FrankAtari

17 hours ago, Bob Strummer said:

Can't fault its looks. Lovely colour and the neck looks tinted/roasted. Very nice. And for the money you can't get vexed can you.

The guitar looks very good, but it is not as flawless as a Fender though. I have found out that even the colour scheme is a replica from Fender.

1 hour ago, howdenspur said:

How's the neck on this Frank? I usually find Strats a little skinny in fretboard width, but understand HBs give you more real estate?

Sorry Pal but I can't offer any useful insight about how the neck feels. This is my second electric guitar as I used to play the classical guitar. I have never seen a real Strat in my life. I'd say it's fine to my taste, but it is kind of skinny. I can measure the neck for you if you like.

On 14/12/2022 at 10:18, Skinnyman said:

How’s the HB, Frank? I’ve heard nothing but good reports about them….

It is a very good instrument and I bought one of the basic models for 120 pounds (or something like that). Hardware could be better and the electronics need replacing. I wrote a quick review about my experience and you may want to take a look at it.

10 hours ago, Bob Strummer said:

Hi (first post),

I've been a Strat fanatic for years and my guitar collection was entirely Fender Strats with a Tele and a Jazz Bass. Out of an itch for a 24" scale guitar, I bought a MIM Duo Sonic this year. The short scale took some getting used to initially but the weight of the thing makes me smile every time I pick it up. It has a thinner body (they used to be classed as student guitars) and the difference in weight that makes is a blessing for me. I've read people saying they're like toys but I can't agree with that.  I don't get that eventual dull neck ache with it and that's a big bonus. It gets picked out of the rack more often than any other guitar these days. 

 

Hi Bob,

welcome to the forum and tanks for honoring me with your first post. I have actually bought the Harley Benton ST 62 and it is 3.05 exactly (at least mine). This weight is good enough for me compared to what I was used to, but it made me realise even more how the weight of an instrument may affect playability. For the time being I'm happy with my Strat, which I love as you love yours, but at the same time I kind of set my heart on something even lighter, eg Fender Acoustasonic? Or something like that. 

1 hour ago, Fishfacefour said:

Yes I think it is the acoustic resonance from the body of the guitar that I'm missing...

I'll persevere but try out some of the smaller hollow bodies if I get a chance to see if that makes the difference.

 

 

Actually I also am interested in a more resonant / semi hollow guitar, but I do not need any smaller scale. I like fender acoustasonic, but it's expensive and it neither one thing nor the other. Let me know if you find something interesting.

Hi David, I hope this message finds you well. Listen to this video and think it over. I admire Mike Stern very much for he is as humble as he is a terrific player. I can't tell you exactly what to do because you know your situation better than anybody else, but my advise is to develop your own playing technique with the tools you have (well, read fingers). You can still play rhythm guitar like a god and be second to none. You can also play solos with your index, middle and ring finger. This is what I would do, don't try to mimic other players, who can hold a pick, just be yourself and be proud of it. You'll get there. 

I would say that if you love the guitar you have, you shouldn't replace it too easily. They sell something called "guitar plug" which is basically a micro amp that goes directly into your guitar output jack and allows you to play with a headset. Other micro amps can get the job done, for instance I use the Mooer Radar for that purpose.

On the other hand, if your main problem is that you miss the acoustic sound, there's nothing much to do, you may indeed want to consider a new instrument.

Good luck.

16 minutes ago, Skinnyman said:

I was toying with the idea of updating my old Boss RC2. The RC3 would be the next logical upgrade but it’s discontinued and I was baulking a bit at the prospect of spending two hundred pounds on the RC5. 
 

Then I spotted this…

 

https://www.nuxefx.com/loop-core-deluxe.html

 

…which looks like an RC3 clone for about £100. 

Reviews seem generally positive - anyone on here used Nux pedals before?

Hey, wait a sec! I just took a look at the link in your post and that's exactly my pedal (or maybe a slightly newer, updated version).

Buy with confidence, Pal, this thing is a tank. It also comes with a second pedal that allows you to go through the many tracks using your foot. The second pedal is not necessary to operate the Looper and can serve many functions (I use it to navigate the tracks).

The recording quality is 24 bits, I think the latest Boss Looper is 32 bits, and probably it's the only tangible advantage over the Nux.

I own a Nux Deluxe Looper, which  I use as a recording pedal, given its features, etc. but not to get lost in my own thoughts and to answer your question, in my opinion Nux stuff is superb.

The value packed in my Nux pedal still surprises me every time I use it, and it has been a while since I bought it. At that time it was one of the most advanced looper I could find etc. Construction quality and the logic behind the many functions are second to none.

Emerging companies want to build a reputation and usually make good products. I would certainly recommend Nux and buy from them again. Still please be aware that my experience is limited to this one pedal.

On 20/11/2022 at 03:28, ReneAsologuitar said:

I love the guitar you ended up buying.

Very nice looking and no extra blings, plain and lovely!!!

Congratulations!!!

Rene

Thanks a lot buddy. The guitar is lovely, especially the plain colour scheme. There are many humble models that will get the job done, indeed, as you may know, in the 50s 60s and probably in the 70s as well, Fender guitars were popular because they were cheap and there was not much of an alternative. Also the guitar is traditionally a humble instrument when compared to the piano, etc. You see? Senile babble reveals I'm getting older

Are you the guy or the woman in the video?

I have just learnt Paganini's Moto Perpetuo I know it all just need to bring it up to the right speed. I'm also working on For Elise, some of the lower notes in the bass clef are not available on guitar so I'll have to tweak it a bit. 

1 hour ago, Dad3353 said:

 

No, it's not affecting the signal until the LED bar starts to react. The 'Compression' level is the right-hand knob; turning this up will adjust for lower-level input signals. Top tip..? Turn all of the knobs to 'twelve o'clock' to start with. This 'top tip' works for 80% of everything in Life, and even more with Fx pedals. Once you've 12-o'clocked the controls, adjust the 'Comp' knob to see (and hear...) what effect it has (yes, whilst playing, you fool; it does nothing if you stop playing..!). Use the 12-o'clock as a starting point to adjust, one by one, each control separately, returning each to the centre each time. Then start combining, and listen to the result. Compressors can be a bit of a 'rabbit hole', but I'd suggest, without knowing this particular model that 12 o'clock should not be a rubbish setting, so, if it pleases, use it as a baseline and tweak around that.
Hope this helps. 

Douglas

Thanks Douglas it clarifies a few things very well, starting from the flashing LEDs...

I have a Boss compressor, the latest model, I think, CP 1X, which is part digital and part analog etc. Now this model has some lights representing the amount of compression applied to the guitar signal, or something like that. Is the compressor still working and affecting the signal from the guitar even if this lights don't flash at all? I use single coils and the output they provide is generally low so it is not easy for this lights to work, unless I am strumming, etc. Also is there a sweet spot for the compression settings? 

Thanks

15 hours ago, ezbass said:

I would have been inclined to return the guitar, Yamahas are normally solid as a rock, whatever price point they are and loose electronics sounds like someone has been messing around with it. Was it new?

I agree, give it back and get a new one. You don't want to mess up with wires and pots etc because you're forced to. At the end of the day did you buy the guitar to learn music or electronic?

Buy a new guitar?

5 hours ago, Frank Blank said:

 

Cheers but it's languishing and I don't like to see instruments languishing.

Yeah I do know what you mean

Just now, Skinnyman said:

Thanks for the review. 
 

It seems like you’re basically getting a body that has been painted and fitted with a fretted neck, ready to load up with the electronics and hardware of your choosing. 
 

Yeah you got the gist, that's it.

Harley Benton is a brand, based in Germany. They got my curious because of their reputation of being good guitars. I did some research and couldn't believe how highly people were speaking of this brand. I was quite skeptical but still I wanted to give it a try and I'm glad to say I was proved wrong. The guitar is phenomenal all in all, well above my expectations for something that cost me 120 quid, out of the box.

The guitar easily compares with the quality of my old Fender Tele MIM, and this is not an overstatement. In certain respects is even better. The neck is impressive, the fret job is extremely good and offers great playability, with no rough edges etc. Equally good is the finish, the guitar is truly beautiful. And above all it only weighs 3kg and 50 grams.

My only doubt is how long will it last? I mean it is common to see Fender guitars that are many years old and play great, this is the nature of a real musical instrument, they mature, don't get old. Will the Harley Benton fall apart in a couple of years? Loosing frets etc? Who knows...

The nominal cost of 120 quid is a little bit deceptive in my opinion, because the guitar will not work properly as it is out of the box and will require a further investment to reach it's full potential. I personally replaced the original nut with a GraphTech TUSQ, the electronics with Fender custom shop FAT 50's pre-wired pickguard (NB Fender's won't fit a Harley Benton guitar). The tremolo is factory set not to work, and it's made of stainless-tin, but after some tinkering will get the job done. The tuners are horrible and stiff, their movement is quite erratic rather than linear, I wish I had changed them but I didn't, however they keep everything in tune perfectly well.

Now a more realistic cost for this guitar would be:

Guitar................................ 120

Tuners............................... from 40 to 120 according to preference

Electronics and pops .......from 120 to no limit, according to preference (260 in my case)

Nut.....................................10

Tremolo system ............... original can get the job done (otherwise is another 80 to 150 quid)

Tinkering........................... free and abundant

Realistic sum total.............450 to 500 quid - now your guitar rocks.

Is it worth it? It is after all. You get a super strat in the end, still for less than a fender entry level. My main reservation, as I explained, is asking to myself if the guitar will start falling apart sooner or later. Also I have now invested the price of branded guitar in something that has basically no resellability.

8 hours ago, Skinnyman said:

Have you got the NotaStrat yet?

 

Thoughts?

 

I’ve only heard good things about HB so interested to know if they’re maintaining the standard they’ve set themselves. 

The guitar is bloody good. I'm gonna write a quick review about it, but in a nutshell, it easily compares with my old Fender MIM, apart from the finish, which is good but not superb, and I have no axe to grind in saying this, unlike most youtubers. The electronics were awful, but I installed fender pickups and all that jazz... 

12 hours ago, Smiffy said:

I'm 45 years old and unfortunately for me I've not been blessed with musical bones. My 9 year old Son has decided he wants to learn guitar,  I sat and watched a couple of YouTube videos with him, but could see the frustration etched on his face. All enthusiasm for learning has dwindled.  However I now wish to learn, I've plenty of time on my hands to learn. I'm wondering what is the best way to get started? Money is tight,  so the cheaper the better. Are there any good apps, online videos or books that anyone could recommend?

Ok you got lucky. I like your story and I'm thinking of teaching guitar online as a business, because I'm very passionate and quite proficient. I'll teach you for free, or for a ridiculous symbolic fee, the basics and more, about reading music or tabs, picking a decent guitar and playing it of course. There is no catch, provided we find a smooth agreement. PM me if interested. 

I don't think such a refined search is available here, still I may be wrong. You should wait for a senior member to answer your question. My advise is to start a new post and explain what you want, who you are, your level, etc type of guitar, colour, price range, etc. and people will notice it and possibly contact you. Hope this helps. 

2 hours ago, FrankAtari said:

Hi Luke welcome to the forum... you're safe, pal, we've banned grammar here !

1 hour ago, ezbass said:

I think @Dad3353 and me might have an issue with that statement.  

What?! Luke's not welcome any more?

Hi Luke welcome to the forum... you're safe, pal, we've banned grammar here !