucker is ok but not inspiring. It might be better to spend the money or a floater for the Aria...Im unsure.
-
There was a student at a school I teach with one and I was shocked at how good it was.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
“Shearing style”
Today, 05:26 PM in Comping, Chords & Chord Progressions