NGD: Harley Benton Fusion Pro - Roasted Maple

5712 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Razzle, Jul 21, 2018

WildWayz

Discussion Starter · Jul 18, 2018

Here we go!

https://soundcloud.com/james-kapherr%2Fbluesy-a-minor-hb A quick improve using my Helix LT - not a great player

Quick views....

Couple of marks on the guitar - some came off with a tiny bit of rubbing... one on the headstock which looks like a grey bit of urm paint? It's under the finish... not really an issue...

The pickup route on the bridge... think it may be incorrectly routed... as I can't lower the bridge end on the treble side.

The fretboard feels like a dry rosewood board (like on an acoustic that has been sat for too long)... more I play the less it feels dry so could just be some factory finish?

Action was a tad high, no biggy. Lowered it now... trem returns to tune most of the time. Need to kill that retainer bar. It is pinching it. I have some Hipshot Staggared Inline Open Tuners to go in when I restring next. Strings also need stretching in.

The trem bar you screw in, then tighten with an alan key.

Other than that, it is light. MUCH lighter than my Ibanez RG6PCMLTD and Yamaha Pacifica 311H.

I was thinking to replace the pickups but after playing them I don't think they need doing...

I have my usual Schaller strap locks on there now too.

The Stainless Steel frets are crowned nicely... no sharp edges - and no rough patches there.

All in all - I am a fussy fart but I feel the 'niggles' aren't enough for me to return it. I really quite like it!

Specs:

Ergonomically shaped mahogany body
"Ultra Flame" flamed maple veneer top
Matching headstock
Bolt-on neck from "roasted" Canadian flamed maple
"Roasted" maple fretboard
Neck shape: Modern C
Clay Dot fretboard inlays
24 Medium jumbo stainless steel frets
Nu-Bone nut
Nut width: 42 mm
Scale: 648 mm
Fretboard radius: 305 mm
Binding made of natural wood
Pickups: 2 Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbuckers (bridge and neck) and 1 S74-C BK Alnico-5 single coil (middle)
Volume knob and tone knob
Pickup switch: Single coil / humbucker
5-Way toggle switch
Wilkinson 50IIK 2-Point tremolo
Chrome hardware
WSC locking die-cast machine heads
Original stringing: D'Addario EXL110 .010 - .046
Colour: Natural, high gloss

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Reactions: 3

1 - 9 of 9 Posts

Rich

· #2 · Jul 18, 2018

Nice 1/4 sawn neck. It's surprising they give you a solid flame neck but go veneer on the tops. Can't beat the price, could have shaped the neck joint a little more.

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mike570

· #3 · Jul 18, 2018

That nut looks poorly cut from these pics. And is it me or does the rear two neck bolts look like they miss the neck? Or are sitting pretty close to the edge at least? Other than that doesn't look too horrible for the price you paid. Wasn't it like $500?

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WildWayz

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 18, 2018

mike570 said:
That nut looks poorly cut from these pics. And is it me or does the rear two neck bolts look like they miss the neck? Or are sitting pretty close to the edge at least? Other than that doesn't look too horrible for the price you paid. Wasn't it like $500?

The nut deffo needs a bit of work - clean up and some lube. Yeah it was about $500

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sepulchrave

· #5 · Jul 18, 2018

I don't understand why the strings are wrapped on to the tuners if they're lockers, that's defeating the object.

The neck does look pretty good though, I'd chuck that horrible nut and fit a decent lump of graphite instead, at that price you can basically afford to tear down and rebuild the guitar properly with a few upgrades like the nut and tuners and some quality strings properly installed. Neck pocket fit looks a little slack as well.

Check the soldering and wiring, you can usually make improvements there with a little time and know-how without needing to spend any money.

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WildWayz

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 19, 2018

sepulchrave said:
I don't understand why the strings are wrapped on to the tuners if they're lockers, that's defeating the object.

The neck does look pretty good though, I'd chuck that horrible nut and fit a decent lump of graphite instead, at that price you can basically afford to tear down and rebuild the guitar properly with a few upgrades like the nut and tuners and some quality strings properly installed. Neck pocket fit looks a little slack as well.

Check the soldering and wiring, you can usually make improvements there with a little time and know-how without needing to spend any money.

The nut is that Nu-Bone stuff by Graphtec. I've never filed or fitted a new nut before but think all it needs is a cleanup. The retainer bar will go though; no point when I put those Hipshot Open Gear Staggared Tuners on there.

As for wrapping the strings around the posts... Yeah why would they do that? LOL

The cavity is shielded with paint but I have some copper tape I can whack on. Might send it off to a guy here in the UK who's great at upgrading electrics...

For the money, it deffo is worth it. I'm REALLY anal (oh my good when I typed anal, predictive text had pounding as the suggested next word!) When it comes to guitars and this one is really impressing me.

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jemsite

· #7 · Jul 19, 2018

how many piece mahogany body is this? can't see in the pics. Either way decently sourced wood with about the same general quality as name brand indo axes costing 2-3x more. home run. Enjoy!!!

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WildWayz

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 19, 2018

jemsite said:
how many piece mahogany body is this? can't see in the pics. Either way decently sourced wood with about the same general quality as name brand indo axes costing 2-3x more. home run. Enjoy!!!

It's 2 piece... But I have to look really hard to see the joint.