The Ugly Truth of Harley Benton Guitars

Summary

In this video, Sonoma Solomonic shares an honest and critical review of a Harley Benton guitar, focusing on its quality and the brand's reputation. He discusses the differences in manufacturing locations, highlighting his experience with the Indonesian-made model. The review touches on the guitar's performance, how it compares to higher-end brands, and its affordability. Sonoma also addresses the backlash against Harley Benton from fans of major guitar brands, while praising the brand for offering quality instruments at a fraction of the price. He concludes by sharing a small modification he made to the guitar.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker provides an honest and personal review of a Harley Benton guitar, based on their own purchase and experience with the model made in Indonesia.
• 😀 The speaker clarifies that this review is not sponsored, and the guitar was bought with their own money, ensuring an unbiased opinion.
• 😀 The review focuses on a specific Harley Benton model made in Indonesia, which the speaker assumes represents the quality of most guitars made in that factory.
• 😀 The speaker highlights that while Harley Benton is a brand, its guitars are made in different countries (Indonesia, Vietnam, China), and they can only speak about the ones made in Indonesia.
• 😀 The 'Ugly Truth' is that many YouTubers reviewing Harley Benton guitars might have conflicts of interest because they may receive free guitars or payment from the brand, leading to overly positive reviews.
• 😀 The speaker criticizes the widespread bias against Harley Benton guitars from fans of major guitar brands, arguing that some dismiss the guitars without even trying them.
• 😀 The speaker believes that the quality of Harley Benton guitars for the price, especially under $500, is impressive compared to big-brand guitars from companies like Gibson or ESP.
• 😀 The speaker acknowledges that Harley Benton guitars can sometimes be close replicas of other major brands' models but at a fraction of the cost, which appeals to budget-conscious guitarists.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on how purchasing this guitar led them to sell their high-end guitars, such as their Gibson Les Paul Studio and Edwards Les Paul, due to the excellent quality of the Harley Benton.
• 😀 The speaker mentions their plans to purchase more Harley Benton guitars, further expressing their satisfaction with the brand and their willingness to continue supporting it.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on the review of a Harley Benton guitar, with the creator sharing their honest opinion about its quality, including both positive and negative aspects. The creator also discusses modifications made to the guitar.

Why does the creator emphasize that this is not a sponsored video?

The creator highlights that they bought the guitar with their own money, ensuring their opinion is unbiased and based solely on their experience with the specific model, rather than being influenced by sponsorship or promotional content.

Which Harley Benton models does the creator specifically review?

The creator specifically reviews a Harley Benton guitar made in Indonesia, noting that they cannot speak for guitars made in other countries such as China or Vietnam, which may differ in quality.

What criticism does the creator have about YouTubers reviewing Harley Benton guitars?

The creator criticizes some YouTubers for potentially compromising their reviews, as they may have received the guitars for free or been paid to make positive content, leading to biased opinions that don’t reflect the real quality of the instruments.

What is the 'ugly truth' about Harley Benton guitars according to the creator?

The creator believes the 'ugly truth' about Harley Benton is the bias in reviews from YouTubers who might not give honest opinions due to receiving free products or payment. They also mention the brand faces criticism from fans of major guitar brands like Gibson or ESP.

What does the creator say about the perception of Harley Benton guitars among fans of other brands?

The creator notes that Harley Benton guitars are often disliked by fans of major brands like Gibson, Jackson, and ESP, particularly because Harley Benton offers replicas at a lower price point, causing some to feel threatened by the competition.

How did the creator's experience with the Harley Benton guitar affect their view on other brands?

The creator mentions that after using the Harley Benton guitar, they realized that good quality instruments can be purchased for under $500, without needing to come from renowned brands like Japan, Korea, or the United States. They also sold other higher-end guitars like their Edwards Les Paul after being impressed by the Harley Benton.

What does the creator think about the quality of guitars made in Indonesia?

The creator has a positive view of guitars made in Indonesia, stating that they can rival those made in countries traditionally known for high-quality guitars, such as Japan or the USA. They also mention purchasing other guitars from Indonesia, such as a Kramer model.

What are the creator's thoughts on the future of Harley Benton guitar prices?

The creator speculates that Harley Benton’s prices may eventually rise due to market forces and inflation. They also predict that the company might shift production to countries like China, Vietnam, or India, which could lead to a change in quality or cost.

What modification does the creator make to their Harley Benton guitar?

The creator replaces the knobs on the guitar, stating that it's purely for cosmetic reasons and that there's nothing wrong with the original knobs. They prefer the look of the new knobs, which make the guitar resemble a Les Paul more closely.