Harley Benton ST-Modern MN HSS SP

Like the headline says, I really spent my lunch break from work driving home and back to work, just to play this guitar for a few minutes because I couldn't wait until this evening.

I really cannot believe I paid so little for this guitar. I was unsure about buying this color, but I am glad I did! It is a subtle, yet very attractive color, and it works well with the mint and cream. The maple fretboard! Holy. I am convinced there's a typo in the price of this series. Maybe we shouldn't point that out ;-)

PROS: the hardware is pretty much exactly what I would put on to upgrade a typical budget ST. But, this one comes with it. The pickup configuration is spot on, and sounds so good. I do not own a Modern Plus, but I don't feel like I'm missing out. The neck alone or just the body would be worth the entire purchase price. The frets and neck feel good. The compound radius! I like it. This was packaged very well, too.

Not Pros: small neck pocket crack appears to be forming (and I can feel it, but it's very small). I'd love to see rolling string trees to accompany the locking tuners, but the basic ones provided are actually much nicer than the common ones typically found on entry level guitars.

Summary: I really see this guitar as fit for nearly anyone/everyone. It can keep an experienced performer happy (some may want to upgrade electronics and maybe the trem block, but I don't think I will), and this would be a lifetime purchase for someone just learning. I don't think they'd want to part with it. If they do, I'd be interested ;-)

I had thought that two pole pieces on the single coils were set too low, but this is normal in vintage style staggered pole pickups.

If you want to see my review video and hear the guitar (and a LPB one) search on YouTube for "Harley Benton ST-Modern (NOT Plus) Unboxing, First Impressions, mini Review"

I'm going to go play my ST-Modern MN HSS SP

After a week to get to know this HSS, I am again delighted with the quality of the recent sub €200 guitars from Harley Benton. Fretwork is spot on. The rolled fingerboard is a great addition for the price. The Hbz pickups are very sweet and I was somewhat worried as to why the Roswell brand were absent on this model. No worries, they sound lovely and stratty.. Hardware is very nice. One star removed purely because I can't murder the trem bar like I would a Floyd Rose. ( See edit from 23/4/25) Lube the nut and string trees and she's stable enough for moderate use..my particular one is slightly out if I flip and flap the trem to death though. The finish is very nice and she feels quality. For €170 this guitar is a no brainer. A graphtec nut for a few euros will stabilise the trem. Beautiful guitar. Edit: The trem has behaved itself more or less since I posted this so the strings have stretched and the string trees is functioning as it should. Five stars all round

I have quite a lot of guitars, ranging from budget friendly to expensive big brands, and this guitar is really really damn good for the money. It feels great, looks amazing and I honestly don't know how they make them so cheap! Locking tuners, roasted neck, great bridge, dual action truss rod, the finish is spot on with no issues whatsoever and really impressive build quality. My only moan is a personal preference, and that is the neck width and compound radius. If you're used to strats then it's great but for me it feels slightly thick. The fretboard and neck are great though. I can't fault this guitar at all, I got this for a funk rock side project that needs a rhcp kind of vibe and this delivers well, even in the studio it sounds more than adequate! Plus the pink colour is pretty cool

Bought this guitar as a platform for mods. I wanted a solid body, tuners and bridge so that I could change electronics and pickups to learn and find my sound. Could not be happier.

Neck is perfect, really nice to play, no fatigue in hands after a long period of time playing. And the looks of the whole neck: UAU! Roasted maple neck! For this money? Just amazing.

Frets are in good condition as well and the finish of the guitar is just amazing. No imperfections.

I liked the stock pickups but I felt they did not behave very well under gain so I replaced them by a Seymour Duncan JB (bridge) and IronGear Texas Locos (neck and middle) and suddenly I got a thousand dollar guitar. Recently I replaced the neck by the DiMarzio DP187 and I expect to continue doing this: experimenting and moing the guitar.