Guitarists looking for a visually appealing instrument at an affordable price need look no further than the Harley Benton SC-Custom III P90 Black. This guitar's balanced blend of traditional and modern elements is quite the achievement: While its classic P90 pickups – made by Tesla – deliver a dynamic, old-school sound, the body features a sleek, modern design that includes a "belly cut" on the back. The rosewood fingerboard also adds a contemporary touch, its natural finish complementing the high-gloss black body and gold hardware to give the instrument as a whole a stylish, timelessly elegant look. Beyond its visual appeal, features like the graphite nut and WSC Tune-o-Matic bridge enhance the guitar's musical qualities too, and the stainless steel frets – new to this third generation – ensure long-lasting durability even after extended use.
The body and set neck, both made of solid meranti wood, form the foundation of this appealing single-cut guitar. At first glance, it's the black high-gloss finish and contrasting cream binding that really catch the eye – but experienced guitarists will also approvingly note the SC-Custom III's slim body and its ergonomic contours, which ensure comfort, playability, and long-term wearability. This very modern construction is also reflected in the guitar's matte-finish C-profile neck, which starts slim and gradually thickens slightly toward the higher frets. The neck transitions seamlessly into the body without a bulky heel, meaning agile soloists can play all the way up to the 22nd fret. The two Tesla P90 pickups in turn can be selected and combined via a three-way switch, and they can each be individually controlled with their own volume knobs. A master tone control allows guitarists to soften the P90s' typically aggressive bite, giving them the option of playing warm and creamy sounds as well.
If the top two points on the wishlist are a vintage P90 tone in a contemporary SC guitar – this is the one. This SC-Custom III is a pleasing blend of tradition and technology: While it retains the classic single-cut shape, it has been updated with a slim, ergonomically contoured body and neck, while the P90s also stay true to tradition and deliver an authentic vintage sound. Ultimately, anyone who finds the prospect of this combination of old and new appealing can just go for it – it won't break the bank. The price point also makes it an interesting proposition for more experienced guitarists who haven't tried a guitar fitted with P90s before, but always wanted to. Equally, though, complete beginners might also do well to consider a P90-equipped guitar like the SC-Custom III – especially if they've been unsure as to whether they want a single-coil or humbucker guitar. P90s offer the ideal middle ground, perfect for styles right the way up to rock-solid Hard Rock tones. For players whose focus is Metal in all its forms, however, a humbucker-equipped model is generally what's recommended.
Since 1998, the Harley Benton brand has been catering for the needs of countless guitarists and bassists. In addition to an extensive range of stringed instruments, Thomann's house brand also offers a wide choice of amplifiers, speakers, effect pedals, and other accessories. In total, the range includes over 1,500 products. Built by established names in the industry, all Harley Benton products combine quality and reliability at attractive and affordable prices. The continuous expansion of the range ensures that Harley Benton always provides new, exciting, and innovative products that keep players perfectly in tune with the musical world, day after day.
In a major upgrade from Harley Benton's earlier models, the pickups on the "third gen" are now brand-name Tesla units – nothing to do with the car company, by the way. In terms of sound, the P90s in the Harley Benton SC-Custom III sit somewhere between single coils and humbuckers. Thanks too to the single-cut body design, the sound here is fuller than with typical single coils, while still retaining that biting top end - resulting in a raw and sometimes aggressive tone is perfect for authentic Rock and Punk. Ease off the tone control, though, and the sound becomes rounder and warmer – making even Jazz guitar a real option. And thanks to the P90s' reliably dynamic response, heartfelt Blues could be on the set list too. It should be clear by now that this guitar is more versatile than it might seem – especially useful for musicians who play in multiple projects, or in cover bands with an eclectic repertoire.