Harley Benton ST-Modern HH RBM

I'm not new to guitars. Been playing for 25 odd years and owned plenty. Currently have high end models like a Nash Tele and a Gibson Les Paul and cheapie squires too. This guitar is crazy for the price

Build quality is pretty decent. Couldn't find any obvious flaws and the fret ends were finished quite well with only minor sharpness on some edges, but nothing that requires major attention. The setup wasnt great, the action was pretty high, and when I lowered it to where I would like it, it was choking out on high bends. Someone with more know-how could rectify this; I'll get my luthier to do a proper setup (you're still under £250) When it comes to features; locking tuners, roasted neck, dual humbucker pickups with coil split for under £150odd is crazy. The guitar looks great and adding locking tuners at this price point is nuts.

The pickups are fine. They're on the hotter side, but good for dirty tones and the cleans are okay too. Again, for the price, you can't fault them. Better with more gain than less. The coil split sounds less leike a single coil and more of a volume drop with slightly less output. You won't get a strat or Tele sound. I wouldn't have bothered if I was HB. Tuning stability overall is pretty good, and the nut seems cut fairly well with minimal issues with strings catching in the nut. The neck profile is pretty nice and the neck feels good in the hand. Can't remember what it's down as, but think modern C.

One semi-major critical point, the fretboard was as dry as a badgers box when it arrived. It was pretty dehydrated. I have no idea what it's made of, some cheap rosewood variant, but a soak in lemon oil sorted that out pretty quickly and that darkened the wood a touch and made it look and feel a bit slicker. It'll prob get another coat on the next string change. Not a major issue I suppose, but it didn't look great on arrival on that front.

Overall, for about £150 shipped to the UK this is an absolute steal. You could change the pickups, but I think they're fine, give it a good setup and you've got a pretty damn good guitar for the price. I don't think you'll do better for this kind of money, or even up to the £500 mark you would struggle to get something as well appointed for the money. If you're considering, just buy it. Decent one to add to the collection for next to no money