Best Harley Benton guitars 2024: Cheap and reliable electric and acoustic models

Harley Benton is Thomann’s own brand, and they make a massive range of musical instruments and accessories. They’re also Thomann’s best-selling brand, growing in popularity year on year, so we thought we’d compile a list of the best Harley Benton guitars available to players.

Harley Benton manufacture a bunch of great musical products in various different factories within the Far East. These factories also make stuff for some of the biggest brands in the world. So, though you might be less familiar with the Harley Benton name, a lot of their gear is made in the same place, by the same people that manufacture brands you do know. 

There’s so much on offer, and because Thomann cut out the middle man, they can offer Harley Benton goods at an amazing price. So, what are the best Harley Benton guitars? We’ve had a look at all their acoustic and electric guitars and picked out some of the big-hitters; from classic styles to more contemporary axes. 

Whether you’re just starting out and you’re looking for a cheap but reliable beginner guitar, or you’re a seasoned pro looking to expand your collection, this list of the best Harley Benton guitars is for you.

Quick list

The best Harley Benton electric guitars

 Best Harley Benton acoustic guitars 

Best for blues

Featuring a semi-hollow body, a pair of versatile and dynamic humbuckers, set neck construction and a lovely flamed maple top, this ’35’ style guitar offers players full, rounded and airy tones for a great price. Whether you’re playing blues, jazz, rock, or indie – this can cover it all.

These humbuckers can also be split via the tone knob to give you more single coil-like tones, making this a really versatile guitar – it’s essentially got the best of both worlds when it comes to pickups. You’ve got a really wide range of tones available at your fingertips with this guitar. In the middle position with the coil splits engaged, you can get some really nice, snappy percussive sounds. Then at the flick of a switch, you can go to searing crunch tones from the bridge humbucker. The semi-hollow body allows you to get some nice open and airy tones but doesn’t feed back too much when used with gain. 

It’s a beautiful-looking guitar and, given the price, it’s no wonder it’s one of Thomann’s biggest sellers. 

Read the full Harley Benton HB35 Plus review

Best T-type

Based on the 1952 electric guitar that pretty much started it all, this Harley Benton T-style guitar has all the twang, bite and mellow warmth that you’d expect. While the sound isn’t going to be as refined or detailed as the real thing, it gets pretty close – especially for the money!

It’s a timeless body shape, in a timeless finish. The ash body lends a nice figuring to the look of it, and the neck profile is fairly chunky, as you’d find on the guitar it’s based on. The two single coil pickups give you the classic ’T’ sound; it’s a versatile instrument, which is why so many different styles of player look to this kind of guitar – it’s so much more than just a country guitar!

As with many budget guitars, the tuners leave a little to be desired, but everything else on the guitar is impressive. It’s not breaking any new ground – it’s based on a guitar that’s 70 years old – but sometimes you can’t beat a classic!

Best for metal

For those looking for something a little different, the Harley Benton Fusion III HSH could be a great option. It’s clearly aimed at replicating some of the popular high-end, high performance boutique style guitars that you see in the hands of seemingly every guitar influencer.

A beautifully flamed veneer sits atop an ergonomically shaped body, making it really comfortable to play both sat down and stood up. The roasted maple neck looks great and, combined with the Modern C profile, makes for an incredibly comfortable playing experience. The HSH pickup combination is great too – it’s amazing for fusion, metal, pop, rock, everything. The five-way pickup selector and coil-split gives you access to a great range of sounds; from powerful lead tones with the humbuckers to lovely, glassy sounds using the middle single coil.

The Wilkinson trem works really well too – you won’t quite be able to dive bomb in the same way you would with a locking trem unit, but it doesn’t feel like it needs that. The locking machine heads help it hold tuning well, and further add to the premium feel of this guitar.  

Best for rock

Another classic design, reimagined by Harley Benton. The early ’60s style double cutaway is synonymous with rock and roll, and this budget offering serves up everything you’d expect. From crunchy, raucous classic rock tones in the bridge position, to mellow and warm, smoother tones with the neck pickup. 

The pickups might not have the same kind of power and presence as you’d find in the real deal, but then again, that would set you back nearly 10x the amount that this costs. For the money, you’re getting a decent spec – nyatoh body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Gotoh tuners that hold tuning well, Graphtech Tusq nut, plus the humbuckers can be coil split via the tone knob for even more versatility. 

A modern C-neck profile makes for comfortable playing – it’s not too thick and not too thin. We also love the colours that it’s available in, especially Pelham Blue.

Read the full Harley Benton DC-DLX Gotoh review

Best S-type

Whilst it might not be the most adventurous choice, this S-style guitar perhaps has a bit more going on under the hood than you might think, making it a really versatile, yet affordable guitar.

The neck and middle pickups are regular single coils, like you’d expect to see on this sort of guitar – these are great for everything from mellow blues tones to choppy funk sounds. You’ve then got a Hot Blade ceramic humbucker in the bridge position that has a much hotter output, giving you access to some searing rock sounds. Having both single coil and humbucker pickups available at the flick of a switch makes it ideal for a load of different playing scenarios. 

It’s comfortable to play, it isn’t too heavy. The neck has an inoffensive C profile which pretty much any player should get on with.

Best for punk

The MR-Modern unashamedly wears its influence on its sleeve, paying homage to the fabulously cool Mosrite guitars that punk fans adore, all while updating the design to appeal to a more contemporary audience. 

Featuring a duo of soap bar-sized humbucker pickups, push-pull tone control for coil tapping, C-shaped A-grade Canadian maple neck, 12” radius Macassar ebony fingerboard, 22 stainless steel frets, TUSQ nut, and locking tuners, this guitar has an impressive spec sheet - which gets even better once you realise the guitar retails for under £300! 

In our tests, we had a lot of fun with the MR-Modern, noting that the pickups were a standout feature of this model. We likened the chime and punch of the soap bar-style pups to that of a P90 and gave the guitar an overall rating of 4 stars. 

Read our full Harley Benton MR-Modern review

Best Dreadnought

A solid cedar top is matched with solid mahogany back and sides to give you access to some fantastic tones. Add to this a Fishman Sonicore pickup system, and you’ve got a really high-spec instrument for a very reasonable price, making it one of the best Harley Benton guitars there is.

Expect some soft, mellow and warm sounds from this guitar, and a dynamic response. The dreadnought body shape will help you deliver strong lows and crisp highs, making it a great guitar for using alongside vocals. With it being made from all solid wood, the sound of the guitar will actually improve over time. The built-in pickup system lets you plug in and play at gigs, plus there’s even a tuner on the side. 

You would probably normally expect to see this sort of spec on a guitar at least double the price of this, so you’re getting a lot for your money. If you’re after a great sounding workhorse dreadnought electro-acoustic guitar for not a lot of money, then look no further.

Best for beginners

Now, we’re not saying that this guitar is the best in terms of how it sounds, but in terms of value for money, it’s difficult to beat. It boasts the classic dreadnought body shape that dishes out a nice, balanced tone, with plenty of low-end and top-end detail. If you’re looking for a good beginner acoustic guitar, and don’t want to spend much, then this is a great option. Many guitars around this price can feel almost like toys, whereas this doesn’t.

It’s got a fully laminate wood construction which means the tone isn’t quite as rich, but it will withstand changes in temperature and humidity well. There’s even a pickup on board, which is usually unheard of at this price point. It’s a basic preamp and pickup, but stick it through an amp or PA system and you can instantly amplify your guitar, making it perfect for those just starting out on the open-mic or gig scene. 

Put up against a guitar three or four times its price, it might not look as good, but when talking about the best Harley Benton guitars, it’s hard to ignore this one just for the sheer bang for buck it offers. There are some reports of there being a few sharp fret edges, but these can be quickly sanded down and to be honest, is quite a common fault on some lower-end guitars. 

Best traveller

This is Harley Benton’s take on one of the biggest selling models from one of the most popular acoustic guitar brands in the world. It’s a travel-sized acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup that allows you to plug into an amp or PA system for when you need more volume. 

It’s got a slightly shorter scale than a full-sized guitar, but it’s still comfortable for adults to play. Whether you’re just starting out and want a more compact acoustic, or you fancy something that’s easy to travel around with, this has you covered. It’s got a nice, bright sound with plenty of articulation and attack. The spruce top and mahogany back and sides make for a classic wood combination.

It comes shipped with a gig bag, which gives it even more bang for your buck and really does make it one of the best travelling guitars around this price point. 

Best all-solid

Made using solid mahogany for both the top and the back and sides, this guitar is perfect for fingerpickers, soft strummers and singer-songwriters. Expect warm, woody, earthy-rootsy sorts of sounds with plenty of response to your picking hand. 

The all solid wood construction helps deliver a strong and rich tone and will develop over time. It’s based on a model by probably the biggest name in the world of acoustic guitars, and for the price, gets remarkably close. Of course, when you pay £1000 more than this, you’re going to get more detail and clarity, but this Harley Benton really does give you a great tone.

The body shape is popular with a range of players; it’s in that sweet spot of not being too big so that it’s comfortable for pretty much anyone, but not so small that you can’t drive some decent volume from it. 

Best parlour

This is a parlour-sized guitar, which is on the smaller side. but is still a full sized acoustic. It’s great for younger and/or smaller players, but that’s not solely who it’s aimed at. Parlour guitars have a distinctive tone and are really popular amongst folk and blues players. However, if you’re looking for a great looking acoustic guitar that has a really nice, unique tone then this could be for you.

The guitar is made using grade AA Hawaiian bar Koa which has a beautiful and distinctive look. It also helps enhance the top end frequencies and mid range, adding a really nice sparkle to the sound. This does mellow out a little after time and usually results in a really nicely balanced tone. There’s also a pickup on board so using this at gigs and open mic nights is no problem at all.

Buying Advice: Best Harley Benton Guitars

Of course, the best Harley Benton guitar will depend on the individual. The first question to ask yourself is whether you want to go electric or acoustic. For players just starting out, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to this; some players start on acoustic, some start on electric. 

Electric Or Acoustic?

If you want to jump into playing hard rock classics as soon as you can, then you’ll probably find that the electric guitar holds more appeal. If you’re wanting to strum a few chords, maybe start putting together your own songs, then an acoustic might do the job for you. Worth remembering though is that whilst an electric guitar does make some noise on its own, you’ll get more out of it when pairing it with a guitar amp.

Body shape

If you’re choosing one of the best Harley Benton acoustic guitars, then two big things to think about are the shape of the body, and the wood used. The shape of the body of an acoustic guitar does affect the tone you get. Bigger bodied guitars can lead to more volume, and often suit heavy strummers or fingerpickers that like a lot of dynamics. Smaller bodies lend themselves nicely to players with a softer touch as they can control the volume a little better. The voicing of the actual guitar can vary with shape too.

Another thing about the shape of an acoustic, and indeed an electric, is how comfortable it is for you to play. If you’re of a smaller stature, then a really big bodied guitar might not be the one for you. A smaller and/or thinner guitar body might work better in this instance.

Body wood

Acoustic guitars made with all solid wood will usually yield a stronger, richer and more balanced tone. As you might expect, these tend to cost more, but some of the best Harley Benton acoustics boast all solid wood for a great price. This is opposed to laminate wood that you’ll find on cheaper acoustics – if you’re just starting out and aren’t sure if you’ll carry on and want to keep the cost down, there’s nothing wrong with an all-laminate guitar. A nice in-between is a guitar with laminate back and asides, and a solid top – the top is where a lot of the tone comes from anyway. 

Pickups

For electric guitars, the pickups are the most important factor when it comes to tone. There are various different styles out there, but they can essentially be broken down into two categories – single coil and humbuckers. Single coils often sound brighter, glassier, have more bite and twang to them and usually put out a slightly lower output. Humbuckers sound warmer, thicker, rounder and generally have a higher output (so can be driven into overdrive quicker). In terms of music that they’re good for; it’s all down to personal preference!

Some electric guitars might even have a combination of pickups, giving you the best of both worlds.

How we choose

Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. 

When choosing what we believe to be the best Harley Benton guitars available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best Harley Benton guitars on the market right now.

Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.

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