Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series 5-stars Reviews

I can't believe it!

Can an entry-level instrument be perfect? The TE52 boldly answers yes! I mean one can argue about different features that could've been easily added, like the switch should be angled and not go straight into the volume. Or everyone's favorite 3 saddle bridge. But when you play it suddenly none of it bothers you. The guitar gives you that authentic experience, and there's just something magical about the whole of it. Somehow, I feel like this embodies the spirit of the original idea of Leo. It's simple guitar, no fancy bindings, no flame maple top, simplest possible wiring. A paddle with some strings on it. But that's the appeal of it, isn't it?

Throughout the half year that I've owned it, I tried hard to find things that aren't good, or that I dislike, and I couldn't! Many people talk about this as a great modding platform. It is, but don't feel like you need to, for it to be a great instrument. Pups are good as they are, leave them be! Bridge, tuners and nut? Even with wild bends, it holds tuning well, and a surprisingly good intonation, for an instrument where you can't setup a proper intonation...

I'll quickly mention that I'm impressed by the woodwork, finishing and soldering, it's common to see way worse things in much more expensive instruments!

My only complaint is I guess that it's freaking heavy, 4,5 kilos! But that's just part of the authentic experience! :D

Do it!

Sounds great and better than a squire. All their stuff sounds good!

Great Beginner Guitar

Purchased this guitar to start playing again after a long hiatus. This guitar is very well built, feels amazing, and sounds great too. It's on the heavy side, but I find I prefer that. It feels like it could get thrown off a building and still play. The toasted maple fretboard is stunning. And it cam from the factory very well set up, and ready to play out of the box.

Highly, highly recommend. It's worth the shipping costs to ship to the US.

Value for money !!!

I had a Fender Baja and after letting it goes I was missing a nice T-style guitar.

Comparing both of them the TE-52 is pretty similar on quality (for the price of course !)

To make it quick:

Good:

- Quality, i don’t know if I’m lucky but I got a 2 pieces of ash body and the finish is really beautiful .

- pick-up (bridge), a good surprise and you will have the typical Tele sound that you’re looking for.

- price, I don’t know which guitar could have such a excellent quality/price ratio

Of course for this price you will have some “bad things”

- tuners, not holding the guitar tuned properly as it should be and will need to be change soon

- an upgrade regarding the electronic could be done (but that’s getting picky)

- neck pick-up is not as good as the bridge one

- the end of the frets could be a bit more finished but I found the same issue on other more expensive guitar.

To resume, im already ready to try again the Harley Benton experience with another model as im happily surprised with the quality. And after the few upgrades on the TE-53 in the futur ( tuners and electronic) I'm sure it will be an amazing guitar

A Beast of a Telecaster

Although I was skeptical of ordering a guitar online, my Harley Benton TE-52 arrived quickly and double-boxed, with thoughtful packaging throughout. Even the 0.10-gauge strings were carefully wrapped in brown paper to prevent scratching the frets during transport. Pretty cool!

The real surprise came when I plugged into a small tube amp. The sound has a lovely warmth, a healthy bit of twang and sustain for days. Putting it on my postal scale, mine weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces. (I had guessed greater than 8 pounds.) It's definitely a beast, and I am now a big fan.

The roasted maple neck has some serious heft that provides great manual feedback without being unwieldy due to its relatively narrow profile. My hands are on the smaller side, so I've felt challenged to play a vintage Les Paul, but no such problem here.

I've had it now for a couple of weeks, and it almost feels weird to play any other of my guitars. If I were to upgrade anything, it would likely be the nut. But in the meantime, I'm having such a great time playing it that I don't imagine putting it down long enough to change a thing.

Amazing value

Reassuringly heavy, neck is well made and set up. Pickups are bright and twangy. I will upgrade some of the hardware later as it is a little on the cheap side but I really can't fault this guitar for the price paid.

Flawless

This guitar feels that it should be way more in price than it is. I cannot find anything wrong with it. It's flawless. Usually when you buy an inexpensive guitar, you can tell that the quality isn't there the moment you pick it up. Not with this one. No fret sprout. Not a single high fret anywhere which I was expecting. The workmanship, fit and finish is top notch. Sounds great. The tuners are solid. No play in them. I'm perfectly happy with it. By the way, I'm not a beginner player. I've owned Les Pauls, Strats etc. This guitar is great.

Still in Shock

If you're considering purchasing a TE-52...do it! You won't be disappointed!

Exceeded my expectations

Upon unboxing the guitar I was immediately suprised. Based on reviews and videos I was expecting a heavy guitar. Mine on the contrary measured just 3.12 Kg, a very comfortable weight and a lot less than my les paul!!

Everything I could think of was excellent, the frets are shiny and perfect, the neck and the body are spotless, the intonation was to the point, the wood grain is beautiful and the pickups sound great in all configurations.

The only thing that deviates from what is advertised is the color. Mine is a more natural light wood tone instead of orange like in the photos, but that is not an issue since it looks fine as it is.

Great guitar

Out of the box this took a quick tune up and was immediately well intonated. (Arrived tuned down and was easy to get to pitch and stayed there.) The finish is immaculate. Tuners are decent - all feel the same as one another. The neck is probably the best I have played, having a lovely satin finish. No sharp frets at all. Seems to be the perfect size. Feels natural in the hands. Frets were well finished and when bending strings there is no scratchiness. The sound through practice amps at home is very nice - the unmistakable Tele sound. It feels like a much more expensive guitar, maybe a classic vibe? So pleased with it. Highly recommended.

Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series

My second Harley Benton guitar and not disappointed. Great quality straight out of the box.

Nice guitar

Really impressed with the quality, especially for the price.

Love it!

Met and exceeded expectations!

Awesome

Incredible Guitar 🎸 for the price

Unreal

I am honestly gobsmacked and lost for words with the craftsmanship of this guitar. I've paid five times the money for a fender and not received an instrument of this quality. This won't be the last harley benton I buy. Incredible value and amazing setup

Having played for 50 years i always tell my pupils never buy a guitar without trying and here i am now having broken my rules ! Wanting a cheap telecaster to compliment my humbucker solid i took a chance and bought the TE-52. Amazing ! If only we had "beginner" guitars made like this when i started out years ago. The finish superb, neck set up well, tuning pegs even (i adjusted action down just a little to my preference) and faultless fret finish. The pickup sound is fine for now. For the price, unbeatable, i'm so glad i took a chance on this one !

Awesome Tele

I love this guitar, this is my favorite. Awesome quality, great looks, and that bridge pick up has an awesome twang love the Roswell pickups.

Excelent for the price

Great instrument for the price. Came perfectly intonated, with no fret sprouts, no defects that I could notice. Even if the electronics are on the cheaper side, the neck pickup is great! The brigde pickup is a little too thin sounding on the other hand. Great guitar, great price!

Really good T-style guitar

I still don't know how this guitar is only 150 ish euros. Pickups sound surprisingly good, it looks stunning with no flaws and the neck is absolutely fantastic. The frets are ok on the whole, I might round the fret ends later, as they could be a bit better, but its nothing that will slice your fingers. Its also surprisingly heavy, like really heavy, probably heavier than my les paul. I had it for almost one year now and I changed the bridge, and I might change the tuners in the near future. Overall its a superb guitar, especially if you look at the price.

Great buy!

I am really pleased with this instrument- I can't really find any fault with it, especially for the price. My favorite part of the one I received is the neck- surprisingly smooth fret edges, and I like the unfinished/satin feel on the back. It is worth noting that these are very heavy guitars- I play recreationally sitting, but it could be tough if you gigged with it. I just ordered another HB guitar of a different variety and am keeping fingers crossed the quality matches.