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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 15, 2020 7:33:20 GMT
Interesting review. This is the first time I see someone go over the frets with a rocker after checking the neck. Then he says that the Chinese switches work well and he's replaced more original Gibson than such, which at least implies he has actual experience with the matter instead of the brainless prejudice we usually get.
He then says the pots look like 250K, which is unexpected. He doesn't know that though, since this is usually written on the side that faces the top of the guitar. I agree 500K would probably be better suited, this is what I have in my SC-450 Plus with the same pick-ups and I'm pretty sure this is what's in this guitar too. At least he's not one of those ignorants who dismiss "small" pots in the firm belief that bigger is always better.
Then he says that a multi-piece body is sturdier. That's interesting. I'm not sure it matters much though. I doubt a Les Paul body would ever warp. I guess the only drawback of multiple pieces is of visual nature.
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fredsky
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by fredsky on Mar 15, 2020 8:24:06 GMT
Hi guys,
Just registered to add my experience. I ordered a sc-custom black two weeks ago when the guitar was still out of stock. It (she?) was delivered three days ago. I can confirm it has recessed knobs and was made in Vietnam. The guitar was in perfect state. I just lowered the action to suit my level (experienced ... beginnerš).
So I can be sure for others but for my batch, at the moment, I really can't find anything wrong.
Regards, Fred.
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 15, 2020 8:27:46 GMT
The same channel also made a video on the SC-550 showing the "Made in China" on the back of the headstock. They say the fretjob is "immaculate" and level.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 15, 2020 8:37:04 GMT
I ordered a sc-custom black two weeks ago when the guitar was still out of stock. It (she?) was delivered three days ago. I can confirm it has recessed knobs and was made in Vietnam. The guitar was in perfect state. I just lowered the action to suit my level (experienced ... beginnerš). Very interesting. We are just at the junction between batches. Someone has to get the last of the old ones or the first of the new and of course this junstion will float with the finish variants. The Lemon Flame came early, the Ocean one might be lastā¦ There's no guessing. Does action suit a level? I'm not sure. I think it's more a playing style. Shredders want it low, benders or hard pickers want it higher. I'm a confirmed beginner. I'm staying there with remarkable consistency Not one of these who constantly move from one level to the next without ever knowing where they belongā¦
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 15, 2020 8:51:05 GMT
Recessed control knobs appear to be a feature of the ESP LTD Eclipse the SC-Custom is replicating. It looks good, I like it but I suppose it adds to manufacturing cost and is now being dropped for the sake of keeping the price point.
Does it matter? Yes, I guess I would see it as a potential reason to get a 2nd hand model if I had to choose. I'm glad my SC-7 has that. Yet to those who just want a good Les Paul shaped guitar with a thinner, more ergonomic body, it remains a strong proposition. And the knobs are easier to grabā¦
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2020 22:14:01 GMT
rogwinsound I'm late to this 'party', but my .02c from my experience actually purchasing a NEW guitar direct from Thomann vs regurgitating reprocessed third hand info gleaned from the internet or buying second hand HBs from eBay. In my case I bought a Vietnamese SC-Custom (with two amps in the same shipment). Ordinarily, phone them. Fast, direct efficient. Of course this Covid-19 pandemic alters everything for the duration, and that's going to be a lengthy duration IMV. Hell's bells! The 1st F1 GP of the 2020 season has just been cancelled here in AU with all of the drivers and teams already in situ, and that a single $,$$$,$$$,$$$ business event. If however next week you can contact them, Thomann customer service export sales staff all speak excellent conversational English, and will do everything they can with characteristic German thoroughness -insofar as that can be extant in 'Germany' today, to answer your enquiry and meet any reasonable customer request and requirement/s. That includes IME, determining the existing stock origin or incoming stock origin albeit without a crystal ball to Mk 1 Eyeball it if it isn't in stock yet. Will they cherry pick a unit for you? No. Their business model isn't orientated to facilitate that. I was in a similar decisional boat when I bought and took a calculated risk on the new incoming Vietnamese manufactured stock with then new Roswells. Some listings in spec & images on the site were stale for the same model-colour dependent were still the Chinese production even though supply was Vietnamese. My alternatives were to wait indefinitely and hope for a return to Wilkinson fitment, go with it, or choose something else. As things turned out, I took a calculated risk and am glad I did. At the time there was no indication or expectation from them production would return to China or Wilkinson OEM pickup fitment.
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Post by rogwinsound on Mar 16, 2020 3:34:46 GMT
No, it doesn't mean that. This video from 26.02.2020, however, confirms that the recent SC-Custom comes with non-recessed knobs and is made in China, as can be seen at 0:42 when we get a close up view of the back of the headstock: The Harley Benton SC-Custom Lemon Flame pictures have not yet beem updated on the Thomann site and show recessed knobs.
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Post by rogwinsound on Mar 16, 2020 3:46:02 GMT
Thanks Leo Thunder, First thank you guys for the replies....but Now I'm doubly confused. I'm getting two thoughts after reading these posts and watching videos.
1) I should be receiving a recessed knob guitar 2) No I wont, because the new model have discontinued the recessed knobs.
Let me ask this.....Chinese= not recessed Vietnam= recessed. Is that correct?
My problem has been compounded by the virus shutdown in Germany. The tracking of my guitar is stuck in Frankfurt for the last week, no one is answering from Thomann.
Andddddddd, I found a mint SC Custom VB Vietnam for sale in France. Seeing the pictures, thats what Im looking for. So, the mystery guitar in Germany , remains just that. If they could get it here I could make a decision.
Obviously the virus threat and peoples health safety and welfare come first. Its just my purchase time frame could'nt have been much worse. ;-)
So, in March, (like last week 11-3-20), 2020, which SC Custom are they sending out? I THANK YOU GUYS!!! ( Do not eat your guitar....I may want it.... )
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Post by rogwinsound on Mar 16, 2020 3:54:27 GMT
TO FREDSKY THANK YOU DUDE FOR REGISTERING TO ANSWER MY QUESTION. APPRECIATED, GOD BLESS
Dave.
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 16, 2020 4:06:13 GMT
Let me ask this.....Chinese= not recessed Vietnam= recessed. Is that correct? It looks a lot like that, yes. As to what you receive, no one can truly know. You ordered before the pictures changed so maybe, if Thomann kept the site in sync this time, you'll get what you ordered. I wouldn't bet on it, though. Past experience shows that people get the new stuff before it's visible on the site. The person who got the new bridge on his bass bought it in the shop. They had the old bridge on display and the new bridge in stock, apparently. The selling staff had no idea (of course not - let's be realistic). Asking customer service could possibly bring an answer if they can track your parcel down to the batch it was taken from and link it to its fabrication details. I suppose Thomann could have such a database and I doubt customer service would have access to it. This is not a service I would offer to buyers of low priced products and it won't change the fact anyway. You'll get what's in the box already and can return it if unsatisfied. My new guitar did not arrive on Saturday. I suppose the postman diedā¦
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Post by rogwinsound on Mar 16, 2020 4:33:12 GMT
Yes , unfortunately, I played his wake this afternoon.
Thanks for your insight. There is one I found mint used in France ,........... if France is still there.
Dave
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 16, 2020 5:59:19 GMT
There is one I found mint used in France ,........... if France is still there. Still there, I just looked. Is that knob feature a key aspect to you? A 2nd hand guitar won't come with a free return policy. You should be able to claim the 3 years warranty if you get the receipt, even in pdf form. I understand warranty is tied to the product, not its owner, at least that's how it was when I was making mobile phones but I have never heard of someone dealing with Thomann on this basis. I like the recessed knobs, I won't deny it. I wouldn't be too worried about the "made in China" vs "made in Vietnam" aspect. I saw bad reviews of Vietnam-made guitars too. Then I got one of them, same model, and it was ok. This guy had a bad one:
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Post by rogwinsound on Mar 16, 2020 16:30:54 GMT
OK, UPDATE, I received an email from Thomann this morning and spoke to a rep on the phone at Thomann. All SC Custom VB Matte are now from China with non recessed volume / tone knobs. And the only one they have left with recessed knobs is 1 FR, and 1 P90 gloss black. So they are switching over to China. When I asked why this happened I was told it was decision by Product Management.( above the Reps head)
My order was made two days after the China shipment came in, but as FREDSKY says above..... he ordered one 2 weeks prior and had to wait til the new shipment arrived, and his WAS STILL Vietnamese.
Going back to LeoThunder... He is 100% correct....he said exactly what The Thomann Rep said. My order was made right in the middle of transition of previous Vietnamese as they ran out, and the new China models arrived. WHAT, I'm going to get in my box is 50/50 but probly China. So I just have to wait for delivery and Hope I get Lucky.
Thank You All, this is a good Forum. Dave
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 16, 2020 16:53:42 GMT
So they are switching over to China. When I asked why this happened I was told it was decision by Product Management.( above the Reps head) My order was made two days after the China shipment came in, but as FREDSKY says above..... he ordered one 2 weeks prior and had to wait til the new shipment arrived, and his WAS STILL Vietnamese. So SC-Custom, SC-550 and CST-24HB moved from Vietnam to China. The new, Chinese CST-24HB has a different bridge, a different fingerboard material and quite a different finish. Now I wonder, are they still having anything made in Vietnam?
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Post by rogwinsound on Mar 16, 2020 17:19:25 GMT
%^$$#@&%&&!!!!!!
amazing.
Dave
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