Harley Benton SC-550LH II Gotoh AFB

I've been a lefty strat player for over 30 years, but my prefered music and sound has always been more of a humbucker/LP tone and crunch. While the options for lefties have never been better and more easily acquired, I couldn't justify jumping in with a single cut from the big manufacturers.

This model and configuration was the perfect guitart at the perfect time. I believe it would benefit from a true professional set up, but out of the box it's joy to look at and more importantly, to play. I did raise the pickups and it really sings/crunches like the model to which it plays tribute (had an opportunity to play one just last week!).

Neck is a true 60's slim taper and really easy to play- i can't find any issues with the frets, binding, tuners, nut... everything is first class!

Except ... the wiring. Not the end of the world but the guitar I received is wired righty, meaning the pickup selector switch is functionally upside down (up position selects the Bridge PU. down selects the Neck). Likewise the volume and tone controls are opposite of a righty (Upper set for the Bridge, Lower set for the Neck)--I actually like it.

The numbers on the knobs don't correspond as you'd think. As such an old lefty, this is not surprising nor the end of the world, just mentioning as the "originals" does have lefty pots and are wired traditionally. All considered, at this price, this guitar can't be beat!

Simply phenomenal! the quality is superb, flawless finish, looks so like the real thing and it sounds better than It's predecessor. I have the first version which was made in Vietnam, had a few quality issues, thank God they changed the factory and now it's produced in Indonesia and trust me I couldn't find any flaw. For the price you get more than what you pay; gotoh tuners, stainless steel frets, graphite nut, good quality hardware, Tesla pickups (better sounding than Roswell). It's a little pricy after adding shipping/duty/taxes but worth it.

Elle est aussi belle que sur les photos. On est parfois déçu(e) par la couleur qui ne correspond pas toujours exactement, mais là : Wow , elle est belle !

La table est superbe,le binding parfait, l'accastillage excellent (les mécaniques... mmm ! elles ne sont pas vertes fluo comme certaines. The real Mc Coy 1:18).
Les switches et potards résistent bien. Elle enfonce bien des Epiphone (et j'en ai eu...) au niveau qualité de fabrication.

Le son : du Humbucker qui me réconcilie avec les humbuckers. J'avais un peur peur du nom : Tesla... je ne connaissais pas et j'avais peur d'un son un petit peu baveux (j'aime les P90 il faut dire) . Et bien non, plein d'harmoniques, un son plein, riche qui me plait bien.

Je joue sur un ampli 15 watts à lampes de chez HB. Plus besoin de pédales, pour mon style de musique (blues, rock 60 70. Allez, jusqu'à AC/DC) . Je deviens minimaliste.

Pour 350 euros, on a la qualité de bien d'autres à bcp plus cher (je précise que je ne suis pas le cousin de H.Thomann, ni vendeur chez D**ty)

Je suis ravi, n'envisage pas de changer les micros, le son me bluffe jusqu'à présent. La question, c'est : Comment font ils...? et ça je me le dis depuis qq temps chez Harley Benton.