ZM
A nice guitar for the price, some nitpicking on my part
I bought this guitar in March after contemplating for a long time to try my hand at 7-string guitars. The price was a selling factor, of course, and I wanted to see the reputation of Harley Benton instruments for myself.
Upon arrival, I inspected the guitar and found it to be built quite well: no sharp fret ends, no fret buzz, all the screws tight, generally nice finishing job, and it has a nice weight to it. I have no qualms about the initial setup of the guitar (neck relief, saddle placement, string height at the bridge and the 12th fret, pickup height), since I find that this is something one should learn to do by themselves, depending on string gauge, playing style and other factors (EDIT: That's not to say that the guitar was set up atrociously or anything like that; the neck had the right amount of backbow and the string height was quite acceptable at the saddles). I will, however, say that the placement of the nut could've been a tiny bit more careful, and you might find the strings to be sitting a bit too high at the nut, so have some nut files ready, just in case.
On the strings that came with the guitar (09-54), I found the two bottom strings to be a bit too floppy for my taste, thus I strung up the guitar with a LaBella 10-64 set, which goes nicely with Standard Bb and, to some extent, Standard A. More recently I tried out the 10-70 set (which is your standard 10-46 with an added 70) where I swapped out the 46 with a 49 for consistency, wanting to try my hand at Standard G# and Drop F#. I find that, because the scale length is just 648mm, after a certain point it doesn't really matter how thick your lowest string is; you will run into intonation problems, and thicker strings don't really sustain well on that scale length, thus it would be a good idea to invest into a guitar with a longer neck, or a multiscale guitar, if you tune below Standard A.
On the subject of tuning, I found the tuners to be so-so. Tuning up works well, but tuning down, it seems as though the gears in some of the tuners get stuck for about half a turn, so if you plan on keeping the stock tuners, be prepared to do a lot of turning and string stretching. On the other hand, the Hipshot-style hardtail bridge is a nice feature: fixed into the body, but with Fender-style saddles, with ample room for adjustments of individual string height and intonation, and good tuning stability once the strings have been stretched in place.
Now to the neck. Whereas the body has a gloss finish, the neck has more of a satin finish, so it really helps the fretting hand glide around the neck with ease. For me, the fretboard could've been a tad wider; I find it somewhat difficult to fret some of the standard chord shapes without accidentally muting a couple of strings every so often. In contrast to that, the neck could've been a bit thinner. Even though I have somewhat large hands, I find that the neck can become tiresome after a certain point. Then again, this might be because of the neck profile (I'm not comfortable with the D-shape), so if there is any modification to be done on the neck, I'm thinking about having it sanded down to a more fitting shape for my hands at some point. Lastly, access to the higher frets is quite easy despite it being a bolt-on neck; on the other hand the lower horn of the body can become quite the nuisance, as I find the back of my hand hitting against it very often - but again, I have somewhat large hands.
Finally, the pickups. I found that they aren't really as high-gain as the description makes them out to be. That being said, be prepared to sink the bass side of the neck pickup deeper into the body, because even with the 09-54 strings, that pickup can become boomy as F***! You can, of course, compensate slightly for the resulting volume loss by raising the pole screws as needed. The bridge pickup, on the other hand, is quite... barky. This lends itself well to a more modern guitar tone, which isn't really my cup of tea to be honest. Even so, the character of the bridge pickup has inspired a few riffs, and with the right settings you can get some nice tones out of the guitar. As a side note, if you find that the pickups are slanted too much towards the neck or bridge, for me this was solved by flipping around the pickup frames. Lastly, the work in the electronics cavity is quite neat, if a bit clustered, and the volume and tone controls are nicely out of the way of the picking hand.
Despite some issues as detailed above (half of which are more personal than practical), if you're looking for a first foray into the world of 7-string guitars, this guitar is definitely worth checking out, especially considering its price. Not to mention that it could potentially serve as a great platform for modifications.
Upon arrival, I inspected the guitar and found it to be built quite well: no sharp fret ends, no fret buzz, all the screws tight, generally nice finishing job, and it has a nice weight to it. I have no qualms about the initial setup of the guitar (neck relief, saddle placement, string height at the bridge and the 12th fret, pickup height), since I find that this is something one should learn to do by themselves, depending on string gauge, playing style and other factors (EDIT: That's not to say that the guitar was set up atrociously or anything like that; the neck had the right amount of backbow and the string height was quite acceptable at the saddles). I will, however, say that the placement of the nut could've been a tiny bit more careful, and you might find the strings to be sitting a bit too high at the nut, so have some nut files ready, just in case.
On the strings that came with the guitar (09-54), I found the two bottom strings to be a bit too floppy for my taste, thus I strung up the guitar with a LaBella 10-64 set, which goes nicely with Standard Bb and, to some extent, Standard A. More recently I tried out the 10-70 set (which is your standard 10-46 with an added 70) where I swapped out the 46 with a 49 for consistency, wanting to try my hand at Standard G# and Drop F#. I find that, because the scale length is just 648mm, after a certain point it doesn't really matter how thick your lowest string is; you will run into intonation problems, and thicker strings don't really sustain well on that scale length, thus it would be a good idea to invest into a guitar with a longer neck, or a multiscale guitar, if you tune below Standard A.
On the subject of tuning, I found the tuners to be so-so. Tuning up works well, but tuning down, it seems as though the gears in some of the tuners get stuck for about half a turn, so if you plan on keeping the stock tuners, be prepared to do a lot of turning and string stretching. On the other hand, the Hipshot-style hardtail bridge is a nice feature: fixed into the body, but with Fender-style saddles, with ample room for adjustments of individual string height and intonation, and good tuning stability once the strings have been stretched in place.
Now to the neck. Whereas the body has a gloss finish, the neck has more of a satin finish, so it really helps the fretting hand glide around the neck with ease. For me, the fretboard could've been a tad wider; I find it somewhat difficult to fret some of the standard chord shapes without accidentally muting a couple of strings every so often. In contrast to that, the neck could've been a bit thinner. Even though I have somewhat large hands, I find that the neck can become tiresome after a certain point. Then again, this might be because of the neck profile (I'm not comfortable with the D-shape), so if there is any modification to be done on the neck, I'm thinking about having it sanded down to a more fitting shape for my hands at some point. Lastly, access to the higher frets is quite easy despite it being a bolt-on neck; on the other hand the lower horn of the body can become quite the nuisance, as I find the back of my hand hitting against it very often - but again, I have somewhat large hands.
Finally, the pickups. I found that they aren't really as high-gain as the description makes them out to be. That being said, be prepared to sink the bass side of the neck pickup deeper into the body, because even with the 09-54 strings, that pickup can become boomy as F***! You can, of course, compensate slightly for the resulting volume loss by raising the pole screws as needed. The bridge pickup, on the other hand, is quite... barky. This lends itself well to a more modern guitar tone, which isn't really my cup of tea to be honest. Even so, the character of the bridge pickup has inspired a few riffs, and with the right settings you can get some nice tones out of the guitar. As a side note, if you find that the pickups are slanted too much towards the neck or bridge, for me this was solved by flipping around the pickup frames. Lastly, the work in the electronics cavity is quite neat, if a bit clustered, and the volume and tone controls are nicely out of the way of the picking hand.
Despite some issues as detailed above (half of which are more personal than practical), if you're looking for a first foray into the world of 7-string guitars, this guitar is definitely worth checking out, especially considering its price. Not to mention that it could potentially serve as a great platform for modifications.
7
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Ver nice first 7 string guitar with almost no flaws - highly reccomended
This guitar is an excellent guitar with an amazing price to build quality ratio. It's perfect for both beginners and intermediate level players. The guitar arrived well intonated and with a comfortable string action, making it easy to play straight out of the box. The body shape is well-cut and feels comfortable, and it's not too heavy.
However, there are a few weak points to consider. The pickups are a bit muddy on standard amps, and the fretboard can be very dry, which can feel strange and unpleasant when playing for the first time. The neck is also thin, which may not be to everyone's taste.
That being said, the cleans sound good, and the pots work well. The hi-gain sounds are particularly impressive and suited for all metal styles.
Overall, the guitar is a great choice for those in need of an affordable 7-string guitar. However, it's worth noting that the Speed-D neck profile may feel different to some players, so it's recommended to try it out before making a purchase. Despite the minor drawbacks, the Harley Benton R-457 BK Progressiv Series is a solid guitar that delivers on its promise of high quality at an affordable price.
However, there are a few weak points to consider. The pickups are a bit muddy on standard amps, and the fretboard can be very dry, which can feel strange and unpleasant when playing for the first time. The neck is also thin, which may not be to everyone's taste.
That being said, the cleans sound good, and the pots work well. The hi-gain sounds are particularly impressive and suited for all metal styles.
Overall, the guitar is a great choice for those in need of an affordable 7-string guitar. However, it's worth noting that the Speed-D neck profile may feel different to some players, so it's recommended to try it out before making a purchase. Despite the minor drawbacks, the Harley Benton R-457 BK Progressiv Series is a solid guitar that delivers on its promise of high quality at an affordable price.
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A
Excellent value-for-money
I bought this guitar to get a feel for seven-string guitars and my first impression has been very positive. Considering the price I didn't expect too much but I don't like to waste my money on garbage either so I did have certain expectations on assembly and tuning stability. Now that the guitar has arrived I am happy to discover that it exceeds my expectations. Intonation and tuning stability is good. The neck-joint is flawless and string height is very good. The neck was comfortable and overall it feels like an easy-to-play instrument. There were som minor cosmetic imperfections on the paint job. The pickups aren't excellent but work well. I consider this guitar excellent value-for-money.
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l
A good, cheap seven-string
This, in my opinion, is an excellent seven-string guitar, because these types of guitars are usually a love it or hate it ordeal, and you ideally won't want to sink hundreds of euros into a guitar you won't want to play.
The guitar came in top form, with well adjusted action, good humbucker pickups, and a silky smooth neck and fretboard. A star was knocked off because the factory high E string snapped after about an hour and a half of use, but this was no big deal as the string was easily replaced, and all of the other factory strings were generally of a high calibre.
In conclusion, this guitar is excellent, and definitely doesn't break the bank!!
The guitar came in top form, with well adjusted action, good humbucker pickups, and a silky smooth neck and fretboard. A star was knocked off because the factory high E string snapped after about an hour and a half of use, but this was no big deal as the string was easily replaced, and all of the other factory strings were generally of a high calibre.
In conclusion, this guitar is excellent, and definitely doesn't break the bank!!
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F
Unreasonably good for the price
If you're curious about 7-string guitars and want to pick one up for an absurdly low price you can do no better than this. I'd been on the fence about getting my first 7 for over a year but after seeing the pages of positive reviews for this guitar and the super-cheap price point I was convinced and made an impulse decision to order one.
I'm beyond happy with what I got. It arrived set up like a dream, intonation and action satisfactory right out of the box. This by no means feels or plays like a budget guitar, feels sturdy all over with a comfortable neck. Stays in tune well even after some hard playing and over-bending, as well as switching from B standard to Drop A and back. The only thing holding it back from a 5-star review is the quality of pickups, which as many other reviews have said are quite muddy. But not so much that it's impossible to get a good tone, just that you'll have to spend more time than usual dialing one in to work around the cheaper pickups.
Most other starter 7-strings I've seen are at double this price point. If you want to begin exploring extended range instruments without dropping a couple of hundred, this guitar will be the one for you.
I'm beyond happy with what I got. It arrived set up like a dream, intonation and action satisfactory right out of the box. This by no means feels or plays like a budget guitar, feels sturdy all over with a comfortable neck. Stays in tune well even after some hard playing and over-bending, as well as switching from B standard to Drop A and back. The only thing holding it back from a 5-star review is the quality of pickups, which as many other reviews have said are quite muddy. But not so much that it's impossible to get a good tone, just that you'll have to spend more time than usual dialing one in to work around the cheaper pickups.
Most other starter 7-strings I've seen are at double this price point. If you want to begin exploring extended range instruments without dropping a couple of hundred, this guitar will be the one for you.
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A
Typical starter 7 string
I bought this guitar to 'dip a toe' with 7 strings as I didn't want to spend a fortune on something I might eventually not like.
The guitar came pretty well set up from the factory, the action was OK, nothing to complain about there.
Quality wise, the guitar had certain flaws but they're kinda expected at this price range (frets, fretboard, nut) - luckily for me nothing I couldn't take care of myself but things is even at this price range I should not need to do anything like that in the first place. Having seen other guitars from the same line my guess is I just got a bit unlucky there and got a flawed piece. Props to customer service as they offered me to deal with the issue but I simply didn't have the time to be bothered with returning the git.
Sound is a bit thin, the pickups will definitely need to be replaced at some stage, but that's true for more expensive guitars as well.
All in all, a value-for-money instrument. IMO good for starters. Hard to beat at this price.
The guitar came pretty well set up from the factory, the action was OK, nothing to complain about there.
Quality wise, the guitar had certain flaws but they're kinda expected at this price range (frets, fretboard, nut) - luckily for me nothing I couldn't take care of myself but things is even at this price range I should not need to do anything like that in the first place. Having seen other guitars from the same line my guess is I just got a bit unlucky there and got a flawed piece. Props to customer service as they offered me to deal with the issue but I simply didn't have the time to be bothered with returning the git.
Sound is a bit thin, the pickups will definitely need to be replaced at some stage, but that's true for more expensive guitars as well.
All in all, a value-for-money instrument. IMO good for starters. Hard to beat at this price.
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K
Solid 7 string for awesome price!
I use this guitar primarily for metal as it is a metal axe.
Pros: -weight is very good and balanced
-action was good from the box
-cosmetically everything looks good
-nut is cut well
-good value for the money
Cons: -tuners are not very good, they hold the tuning but
after some bends and few songs you may have to re check it.
-regardless of good action I still needed to add some relief in the neck but i think its mainly from the shipping, at the end its only 144 euro guitar.
-pickups are okay but they are not very good either, they are kinda weak compared to emg's but then again you cant expect a lot for the price, they don't make crazy noises or something ,they are just a little bit weak and lack a punch for my taste.
I recommend this guitar to anybody that needs a solid 7 string at a great price.
Pros: -weight is very good and balanced
-action was good from the box
-cosmetically everything looks good
-nut is cut well
-good value for the money
Cons: -tuners are not very good, they hold the tuning but
after some bends and few songs you may have to re check it.
-regardless of good action I still needed to add some relief in the neck but i think its mainly from the shipping, at the end its only 144 euro guitar.
-pickups are okay but they are not very good either, they are kinda weak compared to emg's but then again you cant expect a lot for the price, they don't make crazy noises or something ,they are just a little bit weak and lack a punch for my taste.
I recommend this guitar to anybody that needs a solid 7 string at a great price.
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E
Genuinely not sure how they can sell this guitar for this price
As the title says, I'm not sure how they can sell a guitar this good for this little money and still profit.
I fully expected to have to give the guitar a full setup on arrival but right out of the box I tuned up and it played like a dream. Fantastic action, fast neck and generally feels great.
The hardware is definitely the weak point on this guitar but at this price that is to be expected.
The machine heads feel cheap, the switch and knobs feel even cheaper, and the neck pickup is so muddy it's almost unusable by itself. However, the bridge pickup is very nice and with both pickups being selected the guitar sounds good.
All these issues are fixable for a bit of money, and even if I swap out the pickups for a nazgul/sentient set I would have a great performing 7-string for a lot less money than one that was better when stock.
Fantastic guitar for the price! But be realistic with your expectations when it comes to the hardware installed.
I fully expected to have to give the guitar a full setup on arrival but right out of the box I tuned up and it played like a dream. Fantastic action, fast neck and generally feels great.
The hardware is definitely the weak point on this guitar but at this price that is to be expected.
The machine heads feel cheap, the switch and knobs feel even cheaper, and the neck pickup is so muddy it's almost unusable by itself. However, the bridge pickup is very nice and with both pickups being selected the guitar sounds good.
All these issues are fixable for a bit of money, and even if I swap out the pickups for a nazgul/sentient set I would have a great performing 7-string for a lot less money than one that was better when stock.
Fantastic guitar for the price! But be realistic with your expectations when it comes to the hardware installed.
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A
This was the first 7-string i bought. It's a great guitar to start off on getting used to that extra string. All I can say is it's a bit on the heavy side. otherwise I've had this guitar for 2 years and it's still in perfect condition.
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B
A project guitar
Wasn't sure if I wanted a seven string, so I bought this. Minor tuning issues, volume pot has gone a little rusty. I plan to later fix that when I modify it. I think I like seven strings.
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