Harley Benton RB-612CS Classic Series

I am old. 67 to be precise. I played in a band in high school. Had an electric guitar and a 12 string jumbo acoustic. I love the 12 string sound. Byrds, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Tom Petty…. So I wanted to pickup a guitar again after many years and the 12 string desire was strong. I read a couple of articles about Harley Benton and was impressed with the value they provide. So I started looking at their website and found the RB-612 guitars. It pushed all the right buttons. Semi hollow body, Rickenbacker styling, dual hum buckets, nothing less than a Ricky clone for 10% of what I would spend for an authentic Ricky. So last July, I found the Thomann website and ordered a RB-612BK same guitar only in Black. I didn’t want black but due to supply chain problems the only color available to order was black. After multiple delays the black version was shipped to me in October, to the US. Unfortunately the guitar was lost in transit and the box and gig-bag arrived without the guitar.

I worked with UPS and Thomann and they both were fantastic and a new guitar was placed on order. However none was immediately available but expected to be delivered in 6-8 weeks. Then in mid-December they notified my of another delay of 8-12 weeks. Bummer right? Frustrated waiting so long I got on the Thomann website looking for something else to switch to. That is when I discovered that the RB-612CS was available in 7-14 days. Delighted, it was the color I originally wanted, I had the order switched and now have my beautiful guitar. So far it has been GREAT! I have a Spark practice amp and the sound is fantastic! It has the sound I dreamed of. The finish on the guitar is flawless. Everything is in great working order and I am thrilled with the guitar, Thomann is a great company and responsive to all of my requests. I highly recommend Thomann as a company and Harley Benton as a guitar.

This guitar exceeds all my expectations and sounds/ functions - even better than it looks!
I’m a relative beginner to guitar playing, but can play and know obvious differences, issues and problems. There are no problems I can detect.
I do notice it’s better than any 12-string I’ve tried from friends and in the Music Shops. This excludes Ricky, but includes1,000 dollar guitars, down to 500 dollars.

Most of the very positive reviews mention many details for their positive reviews Believe them. . I’ll mention some things that I haven’t seen highlighted.

1 Body is Sapele Wood; I’ve learned this Wood is used for Taylor Guitars. It’s been described this way by experts:
Sapele’s tonal output is consistent and balanced across the tonal spectrum, making it compatible with a diverse range of playing styles. It’s comparable to mahogany but its higher density tends to produce a slightly brighter sound with more top-end shimmer.”
2. The headstock is very close to that of The Hagstrom Viking 12-string.
3.The body is totally functional, but a bit smaller, but NOT weirdly small or affecting playing or sound. Think Les Paul body size. If that’s not a problem for you.........
4. Maple Neck is awesome.
5. The F-hole DOES have a history with Rickenbacker. We usually see them with no hole, or a slash one. The Who’s Pete Townshend used a Rose Morris model, which features an F-hole. The HB has an F-Hole
6. The Mini Humbuckers have a unique jangly sound and sound way better than any pick-ups I’ve heard on non Ricky 12- strings.

Mucho Happy with purchase!

As a folk-rocker, I have always envied Roger McGuinn's gorgeous twangy twelve string Rickenbacker, but never came close to earning enough from my music to warrant the price tag on a genuine "Ricky".

So, I was intrigued by coming across what appeared to be Harley Benton's take on the instrument. Intrigued enough to risk buying it, since if it didn't fulfil my expectations Thomann's return policy would be the easy answer.

Well, I never needed to return it! Let me tell you straight out, this is the finest guitar I have bought yet from HB. It's quite frankly gorgeous to look at. The attention to detail from HB is great. Out of the box it was almost in tune (the ratio on the tuners seems superior to a couple of my other "budget" guitars and they work flawlessly). The neck is smooth and the action was fine out of the box. There were no rough fret edges along the neck and not a single flaw could I find in the overall finish.

Ten minutes after taking it out of the box I was already in love with it... but also nervous as I plugged it in. Would it live up to that sound I so desired? Well, yes it did and in spades! My plectrum danced up and down the strings as I formed the chord shapes for "Mr Tambourine Man" - and there was that jingle-jangle I'd have had to pay nearly ten times to get from a Ricky.

In addition, the sound, acoustically, is acceptable for practice or working on songs after our neighbours' 10pm curfew is in place. As a bonus, even unplugged you still get that twang I was looking for.

The other surprise was the strings. Usually, the first thing I do when I get a budget guitar (confession time, all my guitars are budget brands) is snip the strings off and put some decent ones on. I even included a spare set of strings in my initial order, expecting the stock ones to be awful, but I have still not put them on after months of playing the instrument. The supplied strings were fine.

Aesthetically, the instrument hasn't got the headstock of a Ricky. The twelve string Ricky looks like a six string, because the tuners for the other six strings are at a 90º angle to the ones immediately visible. However, in terms of practicality, give me the HB headstock any day. I did once try the Ricky 12 in a guitar shop and I found the Ricky dual-angled machine heads option to be a little confusing and quite frankly awkward to adjust.

Is there anything negative I can say about the instrument? Well, I guess the only thing I could say in that vein would be that if you are wearing a silky textured shirt on stage, then there could be a slight tendency for the neck to slowly dive. But a good rough surfaced strap should soon sort that out.

Another possible negative point that may leave some people puzzled, if not put off, is the two level pickguard. It is a curious aesthetic choice, but one it shares with the Byrds' leader's original. Anyway, that is the least of my worries after getting a sound I had lusted after for 50 years at a more than reasonable price.

Get in touch with the Byrd in you and take flight with this superb bargain guitar.

At over £3000 for a 'Rick' 12 String, this (just over) £200 guitar severely challenges justifying a £2800 price gap. Depending on your taste, this is a fine looking instrument & although purists would give this no chance at all, if you don’t do brand snobbery & do function over style, give this guitar a try: I don’t think you’ll be disappointed... Take time to read some more product reviews or check out you-tube video’s people have done.
It’s a little too early to comment on reliability of electrics & hardware, but initial impressions are that this really does represent outstanding value for your money. … Straight out of the box & like many new (& expensive) guitars, it was obvious the standard factory set-up would not personally suit myself & so … Using the Allen keys provided, I significantly lowered the action (& also bridge pickup height) plus a small tweak to the intonation of the D strings & it was ‘good to go’ … Frets all dressed nicely, with no choking or buzzing & good job on the binding. A small amount of excess glue just visible on the internal bracing through the ‘F’ hole is the only minor issue on finish that I found & this is very easily remedied….
In summary, I’ve owned several high end twin 6/12 guitars & mainly used the 12 string for a few songs, but as seems the norm, due to weight issues when gigging, lack of use & just leaving them in their case, I’ve always sold them. This little gem is the perfect light weight & very affordable alternative, giving a solid & pretty authentic impression of a ‘Rick’. … If you take the plunge & decide to buy, you’ll save yourself a small fortune & I truly believe you won’t be disappointed.

I love this inexpensive guitar. I've no idea how HB made this so well at that price point but it's nice. Not a single flaw in the finish or color. Everything worked correctly out of the box, but it did need setting up. It's become my main I like it so much.

Truss rod set up perfect from factory. Action was too high out the box, but easily adjusted to 0.0620" (~ 4/64ths). The plastic nut was installed correctly and hold all 12 at their correct height. Intonation was slightly flat on 10 of the 12 strings. Intonation adjustments went without a hitch. Excepting the Low E and it's companion. I can get Low E intonation perfect but because the saddle adjusts both strings at the same time it's companion will forever be slightly flat when measured. But I never play that pair beyond the fifth fret. So fussing over intonation not being pitch perfect when fretted at the 12th seems silly. The Artec Classic Mini LP Humbuckers (Model: MVH6-CR) that came installed needed height adjustments everywhere. After messing with action and intonation that's expected. I adjusted all 24 pickup poles to 0.0700” ( ~ 9/128” ). Both neck and bridge. Both mini humbuckers sit a little tilted toward the bridge. Looks goofy. Bridge pickup sticks out much more than the neck after everything was adjusted.

The tuners stay in tune. I've had issues with other HB guitar tuners. But not here. Smooth and consistent.

Came with weird layered pick guard that had been double sided taped together. One on top of the other. Doubled where you strum and 3-way switch. Single on the knob area. Pokey corners where the two layers meet. I removed the screws, pried that shit off, and threw it in the trash. Then acetone removed the tape residue and screwed it back together. Looks much better with a single continuous pick guard, than that two-step nonsense. And it doesn't scratch me anymore.

Got me some jingly jangly goodness now that it's all setup. Been playing it for months. No issues.

The guitar is excellent value for money - let me rephrase that, outstanding value for money.
I do not play professionally so performance use will be limited to small gatherings and fun events. Sorting and other injuries have taken their toll on, my left hand in particular, which causes tiredness to set it after half hour or more of playing one of my acoustic 12 string guitars. I needed a guitar with a lower action that is possible with most acoustic 12 string guitars and this is the cheapest (that is low cost) that seemed worth looking at and playing.
I have had the instrument for 6 days and letting it settle in plus making small adjustments to accommodate my playing. These are going just fine and should be about right after the guitars acclimatisation - probably another week or 10 days.
There are no obvious flaws, in fact the guitar looks much like you would expect for 4 or 5 times the price. The pickups are good enough for what I want and, having put it through two different amps, more than satisfied with the sound. A bit of experimentation will find the exact sound I want, though getting there is an enjoyable process.
Others have made their comments on their experience of the guitar so I will keep this brief and say that I have acquired a 12 string semi-acoustic 12 string guitar for a little over £200 that could justify itself against those many times more that price.
It is not a Rickenbacker and is one tenth the price of an equivalent and it would be unrealistic to think that it compares directly. However, what you get is a very acceptable compromise against the Rickenbacker.

I was looking for a single neck electric 12 string guitar, but didn't want to spend a small fortune. After watching many videos on you tube comparing this model to the Gretch 12 string, I decided to purchase the Harley Benton.
From Germany to New York in less than a week, I was pleasantly surprised when I recieved it at how well it was packaged. The guitar is beautiful. It plays superbly. The pickups sound perfect. The roll off on the volume and tone knobs is noiseless and effortless. It is such a beautiful playing and looking guitar that I ordered a second and had it sent to a family member in Ireland as a Christmas gift. I own a few handful of "top of the line" brand guitars, but I can honestly say, I would buy a Harley Benton model before buying another Gibson, Gretsch, or fender. Doing business with Thomanns is a pleasure, the tracking updates as well as their customer service answering questions.

I, urgently, needed a 12 string for several recording projects I have going. Bought the Cherry Burst RB612 and it arrived very quickly.
It is an excellent instrument, and a steal at the price. Beautiful "Rickenbacker " aesthetic- really cool.
It plays well, and didn't need a set up.
Rich sparkly tones, with a lot of variation- bridge, neck or combined.
My concern was having Artec ceramic pickups, but I need not have worried - they are great.
Through my amps (Hiwatt and Orange) as electric, or through an acoustic simulator pedal - the sound delivers.
Bravo! Harley Benton & Thomann.

I had my RB612CS delivered today.
Initially thought was wow this box is small....
I was panicking that I'd bought a kids guitar.
But when I opened it up
WOW absolutely stunning guitar.
It is smaller than I expected having seen the other Brand (Rick...) that its kind of based on, which are quite large in size.
But its real nice to hold, not overly heavy and the sound.....
Its probably a little smaller than a strat body in length.
But brilliant in the hands.
I've been playing guitars for over 45 years had most stuff over that time and I am shocked at the quality of this for the money.
It really does make you wonder how the big brands charge so much.
Out of the box, there is not a mark on the guitar anywhere, its flawless and looks beautiful.
It comes with a cheap Guitar Lead and a set of Allen keys too.
Yes its not a Rick and never really will be.
But for 10% of the price of a Rick, it definitely isn't 10% of the quality and sound.
It does just what you'd expect, nice Jangle to the sound.
The pickups sound great.
Lovely out of the box too, Intonation was bang on, all it needed was a decent tune up, which was easy to do.
When I ordered I was initially sceptical, for the cost but after today I have also ordered a Harley Benton acoustic as I was that impressed with the cost and value for money of the Harley Benton brand.
If you want a cheap 12 string electric, don't hesitate in ordering one.
My dad is also after buying one too now he's seen and played mine.
Great Job Thomann
You've made my day, week, year....

I bought this based on all the positive YouTube reviews, so although living in the US I wnet ahead and hoped for the best with shipping. It arrived in an undamaged box with two gig bags and I waited to unbox it in the presence of my luthier friend.

Out if the box it was beautiful: no visible marks, no sharp frets, great binding, etc. The action was incredibly high, so the luthier went to work. He adjusted the truss rod a couple of times, lowered the bridge and cut the nut slots deeper, then dialed in the intonation which required removal of the bridge cover. The bridge bottomed out against some nuts under it and the intonation while good, could be improved by clipping the end of a couple of saddle screws. No biggie according to the luthier, but something that will wait for another day. Next we tuned it up and started playing.

My friend played it for a half an hour (while I accompanied him) and asked what I paid for it (shocked at the reasonable cost). He continued playing it finally saying it was so comfortable it felt like he's played it for years. Then we switched instruments and continued playing. Personally I loved the jangle and the width of the fretboard. It only required a slightly different finger placement than usual on the e-minor. Otherwise It played exceptionally well and stayed in tune, even playing it the day after. I also have to comment on the size and balance of this guitar. It's comfortable and only slightly head heavy.

We're also considering modifying this by dropping the bridge pick-up right next to the bridge and adding a third pick in the middle in search of an even closer Rickenbacker sound. No matter, it's got that 12-string sound as is and has a Ric look too.

Buy it with the knowledge it will need a proper set-up and enjoy.

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P.S. - If you live in the United States I would only order in-stock items. When I ordered, one of my guitar cases was on back order and communication with Thomann was essentially non-existent after an initial Thomann e-mail asking if I wanted to split the shipment (which would have cost an extra $30). I declined and asked they drop the one case and ship the rest. That's when the communications from Thomann stopped. I wasn't going to call and my e-mails trying to clarify my shipping instructions went unaswered. That said, they held the shipment until the missing case arrived and then shipped in whole, so it was a happy ending. I loved the double guitar case that the shipment was held for.*

The bottom line is Thomann delivered great products, but I would probably only order items in-stock.