Harley Benton Slider II Lap Steel w/Stand

Many people are sniffy about these Lap Steels, but you really can't beat them for price and at the end of the day this is a perfectly usable instrument.
I've toured with one of these and had no problems at all; just make sure you buy the correct strings for the tuning you want to use.
The thing stayed in tune, the pick up is ok (actually stronger than my vintage lap steel) and it's well put-together and the finish has a pretty sparkle.
The legs are a bit flimsy and I'm not too keen on the fender strat-style bridge, but have never got round to replacing it with a fixed right-angle bridge because it works just fine.
At £90.00 if you want to upgrade to better pickups, it's cheaper than building a steel yourself; I'm tempted to buy a matching pair and build a double-neck...
Please though Thomann, bring back the Slider 8!

I have played, for more years than I care to remember,all types of guitar-but never a lap steel slider type.Recent circumstances mean that my fingers are no longer"flexible" enough to play my guitars,so it has given me the opportunity to take the"leap"to a lap type.As I had no idea as to ideal brands or types I decided to buy a"entry level"make.Having dealt with Thomann(and being very impressed by their help and courtesy)I decided to buy this unit.It arrived promptly,well protected with no damage.Once I had tuned it and begun to use the provided slide bar I was delighted by the end result and wide tonal width when played through my Marshall amp.It will be a new learning curve for me but one I am looking forward to.
As with all reviews there are some areas of query and this item is no different-but minor only.
1.It would as a "first timer"have been helpful to have known the"tuning"of this unit.
2.A"leaflet"indicating what strings for what tunings,how many tunings could be obtained and
3.How best to hold the tone bar etc.
Yes I know this can be found from available literature-but it would be an added "bonus" if included.
I hope this review is helpful but Thomann provide such a good service I am sure you can buy with safety

I bought two of these and have joined them together to form a double-neck with two different tunings - so, a double neck for under £180. Perhaps Thomann / HB could consider marketing a double neck ?? perhaps they could also consider marketing a string bender mechanism as an add on product.
The positives - the Slider II can produce a pretty good set of sounds from Hawaiian to country to overdriven blues rock
and is fabulous value for money.
The 'opportunities' - well, a lap steel is a pretty simple instrument, 6 strings held taut from a raised nut to a flat bridge over a decent pick up, there's not much more to it other than aesthetics. So, a few extra pounds spent on a decent set of heavyweight strings and a better set of tuners and you would have a pro level product that is still half the price of an Epiphone or a Gretsch.
Overall, very pleased

I recently decided I wanted to try learn Lap steel and was at a lost as what to buy and where.
Upon seeing this product and the price I decided it seemed excellent to get a flavour of what a lap steel would be like to play.

My investment has not disappointed me! I am super impressed with the instrument. It's light weight, easy to set up and it sounds perfect for what I want, it's pickup gives off no more hum than any single coil would. It's sturdy and a pleasure to learn and play on.

I can only find two cons with the product, one was that the tuning can slip a little but with enough playing around with the set up I was delighted to have it holding it's tuning.
The second was that the tone bar that came with it wasn't the easiest to use and it's shape and weight just didn't suit me but upon a purchase of another one the instrument it's a pleasure to play.

First of all it is a fine looking instrument and standing on his three legs has verry
professional appearance, looking closer you find verry cheap machine heads and
strings. When I changed first it was normal to restring it with 15" steel set and then octave adjustement- it was almost perfect. Doing this I was thinking about PU, maybe it is also poor one and I would have additional job later, but thanks God, when I coupled the Slider with my amp and use Duntop 928 tone bar I found out
the beautiful sparkling clean sound as it must be if you like David Gilmour in Dark Side of the...For little extra money I have verry fine slide guitar.