Harley Benton CLF-200 WN

I have been playing guitar for 27 years and professionally for 19 years and have had some expensive guitars over the years too. i bought the harley benton walnut version thinking that it would be a cheaper guitar that perhaps could be less worrying in venues where, for some reason its always other musicians and soundmen that dont care about my instruments and they get thrown around in transit and by airports where i have had to sit on a delayed flight once or twice and watch as torrential rain bounced off the case of my guitar on the baggage transport next to the plane. I mainly play fingerstyle so this type of guitar (parlour) i hoped would suit me ok. I saw the reviews but as i dont live in germany and because of covid could not get there, so it was the first guitar that i have bought without playing on it first. I was very worried crossing my fingers to be honest.

I recieved item on time and well packaged, thanks to thomann who has always been pretty great.The guitar looks beautiful. The feel and size more of the same. Looks are nice but down on the list of concerns for me. I have had the guitar since the middle end of 2020 and i cant believe how good it is. Its sound and playability makes me smile when i play it. Very clear and precise for fingerstyle guitar which is pretty much all i do. Intonation as good as it gets with far more expensive fretted guitars. I was very surprised that i did not have to set it up ( im usually quite picky). The guitar i have used for many years was many more times the price and i had to set it up and experiment with the right string gauge. From my experience with most guitars i have needed to tailer them to me quite a bit, but this came pretty perfect for me. I also actually prefer the hb to most guitars i have played including ones in the thousands of euros. I genuinely cant believe i am writing this as it was very unexpected quality. I think thats why i left reviewing until i had used it for some time. During covid i have set up a small studio to write and record. The parlour combined with vocals is a dream due to frequencies of voice and guitar naturally having separation so it sounds great for those who wish to use for studio. I cant speak highly enough of this guitar. When we can all gig again i will probably be just as worried about this guitar getting damaged as i was of far more expensive guitars ive owned in the past because it is such a great one regardless of the price. If you are worried about the quality dont be scared if its anything like mine you will love it.

Pros: everything

Cons: nothing