Review of the Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK classical guitar. Where to buy it?

I’ll tell you how this post is built. First I list the features of the Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK guitar. Then you have a video or two, purchase links and useful comments from other users and then you have one of the most useful parts; comparison tables with similar items so you can compare.

  • Body shape: Auditorium with cutaway
  • Top: Solid spruce
  • Bracing: Classic Fan
  • Back & Sides: Mahogany
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Black walnut
  • 20 Frets
  • Body binding: Wooden / Cream coloured
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • 2-Way truss rod
  • Bridge: Black walnut
  • Saddle & Nut: Black graphite
  • Open headstock
  • Deluxe machine heads
  • Pickup system: Fishman IsysT with built-in tuner
  • Strings: D’Addario Pro Arte Nylon
  • Colour: Black high-gloss
  • Corresponding case available under Article Nr 122212 (not included)
  • Total length: 105 cm
  • Body height: 11.3 cm
  • Lower bout: 39 cm
  • Upper bout: 29 cm

review harley-benton-santos-series-c-40sce-bk

This guitar usually has a price around 152.00 €

Now that we’ve seen the features of this guitar Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK watch these related videos to learn more.

Harley Benton - Santos Series - C40SCE NT - Classical Guitar - Presentation -

Post you may be interested in

Some comments from people who come to the forum about this model:

Comment:

I bought this instrument because of its price as an experiment to be modified to accomodate (way) heavier gauge MAGMA TRANSPOSITOR strings.

First the goods: For USD 175 I got a classical acoustic with a cutaway, a transducer, a preamp and tuner. It’s all black! And the best part it’s that for such a budget it sounds way better than expected!

Then the bads: The fretwork on the unit I got was the worse I ever had. I had to level all the frets, re-crown one by one and then polish in order to make this guitar usable. Luckily I have luthery skills and after several hours of work the guitar plays beautifully. The nut and bridge are the cheapest low density plastic and you should swap both for bone or graphtech to get the most of this instrument. Depending on which part of the world you are, having these tasks taken care by a luthier might cost you the price of the guitar or even more. The black glossy finish is not as comfortable as matte, open grain or even glossy finishes from high-end models. In addition, this finish gets marred and scratched quite easily and somehow I don’t think it will stay pitch black for long since white hue started to show in different parts of the body.

The conclussion: provided the frets are leveled and nut and bridge are replaced I find this is a great instrument for begginers (studying and performing). Just be aware of your local luthier’s reparation price-list before ordering.

Comment:

Guitar looks nice but does not sound very good and is not super good to play. It is not bad for the price, so if you have to be under 200? and need mic’s then this is fine.
But if you do not need the mic’s you could be better of with something like Yamaha C40.
If you need mic’s and have a bit more cash to use, I would go with Ortega.
I bough this for work office coffee brake instrument. Just to use those few minutes for good purpose. This does not fit perfectly to that because I woul like it to be better playable, but I will try different strings to it and see if it gets better.
There is big difference between metal plated strings and the full nylon strings. Nylon ones are quieter and do not feel that well playable.
Guitar weights a bit heavy side, but not too much.
I selected this because it was the cheapest with tuner and with cutaway.
The tuner is showing about right, so you can get it into the play field, and ear tune the rest. The 12th fret is not in tune according to internal tuner.
My background for this review: I have played guitar for 25 years just for my own fun (no band/gigging), but I think I have a good feeling what guitar is good and which ones are not. I have owned many guitars, but currently I have two electrics and this is my third acoustic for now.
I did order another guitar also (the sub 100? Harley Benton HBO-850 round back). They do not have it in stock so can’t say anything about it yet, but if it is not good either, these are my last HB instruments I’ll purchase.
EDIT: Changed strings to A’Addario Classic (~7¤) and the sound and playability got better. For the price it is nice guitar!

Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK vs Thomann Classic 4/4 Guitar Black

The guitar Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK is usually 47 € more expensive than Thomann Classic 4/4 Guitar Black, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK

Thomann Classic 4/4 Guitar Black
  • Body shape: Auditorium with cutaway
  • Top: Solid spruce
  • Bracing: Classic Fan
  • Back & Sides: Mahogany
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Black walnut
  • 20 Frets
  • Body binding: Wooden / Cream coloured
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • 2-Way truss rod
  • Bridge: Black walnut
  • Saddle & Nut: Black graphite
  • Open headstock
  • Deluxe machine heads
  • Pickup system: Fishman IsysT with built-in tuner
  • Strings: D’Addario Pro Arte Nylon
  • Colour: Black high-gloss
  • Corresponding case available under Article Nr 122212 (not included)

Note: The dimensions of standard classical guitar case will not fit this model!

Dimensions:

  • Total length: 105 cm
  • Body height: 11.3 cm
  • Lower bout: 39 cm
  • Upper bout: 29 cm
  • Size: 4/4
  • Laminated spruce top
  • Bottom & Sides: Basswood, laminated
  • Neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Hardwood
  • Cream-coloured body bindings
  • Nickel-plated machine heads
  • Nut width: 52 mm
  • Scale: 650 mm
  • Colour: Black, high gloss
  • Made in Europe

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Thomann Classic 4/4 Guitar Black

Thomann Classic S 4/4 Review

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Thomann Classic 4/4 Guitar Black review

Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK vs Thomann Classic Guitar S 4/4

The guitar Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK is usually 17 € more expensive than Thomann Classic Guitar S 4/4, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK

Thomann Classic Guitar S 4/4
  • Body shape: Auditorium with cutaway
  • Top: Solid spruce
  • Bracing: Classic Fan
  • Back & Sides: Mahogany
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Black walnut
  • 20 Frets
  • Body binding: Wooden / Cream coloured
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • 2-Way truss rod
  • Bridge: Black walnut
  • Saddle & Nut: Black graphite
  • Open headstock
  • Deluxe machine heads
  • Pickup system: Fishman IsysT with built-in tuner
  • Strings: D’Addario Pro Arte Nylon
  • Colour: Black high-gloss
  • Corresponding case available under Article Nr 122212 (not included)

Note: The dimensions of standard classical guitar case will not fit this model!

Dimensions:

  • Total length: 105 cm
  • Body height: 11.3 cm
  • Lower bout: 39 cm
  • Upper bout: 29 cm
  • Size: 4/4
  • Top: Solid, tinted spruce
  • Back and sides: Solid maple, stained in walnut colour
  • Neck: Maple, stained in walnut colour
  • Fretboard: Acacia
  • Bridge: Acacia
  • Black top and back binding
  • Walnut-coloured neck finish
  • Neck width: 52 mm
  • Scale: 650 mm
  • Total length: 98 cm
  • Nickel-plated Van Gent machine heads
  • Round, warm, differentiated sound
  • Ex-factory stringing: Hannabach 815 (article no. 122784)
  • Colour: Natural high gloss
  • Made in Europe
  • Suitable strap pins: Article no. 213102 (not included)

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Thomann Classic Guitar S 4/4

Thomann Classic S 4/4 Review

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Thomann Classic Guitar S 4/4 review

Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK vs Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Blue

The guitar Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK is usually 54 € more expensive than Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Blue.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK

Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Blue
  • Body shape: Auditorium with cutaway
  • Top: Solid spruce
  • Bracing: Classic Fan
  • Back & Sides: Mahogany
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Black walnut
  • 20 Frets
  • Body binding: Wooden / Cream coloured
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • 2-Way truss rod
  • Bridge: Black walnut
  • Saddle & Nut: Black graphite
  • Open headstock
  • Deluxe machine heads
  • Pickup system: Fishman IsysT with built-in tuner
  • Strings: D’Addario Pro Arte Nylon
  • Colour: Black high-gloss
  • Corresponding case available under Article Nr 122212 (not included)

Note: The dimensions of standard classical guitar case will not fit this model!

Dimensions:

  • Total length: 105 cm
  • Body height: 11.3 cm
  • Lower bout: 39 cm
  • Upper bout: 29 cm
  • With nylon strings
  • Design: Roundback with cutaway
  • Top: Spruce
  • Body: ABS Super shallow bowl
  • Neck: Mahogany (Entandrophragma cylindricum)
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard: Roseacer (thermally treated maple wood)
  • Fretboard radius: 400 mm
  • 23 Frets
  • Body binding: Multi-ply ABS
  • Neck binding: ABS
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • Bridge: Blackwood
  • Machine heads: Open gear classic
  • Dual action truss rod
  • Strings: HB medium tension nylon
  • Pickup system with 3-Band EQ
  • Colour: Blue Glossy

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Blue

Round Back Harley Benton HBO 850 Classic Blue Nylon String Guitar Reviewed - Are You Serious!

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton HBO-850 Classic Blue review

Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK vs Harley Benton CG300CE NT

The guitar Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK is usually 77 € more expensive than Harley Benton CG300CE NT.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK

Harley Benton CG300CE NT
  • Body shape: Auditorium with cutaway
  • Top: Solid spruce
  • Bracing: Classic Fan
  • Back & Sides: Mahogany
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: Black walnut
  • 20 Frets
  • Body binding: Wooden / Cream coloured
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • 2-Way truss rod
  • Bridge: Black walnut
  • Saddle & Nut: Black graphite
  • Open headstock
  • Deluxe machine heads
  • Pickup system: Fishman IsysT with built-in tuner
  • Strings: D’Addario Pro Arte Nylon
  • Colour: Black high-gloss
  • Corresponding case available under Article Nr 122212 (not included)

Note: The dimensions of standard classical guitar case will not fit this model!

Dimensions:

  • Total length: 105 cm
  • Body height: 11.3 cm
  • Lower bout: 39 cm
  • Upper bout: 29 cm
  • Cutaway
  • Top: Spruce
  • Back and sides: Agathis
  • Fretboard: Roseacer
  • Nut width: 52 mm
  • Scale: 65 cm
  • Built-in pickup system
  • Colour: Natural, high gloss

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton CG300CE NT

This is the WORST Harley Benton Guitar I have ever reviewed!

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton CG300CE NT review

Where to buy the guitar Harley Benton Santos Series C-40SCE BK

Amazon

  • Free Shipping and possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
  • Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment.
  • Sometimes better price.
  • He’s got worse stock than Thomann.

Thomann

  • Free Shipping.
  • Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
  • 100% reliable payment.
  • Leader in trouble-free shipping.
  • Usually Best price.
  • Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalogue and information.

Also look at these models with a similar price and features:

Jaime Echagüe

Hi! I'm Jaime Echagüe, a musician and an authentic fan of musical instruments. With this blog I want to give general information about musical instruments in an easy, direct and honest way. I hope you enjoy my website and that you find it very useful.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below