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Harley Benton R-457MN WH MultiScale

4.4 out of 5 stars from 227 customer ratings ()

7-String Electric Guitar

  • Progressive series
  • Poplar body
  • Bolt-on maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Offset dot fretboard inlays
  • Neck profile: Speed D
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm
  • Multi-scale scale: 686/648 mm
  • Nut width: 48 mm
  • Dual action trussrod
  • 24 Medium multi-scaled frets
  • Pickups: 2 Hi-Gain humbuckers
  • 1 x Volume and 1 x tone control
  • 3-Way pickup selector
  • Nubone nut
  • Black hardware
  • String gauges: 009 / .011 / .016 / .024 / .032 / .042 / .054
  • Deluxe die-cast machine heads
  • Colour: White, high-gloss
  • Available since June 2018
  • Item number 427245
  • Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
  • Colour White
  • Body Poplar
  • Top None
  • Neck Maple
  • Fretboard Maple
  • Frets 24
  • Scale 686 mm
  • Pickup System HH
  • Tremolo No
  • Including Case No
  • Incl. Gigbag No
  • Number of Strings 7
  • Style ST
  • Fretbboard Maple
  • Long Scale 686 mm
  • Short Scale 648 mm
  • Pickups HH
  • Vibrato No
189
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When six strings just aren't enough

Harley Benton R-457MN WH 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‑457MN WH 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 maple neck featuring a slim Speed-D profile: The maple fingerboard, fitted with 24 medium-jumbo frets, offers a smooth, fast playing surface with a clear, immediate response. Together, this combination produces a sound with plenty of definition and presence, especially in the low end.

Bolt-on maple neck on the Harley Benton R-457MN WH MultiScale Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

Fanned frets, extended range

The sound of the Harley Benton R‑457MN WH 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 setup increases tension on the lower strings, keeping them tighter and more controlled even under heavier picking, 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.

A budget-friendly way in

With its very accessible price, the Harley Benton R‑457MN WH 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 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-457MN WH 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.

Humbuckers on the Harley Benton R-457MN WH MultiScale Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

Low-end riffing and beyond

Paired with a suitably powerful amplifier and speaker setup, the Harley Benton R‑457MN WH 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. And of course, Heavy Metal and Rock'n'Roll are as much about appearance as they are about sound. With its modern shape and striking white high-gloss finish, combined with contrasting black hardware, this model makes a confident visual statement on stage, leaving no doubt about where it belongs.

227 Customer ratings

4.4 / 5

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sound

quality

179 Reviews

B
Still a great guitar for being affordable, multiscale 7 string that looks so clean in person.
Bruddermane 20.01.2024
I'll start this off by saying, I really do love the way this guitar looks. It makes me want to pick it up and riff on it. and it's fun! I've never owned a multi scale guitar before so this was a nice entryway into it. It definitely holds better tuning that my standard BC rich 7 string. which is nice.

But the drawbacks are setting it up. The fret ends we razor sharp so I had to go through and dress the fret ends myself as well as re-polish the frets. They were pretty dull out of the box. Also, maybe because mine went through customs to get to the US, but the box that the guitar box was shipped in had a hole in it and the guitar box inside was not held together with tape. but that's not really a Thomann issue. But last con I'll say is the pickups are a little dull sounding compared to the bc rich I previously had where those pickups were HOT. But I'm fine with how these sound for now but will probably replace them later based on my own preferences. but the pickup cavities had a weird black sharpie line around them... not sure why....

Pros are a lot. The guitar looks KILLER in person. I love it. It is so comfortable to hold and play. The body feels nice to play (both the heel contour and the body contour around the edges too). The bridge is individual string ones so if one of those ever broke or you wanted to change them then replacements are easy to find. the volume, tone and 3 way switch are convenient and out of the way. It feels intuitive and nice.

I really enjoy this guitar a lot and plan on keeping this in mind when I get another guitar. I bought this for better tuning stability and intonation than a tradition fretted 7 string and it is holding up.
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C
This is my very first buy here!
Carnage_v 07.02.2022
Hi everybody! I ordered this guitar from south of Russia, UPS made it delivered in 7 days, which i think is fast.
Guitar built very well, paint is all good, neck is straight and great, frets need polishing but its nothing to complain about, overall this guitar sounds and feels good to me for its price. Tune is holding good if strings are fine and properly installed.
I previously owe about five 7-strings and this is #1 7-string guitar in this range of price in my opinion.
Definetly will buy some more guitars here in Thomann soon!
Good luck everyone!
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D
Awesome Guitar
Divan 25.01.2021
I love this guitar! It looks and plays great and at that price you won't find much better than that. Best thing about it is that I could not decide between the 7 string and the 8 string - so I got both! As a South African, I am not used to having nice things, so I enjoy everyone sobbing in awe when I show off this beast and I ignore the comments from people saying that the fan frets looks like it melted in the African sun.

The quality build of the guitar is great and the fretboard is a joy to play! The guitar also has great action and was set up really nice right out of the box. The pickups are a bit muddy and lacking that "pure 7 string hate and destruction" sound, but the pickups can always be upgraded later.

The tuning stability is not bad - it won't just let you down while you are playing, but I keep a tuner around just in case.

Overall, I would vouch for this guitar. I have a lot of fun with it and I will definitely check out more stuff from Harley Benton.

Thanks Thomann!
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k
Simply a steal.
krorvik 16.08.2022
I'm quite frankly a little speechless. A seven string at this price is amazing. A fanfret one to boot...

The only minor issue I can find is the frets have smidge of roughness, and this is easily fixed with some tape and finegrit sanding paper.

The neck is super comfy, close to wizard-territory.

The fanned frets feel great for power/barrechords all the way - and the edges of the frets are well rounded and can not be felt during playing.

The nut sists snuggly, and the tuners work great.

The bridge stays out of the way, and the controls do not feel cheap at all. Great friction in pots and selector.

But - the real surprise are the pickups. Metal is the name of the game for me, and these puppies do the job really well! I have to add, I have a Behringer TO-800 overdrive in front of the amp (A Joyo Zombie II), and that tightens things up really nice. Even so, this is far better than the price would suggest.

Some suggest the pickups are a bit muddy, and perhaps bassy, but throw in a decent overdrive, and add an EQ in the loop. I'd go so far as to say you'd want that regardless....

The only upgrade so far are straplocks. I was planning on switching the pickups for Duncan Nazgul/Sentient, but I don't know.. the stock ones sound great, and the new ones would outprice the guitar. Twice.

I ordered a pair of Harley Benton locking tuners as well, but I might just wait until the first string change to swap them out. Locking tuners to me are mostly a convenience.

This one gets a warm recommendation, at least for the metalheads out there.
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