Harley Benton TE-62CC LPB 4-stars Reviews

Not the colour I'd been led to believe I'd get

Here's a shocker: it's the first time I've opened a big Harley Benton box and actually been disappointed.

I've not written a review before despite having several HB guitars because other people have already eloquently expressed the great quality of them. And this T style is no exception: I love the feel of the neck, it sounds really useably Tele-like, and the finish is immaculate. But the finish is the problem.

It's a different blue to the one in the photos, and it's a REALLY different blue from the one in HB's feature video, which - given the pretty normal colour cast of the background and skin tones around it - I'd assumed would be closer. And I really, really wanted it to be that colour. It's a gorgeous greeny, turquoisey blue, the colour of the sea around my part of the world in summer.

The guitar I've received is not - it's a pretty straight blue, what I'd think of as close to a royal blue, darker than the video and with not a hint of green/turquoise in it. And I've got to say, I'm disappointed.

Which is an issue when ordering a guitar online from another country - the only reference point we have are the photos and videos HB provide; it's not like we're going into a shop and looking at it.

So I'm not sure what to do now - do I take a hit and sell it on, or do I take it apart and get my local luthier to respray the body the colour I'd hoped for?

Pleasantly surprised

Years ago I ordered a Harley Benton (LP style) but returned it, because It came broken. Forgot about the brand. Then I read all the reviews about this one and ordered as a joke, expecting a broken guitar again. Not this time. Not a single cosmetic fault, gorgeous neck, even pickups are ok. But it needed some basic work. Cleaned up the nut, dressed two frets, action, intonation, pickup height... Like on any other guitar. It plays like a dream. I would say it's basically on par with Fender Squier Classic vibe. If you consider the price, it's a clear 5 stars! How do they do it?

Pros: Nice color, good neck, feel, price

Cons: selector switch a little wobbly, frets needed some polishing

I read a lot of the reviews before i bought this one and the TE-62CAR DB which is cardinal red not candy apple red as the description suggests, but i like it. I pretty much agree with the general consensus that they are quality well built guitars that sound good and play good pretty much out of the box. Unlike the double bound laurel fingerboard necks which are slim taper and really nice to play, these roasted maple f/board necks are thick, chunky and wide and did not suit my personal taste. I like rosewood, but locating a decent neck to fit the neck pocket was very difficult as it's 56.5mm width. What i opted for in the end was to buy a Jim Deacon stratocaster neck on e-bay, which i knew from experience to be great quality necks with genuine rosewood and around 56mm heel width, cost me £26 and i just cut and shaped the headstock to a telecaster style, a tele neck of similar quality would have cost around £70. To complete the look i was after would require a black 3-ply pickguard, but like others who have tried to swap them, the several i tried would not fit. I did some comparison and measurement checks to find out why this was. What i found was that the bridge was fitted 10mm lower than it should be which puts it out of sync with the control plate also, i can only assume that the CNC machine is not set up correctly for routing, then they have to re-cut the pickguards to compensate, i wanted my black guard so i bought a blank sheet and cut it to fit. The guitar looks awesome and sounds great with a Broadcaster bridge pickup and a 52 RI in the neck an Oak 3-way and a Wilkinson bridge sets it all off. The original parts were not wasted as they went on a Wilko Johnson tribute telecaster, the original neck was sold. Apart from the neck, there was no need to change anything, but the voices told me to.

Insane quality for the money

Never a huge Tele fan, I thought I'd give the Harley Benton TE-62CC LPB a punt, after all, for that price you couldn't really go wrong.

The guitar's finish is flawless, the Roasted Maple neck and fretboard are superbly comfortable and the fret job was totally spot on (apart from a good polishing)

After a general set up (which all my guitars get regardless of price) it was playing beautifully. If you are sitting on the fence about getting one of these...get off it and do yourselves a favor and just buy the bloody thing, you won't regret it.

Fantastic guitar better than the fender sq affinity tele

Recieved this guitar last week beautiful guitar no rough fret ends set up was good not to high on the strings neck so smooth and nic colour pickups good though I will be changing them to fender Yosemite tele pickups allso Chang the nut to a tusk (the nut was cut properly no problem with the origional) will allso be adding a freeway 6 way switch.wheight of the guitar was3.45 kg so not to heavy or to light the guitar is a defined winner for me.

Pro players and novices will be happy with the hb te-62cc