Harley Benton Custom Line CLR-Chrome 4-stars Reviews

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4 years ago

3rd Time Lucky

As the title suggests this is my third resonator guitar.

I previously has a Regal RC-51 Tri-cone and a Regal RC-2 single cone.

I never liked using them.

I again ventured into the realm of resonator guitars again with this HB.

The quality of the HB is every bit as good as the Regals. In fact, in certain respects it is better. Aesthetically, it looks the part with the slotted headstock and Art Deco tuners. The tuners are smooth and excellent as well as fine-looking.

I am now enjoying playing a resonator. That is due to my greater experience and using picks on all fingers. You really have to use picks to get the sound out of it. Bare fingers no good. Picks make it ring out bright and strong.

7 years ago

Nice Guitar but work needed

Having owned a resonator in the past, I knew what to expect from such an instrument. Upon opening the box, the guitar looked nice and the quality was acceptable. There was a little excess glue showing where the neck met the body, but that was easily removed.

The biggest disappointment was the sound. Initially it sounded very "banjo" like with little resonance from the higher strings. This was improved by an immediate string change to a branded make. The next problem was that the nut was low, so that when using a slide, there was a lot of string rattle from the first fret. Again, this was rectified by removing the nut and adding a thin strip of plastic card beneath the nut to raise it slightly. The guitar now sounds bright and loud, particularly when using a brass slide. The remaining criticism relates to the very sharp fret edges. This is something I will have to take to a luthier to be corrected. Despite all of the small problems I have experienced, I would still recommend this guitar, but there are some QC issues and maybe I was unlucky. Considering the price point of this guitar, I would summarise by saying it is worth the money but be prepared to possibly having to work on the setup.

10 years ago

If you want to get started on playing resonator guitar, this is a decent looking & sounding instrument for not very much money at all.

It won't give you the sound or quality of a £2000 national, but add some heavier strings, put it into open G , grab a bottleneck and you'll be producing authentic early blues noises,

Lots of fun...no idea how they do it for the money.

12 years ago

A great starter resonator

This guitar is great for someone who wants to venture into the world of resonator guitars.

In honesty it isn't fantastic. The quality can be lacking. I found that the machineheads don't like to stay screwed into place though this is easily fixed. Some areas are a bit rough, the finish can tarnish is not cleaned on a regular basis and the holes near the headstock are rough.

It isn't going to stand up to a £1,000 resonator but don't let it put you off. It's very good for the price and still has signature sound. Stick some heavy gauge strings on, whack into an open tuning and get a good quality slide for some really authentic blues.

It's the sound you want at a price you want. What more could you ask?

12 years ago

Harley Benton CLR-Chrome

This Resonator instrument is attractive with it's slot headstock and faux Grover heads. It is good value but it arrived with a nut that was far too high and terrible strings.

The neck was slightly bowed. That was corrected quickly with an allen key.

The nut itself need to be cut down in height and the nut slots properly re-cut to prevent damping vibration and strings 'binding' in the slots.

With new strings and the nut 'fettled' it plays quite well.

However it is not very loud and we suspect that it would benefit from a better cone.

Taking into consideration the price of the guitar these are minor quibbles.

Recommended at the price, provided that you have someone to 'set it up' properly.

12 years ago