9 posts
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Post by alsolime on Dec 9, 2017 12:11:14 GMT
Hey there, new to the forums as you can see. Been playing and fiddling with guitars for a while now and HB have been on my radar for quite sometime. In particular I've been looking at the single cut HBs like the SC-550 and SC-Custom but I have a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers for yet with my google-fu, hence why I am here.
I noticed the neck profile on the SC-550 is listed as 60s type, does that mean a thin almost D shaped neck? I really love the look of the SC-550 but a thin neck would be a complete deal breaker for me as I greatly prefer a thick, chunky neck that you can really grip onto. I can see that the SC-Custom has a "C Shape" neck, and I have the same question again, is it a thick neck or not? Also, can anyone tell me if all the HB necks marked as "C Shaped" are the same? For example is the C shape on the SC-Custom the same as the "C Shaped" neck of the SC-450 or the DC-600 or the CST-24 guitars?
Another thing I'm hoping you lads can answer is about the maple top, I've seen conflicting reports about this, with some saying it is a mahogany body with a maple cap and maple veneer to give the stunning looks, and I've also heard that it is a mahogany body with a maple veneer without the cap, do you guys know what the story is there? I'm not even really saying that it would make a difference but all the same I'd like to know as much as I possibly can before putting my hand in my wallet.
Although I have been looking a lot at the single cut guitars I gotta say the CST and the DC styles are very tempting also, is there any HB (from the ones I've listed or not) that is renowned over the others for being particularly brilliant?
Cheers for getting through all that lads, would greatly appreciate anyone and everyone with first hand experience of HB guitars chiming in here.
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Post by micoli on Dec 9, 2017 15:13:16 GMT
Hi alsolime,
Yes the neck is a shallow D shape, which is something I'm not too keen on either. I prefer a thick C shape like on my TE-52, but you do get used to it. My CST-24T has a similar shallow D neck. Between the LP and CST I think I prefer the CST for play-ability. Although the SC-550 was perfect when it was delivered and is a fabulous guitar in looks and play-ability, the CST has the edge - for me anyway - and it gets played a bit more.
I can't help you on the maple cap but I've always believed it was a maple cap. I suppose the difference in a veneer and a cap is the thickness so, now that you mention it, I would think it would therefore be a veneer as I can't imagine any extra expense being made for the same effect.
Mike
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9 posts
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Post by alsolime on Dec 9, 2017 15:21:47 GMT
Hey micoli!
Cheers for the insight dude, I do admit I am a little disappointed as I've never found a thin neck that I could get used to. I've always preferred necks on the thicker side but since I developed tendinitis I find that thin necks just hurt me to play on for any length of time which just sucks. I do stretches and stuff like that which help immensely but I am not confident that going back to a thinner neck would be a good idea.
It really is a shame as HB has some really fantastic looking guitars, and for the price I could easily upgrade the electrics to something more my taste, going to have to be really careful now that I know the necks on most of the guitars I've been looking at are unsuitable for me.
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9 posts
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Post by alsolime on Dec 10, 2017 11:56:01 GMT
Yeah I've had to return a guitar to them once before and to Thomanns credit they were easy to deal with. In my experience they are much quicker at processing customer service issues if you ring them rather than email. My local An Post (Irish post office) weren't really sure what to do with it at first, but we got there after a few minutes of the lad serving me frantically running a tape measure over every conceivable part of the box!
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Post by intenselycalm on Dec 10, 2017 15:39:38 GMT
Hey alsolime, I don't know if this will help, as it is not for the guitar you are seeking, but here are neck sections for an SC450+. I've believe I have sections for a SC400 and a few others I can post later, just have to find the images.
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9 posts
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Post by alsolime on Dec 10, 2017 17:11:38 GMT
Damn intenselycalm that is awesome stuff! Thank you so much if you do happen to find the other images I'd love to see them. I'm a bit of a guitar nerd so I love stuff like this!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 17:12:06 GMT
My SC-550 had a C shape from 1st to approx 5th fret and then going gradually into D shape the higher you play. I find this PERFECT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 17:13:36 GMT
Hey alsolime, I don't know if this will help, as it is not for the guitar you are seeking, but here are neck sections for an SC450+. I've believe I have sections for a SC400 and a few others I can post later, just have to find the images. That is NOT how the SC550 neck shape looks like! It looks more like the one I had on my L-450+ NOTE! See my reply above!
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Post by intenselycalm on Dec 10, 2017 19:45:34 GMT
Here are a few others. A 2016 TE-20, 2016 SC400, 2016 HB35 and a mid 1980's Jackson Fusion. I was a little surprised by how close all the HB's (that I have) are in section. They don't feel the same, but are very close when a section template is put in place. That being said, a little difference appears to make a big difference. Of the HB's that I have, The SC400 and HB35 feel very close, with the SC400 feeling a little "fuller". The SC450 feels a little slimmer, but again it's a very small amount All the HB's have some variation and irregularity in the necks. While I don't feel it while playing, I did notice it when I was measuring, and eyeballing it closely. The TE-20 has a huge amount of "human" variance in its shape. The HB35 has a flatter treble side that is does base side... Very minute things I hadn't noted til now. Oh well, I like them all. The Jackson is the oddball in my collection, it's that 80's shredder thing I guess. The neck fit and finish is incredibly good, but it is a thin section, and kinda cramps my hand after a while. I'm not a shredder anyway. Hope someone finds this slightly useful.
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Post by intenselycalm on Dec 10, 2017 19:55:36 GMT
Oops, sorry @chedapapa, I think I just killed the image link in your quote. I updated the neck section image, and that no doubt screwed up the image in your link.
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Post by lickosaurus on Dec 10, 2017 23:04:33 GMT
My SC-550 has a single piece mahogany body with a maple cap. I removed the plate under the control switch today, the maple cap is ca. 1 cm thick at that location.
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9 posts
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Post by alsolime on Dec 10, 2017 23:30:10 GMT
intenselycalm - Thanks again dude, that's great info and real food for thought you've given me! @chedapapa - That's good to know dude, that was/is one of the ones I'm really looking at so any and all info from players that have them already is awesome. lickosaurus - Wow that's actually pretty damn impressive. I know it's a whole can of worms to start discussing tonewoods and how many pieces a body should be and if a cap makes a difference etc. I don't really want to open any of those cans, but still thanks for the insight and the pic. Do you like your SC-550? I think I seen another thread where you were debating whether or not to return it due to some cosmetic issues? Sorry if that wasn't you, just thought the name was familiar. Actually with all of my talk of neck thickness and the like, it might just have been better to ask you guys, what Harley Benton(s) do you have and do you like them? I think a lot of my issues stem from my time playing my old Jackson, it was a wonderful guitar but the neck was just far too thin for me, got cramping in my fretting hand all the way up to my shoulder, no matter how I played/sat etc. I had an Epiphone LP that had a 60's SlimTaper neck profile, I got on with it better but I did end up moving it on a couple of months back just cause I really wanted something thicker. I do have a MiM Strat that has a very comfortable neck, again I probably would like it a bit thicker but it is comfortable. Sorry I started ranting there, I guess the one thing to take away from that is perhaps, how do the Harley Benton necks compare to a Mexican Strat?
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153 posts
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Post by r3v3nt0n on Dec 11, 2017 12:00:19 GMT
I know what you mean there. The information about neck profiles is too often inadequate if you looking at stats. To say C, or modern C or D, is not realy saying a lot. And to many of player is almost the most impotant thing when choosing a guitar. The stats are usually full of those useless information about some noname parts that you can change anyway. You can't change the neck on a set in neck type of guitar, though. And saddly, measuring the neck, doesn't really tell you much either. The neck on my SC 450+, feels very good to me, but I've tried other C necks that were a lot chunkier. Again, I've just recently bought a Vintage V100 MRPGM, and the neck on that guitar is quite shallow D. Felt strange for a couple of days. If you'd like to see about maple cap, check this long video on youtube.
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