Bluesape Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 A couple months or so back I was browsing in Ottawa's biggest used guitar shop. I found a Harley Benton SC-450 p90 Gt classic series guitar. The condition was immaculate and it included a very nice hardshell case, which does not come with the guitar when shipped.The price was quite low, and all used items come with a return policy, so I got it. The action was low, as I like it. Seemed like a steal until i plugged it in at my jam that evening, where it squealed like a newly castrated hog, and it had terrible tuning stability. It played well and seemed very well built, with great frets, a flawless finish, and a nice weight for a LP knockoff; That's when I realized why it was so pristine. The original owner likely hated it very quickly and traded it at the shop, where it did not originate from, so he/she couldn't return it. The fix would have been replacing the pickups and tuners, neither of which I had lying around. The cost of good pickups and tuners would exceed the money I already had in it, so I returned it. There are numerous reviews on Youtube, most being positive, which I viewed before buying it. I know that QC with budget guitars will be iffy and you could luck out and find a good one, but I'm sure that any one of these would require some costly mods. Also, it is not a premium instrument no matter what you pay to get it gig-worthy. Hanging on the wall was a 30 year old real gold top with P90's, listed at almost 20 times what I paid for this one! As the owner of 2 real LP's, I felt silly for imagining it could scratch my P90 itch. Buyer beware! 3 2 Quote Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryz Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 Thanks for the review Bluesape! Sorry the guitar turned out to be a dud and didn't work out for you...😎 1 Quote Take care, Larryz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted January 12, 2023 Share Posted January 12, 2023 Sorry to hear that, Reif, but glad you were able to return it! 2 Quote Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p90jr Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 Guitar Fetish specializes in expensive and decent (some say really good) parts... I think the very inexpensive brands (isn't Harley Benton the in-store brand for Thomann music stores?), even to the cheapest Squiers and Epiphones, are made expecting the electronics and tuning machines to be swapped out by anybody who can tell the difference. The magic of P90s, probably my favorite pickup (who woulda thunk it, eh?), lies in them being low-to-medium output... and I find that people now expect them to be as high-output as heavy metal humbuckers so in cheaper guitars aimed mostly at kids they are wound too hot... and are muddy and squeal. Sire has new Larry Carlton signature models with P90s... maybe that's your ticket!?!https://sire-usa.com/products/sire-larry-carlton-l7v 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesape Posted January 15, 2023 Author Share Posted January 15, 2023 The Sire is in my view, much more guitar and well worth the extra money. 3 Quote Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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