Review of the Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series Electric guitar. Where to buy it?

I’ll tell you how this post is built. First I list the features of the Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series 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: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard inlays: Dots
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • 22 Frets
  • Pickup: 1 Humbucker (bridge) and 2 single coils (middle and neck)
  • 1 Volume control and 2 tone controls
  • 5-Way pickup switch
  • Synchronised tremolo
  • Die-cast machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Ex-factory stringing: .009″ – .042″
  • Colour: Black, matte

review harley-benton-st-20hss-sbk-standard-series

This guitar usually has a price around 85.00 €

Now that we’ve seen the features of this guitar Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series watch these related videos to learn more.

Harley Benton ST 20HSS SBK Standard Series

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

Comment:

I’m certainly not a guitar expert, when I saw this model for the first time online I instantly had to have a closer look. Upon watching a few too many unboxing videos and videos of the guitar in action. I decided to bite the bullet and buy this as my first ever electric guitar.
I love the look of this guitar, it’s absolutely my style and Harley Benton written on the headstock makes it seem less beginner-ish to the untrained eye. Rather than blowing over a grand on a big name for my first guitar.
I ordered full well knowing it would be a while to arrive, as it was a back order.
It finally arrived today, I noticed the box had taken some damage in shipping although thankfully it was just an outer layer.
The guitar itself, was checked and signed off as part of the QC process, both in the warehouse and by the manufacturer, so the process was obviously pretty stringent.
I inspected the guitar, upon opening to find perfect paintwork, no sharp frets and surprisingly shipped with strings already fitted.
I tuned up to test it and I was actually very impressed with the sound, the setup felt pretty good too.
Although I will let my guitar tech friend take a look at it to check all is well in due course when we do some sessions on the basics of playing.
I restrung with his help and recommendation too.
I get a feeling I am going to enjoy learning to play with this guitar.

Overall, I am very very impressed with the quality of this guitar, it feels and looks like an item that should cost twice as much as it does.
It makes a great beginner guitar or even a good backup for a professional, given some love and setting up.

Comment:

Obiously you shouldn’t go into this purchase thinking you’re ending up with a top-of-the-line product that could compete with an actual Fender Stratocaster, however, for less than 1/10 of the price of one, it is an amazing guitar.

Right out of the box, the guitar is perfectly set up. No sharp frets, straight neck, no paint-job fails – flawless QC.

The sound is OK. With a certain amount of messing around with amp settings, EQ, and such, it can sound pretty good. I found the guitar tends to do better with clean tones, rather than distorted ones. The one thing I dislike about the sound is that there is just too much treble (on the humbucker too) which can make dialing in tones a pain.

Hardware-wise it’s ok, nothing spectacular. The tuners hold the guitar in tune better than I expected, however, they aren’t the most pleasant to tune with. The pickups are cheap, but get the job done. In addition, while I like that there is a whammy bar bundled with the guitar, using it is another matter. If used to achieve slight vibrato, it’s fine but will eventually detune the guitar. Don’t expect to be doing any dive bombs with it tho.

Overall, it’s a solid guitar and the fact it doesn’t even cost 100€ is baffling. It is obviously aimed at beginners, or maybe just someone who wants a wall decoration, so if studio work is what you need it for, you should probably look elsewhere.

Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series vs Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style

The guitar Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series is usually 19 € more expensive than Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series

Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard inlays: Dots
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • 22 Frets
  • Pickup: 1 Humbucker (bridge) and 2 single coils (middle and neck)
  • 1 Volume control and 2 tone controls
  • 5-Way pickup switch
  • Synchronised tremolo
  • Die-cast machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Ex-factory stringing: .009″ – .042″
  • Colour: Black, matte
  • Complete DIY (do it yourself) kit
  • Bolt-on neck attachment
  • Rengas body (wood colour may vary)
  • Maple neck
  • Double action truss rod
  • Amaranth fretboard
  • Dots fretboard inlays
  • Radius: 350 mm
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Truss rod
  • 3 Ceramic single coil pickups
  • Electronics: 1 Volume, 2 Tone, 5-Way switch
  • Chrome hardware
  • Diecast machine heads
  • Tremolo
  • .009 – .042 Strings
  • Colour: Natural

Note: The body and neck have been primed with pore filler, making them suitable for the direct application of lacquer finishes. Before the application of stains or other surface treatments, the primer must be first removed via sanding.

Note: A certain degree of skill in handiwork is required for successful assembly of the guitar.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style

Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style - Unboxing, Assembling, and Sound Demo (no talking)

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style review

Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series vs Harley Benton ST-70 Black Paisley

The guitar Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Seriesis usually 70 € cheaper than Harley Benton ST-70 Black Paisley.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series

Harley Benton ST-70 Black Paisley
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard inlays: Dots
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • 22 Frets
  • Pickup: 1 Humbucker (bridge) and 2 single coils (middle and neck)
  • 1 Volume control and 2 tone controls
  • 5-Way pickup switch
  • Synchronised tremolo
  • Die-cast machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Ex-factory stringing: .009″ – .042″
  • Colour: Black, matte
  • Deluxe Series
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Fretboard inlays: Dots
  • 21 Medium jumbo frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 43 mm
  • Pickup: 2 Roswell STA Alnico-5 vintage ST-Style single coils and 1 Roswell HAF Alnico-5 humbucker
  • 2 Tone controls and 1 volume control with volume push/pull function coil split
  • 5-Way toggle switch
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Wilkinson tremolo
  • Stringing: D’Addario EXL110 .010 – .046 (article no. 104555)
  • Colour: Black Paisley

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton ST-70 Black Paisley

Harley Benton ST-70 Black Paisley Unboxing & Review

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton ST-70 Black Paisley review

Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series vs Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute

The guitar Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Seriesis usually 74 € cheaper than Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series

Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard inlays: Dots
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • 22 Frets
  • Pickup: 1 Humbucker (bridge) and 2 single coils (middle and neck)
  • 1 Volume control and 2 tone controls
  • 5-Way pickup switch
  • Synchronised tremolo
  • Die-cast machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Ex-factory stringing: .009″ – .042″
  • Colour: Black, matte
  • Body: Alder
  • Bolt-on neck: Canadian maple with stained nyatoh skunk stripe
  • Fretboard: Maple
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm (TUSQ XL)
  • 21 Frets
  • Pickups: 3 Roswell SK52 True Vintage Staggered Alnico 5 single coils
  • 1 Volume control and 2 tone controls
  • 5-Way toggle switch
  • Single-ply pickguard
  • Synchronised tremolo system
  • Kluson style machine heads
  • Chrome-plated hardware
  • Ex-factory stringing: D’Addario .010 – .046 (article no. 104555)
  • Colour: Black high gloss

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute review

Where to buy the guitar Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series

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.

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.

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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.

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