Harley Benton CST-24T Emerald Flame Review: What you need to know

Customer Review Summary

Harley Benton CST-24T Emerald Flame is a stunning guitar that impresses with its beautiful emerald finish and comfortable playability. The deep, glossy green top features a lovely flame, while the contrasting darker green back and sides highlight the mahogany grain beautifully. The ergonomic design, including a belly cut and lower cutaway, allows for easy access to the higher frets, making it a joy to play.

The neck is comfortable and well-shaped, possibly a multi-piece laminate, which contributes to its smooth feel. The fretwork is generally good, with polished frets and no sharp edges, although minor levelling issues are noted. The action can be adjusted to suit personal preferences, and many users report it being suitable right out of the box.

Equipped with Roswell humbuckers, the guitar offers a versatile sound palette, capable of delivering bright cleans and thick, powerful distortion. The coil-split feature adds an extra layer of tonal variety, providing access to single-coil sounds, though some users find the tone control a bit limiting when rolled off completely.

The Wilkinson tremolo is functional and adds a nice touch to the guitar’s versatility, while holding tuning relatively well under moderate use. However, some adjustments may be needed for optimal performance, and a few users suggest upgrading the tuners for improved stability.

Overall, the CST-24T is an exceptional instrument for its price, offering a combination of attractive aesthetics, solid construction, and a wide range of tonal options. Despite minor cosmetic flaws and some low-end electronics, it competes well with guitars in much higher price brackets. This model is highly recommended for beginners and seasoned players alike who seek a quality guitar without breaking the bank.

Conclusion: For an affordable price, the Harley Benton CST-24T Emerald Flame truly excels, making it a fantastic choice for anyone looking to expand their musical horizons.

Harley Benton CST-24T Emerald Flame Review

Upon receiving the Harley Benton CST-24T Emerald Flame, I was thoroughly impressed by its stunning aesthetics and solid build quality. The finish is flawless, and the deep emerald colour is even more beautiful in person than in pictures. It’s a real eye-catcher, certainly a guitar that stands out on stage.

In terms of playability, this guitar is a dream. The neck is incredibly comfortable, allowing for easy access to all 24 frets, and the action was set up nicely right out of the box. It feels great to play, whether you’re strumming chords or shredding solos. The Roswell pickups deliver a versatile sound suitable for various genres, from heavy rock to jazz, and the coil-splitting feature adds an extra layer of tonal flexibility.

While the guitar generally stays in tune well, I found that the tuning stability could be improved, particularly with the whammy bar, which doesn’t hold tuning as effectively as I would like. Some users have reported minor quality control issues, such as loose components or slight finish imperfections, but these seem to be outweighed by the guitar’s overall performance and value.

After some minor adjustments, including replacing the standard tuning machines with locking ones and tweaking the setup, the CST-24T truly shines. The sound is rich and dynamic, with the pickups providing warmth and clarity, making it a joy to play through various amplifiers.

Overall, the Harley Benton CST-24T Emerald Flame is an exceptional budget guitar that offers quality and versatility far beyond its price point. It’s a fantastic choice for both novice players and seasoned musicians looking for a reliable instrument that doesn’t compromise on sound or looks. Highly recommended!