Harley Benton JA-20HH Active SBK

Ho comprato questa chitarra in quanto mi serviva una chitarra da Metal. Più specificamente per suonare qualche canzone degli Slipknot.
La chitarra non presenta nessun difetto di verniciatura, esteticamente è stupenda. Tastiera molto scura e bella che ha bisogno di essere idratata ( come su qualsiasi chitarra nuova), tasti perfetti davvero, la mia Fender Strat sfigura a confronto. Capotasto molto scadente ma si cambia facilmente. I pickup sinceramente a me sembrano ottimi, anche s e non avevo mai provato gli attivi prima di ora. Il ponte mi sembra fatto abbastanza bene ed è comodo quando appoggi la mano per il Palm muting. Le meccaniche sono quelle che sono, fanno comunque il loro lavoro. Insomma, per il prezzo vi ritrovate un ottima chitarra, macchina da metal. Forse c’è bisogno di qualche upgrade ma se non avete grosse pretese va bene anche così. La chitarra è arrivata inoltre con un action perfetta, c’è bisogno di aggiustare l intonazione ma ci sta.
Nota finale per Thomann che si confermano come sempre perfetti e professionali. Sulla mia chitarra mancava il pezzo di plastica del selettore pickup, sospetto che sia caduto e andato perso nel tragitto per arrivare a casa. In ogni caso l’assistenza Thomann mi ha inviato subito un selettore pickup (completo di elettronica!) gratis.

Another kick@$$ entry in Thomann's series of Jim Root-inspired metal guitars with everything you need & nothin' you don't! This is my Mean Metal Jag!!

I've bought literally dozens of Harley Benton electric guitars & basses over the last couple years. I've rarely been disappointed. You just can't go wrong here. I love this 'dark mode' aesthetic and prefer fretboards to be clean with no inlays. Mine arrived with an extremely dry fretboard and drank in copious amounts of lemon oil. I applied it, scrubbed it in and let it soak for a good long time. Once that was done, she played smooth & sweet and I encountered none of the grounding issues I've read about with these models due to the painted bridge preventing grounding.

The 2 HBZ Active humbuckers absolutely weaponize this guitar! While I'm not going to say they're the equal of EMG's 60 & 81 or EMG 85 (or 89) & 81 sets but they're damned close! Especially for the price of entry. If you find yourself unfulfilled and cannot abide these HBZ 'alternatives' to the real thing, simply pay for the guitar now and start putting cash aside for the upgrade, which will likely double the cost of this guitar. Even then, this guitar would come in among the least expensive metal guitars worth owning & still be a smoking deal!!

In the long run, my recommendation would be to do just that: Buy one of these fine instruments, get it setup professionally (or learn to do it at a professional level yourself), install a set of locking tuners (perfectly good sets can be had for under $50. Less if you know where to look.) Buy your preferred brand/set of active pickups whether they're OG EMGs or Fishman Fluences, Duncan actives, etc. and you're good to go. Go play the hell out of it & soak it in the sweat of a million chugs.

Personally, I also installed a brass nut, a momentary kill-switch a la Buckethead and a second battery box to be able to run @ 18V. To each his own. Unleash your imagination. Doowutchyalike. (RIP Shock G.)

It's an excellent instrument & an excellent value, ESPECIALLY at this price-point! It makes a great mod platform. Make it yours! Remember the Metalman's Creed: 'This is my Mean Metal Jag. There are many others like it, but this one is mine. My Mean Metal Jag is my best friend. It is my life.'