JA-20HH Active SBK : Large manufacturers beware

I have been looking at a Harley Benton for a few years. I pulled the trigger on this one not really knowing what to expect. To say I was pleasantly surprised is a massive understatement. The finish of the guitar is flawless from the tip of the headstock to the bottom of the body. The frets are very well dressed both on the ends as well as the crown. The tuners are holding tune perfectly and are very smooth to turn with just the right amount of tension. The active pickups are extremely good. The bridge is bright on the cleans and gets very crunchy when driven. The neck is pure fat vintage sounding cream. And the middle position is the best of both. The setup of the guitar feels like someone cared about the playability of this guitar and took the time to make it rad. The action may be a bit low for some but it is perfect for my style. Very low to the frets and ZERO buzz. The metals used don’t look nor feel cheap and there is a bit of a premium feel to them. The only downside I have found is one that has been mentioned here before. You will need to remove the bridge and sand the paint where the ground wire touches it. There is a bit of noise when you push gain or distortion. It’s a simple fix and I don’t feel it warrants a drop in the rating. I will purchase another HB, and it will be soon! Oh and shipping was fast, 3 days from Germany to the US.