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Harley Benton R-457FFB Roasted MultiScale

4.5 out of 5 stars from 54 customer ratings ()

7-String Multiscale Electric Guitar

  • Progressive Series
  • Body: Poplar
  • Bolt-on neck: Roasted maple
  • Fingerboard: Roasted maple
  • Offset dot fingerboard inlays
  • Neck profile: Speed-D
  • Multiscale scale: 648 - 686 mm
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • Nubone nut
  • 24 Medium jumbo multi-scaled frets
  • Pickups: 2 Hi-Gain humbuckers
  • Volume and tone controls
  • 3-Way pickup selector switch
  • Dual Action trussrod
  • Deluxe die-dast machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • String gauges: .009 / .011 / .016 / .024 / .032 / .042 / .054
  • Colour: Flip Flop Blue (Chameleon) high-gloss
  • Available since January 2023
  • Item number 550471
  • Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
  • Number of Strings 7
  • Style ST
  • Colour Flip Flop Blue
  • Body Poplar
  • Top No
  • Neck Roasted Maple
  • Fretbboard Roasted Maple
  • Frets 24
  • Long Scale 686 mm
  • Short Scale 648 mm
  • Pickups HH
  • Active Pickups No
  • Vibrato No
  • Including Case No
  • Including Case No
  • Fretboard Maple
  • Scale 648 mm
  • Pickup System HH
229 €
All prices incl. VAT
In stock
1

When six strings just aren't enough

Harley Benton R-457FFB Roasted MultiScale Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

Harley Benton instruments have long offered solid quality at very affordable prices, with the range including both entry-level guitars and a few more unusual, extended-range options. One of the most popular models in this category is the seven-string R‑457FFB Roasted MultiScale from the Progressive Series, which provides an accessible way to step into extended-range playing – and explore deeper tunings without making a major investment. Compared to eight-string models, the seven-string format keeps things a little more familiar while still extending the range into lower registers. It all starts with a poplar body, combined with a bolt-on roasted maple neck featuring a slim Speed-D profile: The roasted maple fingerboard, fitted with 24 medium-jumbo frets, offers a smooth, fast playing surface with a clear, articulate response, while also contributing to a stable and consistent feel. Together, this combination produces a sound with plenty of definition and presence, especially in the low end.

Chameleon finish on the Harley Benton R-457FFB Roasted MultiScale Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

Fanned frets, extended range

The sound of the Harley Benton R‑457FFB Roasted MultiScale draws much of its strength from its multiscale design, with a scale length ranging from 648 to 686mm (25.5" to 27.0"). This extended range increases tension on the lower strings, keeping them tighter and more controlled even under heavier picking, including in lower or drop tunings, while the shorter scale on the higher strings keeps bends smooth and comfortable. The electronics are kept simple and effective, with two high-gain humbucking pickups delivering a punchy, assertive tone, controlled via a three-way switch and shaped through volume and tone controls. A DLX bridge with individual saddles, together with a set of solid die-cast machine heads, completes the setup and ensures dependable tuning stability.

Headstock on the Harley Benton R-457FFB Roasted MultiScale Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

A budget-friendly way in

With its very accessible price, the Harley Benton R‑457FFB Roasted MultiScale is aimed at both beginners and more experienced players who are new to seven-string guitars and want to explore extended range playing without spending a fortune. That being said, the overall value on offer here is undeniable: A guitar with the more complex fan-fret fingerboard is particularly unusual at this price point, and few instruments in general offer such a convincing combination of affordability, playability, and sound. The proven blend of tonewoods and high-gain pickups then delivers a powerful and focused response, particularly suited to low-end riffing, while still remaining versatile enough for a range of playing styles.

Headstock on the Harley Benton R-457FFB Roasted MultiScale Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

About Harley Benton

Since 1998, the Harley Benton brand has been catering for the needs of numerous guitarists and bassists. In addition to an extensive range of stringed instruments, Thomann's house brand also offers a wide choice of amplifiers, speakers, effect pedals, and other accessories. In total, the range includes over 1,500 products. Built by established names in the industry, all Harley Benton products combine quality and reliability at attractive and affordable prices. The continuous expansion of the range ensures that Harley Benton always provides new, exciting, and innovative products that keep players perfectly in tune with the musical world, day after day.

Low-end riffing and beyond

Paired with a suitably powerful amplifier and speaker setup, the Harley Benton R‑457FFB Roasted MultiScale is well suited to tight, percussive low-end riffs with plenty of weight behind them. At the same time, the two humbucking pickups can be dialled in for clear clean sounds and dynamic crunch tones, which only adds to this versatile instrument's appeal – all without the need for batteries, as would be the case with active systems. And of course, Heavy Metal and Rock'n'Roll are as much about appearance as they are about sound. With its modern shape and eye-catching high-gloss chameleon blue finish, this model makes a confident visual statement on stage, shifting subtly with the light and leaving no doubt about its contemporary character.

54 Customer ratings

4.5 / 5

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47 Reviews

R
Ordered this one on release day - absolutely stunning guitar!
RyanFromCanada 08.02.2023
For months I have been asking myself, do I really need a few more multiscale guitars? Then one day this beauty showed up on the Harley Benton Instagram and made the decision for me. I ordered this along with the R-458FFB on the day they were released. That was on a Tuesday, and I had them in my hands in Canada the following Monday, excellent service as always from Thomann.

The chameleon finish on this guitar is my all-time favourite guitar finish, so I might be a little biased due to that. The look isn't for everyone, and if it's not for you, that's ok, but I happen to love it. The satin finish on the neck of this guitar feels great to play and looks great on the roasted maple.

Fretwork and setup were fantastic out of the box. Action was a little high for me but was easily lowered without running into any fret buzz.

I won't say much about the sound of this guitar. I'm of the mind that pickups don't really matter and the only difference expensive brand name pickups make is a bigger hole in your wallet. These pickups are not microphonic, and they aren't noisy, that works for me. It sounds like a 7 string.

Hardware is on point. Like every guitar I buy, I swapped in some locking tuners before putting on some fresh strings. I don't see any need to change anything else.

Now, all that said, is this a perfect guitar? No. There are some minor finish flaws around the edge of the body and on the back of the neck. Do they bother me that much? No. It's important to remember that you can buy 5 of this guitar for the price of a similarly spec'd guitar from one of the "big brands"

Overall, Harley Benton knocks it out of the park again with an instrument that punches well above it's price point. I have over a dozen HBs now and will not hesitate to buy a dozen more.
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A
LOOKS and PLAYS AMAZING
Anonymous 19.02.2023
I own a lot of 7 string guitars but I didn't have a fan fret yet and the color on this is very unique so I figured I'd give it a try. I am glad I did, it looks SO much better in person and the fretboard is so nice as well. I actually ended up really liking the way fan fret feels and I want more guitars with that feature now! Out of the box the set up is very good, the only thing that I can say was off is that the frets are a little scratchy when you do any bends but a quick polish with some fine steel wool will do the trick just make sure to use masking tape to protect the fretboard. Anyway great guitar at an insane price, do yourself a favor and get this instead of a muddy sounding ibanez if you are considering a guitar in this price range. Pickups on this are actually pretty good just adjust the height and you're set.
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C
Very solid 7-string with a beautiful finish and neck (but also a few problems)
Caplja 28.09.2023
I ordered this guitar for two reasons - 1. I didn't own a seven-string guitar and I wanted to have one in my collection, give it a shot; 2. I fell in love with the finish ("flip-flop blue"), I always wanted a guitar with such a finish (another guitar I had my eyes on was the Petrucci signature model Sterling JP-60/JP-70, but it was around 4 times the price).
When I got the guitar delivered, as soon as I unboxed the guitar I saw that it was very worth it, it's a beautiful guitar, but the main part of the wow-effect ended up being the roasted maple neck, it's a blast to play.
Through my 3 weeks of playing this guitar I am very satisfied, the sound is solid (not excellent, but not as bad as other reviews state, it gets the job done), the guitar is very comfortable to play and also to look at. I encountered 2 problems with guitar so far: 1. the tuners (tuning pegs) are awful, they have "dead spots", where you have to turn a lot in one direction for the pitch to change at all; 2. the nut is horribly cut, the D and A strings slip easily out of the nut when bending notes on lower frets (2nd-5th). Because of the two mentioned problems I also expected tuning stability problems, but I am happy to say that the guitar holds the tuning well (it survived a 4-hour long rehearsal session). All in all, a great guitar, and especially for the price point, but I couldn't give it 5 stars as the nut and tuner quality is simply unacceptable (even though both problems are fixable with further upgrades). If you are asking yourself if you should buy this guitar and your priorities are similar to mine (you want a solid 7-string and a chameleon-type finish), absolutely go for it.

Pros:
- beautiful finish (sparkly green-purple-blue)
- very comfortable to play and beautiful roasted maple neck
- solid sound (but expect nothing special)
- very good price point (as expected for a Harley Benton)

Cons:
- bad quality tuning pegs
- very badly cut nut, two strings slip easily out of the nut
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Seven string wonder
polarcrocodile 26.02.2023
Absolutely great instrument. Awesome quality, crazy combination of incredible color and shape. The sound is ok. Very comfortable to play. Good balance and weight. Seven deadly sins out of seven!
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