Harley Benton is Thomann’s own brand and is one of the most popular guitar ranges in the world, and in recent years, it has surpassed many peoples’ expectations of what a budget brand can be. It offers well-built instruments, often with truly impressive specs at affordable prices. The brand is constantly pushing boundaries and putting out new models, which is why I wanted to compile a list of the best Harley Benton guitars out there.
From beginner models to higher-spec’d instruments, the best Harley Benton guitars come in all shapes and sizes in both electric and acoustic forms. Whether you’re a metal player seeking a shred-worthy guitar for live use or a singer-songwriter looking for a nice sounding acoustic to practice with, Harley Benton has you covered.
Taking inspiration from many classic models, as well as creating its own unique guitars, the world of Harley Benton is wide and wonderful. I've picked out what I think are the best Harley Benton guitars for a range of applications and budgets.
Our top picks
The best Harley Benton electric guitars
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Featuring a semi-hollow body, a pair of versatile and dynamic humbuckers, set neck construction and a lovely flamed maple top, this ’35’ style guitar offers players full, rounded and airy tones for a great price. Whether you’re playing blues, jazz, rock, or indie – this can cover it all.
In my opinion, this is one of the best budget guitars you can currently get your hands on. It's a versatile performer and has an impressive spec list. It's cheaper than the Plus and has locking tuners, a compound fretboard radius and HSS pickup configuration with coil-splittable humbucker.
The ST-Modern Plus is one of the best HSS style guitars under £/$500. It has a good dynamic range thanks to the Tesla pickups, while the humbucker has more of a vintage voice than something more modern and high output but it works nicely with the two single-coils.
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This Harley Benton features a pair of active pickups that deliver a high and powerful output making it an ideal choice for those who like their music with a harder edge. The SC-Custom III Active VBK has a black finish with gold hardware and includes high quality Grover tuners.
The early ’60s-style reminds me of the golden days of rock and roll - and is an excellent performer for those who do indeed like to rock out. It's tone is warm and smooth and for the for the money, you’re getting an above spec. It's comfortable for long sessions too - and I my colour of choice is the white version.
Based on the 1952 electric guitar that pretty much started it all, this Harley Benton T-style guitar has all the twang, bite and mellow warmth that you’d expect. While the sound isn’t going to be as refined or detailed as the real thing, it gets pretty close – especially for the money!
The best Harley Benton acoustic guitars
A solid cedar top is matched with solid mahogany back and sides to give you access to some fantastic tones. Add to this a Fishman Sonicore pickup system, and you’ve got a really high-spec instrument for a very reasonable price, making it one of the best Harley Benton guitars there is.
Now, we’re not saying that this guitar is the best in terms of how it sounds, but in terms of value for money, it’s difficult to beat. It boasts the classic dreadnought body shape that dishes out a nice, balanced tone, with plenty of low-end and top-end detail. If you’re looking for a good beginner acoustic guitar, and don’t want to spend much, then this is a great option.
If you’re seeking a wide dynamic range, a jumbo guitar can offer just that - and the Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN delivers. It's a lovely thing to play too, with a solid spruce top and walnut back and sides that complement the top beautifully. You can also plug it in which is a nice option.
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This is Harley Benton’s take on one of the biggest selling models from one of the most popular acoustic guitar brands in the world. It’s a travel-sized acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup that allows you to plug into an amp or PA system for when you need more volume.
Made using solid mahogany for both the top and the back and sides, this guitar is perfect for fingerpickers, soft strummers and singer-songwriters. Expect warm, woody, earthy-rootsy sorts of sounds with plenty of response to your picking hand.
Best overall
✅ Buy if you want my overall best Harley Benton pick: The HB35 Plus is a great all-rounder and will fit into whatever style of music you're into. Great tones married together with great looks and a top price.
❌ Avoid if you want more clarity from your playing: For the cash, it's hard to go wrong with this guitar, but more money will reward you with greater clarity.
Build quality rating: ★★★★½
Playability rating: ★★★★½
Sounds rating: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★½
Featuring a semi-hollow body, a pair of versatile and dynamic humbuckers, set neck construction and a lovely flamed maple top, I found this ’35’ style guitar offered full, rounded and airy tones for a great price. Whether you’re playing blues, jazz, rock, or indie – this can cover it all.
These humbuckers can also be split via the tone knob to give you more single coil-like tones, making this a really versatile guitar – it’s essentially got the best of both worlds when it comes to pickups. There's a really wide range of tones available at your fingertips with this guitar. In the middle position with the coil splits engaged, I can get some really nice, snappy percussive sounds. Then at the flick of a switch, you can go to searing crunch tones from the bridge humbucker. The semi-hollow body allows for nice open and airy tones but doesn’t feed back too much when used with gain.
It’s a beautiful-looking guitar and, given the price, it’s no wonder it’s one of Thomann’s biggest sellers.
"Even a critical eye can't find complaint with the finish of our test guitar, which is impressive in itself. Add in a resonant playing experience and coil-splitting… well you've got yourself quite a deal here!"
Read more: Harley Benton HB35 Plus review
Best budget
✅ Buy if you want a lovely guitar for a small price: The ST-Modern has an impressive spec list and it would make a great entry point into the world of electrics.
❌ Avoid if you have a little more money in the bank: Spending just a little more on its older sibling will reward you with a touch more refinement.
Build quality rating: ★★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★½
Could the Harley Benton ST-Modern be one of the best budget guitars currently on the market? With its versatile pickup configuration, impressive spec list and modest price tag, I certainly think it's in the conversation.
It’s essentially a more affordable take on the other HSS Harley Benton in this list, featuring locking tuners, a compound fretboard radius and HSS pickup configuration with coil-splittable humbucker. It has been designed with modern playability and tones in mind, but you will really be able to tackle most styles of music with this particular guitar.
For the price this model costs, I don't really have any major complaints about it. Sure, it might not be quite as refined as its older, more expensive sibling, but that’s to be expected. The Harley Benton ST-Modern makes for a perfect first electric guitar, although I’d expect more experienced players could look to it as a backup instrument as well - especially for the price.
"The Harley Benton ST-Modern comes loaded with plenty of desirable features: from the roasted maple neck all the way through to the body-end thumbwheel truss rod adjustment. But this isn't just for show – it plays very well, sounds great and offers flexibility for upgrading and modding for what is really a relatively small amount of money. You won't get bored of it quickly."
Read more: Harley Benton ST-Modern review
Best high performance
✅ Buy if you want a top performing S-model: The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus has a good dynamic range that makes it a versatile option.
❌ Avoid if S-types just aren't your thing: Luckily, Harley Benton have loads more options that should be right up your street.
Build quality rating: ★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★
Not only is the ST-Modern Plus one of the best Harley Benton guitars, it’s probably one of the best HSS style guitars under the $/£500 price point.
The HSS pickup configuration means it’s extremely versatile, plus the humbucker can be split, giving you those more traditional, thinner S-style bridge sounds too. The Tesla pickups sound nice and clear with a good dynamic range. The humbucker has more of a vintage voice than something more modern and high output, but it works nicely with the two single-coils.
The hardware on the ST-Modern Plus is excellent. The Babicz trem system can be found on guitars more than double the price of this and works incredibly well. It’s got locking tuners that do a great job, too.
"In short, the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus is a brilliant guitar. Its low cost against an impressive spec sheet makes it excellent value, and despite a couple of shortcomings, it’s well worth your attention if you want a great guitar for less."
Read more: Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus review
Best for metal
✅ Buy if you want an axe with a metal edge: If playing hard and fast is your thing, then the SC-Custom III Active VBK could be just what you're looking for.
❌ Avoid if you'd like things a little more traditional: The bright tones might not be your thing, so another choice from the range might better suit your playing.
Build quality rating: ★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★½
Overall: ★★★★
Taking inspiration from a well-known and much-loved guitar that’s incredibly popular with hard rock and metal guitar players, the Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active VBK includes a pair of blistering active pickups that really do deliver a high and powerful output.
From bright and sparkly cleans to crushing saturation, these pickups always remain clear with a balanced frequency range. They’re perfect for heavier styles of music, though you could likely make them work for most things.
The Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active VBK features a slick black finish with gold hardware, including high quality Grover tuners, no less. The neck is nice and smooth with a modern profile to aid with speedy playing styles.
The control layout is nice and simple too, with a volume for each pickup plus a master tone knob and three-way pickup selector.
Best for rock
✅ Buy if you want a solid rock performer: The DC-Custom II delivers big and crunchy tones - perfect for those who lean towards classic rock riffage.
❌ Avoid if you'd like a little more comfort: The neck is a little on the heavy side.
Build quality rating: ★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
Another classic design reimagined by Harley Benton. The early ’60s-style double cutaway is synonymous with rock and roll, and this budget offering serves up everything you’d expect – from crunchy, raucous classic rock tones in the bridge position to mellow and warm, smoother tones with the neck pickup.
The pickups on the Harley Benton DC-Custom II might not have the same kind of power and presence you’d find in the real deal, but then again, that would set you back nearly 10 times the amount that this costs.
For the money, you’re getting a decent spec – meranti body, set-in neck, Grover tuners that hold tuning well, graphite nut, plus the humbuckers can be coil-split via the tone knob for even more versatility.
A C-neck profile makes for comfortable playing – it’s not too thick and not too thin. We also love the colours that it’s available in, especially white.
Best T-type
✅ Buy if you want vintage sound: A classic look coupled with mellow warmth. Not are refined as more expensive guitars, but I love it.
❌ Avoid if you'd want more robust tuning pegs: It's hard to argue with what's on offer here for the price, but I'd like the tuning pegs to be a bit more robust.
Build quality rating: ★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
Based on the 1952 electric guitar that pretty much started it all, this Harley Benton T-style guitar has all the twang, bite and mellow warmth that I would expect. While the sound isn’t going to be as refined or detailed as the real thing, it gets pretty close – especially for the money!
It’s a timeless body shape, in a timeless finish. The ash body lends a nice figuring to the look of it, and the neck profile is fairly chunky, as you’d find on the guitar it’s based on. The two single coil pickups give you the classic ’T’ sound; it’s a versatile instrument, which is why so many different styles of player look to this kind of guitar – it’s so much more than just a country guitar!
As with many budget guitars, the tuners leave a little to be desired, but everything else on the guitar is impressive. It’s not breaking any new ground – it’s based on a guitar that’s 70 years old – but sometimes you can’t beat a classic!
"The TE-52 ticks all the beginner guitar boxes, being dirt cheap, inspiring to play, and built rock solid. It’s unbelievably low cost, yet manages to feel like a guitar costing two or three times the price. There are some small flaws, but they don’t detract hugely from what is a brilliant budget guitar overall."
Read more: Harley Benton TE-52 Vintage Series review
Best Dreadnought
✅ Buy if you want a large guitar with dynamic response: This big guitar produces wonderful tones and is just the ticket if you're after a larger guitar.
❌ Avoid if a smaller acoustic is more your thing: If you're after something a bit smaller, other Harley Bentons will be better suited.
Build quality rating: ★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
The Harley Benton CLD-30SCM-CE has a solid cedar top matched with solid mahogany back and sides to give you access to some fantastic tones. Add to this a Fishman Sonicore pickup system, and you’ve got a really high-spec instrument which is available for a very reasonable price, making it one of the best Harley Benton guitars there is.
When playing, expect some soft, mellow and warm sounds from this guitar, and a dynamic response. The dreadnought body shape will help you deliver strong lows and crisp highs, making it a great guitar for using alongside vocals.
With it being made from all solid wood, the sound of the guitar will actually improve over time. The built-in pickup system lets you plug in and play at gigs, plus there’s even a tuner on the side.
You would probably normally expect to see this sort of spec on a guitar at least double the price of this, so you’re getting a lot for your money. If you’re after a great sounding workhorse dreadnought electro-acoustic guitar for not a lot of money, then look no further.
Best for beginners
✅ Buy if you want a starter acoustic: It might not be the best Harley Benton in my list, but when you consider what you're getting for the price, it's hard not to recommend the D-120CE to new players.
❌ Avoid if you're an experienced player: In my opinion, the D-120CE is a great budget option, but more experienced players will be better served elsewhere.
Build quality rating: ★★★½
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
I'm not saying this guitar is the best in terms of how it sounds, but in terms of value for money, it’s difficult to beat. It boasts the classic dreadnought body shape that dishes out a nice, balanced tone, with plenty of low-end and top-end detail. If you’re looking for a good beginner acoustic guitar, and don’t want to spend much, then this is a great option. Many guitars around this price can feel almost like toys, whereas this doesn’t.
It’s got a fully laminate wood construction which means the tone isn’t quite as rich, but it will withstand changes in temperature and humidity well. There’s even a pickup on board, which is usually unheard of at this price point. It’s a basic preamp and pickup, but stick it through an amp or PA system and you can instantly amplify your guitar, making it perfect for those just starting out on the open-mic or gig scene.
Put up against a guitar three or four times its price, it might not sound as good, but when talking about the best Harley Benton guitars, it’s hard to ignore this one just for the sheer bang for buck it offers. There are some reports of there being a few sharp fret edges, but these can be quickly sanded down and to be honest, is quite a common fault on some lower-end guitars.
Best jumbo
✅ Buy if you want a top jumbo model: Balanced sound is the order of the day here and there's plenty of volume to be had here.
❌ Avoid if you're a new player: The size of the guitar might just put newcomers off.
Build quality rating: ★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
If you’re seeking a big, bold acoustic tone then the Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN could be the guitar for you. This jumbo guitar comes fitted with a solid spruce top for a bright but balanced sound, and walnut back and sides that complement the top beautifully.
For a player that needs a wide dynamic range, a jumbo guitar can offer that. It will react nicely to a soft and gentle picking hand, but when you strum heavily, you’ll be rewarded with plenty of volume. If you need to plug in, then you can – it’s got a Fishman Presys II preamp system which even features a built-in tuner so you don’t have to spend any extra cash on a clip-on.
The tuners are of a good standard so the guitar holds tuning pretty well, plus the gold hardware lends the whole instrument a touch of class!
Best traveller
✅ Buy if you want a compact acoustic: The GS-Travel-E Spruce is a neat option for taking on your travels as it won't take up much space.
❌ Avoid if you're after a full-size acoustic: The GS-Travel-E Spruce is great for strumming on the go, but its size won't be for everyone.
Build quality rating: ★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
This is Harley Benton’s take on one of the biggest selling models from one of the most popular acoustic guitar brands in the world. It’s a travel-sized acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup that allows you to plug into an amp or PA system for when you need more volume.
The Harley Benton GS-Travel-E Spruce has a slightly shorter scale than a full-sized guitar, but it’s still very comfortable for adults to play. Whether you’re just starting out and want a more compact acoustic, or you fancy something that’s easy to travel around with, the GS-Travel-E Spruce has you covered.
It’s got a nice, bright sound with plenty of articulation and attack. The spruce top and mahogany back and sides make for a classic wood combination.
It comes shipped with a gig bag, which gives it even more bang for your buck and really does make it one of the best travelling guitars around this price point.
Best all-solid
✅ Buy if you want wonderful warm tones: With solid mahogany used throughout, this sounds as good as it looks.
❌ Avoid if you're after a little more edge to your playing: More frenetic players should perhaps turn their gaze elsewhere.
Build quality rating: ★★★★★
Playability rating: ★★★★
Sounds rating: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★½
The Harley Benton CLA-15M Solid Wood is made from solid mahogany for both the top and the back and sides, this guitar is perfect for fingerpickers, soft strummers and singer-songwriters. Expect warm, woody, earthy-rootsy sorts of sounds with plenty of response to your picking hand.
The all solid wood construction helps deliver a strong and rich tone and will develop over time. It’s based on a model by probably the biggest name in the world of acoustic guitars, and for the price, gets remarkably close. Of course, when you pay £1000 more than this, you’re going to get more detail and clarity, but the Harley Benton CLA-15M Solid Wood really does give you a great tone.
The body shape is popular with a range of players; it’s in that sweet spot of not being too big so that it’s comfortable for pretty much anyone, but not so small that you can’t drive some decent volume from it.
FAQ
Of course, the best Harley Benton guitar will depend on the individual. The first question to ask yourself is whether you want to go electric or acoustic. For players just starting out, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to this; some players start on acoustic, some start on electric.
Should I choose electric or acoustic?
A major consideration when shopping for the best Harley Benton guitars is whether to go for an electric or acoustic. If this is your first venture into the world of guitars, you might hear people say you should learn one before the other – that’s not really true. If you’re drawn more to an electric guitar than acoustic, or vice versa, then that’s the right one to go for.
In standard tuning, both electrics and acoustics are tuned the same, so chords and scales are played in exactly the same way. Remember, it’s you that’s going to be playing it, so opt for the one that you’ll want to play more.
Does the shape of the guitar matter?
If you’re choosing one of the best Harley Benton acoustic guitars, then two big things to think about are the shape of the body, and the wood used. The shape of the body of an acoustic guitar does affect the tone you get. Bigger bodied guitars can lead to more volume, and often suit heavy strummers or fingerpickers that like a lot of dynamics. Smaller bodies lend themselves nicely to players with a softer touch as they can control the volume a little better. The voicing of the actual guitar can vary with shape too.
Another thing about the shape of an acoustic, and indeed an electric, is how comfortable it is for you to play. If you’re of a smaller stature, then a really big bodied guitar might not be the one for you. A smaller and/or thinner guitar body might work better in this instance.
What effect does body wood have?
If it’s an acoustic you seek, then the wood from which the guitar is made will have a big impact on the tone you hear. Acoustics made using solid woods tend to sound richer and more complex – that is, to most people’s ears they sound better than those featuring laminate woods. As you might expect though, solid wood costs more.
A popular compromise is to use solid wood for the top of the guitar, and laminate wood for the back and sides. When shopping for an acoustic, keep an eye on whether the wood used is laminate or solid and balance that with the cost.
What style of pickups should I look out for?
If you’re getting an electric guitar, then the pickups are going to play the biggest part in what it sounds like. The best Harley Benton guitars feature a massive range of different pickups; from thick, beefy-sounding humbuckers perfect for rock and blues, to jangly, glassy-sounding single-coil pickups.
You’ve even got some guitars fitted with active pickups that offer a higher output that makes them ideal for hard rock and metal, or perhaps something like P-90s that sit sonically somewhere between traditional single coils and humbuckers.
Some guitars might feature a range of pickup configurations too. For example, you’ll see many S-type guitars with three single coils, as per the traditional set-up, but you might see some that have a humbucker in the bridge position, so you essentially get the best of both worlds.
If you’ve got a preference, it’s always worth having a browse through the different Harley Benton models, as there might well be the very thing you’re looking for available.
Does hardware on budget-friendly guitars matter?
Good quality hardware really can make a massive difference on a more budget-friendly guitar. Instruments at the lower end of the price range will usually feature cheaper hardware that can have an impact on the tone and tuning stability. As you pay a little more, you’ll get better quality tuners and bridges so the guitar will likely hold its tuning better, have improved intonation and also resonate and ring out more.
Do B-stock Harley Benton guitars offer good value?
Many of the new launches from Harley Benton can sell out quite quickly, so if you see something you like and it’s in stock, then it’s usually worth jumping on it. If it’s not in stock, you’ll get a rough guide as to how long you’ll be waiting for it; it might just be a few days, though it can be up to a few months.
If you don’t want to wait that long, Thomann often has B-Stock versions available so you can check for that – these are also a great way to save a bit of cash. Or, there might be a very similar model available
How we choose
Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
When choosing what we believe to be the best Harley Benton guitars available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best Harley Benton guitars on the market right now.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
Why you can trust us
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Meet the expert
After spending a decade in music retail, Richard is now a freelance writer for MusicRadar, Guitar Player, Guitar World and Reverb, specialising in electric and acoustic guitars, bass, and almost anything else you can make a tune with. When his head’s not buried in the best of modern and vintage gear, Richard runs a small company helping musicians with songwriting, production and performance, and plays bass in an alt-rock band. Otherwise, you'll probably find him out walking the dog.
Latest updates
Recent updates
20/02/25: The guide has been updated with five new products: the Harley Benton ST-Modern, Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus, Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active VBK, Harley Benton DC-CUSTOM II and the Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN. Expert verdict boxes have been included on product entries where applicable and "at a glance" entries and star ratings have been added to all products highlighting clear pros and cons. We've also added a new section on why you can trust the MusicRadar team and written several new Harley Benton FAQs.
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