Harley Benton SC-400 SBK Classic Series

Like a lot of other reviews I think this is a hard guitar to beat, for the price. I bought it to use at home and as a back-up third guitar for gigs. I'm playing 17 years and play everything from rock, blues, country, pop and everything in between. I've owned many guitars over that time and this is hands-down (for the price) the best value. Genuinely.

I've had it around 3 months and it gets played regularly. Overall the guitar sounds very good. I was going to swap out the pickups at some stage but honestly don't think I'll bother, Neck & Bridge pickups both sound fantastic as they are.

I will be changing out the tuners though. The factory ones feel a bit flimsy, as if a turn too quick and they might snap off in your hand. But this is a minor job and personal preference.

Out of the box the intonation was near perfect but there was a nasty fret buzz on the E & A strings all the way up the fretboard. Nothing that wasn't fixable handy enough, again a small job. Strange as it sounds, this wouldn't be a terrible thing if you're not used to fixing these kinds of issues as it is good practice.

Tuning stability is good, generally doesn't fall out of tune like I was expecting it to, given the price tag

The best thing about the SC400, by some distance, is the finish. The matte black is simply beautiful. There was no blemishes or scratches on mine. It's not out of place beside my other guitars on the rack.

If you're looking for a guitar that looks the part and can back it up (after a little bit of a setup) and you don't have the budget for a Custom Shop, its very hard to argue against the HB SC400. If you're just starting out and not sure if you'll keep up playing, it's a great choice. If you're a seasoned veteran and need a backup for gigs or recording or just jamming at home, it's still a great choice

Pros:
The matte finish
Pickups are fantastic
The price!
Versatility
Great for beginners and veterans alike
Good for modding (if that's your thing)

Cons:
Tuners feel flimsy, will be swapping them out
Arrived with nasty fret buzz on E & A strings