Harley Benton Amarok 6 LH BKNT Flame Burst

Harley Benton Amarok 6 LH BKNT Flame Burst review

The Harley Benton Amarok 6 LH BKNT Flame Burst is a left-handed, six-string electric guitar with a sculpted ST-style body, a flamed maple top, and a fixed bridge. At a listed price of 471, its feature set is ambitious: a five-piece neck running the full length of the body, an ebony fingerboard, stainless steel frets, and a pair of EMG humbuckers. Owner reports describe strong playability and reliable tuning, though some also flag setup and quality-control issues worth checking before purchase.

Construction and hardware

There is a discrepancy in the supplied body specifications. One entry lists nyatoh, while the detailed construction information identifies the body as mahogany, specifically Swietenia macrophylla. The detailed description calls the top a flamed maple veneer. Its black natural flame burst matte finish leaves the figuring visible, with a matching headstock and wood body binding completing the look. One owner praised the finish and clean workmanship, while another reported a small flaw beneath the finish at the body edge. That points to a good overall impression, but individual examples deserve inspection.

The neck is a full-length, five-piece maple and mahogany construction. Its slim modern C profile measures 21 mm thick at the first fret and 23 mm at the twelfth. The Macassar ebony fingerboard has a 355.6 mm radius, white offset pearloid dot inlays, and glow-in-the-dark markers along the edge. Those markers may help in very dark conditions, although one owner found them useful only in near-total darkness.

The guitar has 24 jumbo stainless steel frets, a Graph Tech TUSQ nut, and a dual-action truss rod. Owner feedback on fretwork is notably positive, including a comparison with a more expensive guitar that had a much poorer fret job. The scale length is 648 mm, and the nut width is 42 mm. Some owners report excellent access to the upper frets and a comfortable neck shape. One left-handed player, however, found the outer strings too close to the edge of the fingerboard, particularly the low E string. Check string alignment on the specific guitar if possible.

Pickups and controls

The pickup set pairs an EMG Retro Active Hot 70 ceramic bridge humbucker with an Alnico 5 neck humbucker. A master volume, master tone, and three-way switch keep the control layout simple. Owners who like the stock pickups describe them as powerful and well suited to heavier music. One report found the high strings a little thin or metallic, suggesting that the result may depend on playing style, setup, and personal taste.

Feedback on the electronics is mixed. Some owners were impressed with the sound straight out of the box. Another replaced the selector switch and later changed the pickups and pots, reporting a better result afterward. That is an individual modification, not evidence that every Amarok needs replacement parts, but it makes the switch and controls worth testing carefully. The control positions also divide opinion: one owner found them comfortable, while another said they sat too close to the strings for their hands.

Playability and tuning

The hardtail WSC HPS-6 bridge avoids the added setup demands of a tremolo system. Jihno JN-03L tuners, black hardware, and factory.010 to.046 strings round out the specification. Several owners report excellent tuning stability, and one described the guitar as a dependable daily instrument after a couple of years of use. The supplied feedback also mentions a possible intonation issue on thicker strings in higher positions, addressed by one player through a bridge adjustment. As with any guitar, setup and string condition can affect the result.

The guitar does not include a case or gig bag. It is listed as available since June 2021, with item number 496241, and is made in Indonesia. The product information does not specify a weight, so buyers who are sensitive to weight should try one in person rather than rely on an estimate.

Verdict

The Amarok 6 LH BKNT Flame Burst offers a substantial specification for its listed price, especially if the full-length neck, stainless steel frets, ebony fingerboard, and high-output EMG pickups match your needs. Owner experiences point to comfortable playability, impressive tuning stability, and strong value, alongside occasional finish flaws, switch concerns, string-edge alignment complaints, and setup variation. For a left-handed buyer, a hands-on check is particularly useful: inspect the finish, test the selector and controls, and confirm that both outer strings sit securely on the fingerboard. With those checks, this Harley Benton makes a compelling option for players seeking a hardtail guitar geared toward heavier tones.