Squier Contemporary vs Harley Benton Fusion

[LeoThunder]

I thought I'd compare three "modern" guitars I quite like in the same price range and style:



I find the Harley Benton models a more interesting proposition in terms of features and was surprised to find a single action truss rod in the Squier.
The absence of coil split is a major flaw in the Squier too and I am not impressed at the offer for the price, with plain finishes, plastic knobs, standard frets, tuners and string trees.

	Squier Contemporary Strat HH	HB Fusion-II HH	HB Fusion HH FR
Price	340€	300€	300€
Body	Poplar	Mahogany	Mahogany
Top	Pickguard	-	'Ultra Quilted' maple veneer
Headstock	Matching	Matching	Matching
String Trees	2 holding	1 rolling	Retainer bar
Back	Matching	Transparent brown	Black
Nut	Synthetic Bone	Nubone	Floyd Rose clamping
Neck	Maple	Canadian Maple	Canadian Maple
Profile	C	"Modern" C	"Modern" C
Neck finish	Matte	(Matte too?)	(Matte too?)
Fingerboard	Maple	Ebony	Ebony or maple
Radius	305 mm / 12"	305 mm / 12"	305 mm / 12"
Inlays	Dots	Dots	Dots
Truss rod	Single action	Dual action	Dual action
Truss rod adjustment	Open at head	Wheel after last fret	Wheel after last fret
Tuners	Standard Die-Cast	WSC Staggered locking	Grover GH305 6L
Frets	22 Jumbo	22 Medium jumbo stainless steel	24 Medium Jumbo stainless steel
Pickups	2 ceramic humbuckers	2 Roswell LAF-CR AlNiCo-5 humbuckers	2 Roswell HAF AlNiCo-5 humbuckers
Switches	3-way	3-way + coil split	3-way + coil split
Controls	Volume & Tone	Volume & Tone	Volume & Tone
Bridge	2-Point synchronized vibrato	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-Point vibrato	Floyd Rose 1000 vibrato
Colours	3 (black, white or red)	2 (black or turquoise)	4 (Aqua, Bengal, Charcoal, Emerald)
Knobs	Parchment Plastic	Chrome	Chrome

[blindwilly3fingers]

No Ibanez in the comparison? I thought they were the dogs danglies?

Trouble with comparing 3 guitars via the brochures or specs, in my honest opininion is like picking a chocolate from the box. Until you pop it in your mouth you don't know if it tastes good or not. And we know with HB's you don't always get the specs advertised.
It comes down to individual choice some people like certain brands/guitars some don't. Feel is much more important consideration. By that I mean if its comfortable for the individual. There are lots of factors that come into play, obviously the sound of the instrument should be one of the deciding factors.

[LeoThunder]

I would have to look at the Ibanez SA260FM for an appropriate comparison at 315€.
It is very much like the Squier with normal frets or tuners but it's an HSS with a 5-way switch and a much thinner body so… not all that similar.

How well the offer is realised is another thing altogether. Reviews of the Fusion models were good enough for me to take the specs at face value and I would expect equivalent quality to the Squier.

Purely subjective matters like neck profile or sound are hardly worth discussing unless it is limited to coarse statements of type. That gamble is the same for any. I also want to believe that guitars can be set-up properly. If not, it is a return case.
I do not see sound as a key characteristic. Sound will be adjusted to taste and a little diversity is welcome, as long as it doesn't sound like a Les Paul with truncated bandwidth, that is.

Oh, I forgot to bitch about the stupidly square neck heel on the Squier. That and no coil split are serious flaws to me.

[eddie]

I had a Squier Contemporary Strat with active pups. I wound up selling it. I couldn't connect with it. I'm not a fan of the thin neck.

I probably won't purchase any Strat style guitars from HB. I have too many, and it's more fun to modify a full thickness body Squier. Squiers are cheaper than dirt around here.

[blindwilly3fingers]

Jan 28, 2019 14:51:55 GMT LeoThunder said:

I would have to look at the Ibanez SA260FM for an appropriate comparison at 315€.
It is very much like the Squier with normal frets or tuners but it's an HSS with a 5-way switch and a much thinner body so… not all that similar.

How well the offer is realised is another thing altogether. Reviews of the Fusion models were good enough for me to take the specs at face value and I would expect equivalent quality to the Squier.

Purely subjective matters like neck profile or sound are hardly worth discussing unless it is limited to coarse statements of type. That gamble is the same for any. I also want to believe that guitars can be set-up properly. If not, it is a return case.
I do not see sound as a key characteristic. Sound will be adjusted to taste and a little diversity is welcome, as long as it doesn't sound like a Les Paul with truncated bandwidth, that is.

Oh, I forgot to bitch about the stupidly square neck heel on the Squier. That and no coil split are serious flaws to me.

This is better, it is more you expressing your opinions rather than stating facts as you see them.

It is plainly obvious from a number of your posts that you think little of Squier, you are entitled to you opinions and rightly so.

I do find it a bit tedious though, if someone does not agree with your opinion. You feel the need to discredit their opinion as myth or incorrect. This childish "point scoring" is of little use to anyone on a forum that's purpose is the sharing of knowledge, information and opinions.
Or have I got the rules wrong? Are we to agree with your every statement and should we like everyone of your posts?

If everyone wants coil split, I stand corrected but I actually like the sound of P90 pick ups over humbuckers, single coil etc. If that is not what you think I should like, fire away tell me I'm wrong.

[LeoThunder]

Jan 28, 2019 15:10:11 GMT eddie said:

I had a Squier Contemporary Strat with active pups. I wound up selling it. I couldn't connect with it. I'm not a fan of the thin neck.

I probably won't purchase any Strat style guitars from HB. I have too many, and it's more fun to modify a full thickness body Squier. Squiers are cheaper than dirt around here.

The ST-62 has a rather thick neck (23 mm at 1st fret, 24.5 mm at 12th) and the so-called full body size too. They can compete with used Affinity on German ebay  but importing them from far away is likely a very different matter.

[LeoThunder]

Jan 28, 2019 15:54:18 GMT blindwilly3fingers said:

This is better, it is more you expressing your opinions rather than stating facts as you see them.

It is plainly obvious from a number of your posts that you think little of Squier, you are entitled to you opinions and rightly so.

I do find it a bit tedious though, if someone does not agree with your opinion. You feel the need to discredit their opinion as myth or incorrect. This childish "point scoring" is of little use to anyone on a forum that's purpose is the sharing of knowledge, information and opinions.
Or have I got the rules wrong? Are we to agree with your every statement and should we like everyone of your posts?

If everyone wants coil split, I stand corrected but I actually like the sound of P90 pick ups over humbuckers, single coil etc. If that is not what you think I should like, fire away tell me I'm wrong.

I stated the offer of Harley Benton as larger which is a fact, no matter how much you want coil split.
I have no business justifying myself to you and won't accept your telling me how to express my opinions. I understand you don't like me and point you to the ignore function. This is all you'll have.

[blindwilly3fingers]

Jan 28, 2019 16:00:11 GMT LeoThunder said:

Jan 28, 2019 15:54:18 GMT blindwilly3fingers said:

This is better, it is more you expressing your opinions rather than stating facts as you see them.

It is plainly obvious from a number of your posts that you think little of Squier, you are entitled to you opinions and rightly so.

I do find it a bit tedious though, if someone does not agree with your opinion. You feel the need to discredit their opinion as myth or incorrect. This childish "point scoring" is of little use to anyone on a forum that's purpose is the sharing of knowledge, information and opinions.
Or have I got the rules wrong? Are we to agree with your every statement and should we like everyone of your posts?

If everyone wants coil split, I stand corrected but I actually like the sound of P90 pick ups over humbuckers, single coil etc. If that is not what you think I should like, fire away tell me I'm wrong.

I stated the offer of Harley Benton as larger which is a fact, no matter how much you want coil split.
I have no business justifying myself to you and won't accept your telling me how to express my opinions. I understand you don't like me and point you to the ignore function. This is all you'll have.

I am in no way telling you how to express your opinions, in fact I welcome your opinion.
At no point have I said I dislike you and have in the past enjoyed some banter with you. I have also pointed people in your direction when they asked a question I thought you may know.
The point I am trying to make is your OP was a list of specs of 3 guitars and your brief opinion that the HB's were the better option but you then make a statement that the Squier not having coil split is a flaw. You comparison is is based on the specs and basically slaughters the Squier. This I find has no validity and is not a fair comparison. People could read that as the Squier is ****, sound and feel of the instrument were not worthy of mention according to you when I suggested it.
I know about the ignore feature, if as you suggest I am to use it, is that not defeating the point of the forum?
I would like as many people as possible to offer their honest and unbiased opininons. People ask for advice and opinions in order help them decide on what to purchase. What does not suit me may well suit others therefore others opinions/experiences need to be considered as well.
All I am trying to say is look at what you write and how you write it. It may not be your in intention but some of your posts can appear dismissive and arrogant.
Again I am not telling you how to do anything or how to express things. What you or I prefer or like may be world's apart but I would not be so conceited to tell you what I like is best for you.

[Vincent]

Jan 28, 2019 15:55:04 GMT LeoThunder said:

Jan 28, 2019 15:10:11 GMT eddie said:

I had a Squier Contemporary Strat with active pups. I wound up selling it. I couldn't connect with it. I'm not a fan of the thin neck.

I probably won't purchase any Strat style guitars from HB. I have too many, and it's more fun to modify a full thickness body Squier. Squiers are cheaper than dirt around here.

The ST-62 has a rather thick neck (23 mm at 1st fret, 24.5 mm at 12th) and the so-called full body size too. They can compete with used Affinity on German ebay  but importing them from far away is likely a very different matter.

eBay.de sounds expensive to me. Last week on leboncoin.fr I saw a HB ST-62 and a HB little practice amplifier for forty euros, the lot. Looked okay in the photos. Gone now but look at this Harley Benton Dynamic-HSH FMT Charcoal below. Asking 120 euros. France is close to Germany so if you can sweet talk a seller into shipping. What do you think about that, LeoThunder?

www.leboncoin.fr/instruments_de_musique/1544324697.htm/

[Deleted]

I live in hope that LeoThunder and blindwilly3fingers remain happy to banter with each other with no hard feelings given or taken. It's a shame to ignore anyone. Better to disagree politely. But if anyone feels a need to ignore anyone on this forum, for whatever reason, can I point out how to do it as, although it's not difficult, it's not quite as obvious as it sounds. There is no 'ignore function' per se but to achieve the same ends do this:

Click on "profile" at the top of any page to get into your own account settings.

Then click the "Privacy" tab.

Scroll down and you will see "Member block list". Here you can search for the member that irritates you and choose what you want to do (block PM's, hide their messages etc.).






I expect I'll now find myself talking to nobody.

[Vincent]

There are not so many regular contributors now. It would would be a shame if the forum descended into a pit of radio silence. Here's to LeoThunder and blindwilly3fingers Would not be the same without them.

[blindwilly3fingers]

@defjef I have no wish to put anyone on ignore. I have said my piece and it's done and dusted as far as I'm concerned. I have no problem with LeoThunder and I hope he has none with me.

[salteedog]

Probably a bit early to figure out what the resale value of the Fusions would be.

Also, perhaps a tad early to determine quality level too.

In fact that's a metric I'd really like to see - some objective measure of average fretwork quality across each model. Nut cut too while we're at it.

I don't deny that on paper the HBs look like great value against the Squier, I just wish they weren't super-strats!

[Deleted]

Oh, I forgot to bitch about the stupidly square neck heel on the Squier.

I've never really noticed a problem with this so thought I'd have a little practical examination of it.

My favourite guitars are all bolt on necks and I happened to have my Precision Bass handy. I noticed the block heel was less of a problem than the limited access in the cutaway. I moved on to my Pacifica and that posed no problem in playing at the top frets and beyond with a bend or even playing the 'magic 23rd fret' against the pickup itself. Chords were a little tricky due to fret spacing But a sort of D shape was doable. Then I swapped to my Squier strat. Again the problem seemed to be the more restricted cutaway access. I found I couldn't quite manage a D shape chord at the top fret but not because of the heel, that seemed to cup into the palm of my hand with no problem.

Maybe I have big hands so the heel doesn't cause an issue but the cutaway does. Perhaps one trades off against the other? For future reference I must bear in mind that the cutaway access is my main concern up the top end. Not sure the Fusions fix that for me. Perhaps more of a PRS carve would be my dream?

[eddie]

Jan 28, 2019 19:04:13 GMT Vincent said:

There are not so many regular contributors now. It would would be a shame if the forum descended into a pit of radio silence. Here's to LeoThunder and blindwilly3fingers Would not be the same without them.

I agree.  The forum is a bit slow of contributing members.  I think both you guys have so much to offer.  This place would die without you guys.

BTW, my CST-24 arrived.  It's fantastic !!!