Which HB...Decision Time!?!

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darthed1981darthed1981 Frets: 11670
edited June 2022 in Guitar
Hi All,

Wife is working from home next week... so I stand a decent chance of getting a Harley Benton I've been after delivered to home and not work...

Which one of the following should I get.... should I get all of them... would my marriage survive it? (Probably not...)

I need your valued opinions...

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_550plus_emg_ftf.htm

or (and...)

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_te_62db_lpb.htm

or

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hb_35plus_metallic_blue.htm

Thoughts?
We have to be so very careful, what we believe in...
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Comments

  • guitarjack66guitarjack66 Frets: 1797
    I'd go for number one or three. I like the look of the Tele but the weight would put me off. I do love the look of number three though.
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  • Jim54Jim54 Frets: 232
    I bought a TE62 in candy apple red a few months ago and to be honest I've been playing that more than my Fender custom shop tele over the past month or so. Cracking guitar for the money. I need to change the cheap switch and probably the pots at the same time, but impressed with the Roswell pickups.
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 13564
    congratulations on using the correct "Which"  and not "What"

    have a wis, purely for that 
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • BillDLBillDL Frets: 7039
    If the photo of the blue HB-35 Plus is representative of what you will receive, then you will need to figure out how to push all the wiring loom out of sight through the F-hole and keep it hidden.  I'm surprised they didn't do that before photographing it.  I generally don't like 335-alike guitars in modern colours, however the contrasting colours of the front and the sides/back/neck are unusually appealing and it's growing on me as I look at it.

    The SC-550 Plus will have better hardware and that, along with the flamed (veneer I would guess) top, better fretboard wood and EMG active pickups is reflected in the much higher price than the other two.  Personally I prefer the simplicity of passive pickups and the tiger stripes look as though they are angled up on both sides rather than straight across, which I find mildly disturbing.

    Although I really like the look of the TE-62 in Lake Placid Blue, I don't need another Tele and I would probably be more likely to buy the blue HB-35.
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  • usedtobeusedtobe Frets: 3841
    I absolutely love teles when other people play them, but I can’t seem to get on with them. I have a LP type, so I’d personally go for 335 type. Looks well cool!
     so if you fancy a reissue of a guitar they never made in a colour they never used then it probably isn't too overpriced.

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  • BillDLBillDL Frets: 7039
    I'm not sure how much the LP type would sound like a LP with the active pickups, but my guess is that the 335 type might sound less like the real version of the guitar it is modelled on than the others because of its maple neck and mahogany centre block.  As far as I recall, Gibson 335s have mahogany necks and maple centre blocks, but spec probably changed a lot.  Nevertheless, if you don't have a semi-acoustic that guitar will definitely fill the gap and give you some alternative and great sounds.  My older Ibanez AS73 (mahogany neck), Washburn HB-35 (maple neck) and Vintage VSA500 (mahogany neck) all sound quite different but none sound truly like a real 335.  I didn't buy them to sound like "the real thing" though, and I like the tonal differences.
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  • SassafrasSassafras Frets: 30273
    I like the double-bound Tele.
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  • Creed_ClicksCreed_Clicks Frets: 1385
    Merge HB threads! aaaaaaaaaaa!
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  • rocktronrocktron Frets: 806
    I would go for the HB SC-550 EMG Plus. 
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  • BillDLBillDL Frets: 7039
    This seems now to have narrowed down your option to ..... one of each.
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  • ToneControlToneControl Frets: 11789
    edited June 2022
    I'd say #1,
    the sc550+ is the best HB I have bought - USA build quality, EMGs are good, pot values are correct
    You can get it quite a bit cheaper if there is a B-stock available (as I did)
    I'd get the uncovered pickups version if I was buying now (neck pickup is a bit too dark for me)
    ⁣Harley Benton SC-550 Plus EMG PAF B-Stock – Thomann UK   £264

    Did you look at the Fusion-T models? they would be better than the normal Teles

    the HB35 gets good reviews. Harder to upgrade the pickups though
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  • thermionicthermionic Frets: 9499
    Your wife will find out that you’ve bought another guitar. You haven’t thought this through.
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  • MentalSharpsMentalSharps Frets: 165
    edited June 2022
    For the 335 you'd probably be better off to stretch to the Sire Larry Carlton.

    For the LP I'd prefer this one, as it is mahagony body instead, with a carved arched top, also chambered and with SS frets, and can add new pickups on top rather than paying more for the EMGs.

    https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_sc_550_ii_paf.htm
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  • SporkySporky Frets: 27578
    bertie said:
    congratulations on using the correct "Which"  and not "What"

    have a wis, purely for that 
    What version of which is what? 
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 13564
    edited June 2022
    Sporky said:
    bertie said:
    congratulations on using the correct "Which"  and not "What"

    have a wis, purely for that 
    What version of which is what? 
    this n that
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • robertyroberty Frets: 10893
    Sporky said:
    bertie said:
    congratulations on using the correct "Which"  and not "What"

    have a wis, purely for that 
    What version of which is what? 
    Depends what which
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  • usedtobeusedtobe Frets: 3841
    Sassafras said:
    I like the double-bound Tele.
    It looks great, I agree!
     so if you fancy a reissue of a guitar they never made in a colour they never used then it probably isn't too overpriced.

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  • skunkwerxskunkwerx Frets: 6838
    roberty said:
    Sporky said:
    bertie said:
    congratulations on using the correct "Which"  and not "What"

    have a wis, purely for that 
    What version of which is what? 
    Depends what which
    U wot?
    The only easy day, was yesterday...
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  • darthed1981darthed1981 Frets: 11670
    For the 335 you'd probably be better off to stretch to the Sire Larry Carlton.


    Is that based on personally owning both, spec, reviews, price point?

    Genuinely interested BTW.
    We have to be so very careful, what we believe in...
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  • BlueStratBlueStrat Frets: 966
    The LP looks really good and I like the different spec. 
    I’d put my money there
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