ted74
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by ted74 on Feb 11, 2020 0:25:21 GMT
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 11, 2020 1:35:14 GMT
They're both ugly. But seriously, these tone comparisons are so way beside the point of what matters… When buying a cheap guitar, the first question is playability. Can the thing be set-up properly? Is the bridge at the right place? Is the neck usable or does it have to be a bloody tree trunk so it doesn't warp in the first 6 months?
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 11, 2020 1:54:34 GMT
Guitar A has a slightly higher output level. When adjusting, I hear no significant difference between both. It tells me that Roswell pick-ups are good enough for the job.
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nicklp
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by nicklp on Feb 11, 2020 7:33:47 GMT
Guitar A has a slightly higher output level. When adjusting, I hear no significant difference between both. It tells me that Roswell pick-ups are good enough for the job. This is what i heard. No major difference. But like you said, you can't hear setup, fret/nut job and neck profile. That said, 52 is the only HB i ever played. It needed some minor nut slots lowering (maybe some leveling? Don't know as action was a bit high as according to owner's taste) but it was a good guitar, especially for the money.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 11, 2020 9:44:06 GMT
I listened to this the other day at a friend's request. What I heard and preferred was more bottom end in guitar A's neck pickup and less sharpness in the bridge. I preferred it and simply guessed it was the Fender. Then again I hate the sound of new strings and, from what I've heard, HB strings can sound a little 'played in'. Perfect for me. The TE-52 comes with D'Addario strings.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 11, 2020 10:09:09 GMT
This precision about strings reminds me that I have compared sound samples of various HB models on the Thomann site and drawn conclusions on their pick-ups without considering the strings they were recorded with. There will be a difference in sound between those coming with D'Addario and those coming with the cheapest thing they could get, which might well be their own brand.
HB guitar strings are duller off the pack. I never tried their bass strings.
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jml77
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by jml77 on Feb 11, 2020 11:11:06 GMT
I also watched this a few days ago. I did prefer the sound of the Fender, and thought B was more likely to be the Fender. You'd expect, and hope, that the set up and quality control on the Fender to be near perfect, it's not guaranteed though. The set up and quality of my HB te-90qm was outstanding, so if the set up on the TE-52 is as good, it's a bargain.
Previously I've bought Roswell pickups from DV247. I rated them as very good for the price, or just very good regardless of price. I'd like to try out their FLT pickups. But after finding the P90s not being as advertised, it's once bitten twice shy.
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Feb 11, 2020 11:23:42 GMT
I listened to this the other day at a friend's request. What I heard and preferred was more bottom end in guitar A's neck pickup and less sharpness in the bridge. I preferred it and simply guessed it was the Fender. Then again I hate the sound of new strings and, from what I've heard, HB strings can sound a little 'played in'. Perfect for me. The TE-52 comes with D'Addario strings. Then it could be that I like D'Addario strings for their played in sound...or they were 'rusty'. I just noticed that they are advertised as 9's to 42's. That's lighter than I would normally play. Wonder what was on the Fender?
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 11, 2020 11:40:32 GMT
The TE-52 comes with D'Addario strings. Then it could be that I like D'Addario strings for their played in sound...or they were 'rusty'. I just noticed that they are advertised as 9's to 42's. That's lighter than I would normally play. Wonder what was on the Fender? The Fender American Original 50s comes with 10-46. I didn't hear such a difference. Maybe my ears are rusty. Could be. Headphones were high end Sennheiser.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 11, 2020 11:44:27 GMT
Nothing I've bought seems to bear much relation to things I've heard online beyond their functionality. Whenever I hear a "warm" sound, duller than I like in a demo, it's a red flag. It tells me the thing lacks something I want. So I usually only listen to the clean sound (because anything else is demonstrating the amplifier) and unless it is something exotic like a Rickenbacker, I look out for the high end. Then sometimes a Fender Wide Range humbucker comes along with its siren song and I want it…
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 11, 2020 13:12:23 GMT
I just noticed that Fender is listed at 14.5 times the price of the Harley Benton on the Fender site and 11.5 times at Thomann. Get it from Thomann, it's a bargain
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Feb 11, 2020 13:18:16 GMT
I just noticed that Fender is listed at 14.5 times the price of the Harley Benton on the Fender site and 11.5 times at Thomann. Get it from Thomann, it's a bargain ...then 'upgrade' the pickups! I put some old 70s Fender pickups in a guitar recently and really don't like them at all. Not for MY ears.
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1,773 posts
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Post by MartinB on Feb 11, 2020 13:25:33 GMT
I preferred the sound from B, but there wasn’t really much in it. Certainly nothing that justifies the price tag imo.
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