Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Black

129

Roundback Guitar

  • With nylon strings
  • Design: Roundback with cutaway
  • Top: Spruce
  • Body: ABS Super shallow bowl
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Roseacer (thermally treated maple wood)
  • Fretboard radius: 400 mm
  • 23 Frets
  • Body binding: Multi-ply ABS
  • Neck binding: ABS
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • Bridge: Roseacer
  • Machine heads: Open gear classic
  • Dual action truss rod
  • Strings: HB medium tension nylon
  • Pickup system with 3-band EQ
  • Colour: High-Gloss Black
Available since September 2017
Item number 410261
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Cutaway Yes
Top Spruce
Back and Sides Plastic
Pickups Yes
Fretboard Roseacer
Nut width in mm 48,00 mm
Scale 648 mm
Colour Black
Case No
Incl. Gigbag No
Body Depth Super Shallow
Frets 23
Pickup System 1
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B-Stock from $108 available
$118
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In stock within 5-7 weeks
In stock within 5-7 weeks

This product is expected back in stock soon and can then be shipped immediately.

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Best of both worlds: Rock and Classical

Guitar Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic front

Rock and Classical are no longer in opposition thanks to the Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Black. Its genes certainly come from traditional steel-string stage acoustics – however, its nylon strings have their roots in the Classical scene and its round-backed design dates back to the time of medieval lutes. A more flexible sound is hard to imagine, as its built-in pickup system ensures the desired level of sonic brilliance. Its shallow, rounded body not only provides unrivalled comfort when playing, it also greatly helps prevent feedback issues with amplifiers.

Soundboard of the Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic black guitar

The stage is its true calling

The Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Black is first and foremost an electro-acoustic guitar for the stage. Its spruce top is specially designed to help suppress unwanted feedback. Modern X-bracing helps confer its clear, open sound. The body’s shallow bowl is made of ABS and produces different sound reflections from those created inside a traditional guitar. This has a decisive influence on the guitar’s tone – which can then be optimally amplified via the active pickup system. Its off-centre sound holes and elegant black gloss finish give the HBO-850 Classic Black an unmistakable appearance which immediately identifies it as a modern guitar for the stage.

Roundback of the Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic

Nylon strings for modern settings

The Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Black is clearly designed with nylon-string enthusiasts in mind, especially those working in modern musical environments. Its shallow body is not only extremely ergonomic, it also allows problem-free amplification even at extremely high volume in conjunction with the layered top. At 48 millimetres wide, the neck is considerably slimmer than on most classical guitars. Finally, its appearance is anything but traditional. This instrument will equally suit Bossa Nova guitarists, Jazz virtuosos, Folk poets, Rock balladeers, and of course bold Classical players.

Headstock of the classical guitar Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic

About Harley Benton

Since 1998, the Harley Benton brand has been catering for the needs of numerous guitarists and bassists. In addition to an extensive range of stringed instruments, Thomann's house brand also offers a wide choice of amplifiers, speakers, effect pedals, and other accessories. In total, the range includes over 1,500 products. Built by established names in the industry, all Harley Benton products combine quality and reliability at attractive and affordable prices. The continuous expansion of the range ensures that Harley Benton always provides new, exciting, and innovative products that keep players perfectly in tune with the musical world, day after day.

Preamp on the side of the Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic

As loud as you can handle

Steel strings by no means have a monopoly in the repertoire of Folk and Rock acoustic guitar. Willie Nelson, Paco de Lucia, and Sting are all names associated with the regular or even exclusive use of nylon strings in a non-Classical environment. This is the ideal context for the HBO-850 Classic Black: When the music is not Classical but the nylon-string sound is a must. Its shallow body means it should be amplified as a general rule. A strap should also be used, and not just for great comfort – it also looks the best.

In the spotlight

129 Customer ratings

4.4 / 5

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83 Reviews

P
Beyond expectation
Paganini 10.04.2018
I would have no problem to gig with it straight out of the box.
Pros:
-Sound is in my opinion great acoustically.
-Neck feels more like an electric guitar than a typical classical, which for me works much better.
-Built quality, in terms of looks and playability is excellent.
Cons: (there aren't any really, but just some heads up)
Plugged in, the sound is not really that great, kind of shallow sounding to my ears at least, but the electronics are easily replaced, and considering the price of the instrument, it's great!
Body ornaments were not glued properly, so they need a bit of work. Also the holes could be a tiny bit better looking, but that's nitpicking.
Overall, it would be a great instrument for three times the price, so I'm very satisfied with it.
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Very impressive 1st look!
GaryZ 08.03.2023
Arrived on time to Vancouver Canada in perfect condition. Unlike some comments, this HB 850 is close to flawless. A little glue spillage on the bottom side binding will rub off, fret sprout/almost non existent... a few minutes of light sanding and filing... not to worry about, only 15th fret was a little high and I gently tapped it down, polished the frets, cleaned and oiled the fret board, oiled the decorative wood designs around the sound hole, the tuners seem fine after a couple of re-stretching's of the strings and no marks or scratches on the body finish. The action is way too high and the nut needed some serious filing, but I have the experience and the proper tools. The saddle needed trimming down, but, get this idea..... because of the very flat neck I thought I would try replacing it with an acoustic style compensated bone saddle with a 12" radius and it helped bring the action down on 1st and 6th strings, this sort of rounds out the strings on the neck and it works and sounds very good. I am not interested in playing classical music on this guitar, I just wanted a nylon string instrument for that softer feel and more mellow sound for my blues, jazz and rhythm style; [ this type of saddle does take it out of tune slightly at the 12th fret... no big deal. ] I will replace the nut to bone, change the strings to a light gage with ball ends and the tuners will be upgraded to a set of antique black for nicer ratio and appearance. The slimmer round back sits easily on my lap and takes getting used to while standing using a shoulder strap. All in all, for a budget priced nylon string guitar I am pleased and impressed. I have purchased several HB guitars and products before and this meets their expected good standards. NEW UPDATE........!
I just put a 45mm bone nut on to bring the strings a little closer together, after carefully filing for intonation and changing to high tension nylon strings this guitar is now very close to what I want, especially plugged in. The new nut, of course sits smaller in the slot, and is barely noticeable, my fingers are small and makes for easier play.
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a260261@gmail.com
andrey lebyodkin 15.07.2021
the guitar came with a broken neck, all in dirty streaks, a worn deck and dried mold on the fretboard pad. the issue of money back is being resolved. I couldn't replace it with another store. promised a completely free replacement, but I for delivery and taxes required more than half the cost of the tool. of course I refused. now the parcel will be returned to the store, and I am promised to return the money.. I was left without a guitar.
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KUZU 10.03.2022
I bought it to make an affordable alternative to Ovation of Yngwie Malmsteen. If you get to set your amplifier and effects neatly, you may have a very similar tone. It has a 'acoustic guitar size' fretboard. And it is possible to adjust the neck.

There are no downsides except the preamp draining the battery too quick and fretboard is neither rosewood nor ebony.
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