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Great overall, but QC could be better.
It's great to have an affordable left-handed baritone 6-string guitar. I tried an 8-string before, but the neck felt too wide for me, and I decided an extended range 6-string would be sufficient for my needs. Overall, the Amarok BT is well constructed, and everything works well. The pickups aren't exactly my first choice for EMG pickups, and the bridge is quite bright, but I'm still getting used to the guitar too. The only issue I really have is the quality control. The tip of the headstock looks like it was bumped into something and dented, and the nut looks a bit rough where it was filed for the larger strings. I feel like QC shoulda noticed this, and with some YouTube complaints I've seen on Harley Benton quality lately, I hope the company takes more notice. That being said, the issues don't affect the playing, and I look forward to jamming on it more. I would order another one, but a different color for lefties would be nice.
Update: The guitar seemed to work fine...for a day. The next day after work, I plug it in, and no sound. Switched 9 volt batteries, tried different instruments with my preamp, and the Amorok still wouldn't work. I can only currently assume there's loose or broken wiring inside, and I'll have to check it out later. I probably woulda replaced it in the future with EMG solderless wiring, but this is frustrating.
Update: The guitar seemed to work fine...for a day. The next day after work, I plug it in, and no sound. Switched 9 volt batteries, tried different instruments with my preamp, and the Amorok still wouldn't work. I can only currently assume there's loose or broken wiring inside, and I'll have to check it out later. I probably woulda replaced it in the future with EMG solderless wiring, but this is frustrating.
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W
Major QC problems but worth the work
Positives
For this price point you will struggle to find anything on par spec wise - neck thru construction with good, natural feeling access to the 24th fret - locking tuners - good high output active pickups with no problems becoming microphonic etc - stainless steel frets and graftech nut that feels they'll last.
Major props to Harley Benton for doing this model in left handed too - I've been on the search for a left handed baritone for years now but because its such a niche the only other option is going custom for thousands - next on the table for me is a 29/30" scale and you can be sure that, despite the problems explained below, if HB put out a lefty 30" baritone I'll put an order in soon as:)
Negatives
Sorry but in spite of loving the guitar I can't give this anything higher than a 3 star due to the appalling QC problems. I don't mind a few cosmetic marks/bumps (which this guitar has) but some of the problems have been key to the guitar working as it should - the input was on/off since first opening the guitar and a few weeks in stopped working entirely - just for me to take out the input and see the panels bent in some weird shape with crossing signals. And I know this wasn't my fault as I'm one of the most anal people out there regarding cable care - then once put back into shape wouldn't fit into place again, the screws wouldn't fit into their holes. That one was on me but still requires me to take it to a professional to replace the input with a higher quality one.
Another day one problem came when setting up the guitar out the box - tried setting the intonation just to realise it was flat regardless of saddles being right at the end of their bolts, and measured to realise the fret work is that of a 27" scale guitar but the bridge placement is that of a 27.5/28" scale length - meaning the fretted notes are going to be flat no matter what, until I've found some longer bolts with the same diameter&thread. And even then I can imagine the extra string behind the saddle will lead to ringing problems.
All in all though as long as you don't mind risking doing some (potentially major) DIY/taking to a professional if you draw the short straw on QC I'd say this is worth the money - even with the couple bits I need to replace the net price feels like a legitimate steal - just look to a few certain other metal guitar companies with these specs and you'll be paying >1500 easy.
Alright job harley benton, keep being you.
For this price point you will struggle to find anything on par spec wise - neck thru construction with good, natural feeling access to the 24th fret - locking tuners - good high output active pickups with no problems becoming microphonic etc - stainless steel frets and graftech nut that feels they'll last.
Major props to Harley Benton for doing this model in left handed too - I've been on the search for a left handed baritone for years now but because its such a niche the only other option is going custom for thousands - next on the table for me is a 29/30" scale and you can be sure that, despite the problems explained below, if HB put out a lefty 30" baritone I'll put an order in soon as:)
Negatives
Sorry but in spite of loving the guitar I can't give this anything higher than a 3 star due to the appalling QC problems. I don't mind a few cosmetic marks/bumps (which this guitar has) but some of the problems have been key to the guitar working as it should - the input was on/off since first opening the guitar and a few weeks in stopped working entirely - just for me to take out the input and see the panels bent in some weird shape with crossing signals. And I know this wasn't my fault as I'm one of the most anal people out there regarding cable care - then once put back into shape wouldn't fit into place again, the screws wouldn't fit into their holes. That one was on me but still requires me to take it to a professional to replace the input with a higher quality one.
Another day one problem came when setting up the guitar out the box - tried setting the intonation just to realise it was flat regardless of saddles being right at the end of their bolts, and measured to realise the fret work is that of a 27" scale guitar but the bridge placement is that of a 27.5/28" scale length - meaning the fretted notes are going to be flat no matter what, until I've found some longer bolts with the same diameter&thread. And even then I can imagine the extra string behind the saddle will lead to ringing problems.
All in all though as long as you don't mind risking doing some (potentially major) DIY/taking to a professional if you draw the short straw on QC I'd say this is worth the money - even with the couple bits I need to replace the net price feels like a legitimate steal - just look to a few certain other metal guitar companies with these specs and you'll be paying >1500 easy.
Alright job harley benton, keep being you.
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