Harley Benton SC-450Plus LD Vintage Series

Do not purchase the item if you are in the US. They do not pack the item well enough to ensure that it comes in not broken. I was shipped the wrong guitar (they mislabeled a Cherry Burst top as a lemon drop) broken. I went through the claims process (which is impossible because they like to respond to emails every other day) and had a lemon drop sent to me. Open the box to find it broken and the fret completely torn from the board. I contact Thomann, provide them with the correct documents to be told that I couldn't get a replacement due to them being out. A) They shipped two broken guitars. B) The sent the wrong guitar the first time and won't acknowledge that part. C) they just told me they would only give me my money back.

I repeat do not buy from them if you are in the US unless you buy a case to go around the item. They left 4 sides of the box exposed and unwrapped so that the guitars only protection was two sheets of cardboard. Not bubble wrap or anything else. Pissed off.

The quality of this guitar is terrible. The first one that I received had a dent on the side of the body near the strap button. It was obvious shipped this way from Thomann as there was no sign of damage in either of the 2 shipping boxes anywhere near near were the dent was, It was returned and I received a replacement that was a project guitar. I did not purchase a B-Stock guitar. The selector switch did work properly , it was very wobbly and I could not select the neck pickup. After about five minutes of playing it the selector switch failed completely and now neither pickup would work without jiggling the switch. Some of the machine heads were not mounted properly, they were mounted crooked, not all in line with each other. Thoman offered me the option of returning it for a refund or a partial refund to keep it. I decided to keep it and take the partial refund as a project guitar, In have had it for many months now and it sits in a case collecting dust. It was apparent to me that I received B-Stock guitars both times even though I paid for A-Stock. Beware of both the poor Harley Benton quality and Thomann. Apparently neither guitar was ever inspected by Thomann as the dent, defective selector switch and terrible job mounting the machine heads were all very obvious. If you are OK with a project guitar take a chance. At this point I am thinking that many of those positive videos that are on Youtube by well known Youtuber's are sent guitars that are inspected for flaws before they are shipped.

I bought this guitar to review. I wanted a very low cost Chinese guitar that could be 'easily improved' by changing out the budget parts, pots, pickups etc. and thought that the Harley Benton would be it. Reasonable reviews on here right?

Unfortunately this has to be the worst guitar I have EVER bought. There is a major issue with the guitar as supplied to me even though it had been through the Thomann 'setup and check'.

I have not sent it back but nearly did. Why am I keeping it? To show exactly how bad it is in a review. To FIX the appalling way that the guitar was supplied to me. And (with a lot of work) to show how it could be repaired and improved and this guitar really needs it. My unbiased review as ever will be on my website and YouTube channel.. just search for this model and brand guitar and you can make up your own mind.

Simply the worst guitar and worst piece of 'setup and check' that I have ever seen since 1968!

This is a genuine comment from a genuine buyer on Thomann for many years.