Harley Benton Custom Line CLA-16SCE

If you want smaller sized acoustic guitar with a limited budget, this one could be it.

I've had this guitar now 2 years and its held up great. Despite the smaller size the guitar sounds great. The quality is also top notch for not being a 400e+ guitar. I have changed the tuners and bridge pins to upgraded ones from HB, which did slightly improve the sound and tuning stability, but I wouldn't say it is a must, because the standard ones where also ok.
The builtin tuner is something i wish every guitar had, its such a life changer, to not need a external tuner anymore (at least for this guitar).

Pidän satiinipintaisista kitaroista joten teräskielistä hakiessa päädyin tähän malliin.

+ Mukava sointi
+ Muotoilu, koko, ulkonäkö
+++ Fishmanin mikki + viritin
- Fretit olivat karkeita, varaudu hiomaoperaatioon
- Kaulassa on kolhu, tuntuu ja näkyy selvästi muttei varsinaisesti haittaa soittoa
- Muoviset tallanupit eivät herätä luottamusta

En osaa verrata muihin kuin halvempaan muovikulhoiseen HB teräskieliseen ja siihen verrattuna sekä itse sointi että varsinainen käsittely on kyllä paljon mielekkäämpää joten hinnan suhteen mielestäni erittäin houkutteleva pienempää teräskielistä haluavalle jos pienet virhekohdat eivät häiritse.

I have always been wary of purchasing acoustic instruments online without being able to play or see how they feel first. After having a look around the nearest music stores and not finding anything that was jumping out at me in the 200euro price range I said what the heck I'd give this one a try, even though there were no reviews on it yet.It was for my son to learn on so I figured it had to be good enough for that purpose and if he stuck with it he could always get a better one in a year or so.
Arrived in the usual prompt fashion from Thomann. At first glance it looks good -simple but nice, it obviously doesn't have fancy beading etc. but I think it is
still well finished and the only obvious flaw I could find was a tiny bit of roughness on the neck which I have to say wouldn't bother me but if you were being picky, maybe.
I left the strings that it came with on for a week or so, which were ok but I prefer 10's on an acoustic and these were I'd say 11's. The action on the strings as it came was again ok but I figured there was space to go lower. So when I changed the strings I took the action down and I have to say it's really nice to play now, not quite as good as my 4 times the price Tanglewood -but close.
As for the most important thing; the sound. It's very good. I teach guitar so sometimes I end up having to listen to beginners who are using guitars that are not up to much. Teaching my son on this Harley Benton I have marveled a few times at how good it sounds.
It's folky but clear without any muddiness and a nice medium sustain. Through the pickup it sounds good too with no feedback through a Roland cube amp..
For the money compared to others I've tried I was definitely surprised, this guitar is really good value.