GAS: Harley Benton E-35 CH. Pick-up swap!

Niallmo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/0F0E2E47-5BA0-4BBA-86CC-FD0324DC26C9_zpsado94wca.jpg The third of the three Harley Bentons I ordered. The first two Teles are very good indeed. In fact having spent a week on holiday with just the Rosewood Tele I think it's a fabulous guitar for the money. So, it's far from perfect as the following pics will show but it sounds great and again, like the Teles, it plays really well. Came with the usual bone dry fretboard and dull frets. Felt too bendy with the installed 9's so I put my usual 10's on and oiled the board. Problems: Rough woodwork on the bottom of these two frets. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/02402626-A617-4520-B86A-EE4E8400CECD_zpspsj6hx5z.jpg Wonky machine head: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/D72D82F6-230F-45BB-900A-2828E1B99FD7_zps9dsx6ave.jpg Rough finishing around the f-holes. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/6B107439-620F-4C61-B074-3B25A62D6705_zpszsqvrhu7.jpg It does however have a nicely cut nut. Unlike some guitars we've seen recently! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/778B20C1-0F2A-4148-8E2C-22C6ED92279F_zpszkztwq2f.jpg I'll try and get some more pics tomorrow when the light is better. It sounds (to my ears) really good. I think it's got quite high power pick-ups, probably El Cheapo ceramics. Might pull them tomorrow and have a look. But it has a nice snarl to the bridge and a depth to the neck tones that I would expect from this type of guitar. The neck is slimmer than my Epi LP custom, I'd say modern C shape.and the frets look like gibson size. All the controls work and the bridge hardware looks substantial compared to a lot of the low end gibson-sequel guitars I've seen. For the price it's an absolute bargain. It's not near Epiphone in the quality stakes but for a third of the price it's probably 95% as good.

Niallmo

Oh, acoustically it's quite loud and the center block does seem to be fitted really well to the back. The headstock shape is quite nice and the colour is good too.

underdog

That looks very much like it's what I expected it to be, a bit rough around the edges but a great guitar to upgrade some bits on and give it a final polish and setup.

I think I'm in for one of these in black.

Niallmo

Do it! Mine is getting some proper black knobs and a 335 style 'plate. Undecided on the pick-ups but not immediately going with the intended Dimarzio Tone Zone and Virtual PAF.

OilCityPickups

Pair of P90s :-)

underdog

I use to have a Sheraton with humbucker size p90s in and it sounded gorgeous. I'm good for p90 guitars at moment so I'd like some real vintage like humbuckers probably irongear due to bang to pound ratio.

Dave_Mc

Nice

ESBlonde

Nice to see they have the Gibson vibe down pat with the dodgy QC and finish.


)

OilCityPickups

underdog said:

I use to have a Sheraton with humbucker size p90s in and it sounded gorgeous. I'm going for p90 guitars at moment so I'd like some real vintage like humbuckers probably irongear due to bang to pound ratio.

Heard a Epi 335 with TeslaSharks and it sounded really quite nice. Pretty close to my own Blitz Spirits ... the alnico 2 suits 335s nicely to my ears.

underdog

In your opinion would the same set of pickups in a 335 and a Les Paul make for very similar sounding guitars? I've got an LP with the SD alnico 2s in it already, it's was something I was wondering

OilCityPickups

I may not have the same ears as everyone else, but to me ... with the same pickups, a 335 style semi has a naturally more woody and open sound. More in the 'sustain envelope' and harmonics than anything else. The lower feedback threshold also makes the whole guitar feel more 'live' than a LP in the same circumstances.

Niallmo

I think they "feel" a lot different too. My playing style on the 335 is different to my Les Paul. Seems a lot more bluesy on the 335.

Niallmo

I had an immediate impression it sounded "bigger" and had more body to the tone. Hopefully today I can try it against my LP.

Niallmo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/EC1E9A01-556F-442E-90D7-428E21C26936_zpsbnfdbwmv.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/250EE810-6178-421D-AF35-B641187CBB41_zpstcqk2erb.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/29A406BF-C0BF-4BC9-8D86-BC91878AD0A1_zps8w6o0z5u.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/14B3E4A4-3238-4F98-882D-50B2A9A3CD6F_zpsllq1vvhm.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/5C0EBCF2-9910-4280-BBE1-14C6704501B9_zpsbggdmpek.jpg

underdog

Tell you one of the things it does have over an Epi is the headstock shape, the HB one is much nicer and doesn't seem to have half an acre of wood hanging off it.

Niallmo

It's great fun to play. Bridge pick-up still sounding good, neck is perhaps a bit muddy on the bass strings but that's not unusual.

Phil_aka_Pip

@underdog you're right about Epi headstocks. Whatever else they get right, their headstocks are always WRONG

underdog

Phil_aka_Pip;230112" said:

@underdog you're right about Epi headstocks. Whatever else they get right, their headstocks are always WRONG

Yeah they are huge, I often wonder if they left enough wood just so you could cut it into a Gibson one without much hassle

rossi

Tonerider Rocksongs are sweet for a 335 type .I had them in my Dot which I stupidly sold .

Jez6345789

Hard to argue for the money nice looking semi but I would be a bit disappointed with the fingerboard flaw.

Was that a one of or are they all like that

Still tempted to pull the trigger as have pickups and stuff laying around that could upgrade one. 

underdog

If you don't like the guitar thomann will collect it off you, so it's a win win really.