Harley Benton ST-20HSS CA Standard Series

I got this because I always loved the candy red, and I figured that if this is a crap product, at least I have a nice red body to build on.
But no, this is a well made instrument, neck is a bit on the fat sides so I sanded it to my preference, I have small hands, I fixed some sharp ends on the frets and polished the fretboard, the neck is now gorgeous and also has beautiful grains in both maple and fretboard, every hole is drilled with perfection making the strings perfectly lined up with the poles of the PU:s, all cavities are routed very good and painted black with what I expect is shielding paint, very nice indeed.
Also a three ply pickguard, again a little rough around the edges, fixed easy, I love the pickups, low output is what I like in the sense that overdrive is handled in the amp or with pedals, Neck 4,5 kb middle around 5 kb and the humbucker 8,5 kb, so perhaps not suited for the most aggressive heavy metal stuff.
I read that customers don't like the bridge and tuners, perhaps they were unlucky, my tuners are working smooth and the guitar stays exceptionally well in tune and intonates perfect, if it goes out of tune i'd rather blame the weather than the guitar. I never use the whammy so I put two extra springs in, making the bridge very stiff and also I believe it has a positive effect on sustain.
Oh and about the Candy red, it is even more spectacular than I expected, paint job is immaculate with a depth and clarity that makes me think of ancient chinese boxes, the finish is fantastic.
As for the electronics, OK, they are cheap pots and switch but they do what they are supposed to and with smooth action, no problems there.
I'm 64 years old and have played for 50, I build my own amps and can easily manipulate the sound coming out of my speakers.
This guitar is one of my absolute favorites although it cost me less than a dinner in a good restaurant, (I had a coupon)

Jag sökte en HSS strata och chansade på denna. Jag trodde faktiskt den skulle vara skräp. Men vad överraskad jag blev. Kroppen är helt felfri, mycket snygg. Halsen och greppbrädan är felfria. Mycket fint. Inga skarpa band och riktigt skön hals. Elektroniken är felfri, och den låter riktigt bra.
Det enda att anmärka på är att stämskruvarna känns billiga, återstår att se hur dom håller över tid.
Ett kap!