Harley Benton GS-Travel-E Mahogany

I normally play a Martin 000-15S and my son plays a Taylor GS Mini (of which this little Harley Benton is a replica). I know a good guitar when I play it.
I was looking for a cheap little travel guitar to take on a boating holiday and saw all the rave reviews of this little baby and decided to take a punt.
When the guitar arrived, the first things I noticed were that there was a slight buzz on the low E string and a dead spot on the B. No problem though - a 1/4 turn on the truss rod (key in the lovely travel bag!) gave a little more neck relief and buzz/dead spot gone like magic.
Only imperfection I could find on the whole instrument was a crease mark on the very thin pick guard. Again - no problem. I just peeled off the pick guard which left absolutely no mark on the guitar. I think it looks way better without it.
The action is now absolutely superb all the way up the neck and the intonation (checked with Snark tuner) is, remarkably, also spot on at every fret. With the original strings and a little relief adjustment the guitar plays great now. Sure it's not a Martin or a Taylor but it is a remarkably good sounding little instrument in its own right and for the Euros 109 I paid, absolutely stunning value for money. It comes complete with a smashing little gig bag, truss rod key and even a cheap, but functional lead for hooking it up to an amplifier. I tried it with a MicroCube amp and the output from the fitted pickup is more than adequate.
I will be fitting a Graphtec TUSQ XL saddle when I replace the strings with Martin Custom Lights as I think very slightly heavier gauge strings might just add a little more bottom end, and the saddle that is on the guitar is a very cheap plastic job that isn't really doing anything to improve the tone. However, saying that I generally make these simple mods to any guitar I buy, irrespective of what I paid for it.
To summarise then, if you are looking for a really great value travel guitar then look no further. This really is 'a steal'.

Update: I have now had this little gem for around a week and I haven't picked up my Martin in that time. This little guitar is stunningly good. I just can't believe that an all laminate, small guitar can sound and play as well as this one does. String spacing I find a little to tight for my liking when finger picking, but for flat picking and strumming, the v shaped neck and excellent action are spot on. I've yet to replace the saddle and strings because every time I pick it up I start playing it!
I may be one of the lucky ones to get an absolute gem, but somehow, given the other reviews, I think not. Absolutely the best value guitar I have ever bought in terms of bang for buck. Amazing!
Update: Have just replaced strings with medium gauge Elixirs (13s). Had to lower action slightly at nut for low E and A strings to accommodate heavier gauge strings. Great success, much less unintended bending of treble strings when playing up the neck and much improved base response. Although slightly harder on the fingers, I think it's well worth putting heavier gauge strings on this great little guitar.
With the Elixir 13s this guitar is the DADGAD beast!

First of all, let’s get it out of the way. I’ve been playing for over 20 years, own 14 guitars so I’ve seen my fair share of rubbish! Obviously sometimes you get a dodgy one, and QC sometimes have shockers, so I will review this based on my guitar I’ve received.

I read all the reviews, everyone saying it’s amazing for the money. I’ve fallen for that trick before with Squiers and Epiphones, but THIS little travel guitar is absolutely stunning.

The quality of build is amazing. It’s flawless. The finish, the fretboard, everything… it’s beautiful. The tuners are really good, solid and keeps it in tune. The sound is amazing, so loud and full of mids and bass. You’d think it would be tinny, like them Ed Sheeran-esque travel guitars, but nope this sounds like a full-size acoustic.

The pick up sounds good, and has a built in tuner with a display on so you can find your notes to tune it however you like.

All in all, if you paid £500 for this guitar and it said a more expensive name on the headstock you would not be complaining. I am actually confused how this high quality instrument is so cheap. It is much better than my £400 epiphone acoustic. I cannot put it down.

I took the scratch plate off as I prefer it without. There was 3 sharp fret ends, not to worry - filed them down and now it’s all good. Action was nice out of the box.

Just buy it - it’s the best £100 you’ll ever spend on a guitar. Harley Benton are the future!!!!

I have been a singer songwriter for more than 35 years. I still enjoy writing songs but do not gig very much these days. I love travelling ( mainly up to the North East Coast in the UK, where I originate from, with my lovely, loyal wee companion, Wor Bob, the Border Terrier ) I have quite a few guitars and I am always reluctant to throw one in the back of the car when we are on our excursions, so I thought this Harley Benton GS-Travel-E Mahogany would solve that problem. A ridiculously low price for something which has such favourable reviews ( and with a nice wee gig bag too ) So I ordered one. It arrived today and I absolutely LOVE this wee guitar. WHAT A BARGAIN ! The guitar is very well made, from lovely materials ( I love the slightly arched back, which certainly helps the guitar to resonate ). The neck and fretboard are wonderful. The action was pretty much spot on and the tuners are excellent, zero problem there - they work very well and the guitar holds its tuning ( after some bending and stretching of the strings ) I love the look and overall feel of this guitar and it projects amazingly well for something of its diminutive stature, with a beautiful full tone. I have to keep reminding myself that this was just over a hundred quid !! I would not have been disappointed if I had paid twice that amount. It would still have been a real bargain. I heard a few people criticising the placement of the battery compartment but I actually think it is a great place to house it and I managed to pop the battery into its compartment very easily by simply loosening the strings to gain access via the sound-hole, there is no need to completely remove them. Some people said it could be a potential problem if the battery was to run out mid gig ? ? Well just make sure you install a brand new battery before you start your gig ! ( come on, it's not rocket science and the batteries are cheap enough )
Pro's : Ridiculously great value.
Outstanding build quality for a tiny outlay.
Aesthetically gorgeous looking guitar.
Very full and beautifully round tone for such a small guitar.
More than adequate tuners ( which, again, look fabulous in black )
Great sounding pickup.
Perfect for carrying with you no matter where you may roam.
Cons : Although I like the choice of bronze strings, the quality of the ones it came strung with were well below par - a bit worn looking ( hardly worth mentioning as I always restring guitars with my personal preference - and, in truth, they sound not too bad )
The fret ends were a wee bit on the sharp side but a few minutes with a gentle file and that will be easily solved ... nothing else to say really other than, if you are looking for a lovely wee travel guitar to carry with you, BUY THIS ONE ! It's such a bargain .... and it even comes with a very decent gig bag .... FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN A HUNDRED QUID !! Amazing !!

As a mature instrumentalist, I advocate try, before you buy. The Thomann web store is my first exception to the rule. Excellent photographs/sound bites/video, made me take a chance.
First Impressions:
The finish is very good and has obviously been through a quality check. It truly represents what is shown at the Thomann web site. The choice of (bronze) strings suits the tone of the body, although a 10 gauge set would be preferable. It sounds much bigger and warmer than it looks with a lovely ring from the bronze strings (I instantly knew this is more than a travel guitar). The "V" profile on the neck is weird to me, but I will get used to it.
I had to de-tune to reach inside to fit the battery. Strange location, right at the neck-heel join. I would have used a shorter cable and located the battery towards the rear of the instrument. But, upon having a good feel about inside, I can report that the scalloped "X" bracing (spruce) is finished quite well and the heel of the neck appears to be bolted the body. Quite sturdy I think.
Second Impressions:
The action is woefully high and would suit a jazz thrasher, but not acceptable in such a beautifully made instrument. To make the guitar playable will require lowering the Nut and the Bridge height. Also the transition from Nut to Fingerboard needs smoothing. I can do that sort of work, but if you can't, I recommend getting a luthier to do the work (It is worth doing). A lower action is possible to achieve from factory and it should be looked into. The fretboard and fret-fit is excellent for a guitar of any price. The Bridge finish is the only poorly finished part of the guitar, but again, with a little work it can be smoothed and stained/finished correctly.
In summary: Well Made, Good Sounding, Excellent Value Instrument, just Requiring the Final Fit of String to Body to make it Perfect. I still would award 5* to the product for what it can be.
Finally a big thank you to Thomann for the excellent service.
Additional Edit:
After lowering the Nut to the proper height and lowering the treble side of the saddle, this instrument is a real players tool. I won't be parting with this one.