Harley Benton R-458MN WH MultiScale

TL;DR: Slušná kytara za doslova bezkonkurenční cenu. Pokud jsi študý chudent nebo začátečník, (nebo obojí jako já) tak doporučuji.

Nebudu lhát, jsem absolutní začátečník. Před rokem a něco jsem začal hrát na basu, před rokem na kytaru a přes koronu jsem se nudil natolik že jsem si koupil osmistrunku. Takže mou recenzi brát s nadhledem, nevím nic o ničem.


Po několika shlédnutých recenzích jsem se rozhodl, že je to stejně jedno a nemám dost peněz na to abych si jako první osmistrunku koupil ibanez. Tak jsem šel do tohohle. Přišla ve skvělém stavu, dokonce víceméně nalazená. Byl tam nehorázný chaos kolem naskladnění, ale přišla více či méně v čas kdy to odhadli. Navíc to bylo v čase korony, kdy byl chaos ve všem.

Plusy:
+ je levná, a upřímně, pokud tuhle kytaru kupujete, jako já, tak to je asi jediná věc která vás doopravdy zajímá
+ je nečekaně dobře udělaná (kromě detailů, viz níže)
+ je pohodlná a nemá tak razantní neckdive jaký bych čekal
+ vypadá skvěle. Jakože seriózně skvěle. Ta hlava je nádherná a skvěle udělaná a nalakovaná, bílé dřevo jí sluší.
+ příjde s nečekaně dobrými strunami, což ale moc neznamená, vzhledem k tomu k čemu se dostanu dál
+ Harley Benton udělali kytaru s dobrým tělem, takže je levnější koupit tuhle, a upgradovat vše v ní, a bude z ní skvělá osmistrunka za stále nižší cenu než osmistrunky, které už příjdou hodně dobré

Mínusy
- je levná... co dodat. Dostanete to, za co si zaplatíte.
- detaily jsou zanedbané, lak je na některých místech ostudný. Ale pokud nebudete blíž než 20cm tak si toho ani nevšimnete
- ladící mechanika je naprosto ostudná. Ani jedna struna nevydrží naladěná déle než 5 minut, pokud se jí dotknete více než jednou. A je to jedna z věcí, které jednoduše budete muset nahradit
- snímače jsou... meh? Jako nejsou špatné, a pro někoho jako já naprosto vystačí, ale i amatér jako já pozná že by situace mohla být mnohem lepší. Hlavně když jde gain nad 5.

So I bought this guitar three times - the first one was nicely built, everything was great except one thing - when plugged in (clean channel), the thin e string was half as loud as all the other strings. It was basically a seven string guitar. The problem was clearly in the pickups. I tried changing the string, heightening the pickups, everything, but nothing helped. It was very annoying, overdrive somewhat helped but it was still a problem. So I returned it and got another one - same exact problem. Third one - different guitar, same problem so I finally lost my nerves and returned it for good. It seems that somehow the whole collection is flawed so beware, instead of an 8-string you might get a 7-string.

So the r-458 multi-scale range of HB guitars is hit n miss.

if you are lucky enough and your guitar had solid QC here's what you'll get:

- absolutely fantastic and comfortable D shaped neck ( better than Ibanez )
- beautiful maple ( or roasted maple ) neck with gorgeous fretboard
- smooth and polished frets
- no major fret buzz ( for comparison these guitars have better frets than ibanez rgdms8 which is 5times more expensive - not kidding )
- nicely cut nut
- 3.5kg weight with no neck dive
- killer looking guitar ( both roasted model and maple model )
- stock tunners that do it's job


if you're unlucky:

- sharp frets
- some uneven frets ( fret buzz )
- badly cut nut
- faulty tunners

general ergonomics con:

- access to high register is impossible because the huge brick of wood that is connected on the neck side.


Now here comes the deal breaker. no matter if you get good or bad item, what you'll get 100% is the major flaw which makes this guitar unfortunately a DONT BUY.

PICKUPS:

good: electronics is connected well - no grounding issues

terrible:
- these pickups are just horrible and noisy. unless you put a very heavy noise gate it's horrendous
- now the MAJOR FLAW !
- these pickups won't cover the high e string ! it has 50-60% lower volume no matter what pickup adjustments you'll make (only on par with other strings volume is present on middle position, bridge and neck you're out of luck) this is obviously caused by the bad magnets in the pickups and positioning on the fan fret instrument.

In order to fix this, you need to buy new pickups, which will be more expensive than the guitar itself so instead of buying guitar for 190EUR, you'll spent additional 400euro on pickups - if HB could fix this major flaw which makes the guitar unusable, it would be the best 8 string guitar for ridiculous price on the market on par with ibanez rgdms8 in terms of quality and ergonomics but 5 times cheaper.

I'll get straight to it.

Pros:
-The guitar is well built. Having fanned frets and it being an 8 stringer at this price range sounds all too good to be true, but it holds true to what it's advertised to be.
-The important parts, such as the neck is reliable.
-the tuners aren't top of the line but it does the job well enough to warrant as a positive thing for its price point.
-The bridge has great intonation range and its sturdy! wow! That's important! And you nailed it!
-There's conductive shielding paint on the humbucker cavities and the electronics cavities!!! something i didn't expect from a $150 guitar!!
-The fret ends actually had some sort of sanding/polishing done to it! My hands won't get cut going up and down on it!! wowow! Minimal work is required to get to the ideal specs. Big thumbs up.

Cons:
-mine came with a dead capacitor! WOO! Thankfully I'm a tinkering type of person, and I replaced 80% of the original electronics there cause..(segway to the next point)
-The electronics are kinda bad. But that's to be expected for a guitar at this price point. Though QC could've at least noticed the dead capacitor...or at least hear that something is wrong with the output of the guitar.
-lots of blemishes on the neck. A couple of raw unfinished spots, some scratches, uneven finish, and lots of coarseness when you run your hand at the back of the neck. Hopefully it will smooth itself out when it gets worn in.
-some of the frets are already worn?? I don't know what's going on but this isn't even B-Stock and i have crazy inconsistent frets on the one i got. Some frets looked untouched, some looked sanded and scratched but not polished to spec, some already dented by the string. whats going on haha...
-The nut doesn't have a curve to match the neck's radius curve. Nut is flat and requires lots of work to make the strings be at proper height on nut side. That i don't mind as much, just more tinkering for me.

Regardless of all of its issues, I still like this guitar, The cost of this guitar is equivalent to a months worth of Diet Pepsi for a family that drinks a lot of Diet Pepsi, and my family drinks a lot of Diet Pepsi. But this guitar is no sugar drink. It will make you work hard to make it like how you want it to be, but you'll like what you make out of it once you do.

It'd be neat if Thomann sent me a new, better capacitor, and maybe one of them weird German drinks too. I need a break form all this Diet Pepsi.