Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute

Harley Benton

Slyšel jsem hodně chvály na kytary Harley Benton a tak jsem se rozhodl to zkusit a objednaljsem Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute, což není ten úplně nejdražší,
ale ani ten nejlevnější stratocaster od HB. Zde jsou moje poznatky.

KLADY:
+ kytara přišla perfektně zabalená
+ s potvrzením o technické kontrole
+ kytara vypadá po vybalení pěkně, celkem dobré zpracování
+ žádné ostré hrany pražců
+ krk vypadá rovný (jen vypadá, viz níže)
+ lak je v pořádku
+ potenciometry v pořádku, přepínání v pořádku
+ přiloženy imbusy pro seřízení - příjemný bonus.
+ zvuk je v pořádku

ZÁPORY
- kytara vůbec nedokázala držet ladění a zdálo se, že mechanika je špatná a má velkou vůli. Po čase jsem přišel na to, že nultý pražec je neprobroušený a struny se v něm zasekávají.
Probrousil jsem ho a namazal a situace se výrazně zlepšila.
(Mimochodem při té příležitosti jsem vyměnil struny a kytara značně ožila)

- ačkoliv krk je celkem rovný, pražce jsou různě vysoké, což způsobuje drnčení strun (buzzing).
Protože kytara přišla seřízená na maximum, nejde s tím nic dělat. Snížit struny nelze, povolit výztuhu krku také ne, protože už byla na hraně. Ani výměna strun ani jejich mírné zvýšení nepomohlo.

Toto považuji za zásadní závadu. Pro zkreslený zvuk to snad tolik nevadí,
ale pro čistý zvuk je kytara nepoužitelná a třeba pro nahrávání je nepoužitelná úplně.

PS: Objevil jsem dvě kosmetické vady: Dvě malé prohlubně u konektoru pro jack a také uštípnutý kus dřeva pod krytem tremola (to se zjevně stalo až po lakování kytary).

ZÁVĚR:
S kosmetickými závadami je možné se smířit. Nejvíc nepříjemné je ale drnčení strun o pražce.

Kytaru si ponechávám jako cvičný a testovací nástroj pro možnost případných upgradů. Jako hlavní nástroj ji ale nedoporučuji.

At first I was happy with the delivery. At first glance, beauty. The guitar has weight. The guitar neck is elegant, satin and lightly tinted. It is pleasant and comfortable to the touch, straight as a bayonet. The frets of the guitar do not bite, wide, aesthetic. Kluson style machine heads are beyond praise. Nut TUSQ XL, although it does not have a label. The strings lie deep in the nut, but the top can be removed. Nut is set well.
There are no large gaps anywhere, everything is fitted. Still, a little tuning of the string height is needed. The pickups are a little high, but this is subjective.
It is not clear, but the edges of the pickguard do not have a chamfer. Will have to change.
The tremolo system is successful.
Potentiometers are good. 5-Way toggle switch is not heard.
In general, the body and neck of the guitar without flaws.
Sound like a stratocaster can’t be said anymore. It's good.
Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute is no worse than Squire, and in some places even nicer.
In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by the products of Harley Benton. I also bought a JB 75 bass, this will be written in another place. But also satisfied. I can advise friends.

I'm completely flabbergasted. It's my first ST style guitar and I'm delighted.

The guitar arrived amazingly packed, in great condition. The first thing I looked for was for flaws or problems. None. Everything looked well.

Great finishing. The arm feels silky and well polished. The tuning pegs work precisely (yet kind of a bit too stiff for my personal taste). The action is good off of the box and the tremolo works well without getting the guitar out of tune (I didn't push it to hard - it's also decked, not floating).

The frets are clean and well cut. The pickups respond well and the volume and tone knobs seem to work properly so far - they just look and feel cheap (at this price point it's not even a complaint, just stating how they feel). Everything's shiny and in place.

I've never owned or played in plenty of different guitars, but I can tell there is plenty of quality and that it gives way more than this price suggests.

It's also a Great replica of a guitar of a legendary player who I cherish a lot and now I can look across the room and see one that resembles his most iconic guitar.

The less good things are that I personally find the arm to be extremely flat, thick and wide - my hands are average size and I feel like the arm is tricky to play due to that. It could be that I'm used to play in C-style necks of my Superstar (which was also my first Electric Guitar).

When bending I also feel kind of a scratching, but it could be either the wood, or the frets needing some more sanding (even if I feel them to be super smooth and shiny).

It hums quite a lot, lots of static that give it that sound that I'm so used to listen in Hendrix's records. I really love this guitar. It looks and feels amazing, specially considering there are much more expensive options out there that I believe that might not make you feel like all the money you've invested was worth the penny.

Harley Benton are amazing for being able to provide budget instruments for players, enthusiasts and collectors that bring quality to the table as well!