34 posts
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Post by mitchmacblues on Sept 20, 2017 15:22:57 GMT
Hi everybody! I have two nice Harleys, one is superb (the SC-450 Plus Honeyburst) and the other has excellent quality for its price (TE-52). As most people in here with GAS, I am tempted by some other guitars by Harley Benton.
In fact, I have been looking for an ST-style guitar with a vintage 7.25 inch radius necks (184 mm, I believe) but apparently only guitars above 600€ feature it. I tried this vintage radius in a Fender guitar and absolutely loved it. Hey, Clapton played Layla with that fretboard radius back in the 70s! In fact, I ended up hounding and buying a Mexican 50s Classic Series Stratocaster in Fiesta Red which is absolutely wonderful.
I like this radius so much that I would like to have a backup guitar, probably an HB. No ST-style Harley Benton features this radius, not even two of them who are in vintage style, like the ST-59 HM and the ST-57 DG, which seem very nice and are tempting. I was interested when I saw Henning Pauly in a review saying that the very flat fretboard (350mm) felt strange to him in those guitars. I'm sure the necks play well, but I would love a vintage one. In any case, I would like to hear from people who have those appealing guitars.
Do you think Harley Benton could build a guitar with a vintage radius fretboard, or they think there is no demand? Apparently you have to take a little more care in adjusting the guitar when you have a smaller radius, but aside from that I understand it's easy to build.
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Sept 20, 2017 19:24:28 GMT
I agree. I'd like to see this option too instead of multiple different colour schemes for the same model.
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Post by Banana on Sept 21, 2017 6:07:57 GMT
I think there is not that much demand for such radius. After all, it's harder to maintain and will probably feel weird if you have spent lot of time playing flater fretboards. Flat fretboards are the master race!
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45 posts
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Post by beyonder77 on Sept 21, 2017 8:41:38 GMT
I think it's just a matter of personnal taste. Personnally, I feel more comfortable on 9.5" (241 mm) and 7.25" (184.1 mm) radiuses (so typically my Squier Classic Vibe 50's Strat and my MIJ Classic Series 60's Strat).
When I firstly took the ST-59HM, ST-57DG and TE-70 Rosewood in hands, the fretboard felt really weird to me (don't know why but the TE-70 neck doesn't feel as weird as the others, but its the same radius, maybe because of the neck profile). I have them for months now and play them all, but I still prefer the neck radius on my CV 50's Strat, on which I'm more precise and I find it faster and easier to bend strings.
Between the ST-57DG and ST-59HM, I prefer the ST-59HM neck as the flat fretboard feeling is compensated by the soft-V shape, it feels better in my hands.
I agree with salteedog, new models with new or vintage style radiuses could be a great option. Moreover, having vintage radius necks at such a low price could be a niche market for Harley Benton, as there's absolutely no choice for vintage style guitars at this price range (Squier CVs are really good but now reach at minimum 450€ and still have some modern characteristics, while the Fender Classic Series starts at 700€).
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Post by tarn on Sept 21, 2017 11:02:59 GMT
In fact, I have been looking for an ST-style guitar with a vintage 7.25 inch radius necks (184 mm, I believe) but apparently only guitars above 600€ feature it. 7.25 is an old type of radius, back when guitar where sold for rhythm playing and is such case the radius does not matter much. because you only playing cords and individual notes here and there. if you play in a modern style(lead) whit heavy bending a 7.25 is the worst choice you can make, this for the simple reason that unless you set a very high action you will choke out everywhere beyond the 5 fret. in guitars it fairly simple everything above €500.00 is wasting money, but that's a choice that everyone makes for them self.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2017 11:11:34 GMT
I love flatter radius for both lead and chord work. I believe many HB I played had the 12" radius or?
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Sept 21, 2017 13:38:37 GMT
I like the idea of a smaller radius for chord work and I can see how it would help that. My fingers are curved.
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Post by intenselycalm on Sept 21, 2017 22:05:17 GMT
Compound radius the neck!
HB will probably never do it, would cause all sorts of manufacture, and return issues. I've sanded a couple necks with compound radius, and they worked out well. The tight radius is at the nut and gradually relaxes toward the bridge end.
The idea was to make playing chords between the nut and 10th-ish fret easier/less fatigue, and lead work from around the 8th-ish fret up to the end of then neck better for single note and bending... I don't know, I just sanded and fretted. The customer was happy with both necks when things were all done.
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608 posts
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Post by oghkhood on Sept 22, 2017 6:54:48 GMT
You can always get a spare neck with the radius you want. It is possible to find these at a very affordable price - in accordance with HB prices -
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572 posts
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Post by Djangle on Sept 23, 2017 12:19:55 GMT
Another +1 for vintage radius..... I find barre chords fatiguing on flatter boards and prefer higher action anyway. Im aware my higher action preference may be adding to fatigue but I'm a bit of hard hitter and can't stand string buzz. I would also like the neck a little less chunky so I can wrap my thumb around the fretboard as it feels much more comfortable when barring chords this way for me.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2017 13:33:39 GMT
I find modern D shape best suited for my bare chord playing and because I play only soft finger style I have action at 2mm (lower at times). All this helps playing the flatter radius.
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572 posts
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Post by Djangle on Sept 23, 2017 15:23:46 GMT
I find modern D shape best suited for my bare chord playing and because I play only soft finger style I have action at 2mm (lower at times). All this helps playing the flatter radius. I just measured the action on my guitars and they're all around 2.5mm on bass and treble sides except for my 12 string which is just under 2mm on bass and 1.5 mm on treble side. So I guess I have medium high action. I find string bending easier with this height. Btw Welcome back Che
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