Harley Benton Victory Active SBK
Harley Benton electric guitar technical breakdown
- Body: Mahogany
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Roseacer
- Neck profile: modern C
- Fingerboard radius: 305 mm
- Scale: 628 mm
- 22 Frets
- Double action truss rod
- Pickups 2 active High Gain HBZ humbuckers
- 1 Volume control
- 3-Way switch
- 3-Ply black pickguard
- Tune-O-Matic bridge
- Die-cast tuners
- Black hardware
- Factory strings: .010 – .046
- Colour: Matte black
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Additional Information
Customer Review Summary
The Harley Benton Victory Active SBK is an intriguing guitar that offers a lot of value for its price. The design is striking, featuring a solid matte black finish that many find appealing. Overall, the construction seems decent, with many users appreciating the neck’s comfort and the smooth feel of the frets. However, some issues do arise, particularly regarding the fretwork and setup.
Several reviewers noted that the fret ends can be rough and require filing and polishing for a better playing experience. While some received guitars with well-finished frets, others found significant oxidation and roughness, necessitating a bit of maintenance. The fretboard itself often arrives dry, requiring conditioning to enhance playability.
Sound-wise, the active pickups deliver a good performance, especially for heavy genres, although there are mixed opinions on their quality. While some players praised the clarity and sustain of the bridge pickup, others felt the pickups lacked punch compared to higher-end models. Grounding issues have been highlighted as a major concern; in some cases, the black paint on the hardware interferes with proper grounding, leading to unwanted noise. Many found that a simple fix, such as sanding off the paint, could alleviate the problem, but this workaround may not be satisfactory for everyone.
Regarding playability, the guitar has been described as comfortable to play both sitting and standing, with a good balance and no neck dive. However, setup is often required out of the box, as string height and intonation can need adjustment. Users have also mentioned that the tuners could be improved, with some opting to replace them with locking tuners for better performance.
In conclusion, the Harley Benton Victory Active SBK presents a solid option for those looking for an affordable V-style guitar. It offers a good balance of aesthetics, sound, and playability, but potential buyers should be prepared for some setup and maintenance to ensure optimal performance.
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