Review of the Harley Benton TE-20 SB 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 TE-20 SB 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 maple neck
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Dot inlays
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • Pickups: 2 TE-Style single coils
  • 1 Volume and 1 tone control
  • 3-Way switch
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Diecast machine heads
  • String gauges: .009 – .042
  • Colour: Sunburst high gloss

review harley-benton-te-20-sb-standard-series

This guitar usually has a price around 75.00 €

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

MDMR#7 : Harley Benton TE-20 SB - 88€ Telecaster - Review and Demo

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

Comment:

Wow! We arrived in France for a couple of days so brought no instruments with us. Things changed rapidly and we realised we were going to be there for longer than we expected. No guitars so we went to the Thomann web site and bought a couple of these, one left handed for me and one right handed for the wife. This is about the RH one. Obviously for something that might end up being used a little I went for the low cost option. Bouyed up by the positive reviews which I took with a pinch of salt, but knowing from experience about Thomann’s good customer service I ordered with confidence. The guitars arrived in four working days and we eagerly opened the box. What a surprise was in store for us. First impression, great finish. Closer inspection I could find no faults. Really close inspection and I was questioning Thoman’s pricing policy. Under 100Euroes for a great guitar. SO for instance out of the box no issues with the set up. No issues? Yes. Would I adjust it? (I’m apparently the goto guy for my mates). No way! Barre chords? No problem all the way. Intonation. Measured up just fine, on a Tele for heavens sake. So what about the cutaway?
Fender could do with some lessons here. It’seasily reach all the frets. I have seen worse on really expensive kit. The join between the body and the neck was all but indetectable. The gap between the scratch plate and the switch plate was non existant. Fret ends? Here is the one reason for only four stars. The frets themselves, all well polished. No marks on the well finished hardware. Tuners were ok, and it holds it’s tune. At this point in the review you might be forgiven for thinking we are enthusiastic! So what about the sound. Obviously whoever makes the pickups has seriously upped their game, or HB have found a better supplier.. Lots of punch, and great tones. Everything you want from a Tele. All the “twang” all the drive, but more. Some mates arrived and we played for a few hours. (Well until after midnight) Everybody tried one of our new guitars, and to a person they were impressed. A lot. We had it plugged into a little VOX 5W amp, with the other four players ere all using amps a lot bigger. Still no problem hearing what we were playing. So the pickups have lots of depth and drive. If we lost them would we buy another? Yes in a heartbeat. In fact we are going to leave these in France and order more when we return to the UK to avoid Carnets. Would we gig with them? Yes definitely! If money were no object would we buy a different Tele? No. Could we afford more expensive gear? Oh yes, but why would we? Would this be suitable for a beginner? We always tell our pupils buy the best you can afford, “beginner” instruments are normally a waste of money because the pupil fights the instrument, thinks they can’t learn when in fact a lot of the limitations is caused by the inadequacies of the instrument. So these low cost guitars change the game plan because they are the best you can afford. Buy them once and play them till they are worn out. Are we looking for more pupils? No definitely not. Before you ask we don’t teach the RSM curriculum, it’s about playing not making money for the RSM. Winge over.

Comment:

This is a cheap guitar at €69:00 BUT in fairness " you get what you pay for !!

Its never going to be a Fender , But for €69 its a cracking little guitar ! ..

I would go as far as to say this is a better guitar than the Squier Bellet Telecaster or the Squier Affinity Telecaster .

Fit and Finish …

looks amazing for a €69 guitar :-0 ! Honestly . I was stunned when I took it out of the box !! Ive paid 1000s for guitars and the finish to the body wasent as good as this guitar 🙂

The set up was 80% " Over all ok " Just had to do a little tweeking and in no time it was all good.

The Good … Everything … remember this is a €69 telecaster !!!!! How could you complain about anything on a €69 guitar 🙂 .

The Guitar does have its flaws .

I changed the machine heads/Tuners for a 18/1 ratio to get more stable tuning " at a cost of around €40 , so total it cost €104 for a cracking little guitar !

I used the guitar for some home recording and it done the job very very well ,

The above guitar would suit any one and even if its a gift and the person never picks the guitar up " Its no the end of the world as it only cost €69 🙂 , the guitar would just look great sitting in the corner of the room 🙂 .

As always I would recommend a very cheap mod to everyone buying a guitar , " Get a set of strap locks . this will extend the life of your guitar .

to finish ,,

The above guitar is not a Fender and can not be compared with a €1200 Fender telecaster USA … BUT for €69 you really can not go wrong .

A friend of mine bought the same guitar after seeing my Harley Benton Tele , he changer out the machine heads/Tuners and put a set of good pickups in the guitar and uses it to gig with and the guitar NEVER gave him one moments trouble !!

I honestly think that most people buying guitars get caught up in the name /brand of a guitar , You could buy the above guitar and hate it or you could love it . Its NOT about the name/brand or where it was made , Its how happy the guitar makes you when you play it ..

Hope the above is of some help .

Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series vs Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series

The guitar Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Seriesis usually 50 € cheaper than Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series

Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on maple neck
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Dot inlays
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • Pickups: 2 TE-Style single coils
  • 1 Volume and 1 tone control
  • 3-Way switch
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Diecast machine heads
  • String gauges: .009 – .042
  • Colour: Sunburst high gloss
  • Body: American ash
  • Bolt-on neck: Canadian maple with roseacer skunk stripe
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard: Maple
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Fretboard inlays: Dot
  • 21 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Pickup: 2 Roswell TEA Alnico-5 TE-style single coils
  • 1 Volume control and 1 tone control
  • 3-Way switch
  • Deluxe chrome hardware
  • Kluson-Style machine heads
  • Strings: 10-46
  • Colour: Natural high gloss

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series

Harley Benton TE-52 Telecaster Review (The Pros & Cons)

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series review

Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series vs Harley Benton TE-30 BE Standard Series

The guitar Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Seriesis usually 24 € cheaper than Harley Benton TE-30 BE Standard Series, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series

Harley Benton TE-30 BE Standard Series
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on maple neck
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Dot inlays
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • Pickups: 2 TE-Style single coils
  • 1 Volume and 1 tone control
  • 3-Way switch
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Diecast machine heads
  • String gauges: .009 – .042
  • Colour: Sunburst high gloss
  • Body: Ash
  • Bolted maple neck
  • Neck profile: C
  • Fretboard: Maple
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Dot inlays
  • 21 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Neck radius: 13,78″
  • Double-action truss-rod
  • Pickups: 2 TE-Style single coils
  • 1 Volume and 1 tone control
  • 3-Way switch
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Die-cast machine heads
  • String strength from factory: .009 – .042
  • Colour: Blonde, high-gloss

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton TE-30 BE Standard Series

Harley Benton TE-30 After 1 Year - Guitar Review & Demo

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton TE-30 BE Standard Series review

Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series vs Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series

The guitar Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Seriesis usually 10 € cheaper than Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series

Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on maple neck
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Dot inlays
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • Pickups: 2 TE-Style single coils
  • 1 Volume and 1 tone control
  • 3-Way switch
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Diecast machine heads
  • String gauges: .009 – .042
  • Colour: Sunburst high gloss
  • 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

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series

Harley Benton ST 20HSS SBK Standard Series

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Harley Benton ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series review

Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series vs Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style

The guitar Harley Benton TE-20 SB Standard Series is usually 9 € 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 TE-20 SB Standard Series

Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on maple neck
  • Neck profile: Modern C
  • Fretboard: Amaranth
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Dot inlays
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Double action truss rod
  • Pickups: 2 TE-Style single coils
  • 1 Volume and 1 tone control
  • 3-Way switch
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Diecast machine heads
  • String gauges: .009 – .042
  • Colour: Sunburst high gloss
  • 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

Where to buy the guitar Harley Benton TE-20 SB 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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