boris
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by boris on May 5, 2019 19:05:49 GMT
As I said in another thread, I will have the chance to spend the refund of my CLJ-45 on Thomann's webstore. I'd still give Harley Benton a chance, and I would be oriented on 3 different models. In order of preference:
CLA-16S CLD-16S CLA-15M
Does anyone own one of these models? Especially on the CLA-16S, has anyone had experience?
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on May 6, 2019 10:18:51 GMT
@chedapapa had a CLA-16S that he gave to his nephew if I remember correctly. I think he quite liked it but loves his CLD41S (as I do mine).
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boris
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by boris on May 6, 2019 11:32:27 GMT
Thanks dodger, I hope chedepapa will read this thread (By the way, he still writes on the forum? I saw that his profile shows 0 messages ...). I know CLD41S seems to be the best choice for HB acoustic guitar, but it costs 269 EUR and I'm about to buy a used mid-range guitar by the end of this summer (I'm oriented towards an all solid Yamaha LL16 or a Seagull Performer), so I don't want to spend more than the refund of the CLJ-45. I've seen on youtube a test of the CLD-16S and I've been impressed. On the other hand, I would like to own a guitar with Auditorium shape, so I asked information about the CLA-16S, cause I didn't find any useful video or review of it.
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on May 6, 2019 17:53:19 GMT
boris I also own the CLA28VE which is very like the CLA16 apart from the back and side wood. Great guitar - very comfortable and light. I wanted an auditorium guitar too and this has fitted my needs well. I think the CLA16 looks great for the money.
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398 posts
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Post by easyrider on May 6, 2019 18:42:28 GMT
Hi, Boris! I'm the owner of CLA 28VE and I 'm very happy with it. This is very close to CLA-16, which should be really great for the money, if you are lucky.
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boris
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by boris on May 6, 2019 19:22:18 GMT
Thank you very much dodger and easyrider . CLA28 is certainly the guitar I would buy if I had enough money... At the moment I'm still not sure which model to take: I think CLA-16 is the one for me, but CLD-16 sounds so sweet and lovely...
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on May 7, 2019 11:11:12 GMT
boris I just bought a Faith all solid mini jumbo (Naked Neptune). Brilliant guitar and maybe one to consider for mid-range? I would put the CLD41SE up against other models costing much more (and the CLA28VE as well) With these 3 I have all the acoustic guitars I need for gigging and home use. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised by a CLD41
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boris
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by boris on May 8, 2019 12:27:09 GMT
Thanks dodger for your suggestions. I red some of your older posts about your CLD41, and I know that you're very very happy with it. I also know Faith guitars, but here in Italy it's almost impossible to find them. Anyway, in these last hours my plans have changed. I have found by a private seller a 1998 Simon & Patrick 6 cedar at 215 EUR, in more than good condition, upgraded with Schaller deluxe keystone machine heads, that sounds the way I like the most, and that's been regularly played for 20 years. If the deal goes through, I will give up the mid-range guitar that I thought I would buy this summer. In that case, I will probably use the refund to buy the CLA-16, or another Auditorium guitar, and not a dreadnaught.
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398 posts
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Post by easyrider on May 8, 2019 15:25:52 GMT
Regularly played for 20 years it's very good for wood but what about frets? I played almost daily on my CLD-41 and they are pretty much wasted but still alive. Lights.
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on May 8, 2019 15:59:57 GMT
boris those S6 guitars whether they are Seagull, Simon & Patrick or any other of Godin's factories seem to be great guitars and 20 years' playing will have had a great effect on the wood. I think you'll be happy with the CLA-16 - probably as good as the Martin 0001X series or Taylor GS Minis at a fraction of the price. Good luck with your new purchases! I still look at the CLA15M because I've never owned a mahogany topped guitar and it looks and sounds (on youtube videos anyway) so good.
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boris
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by boris on May 8, 2019 16:07:54 GMT
It's a guitar that has been played a lot, but it seems frets are good enough to play many years before replacing them. Actually I play only at my home, and I use the dreadnaught just for 5-6 songs. Normally I try to play fingerstyle with my Art & Lutherie Folk Cedar, and when nobody's home my electric HB SC-450 plus.
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boris
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by boris on May 17, 2019 20:33:32 GMT
Update: in the end I didn't buy the Simon & Patrick. I had some misunderstanding with the seller, who in any case had a bad relationship. Instead, I just placed my order for the CLA-16S, and I'm anxiously waiting. I hope to remain satisfied. In any case, when it arrives (I hope by next week) I will write my impressions.
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on May 19, 2019 13:11:30 GMT
boris look forward to hearing your views when it arrives. Waiting for a new guitar is wonderful torture
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boris
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by boris on May 24, 2019 20:09:03 GMT
Yesterday I received the CLA-16S. These are my first impressions. At first glance, the guitar does not offer the image of a quality instrument: it is very light; top, back and sides seem thin, and the smell is not that of wood but that of glue. The action is very high (5 mm at the 12th fret), the neck is a bit chubby and slightly curved for my taste and the fingers do not flow well on the strings.
Anyway, once braced, I am surprised by the volume produced by the body, by the comfort of its shape, and by the sound, not very round, but certainly better than I imagined, and above all very balanced. The intonation is simply perfect, at least until the 12th fret. I decide however to adjust the action, so I get off the saddle and reduce the height of about 2 mm. I turn a little the truss rod and I wait a couple of hours. The strings are now more comfortable to play, and the intonation has remained excellent. Currently, the only problem I still have to solve is related to smoothness. I struggle to slide my fingers, to change position, and the neck complicates everything. Nothing really serious, anyway. Soon I'll change the strings, I'll pass some lemon oil on the fretboard, and with a bit of habit things will certainly improve.
Also because, after playing it for a couple of hours, I begin to realize the qualities of the instrument. For example, playing songs with capo on the III and IV fret, and after a very light retuning, I am amazed by quality, volume and pitch of the guitar. In drop D, the chords resound clear, full-bodied and in tune. Also the sustain is impressive. After a bit of initial skepticism, I realize that maybe this guitar can give me great satisfaction. All this, obviously, compared to the price (159 EUR), still competitive despite the progressive and periodic increases in the Harley Benton catalog.
I also quickly recorded a couple of minutes in a mono track with Audacity (behringer microphone and audio interface), without any kind of effect: fingerstyle, fingerstyle with capo on the fourth fret, flatpicking and strumming. Execution is not the best, but at least you can listen the instrument.
https%3A//soundcloud.com/user-209841675/prova-hb-cla-16s
In a little while, I plan to do an example video. That is all for the moment. See you soon.
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on May 24, 2019 21:16:54 GMT
Sounds good. The third piece is 'Tell me why'?
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