Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB BK

After watching countless videos on YT, and reading reviews here on the Thomann website and various guitar-o-forums, I, like many of you here, decided to pop my Harley Benton cherry so to speak, and this little beauty caught my eye, calling to me like a siren,, lol enough of that. :)
So here is my honest review for others to consider.
First, let's get the bad out of the way; the package from Thomann arrived rather worse for wear, there was a huge hole in the bottom of the outer box, and the guitar was delivered upside down. Thankfully, the guitar sustained no damage whatsoever,, phew!
On to the guitar; after checking for any possible damage, my eye was drawn immediately to the output jack socket which was hanging off on one side, after tightening it up with a Philips, it still doesn't sit flush properly to the body on one side, and there's a tiny, but visible gap. Next thing that drew my attention s the fact that the wand of the pickup switch felt really, really loose. Again, both mounting screws were really loose, after a quick tighten though, no issues.
Finish wise, there are a few dimples, marks and areas where the undercoat can be seen under the edges of the black finish, especially the headstock, but you have to look really, really closely.
Right, now that's done, let me assure you reader, that aside from these few minor issues, I have completely fallen in love with this guitar. I've been playing over 30 years, I've played and owned guitars cheap, damn expensive, and in between; including a lot of the 'big names'. I can honestly say I think this Harley Benton stands up with many of the best of them, certainly guitars I've owned and played that cost 3-4 times what this guitar does.
The setup from Thomann was excellent, and needed very little fine tuning, little lowering of the action, and good to go. The guitar finish for this price is genuinely astounding, few issues aside, the wood binding is delicious, the fret - job, amazing. No sprout, no rough edges, a beautiful thick slab of ebony, with gorgeous clay dots (although stated as ivory), the locking tuners feel sturdy enough and they function perfectly. The Roswell pickups are a real surprise though. These things sound absolutely great. If classic rock and dirty blues are your thing, look no further,,,, and then, a click of the coil tap, and we're into (almost) twangy tele country. But seriously, AC/DC and Zeppelin have never sounded so good in my hands to my ears, bliss.
If like me, you're reading this review, and you have yet to burst your HB cherry,, go on,, do it, you won't regret it, Thomann have a great thing going here folks, an amazing guitar, and at this price point? Astounding.

I have this guitar since two weeks by now.

I am happy with the overall quality and sound of the instrument. Mine was delivered with a more or less acceptable setup. Frets were polished and no shape borders whatsoever. The fret board was a bit dirty. Action a bit high, but I lowered to the usual one I like for this neck radius, which is more or less 1,6 mm from top of 6th string to 12th fret, while pressing the first fret. No buzzing unless I played like an animal. In that case all my eGuitar expensive and inexpensive ones will buzz ;-)
Stock strings are just ok and will stay until a replacement is required.
Finishing is good. Mine have a very little dent on the neck, at the side that looks at me while in playing position. At the 12th fret. It is very little and looks to me like rather being a natural defect of the wood than an accident.
The locking round part of the tuning machines is not metallic. I have a magnetic tuner and it does not stick to that part of the machine heads. I bought once HB locking tuners that to me are similar ones and they were metallic. So I do not know why this downgrade. Anyway the tuners work very well and hold the tuning very well. They turn smoothly and you can really make fine tuning.
I replaced the string tree for a round T Style one that I like much more. Nothing wrong with the original one. I just did not like the stock one.
The nut is good, but the TUSQ statement label was not longer delivered with my instrument. So not sure if its is the graphitech one anymore. I am sure it was used to be so according to YouTube reviews.
My guitar has the switch in diagonal and the tremolo cover is routed on the wood. Something did not happen with the previous models. I believe even the advertised pictures are from the old ones. This is a big upgrade! Thanks Thomann for listening to the customers!
Pups are good. They have the necessary output for the music I play. Rock, Blues and Pop. The split coil is a bit on the tiny side, but still ok.
I replaced the capacitor and installed another for treble bleed. Now the guitar shines. Before it was a bit dark when volume pots was rolled back. Electronics work is ok. The volume pot is an Alpha Pot full size. The tone one with split function, I am not sure of which quality is it. It looks to me a bit too loosen.

I replaced the jack. The jack cable was easily unplugged. I did not like the feeling though it was working perfectly. I installed a switchcraft one from All Parts. I also change the barrel knobs for screw-fix ones, but I did that just for taste. No really a need. The commuter switch works hassle and noise free. However it looks to me a bit cheap and so something to replace in the future.
The lacquer is flawless. The neck is very comfortable and the instrument is beautifully crafted in Indonesia.
Not too heavy instrument but definitely not a lightweight one either.

This guitars series have Serial Number. I suppose this happens as from a price tag on?

Wilkinson two points bridge with tremolo bar is very good looking, bread quality, easy to adjust, bar is screwed by in a very intelligent way and the trem along with the TUSQ nut work like a charm once all well setup and strings were stretched.
A
ttention; there is not pick guard on this axe. That makes the instrument more beautiful and noble. But know that your picking technique must be adapted to preserve the finishing. Just to mention this.

My final verdict: The overall instrument can be rated to near perfection taking into account the price.
The budget a person may need to replace the less quality parts in the long run (jack, tone pot, capacitor, barrel knobs, string tree and switch) is of about 50€ and the guitar is 300 €. Add an ABS case of about 70€ and you can be sure there is not known branded guitar in the market to beat this one.

About my HB's. I have already four HB. This is the most expensive one. The other ones are between 150€ and 250€. One was horrible. The other three including this last one make it a happy player. One is a TE-52 and I must say that in terms of T style guitar I am much more pleased by the sound of the SC pups of the TE 52, which BTW is almost half of the price.
But the fusion one has: more modern C shape neck, ebony fret board, binding, ergonomic body, more quality tuning machines, tremolo and stainless steel frets. All this, I suppose that makes this instrument a much more expensive one.
Obviously humbucker pups are to sound differently than SC even when the coils are split. So, no point to compare...

For the semi pro and pro musician in a budget and of course for any beginner, HB is a good alternative. Do not think that Ephis & SQs are better a part of the name in the head stock. I found the same and even worse electronics on them. Some small flaws on the finishing and even higher actions. Sometimes even no possible to fix by an average user buzzing problems.
I recommend this instrument. It could be compared to the quality to find on a 500€ axe but at 300€.
So very pleased with my purchase.