Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit CST-24T Reviews

This was fun!

This was very very fun to assemble and set up. the only con is the nut :(. Other way this is best thing after you know what ;)

Worst bridge type ever, don't order this model.

The wood where the bridge is located, just cracked after string attachment, very dissapointed...

Had to order new body, wood quality (or maybe bridge placement) is worse than you get from Aliexpress.

artículo de decoración

el puente flotante está mal diseñado, para ejercer suficiente tensión tuve que apretar los tornillos hasta el punto que perforaron el mástil de la guitarra. el puente también rompió la madera del cuerpo, por lo que me tuvieron que mandar otro de repuesto. después de pintar y darle acabado al cuerpo nuevo la mayoría de tornillos y piezas estaban mal alineadas o ni siquiera entraban. como artículo de decoración está bien y es bonita, pero como instrumento para tocar es un absoluto dolor de cabeza y manos constante.

Excellent value for the price

I needed a guitar to start experimenting with different setups and thought I may also get some enjoyment from actually putting it together as well.

This unit was an obvious no-brainer for me. A good guitar shape, 24 frets all at a very respectable price.

Unit arrived in a few days and I must say that although I wasn't really expecting anything great it really surprised me.

I will admit the fret ends needed quite a bit of attention prior to attachment but following that the neck fit the body perfectly with a nice, snug no gaps seal which is exactly what you want to see.

After that the rest was simple, all parts in the box, pre-drilled holes for fittings, zero solder connections and I was up and playing in about 30 mins.

This would be an ideal project for a beginner or an enthusiast and the guitar itself is quite playable after completion (I did find the pickups a little bit on the high end side for my liking but that is a personal opinion).

There are a few models to choose from and I totally recommend the experience.

Amazing guitar built from HB Kit!

I recently purchased the Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit CST-24T, and I must say it has exceeded all my expectations. This kit is an absolute gem for any aspiring guitarist or even seasoned players looking for a new addition to their collection. From its stunning aesthetics to its impeccable playability, this guitar has truly won me over.

First and foremost, the craftsmanship of the CST-24T is exceptional. The body is beautifully constructed with high-quality tonewoods, providing both durability and tonal richness. The sleek double-cutaway design not only enhances its appearance but also allows easy access to the higher frets, enabling effortless solos and shredding.

When it comes to playability, the CST-24T is a dream. The neck is smooth and comfortable, providing a fast playing experience. The fretwork is flawless, ensuring accurate intonation across the entire fretboard. The 24 medium-jumbo frets allow for easy bending and provide excellent note sustain. Whether you're strumming chords or executing intricate lead lines, this guitar delivers with precision and responsiveness.

One of the standout features of the CST-24T is its versatile electronics. The guitar comes equipped with a set of humbucker pickups, delivering a wide range of tones suitable for various musical genres. From warm and smooth cleans to fat and crunchy overdriven tones, this guitar can handle it all. The coil-splitting option adds an extra layer of versatility, allowing you to achieve single-coil sounds with a simple flick of a switch.

Assembling the guitar from the kit was a joyous experience. The instructions provided were clear and concise, making the building process accessible even for beginners. All the necessary components were included, and the hardware was of excellent quality. The kit also provided a great opportunity to learn about the different parts of the guitar and how they come together to create an instrument that truly sings.

In terms of value for money, the Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit CST-24T is an absolute steal. Considering the quality of the materials, the craftsmanship, and the impressive tone options, it easily rivals guitars that are priced significantly higher. Whether you're a budget-conscious musician or simply enjoy the satisfaction of building your own instrument, this kit offers an incredible bang for your buck.

In conclusion, the Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit CST-24T is a true winner in every aspect. Its stunning looks, exceptional playability, versatile tones, and affordability make it an irresistible choice for guitar enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a beginner starting your musical journey or a seasoned player looking for a reliable and inspiring instrument, the CST-24T will not disappoint. Unleash your inner rock god and let this guitar become the catalyst for your musical greatness!

I hope this review helps you in expressing your admiration for the Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit CST-24T!

Nice bit of kit

Kit required no solder and was an interesting build to make with our youth club to learn about how a guitar is built.

The neck is s..t (Not good)...

The part that is suppose to fit in the neck pocket/cavity should be flat and in angle to be playable.

But it is like an egg, there is almost 1mm higher in the middle so the neck moves when you touch it..

Probably have they try to grind it smooth by hand after milling and failed totally. To get a surface of 4*6 cm perfect flat by hand you need a lot of craftsmanship! I got it but those who hasn't?? Pour people.

Best kit on here

Once you can manage beginner soldering, this is the best kit to get, iv done others that were solder free but they were harder than this, top quality timber on this compared to others

Needs a lot to make it work really well

Here’s why I decided to buy this guitar kit. I’m 40 years old with 7 years of learning piano and music theory when I was a kid and then some experience with local bands as a singer and songwriter. I can play guitar a bit more than cowboy chords, when you watch videos like “see my guitar progress in a year”, I’m somewhere in 8-10th month :) But now i want to improve my skills. I already had an electric guitar at the time of purchase of this kit, a top-of-the-line Ibanez RG, but when I got back to guitar lessons, I understood that Ibanez is too complicated for setup (changing strings and getting the floyd rose guitar back to tune is a nightmare for a non-exprerienced player) and it’s too expensive in case I spoil something trying to set it up.

So I decided to buy this kit and build my own guitar, that I won’t be afraid to adjust or modify while improving my guitar skills. I was also hoping to have fun with the process and save some money comparing to buying a complete guitar of the same quality.

I chose CST24T because it’s a good looking one and has a shorter scale with 24 frets, I also wanted a humbucker-sized cutouts in the body so I would be able to install any kind of pickups later without cutting the body. I didn’t care much about tremolo, but I chose this version because it’s easier to adjust intonation of each string compared to a non-tremolo CST24.

So I got a guitar kit and started with the neck. Lots of reviewers here have mentioned that fret ends need grinding and frets themselves need polishing. That’s all true. So you need a file, a polishing compound, masking tape, a cloth and a few spare hours to make it really playable. Then the fretboard is really dry, so you need lemon oil.

Then 1to the body. I wanted to stain the wood in a few layers (staining-sanding-staining etc) to make its structure more visible. Well, first you need to sand off the factory applied sealer and get access to the wood pores if you want to use stain, and not paint or just clear-coat. So you need an orbital sander, sanding paper and a few more hours to proceed. And then you have to realise that rengas is not at all the wood with a nice structure that you should expose with staining. For a beautiful staining you need to glue a maple veneer on top which I decided not to do.

Ok. You have it painted, assembled and adjusted - then the guitar gets quite playable with low action and minimal buzz. You can make it even better with fret levelling.

So here we come to the two main cons of this guitar.

1. Pickups. They just make some sound and that’s it. I ordered a pair of no name split coil humbuckers on eBay and they made it sound so much better….

2. Location of a volume pot. It’s different from a complete CST24 guitars and it’s really on the way of your right hand. After a month of playing I decided to drill another hole and relocate it.

Because of this I suggest to assemble and try this guitar first - you would understand what you want to improve and what you’re happy with as it is. Then you can order all the parts you need and go on with painting, polishing frets etc.

Please don’t buy this kit if you want to save money or you don’t have time. Better look at ready to play guitars. With all the tools and materials I think I already spent 200-250 euros (kit itself, new pickups, tools, paintwork etc) and a few full days. I’m quite happy with the result (giving it 5 stars) but now I’m buying a complete JA-60 instead of getting a JA-style kit.

Awesome guitar

What an awesome bit of kit. Everything is in the box and great quality. Easily assembled and great to play. I will definitely be buying from them again. And the service is fantastic.

delighted

I saw, i bought, always loved this style of guitar and couldn't pass it up at the price, did a quick build to check all parts fit and work, which they do, neck pocket and neck excelent fit and i may be tempted to make it a set neck, after i have done a sunburst finish to the body.

Body had sanding marks, neck marvelous

I'm not too worried about the deep sanding marks on the body contouring, because I can sand wood easily enough. The important thing is that the neck feel is very good. I'll have to polish the frets a little, especially rough bits at the edge, but overall its very close.

Great kit for a great price

It’s a pretty cheap guitar kit but the quality is really good! I recommend

Good weekend projects for kids

I bought it so my wife can draw on it and just decorate it somewhere. It is a super cheap guitar will super cheap components. Which is what you pay for. It's a fan thing to do though. Doesn't worth upgrading it because the wood is not fancy.

excellent

body and neck were really smooth,with only the body having a light sanding. the build was easy . i left the body as it was because it looked great after the light sanding.body and neck were given several coats of carnauba axe wax. this gives a lovely smooth satin sheen. the guitar is very light and easy to play,sounds good too. great value. very pleased.

Trash

It was a defected body with post holes routed too big for the ferrules, poorly routed bridge pocket, neck holes in wrong position and missing neck screws. Asked for help to the Customer Service, they refused to change the body and asked me to glue ferrules with superglue...

Unbelievable...

Neck was nice but the body was trash.

Had to ask for a refund, i am gutted because i was really looking for this project.

A great project

I wanted a PSR style guitar to add to my collection but didn't have the funds. This was a fun project that kept me entertained for many wintery evenings. I spent over a week preparing the body, priming, painting and lacquering with lots of sanding and buffing. The end result looked fantastic. I upgraded the strings and tuners. It took alot of adjustments to make it playable but the tone and feel of the guitar are showing great promise. I think with time and maybe some more modifications it will become a favourite.

Negatives are the nut, tuners and the bridge. Intonation is very difficult to achieve.

Positives are the general look and tone of the guitar and surprisingly good humbuckers.

For an £80 build its an excellent place to start when building a nice guitar.

Better than expected

In many ways it is better than I expected (of course, as a cheap kit, it has some flaws)

Positiv:

- first of all, it is quite cheap

- the neck is surprisingly good, nice wood, very smooth surface (very tempted not to change there anything)

- the fretwork needs only minimal adjustment (minimal levelling and polishing), the fret ends are really smooth (no need to work on that)

- the wood of the body has quite nice grain, and even it is made of 3 (or 4?) parts it is not so easy to spot the changes

- the electronic parts are easy to install

- the sound is acceptable

Weak spots:

- the sealer doesn't seem to cover the body fully and it is not very smooth on the curved surfaces, so a lot of sandig work is needed for every kind of finish.

- the fretboard wood is very dry and with open pores, takes a lot of oil

- the provided term feells very cheap, with thin, light block (changed is to a 2 point Harley Benton (Wilkinson) trem

- the routing is not bad, but could be more precise, had to make some minor routing for the neck pickup (levelling screw reached the bottom of the cavity). The holes for the neck pickup frame is a little bit too close to the neck (the neck was "bendig" the pickup frame), had to drill new ones app. 2 mm closer to the bridge

- the provided strings are not great, but I only used them for the first assembling (test assembling before I do the finishing).

Overall, it was fun to work with so far, looking forward for the finishing work and a little bit of modding (already done the term, maybe better tuners, would also try other pickups .

Fun project, and nice end result

First off, the end result is a guitar that sounds good and looks good. It is quite nice to play too, and will be better when after a little work on the frets, which are good, but could do with a polish and removal of a few sharp ends.

The kit arrived very well packaged, with the neck, body and hardware in three individual boxes, with bubblewrap providing further protection.

There were two instruction books supplied (one in German and on in English). It said "Singlecut" on the front, but the photos were correct for this model, and it provided a very easy step-by-step guide for us beginners. The only issues we faced with the build were with trying to work out the correct screws to use in each case, as it wasn't always clear from the photos and written instructions. But it's not rocket science either, and can be figured out.

Pros:

- Everything went together as expected with no drama

- Wiring is very easy

- Korean pots and switches actually feel great, unexpected in this price range

- Frets are good and level

- The pickups sound good, nothing to complain about for this price

Cons:

- The nut is very low already, but the notches are very shallow, so not much can be done about it, but it does seem to work okay

- The bridge isn't all that easy to set up, particularly adjusting the heights of the saddles is somewhat awkward.

- Instructions could be a little clearer about the screws to be used in each case.

Overall, this is a good kit, and I would recommend it. And the guitar is nice.