Mornats Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 I'm thinking of buying a nice cheap Harley Benton Tele - this one in fact: http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbt30be_egitarre.htm I know a lot of us on here have been buying the Harley Benton basses and tend to like them so I was thinking it would be worth a punt. I've got all the tools and some know-how on how to level, dress and polish frets so I'm not too concerned about having to do that. So, any idea if they're any good? It's just for playing in the house and recording with. I can replace the pickups if needed. Some Entwistle ones would probably do the job quite well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Never played one but at that price you could split it and get more than your money back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I have been looking at buying one of those, to make a knockabout Wilko rep (its one of the only Teles I can find leftie that is Black/Rosewood). If you beat me to it, I would be interesting in what you think of it (I have a Strat to build at the moment). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 If it really has an ash body and is reasonably resonant then that's a bargain. I had one of those AXL Teles a few years back. Went to a music show, just happened to pick it up & strum it and realised it felt and sounded really good. £40 OTD. The fret wire was really soft and began to wear quickly, but never the less it was fully giggable. I sold it to make room (Gibson flying V was coming) and regretted it - it sounded & played better than the V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Possibly getting one soon. The Fretboard website are having a challenge to buy a cheap Thomann guitar and mod it up, so I thought I'd probably have a go myself. Can't decide Tele or LP - leaning towards Tele, I might go mad and stick a strat trem on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 ooooo - tempting.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 It's very tempting, but I have a MIJ strat refin/rebuild project that I've just started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 I need to sell a bass first I reckon. Then I've got my eye on a nice bass ukulele I saw in my local Hobgoblin and I fancy an electric upright and... and... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 [quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1422645169' post='2675173'] I need to sell a bass first I reckon. Then I've got my eye on a nice bass ukulele I saw in my local Hobgoblin and I fancy an electric upright and... and... [/quote] It's a sickness laddie. I own 3 basses now, and I haven't even played out in a couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 4 basses (down from 6), an acoustic 6 string, an electric Ibanez 6 string, a uke, and a cigar box guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 [quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1421690376' post='2664019'] I had one of those AXL Teles a few years back. Went to a music show, just happened to pick it up & strum it and realised it felt and sounded really good. £40 OTD. The fret wire was really soft and began to wear quickly, but never the less it was fully giggable. I sold it to make room (Gibson flying V was coming) and regretted it - it sounded & played better than the V. [/quote] Yes, the AXLs are surprisingly good. I had one of the tele shaped ones with the weird distressed finish and even the stock pickups were fine. I tried some Seymour Duncan alnico II pickups in there, and while they were different they weren't objectively better. I noticed the soft fretwire on mine too though - the strings had left dents just from being carried around in a gigbag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 The pickups were 'designed by EMG' and seemed well above the usual designed by stuff that's substandard. Mornats - I have 10 or 11 electrics, plus a MIJ strat that's in the process of being rebuilt and a Suzuki acoustic. I tried to sell off a couple of electrics (Heritage Les paul HC150 and a JJ Goldtop) last year, but got nothing more than interest. Nearly bought a Hutchins Eliminator today too I'm not really a bass player, although I did pull out my J type that I bought from Gaf a few years back & noodled around a bit today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 From reading reviews, I think the TE-80 may be the Harley Benton telecaster to go for. http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_te80_nt_deluxe_series.htm It's a copy of an original MIJ then MIK Hohner, as used by Prince. There's a fair amount of discussion online, and the general opinion is that they are very good. Some people have claimed that the playability and sound wouldn't be out of place on a £1000 guitar. It is true that this guitar is £112 versus £63 for the basic model. But, it's not that much extra money to get what appears to be a much better guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 That rosewood one is real pretty too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1425759355' post='2710517'] From reading reviews, I think the TE-80 may be the Harley Benton telecaster to go for. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_te80_nt_deluxe_series.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...luxe_series.htm[/url] It's a copy of an original MIJ then MIK Hohner, as used by Prince. There's a fair amount of discussion online, and the general opinion is that they are very good. Some people have claimed that the playability and sound wouldn't be out of place on a £1000 guitar. It is true that this guitar is £112 versus £63 for the basic model. But, it's not that much extra money to get what appears to be a much better guitar. [/quote] They do look good, but it's worth noting that they use two strat pickups so will be a step away from the classic tele sound if that's what you're looking for, particularly on the bridge pickup. Edited March 14, 2015 by Beer of the Bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 the vintage one would be my pick i think, already has improved pickups (Wilkinson Vintage) and i'm a sucker for a natural finish,i'd definately buy one if i didn't already have a Mex Std Tele. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Just ordered one of the cheap TE-20s (they only do this model in Leftie alas). Will update on what I think of it, once it arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) [quote name='DorsetBlue' timestamp='1426517785' post='2718721'] Just ordered one of the cheap TE-20s (they only do this model in Leftie alas). Will update on what I think of it, once it arrives. [/quote] That sounds really unfair. You'd think that a company the size of Thomann would be able to release left handed versions of their mass produced guitars. BTW: The TE-70 Rosewood looks fabulous. But, the review it received on the Harley Benton forum was quite mixed. In particular the poor fretwork would worry me. It could be that all their cheap guitars vary concerning QC, but that review did worry me a bit. @BotB - wouldn't it be possible to retrofit the TE-80 with tele pickups? I've heard very good things about the playability of the TE-80. If I'm buying a cheap instrument, then for me playability is most important. Pickups can be changed relatively painlessly, depending on routing, no? Edited March 16, 2015 by Annoying Twit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1426530183' post='2718981'] That sounds really unfair. You'd think that a company the size of Thomann would be able to release left handed versions of their mass produced guitars. BTW: The TE-70 Rosewood looks fabulous. But, the review it received on the Harley Benton forum was quite mixed. In particular the poor fretwork would worry me. It could be that all their cheap guitars vary concerning QC, but that review did worry me a bit. @BotB - wouldn't it be possible to retrofit the TE-80 with tele pickups? I've heard very good things about the playability of the TE-80. If I'm buying a cheap instrument, then for me playability is most important. Pickups can be changed relatively painlessly, depending on routing, no? [/quote] A tele bridge pickup has a bigger baseplate than a strat pickup, so it could be quite an involved swap. There's nothing wrong with a decent strat pickup in the bridge position, but a good tele bridge pickup has it's own character about it that nothing else quite has. Edited March 16, 2015 by Beer of the Bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted March 16, 2015 Author Share Posted March 16, 2015 I'd want a tele pickup config so I'd probably go back to this one: http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbt30be_egitarre.htm I have the tools to file and dress any bad frets so that doesn't concern me too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I wish I could level frets. It would make my life easier. And cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 A few of us from here went on a one day course with Ben from Crimson Guitars last year. He taught us how to do it. I ended up buying this set of tools: http://crimsonguitars.com/shop/guitar-building-tools/Essential-fret-leveling-and-dressing-tool-kit and watched his video a few times as a refresher and am now confident in doing it. Take a look at the vid and see how you feel about having a crack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uflkxIgPr1c Where are you based by the way? Anywhere near Bristol? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 [quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1426617921' post='2719928'] A few of us from here went on a one day course with Ben from Crimson Guitars last year. He taught us how to do it. I ended up buying this set of tools: [url="http://crimsonguitars.com/shop/guitar-building-tools/Essential-fret-leveling-and-dressing-tool-kit"]http://crimsonguitar...essing-tool-kit[/url] and watched his video a few times as a refresher and am now confident in doing it. Take a look at the vid and see how you feel about having a crack: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uflkxIgPr1c"]https://www.youtube....h?v=uflkxIgPr1c[/url] Where are you based by the way? Anywhere near Bristol? [/quote] Sorry, I didn't notice that you had posted this. I've just bought a 5 string bass (Harley Benton deko) with the intention of doing the frets on it. I was planning to buy a tool for fret levelling, and was seriously thinking about the Crimson Guitars tool. I've seen the video. I don't feel confident, but my bass purchased today is a cheapie so that I can have a crack at doing something. If I screw up the frets, I'll defret it I'm in Leicester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sausage Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 My mate got one of these. For a £90 geet it's the bollocks. Wilkinson pick ups , looks pretty too. Sounds real good! http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_bentonhbt1500tbk_egitarre.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 [quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1427472354' post='2730863'] My mate got one of these. For a £90 geet it's the bollocks. Wilkinson pick ups , looks pretty too. Sounds real good! [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_bentonhbt1500tbk_egitarre.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...bk_egitarre.htm[/url] [/quote] Argh, why did I start following this thread? I'm after one of these http://www.thomann.de/gb/standback_ampstand.htm which don't seem to be available in the UK, but the thought of paying 10EUR shipping when the thing is only 24EUR is somewhat grating... so my twisted logic says, spend more money to save that 10EUR! Trouble is I'd still be 50EUR short even if I added one of those babies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts