Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH MN RM

Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH MN RM Review

At $429, the Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH MN RM puts a detailed feature set on the spec sheet: a nyatoh body, roasted flamed maple neck and fingerboard, two Tesla humbuckers, stainless steel frets, and a Babicz two-point tremolo. I evaluated it against owner feedback from a player who received a clean, well-packed example and reported no visible damage or setup problems. The impressions below reflect that guitar, not a claim that every unit will arrive identically adjusted.

Finish and construction

The reviewed guitar's Red Metallic high-gloss finish drew particular praise. The owner compared its appearance to Candy Apple Red, with the natural-colored wood providing contrast. The body is nyatoh, and the neck is bolt-on roasted Canadian flamed maple. The listing also describes a quilted maple veneer, although a separate top field says "None." That inconsistency is worth checking with the seller if the veneer matters to your buying decision.

Hardware is chrome, with staggered Jinho JN-07 locking tuners carrying the Harley Benton logo. A GraphTech TUSQ XL nut sits at the headstock. There is no gig bag or case included, so budget for one if you need protection for transport or storage.

Neck and setup

The 25.5-inch scale is a familiar choice for players moving from a standard long-scale electric guitar. The neck has a Modern C profile, measuring 21 mm thick at the first fret and 23 mm at the twelfth. Its compound fingerboard radius runs from 12 inches to 16 inches, and the 42 mm nut width leaves the string spacing within common electric-guitar territory. Circular inlays and fluorescent side markers provide position references.

The fingerboard carries 24 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, each 2.7 mm wide. On the owner's instrument, the neck relief was correct, there were no high frets, and notes rang clearly across the fingerboard. The player lowered the action to 1.2 mm on the high E string and 1.6 mm on the low E string, measured at the twelfth fret. That is a low setup, but the report gives no indication of choking or dead spots. The guitar arrived with.010 to.046 coated strings in standard tuning; the owner planned to try a lighter.009 set.

Pickups and switching

The pickup layout pairs a Tesla Opus-1B Alnico humbucker at the bridge with a Tesla Opus-1N Alnico 5 humbucker at the neck. Controls consist of one volume knob, one tone knob, a five-way switch, and a mini-switch for coil splitting. That combination provides more tonal choices than a basic two-humbucker arrangement. The owner liked the Tesla pickups and described the overall sounds as versatile, while judging them favorably without claiming they matched an Ibanez AZ.

The feedback also mentions a different test guitar that had incorrect wiring, causing some switch positions to behave improperly. Harley Benton reportedly corrected that instrument. The reviewed owner's Fusion-IV worked properly, so that isolated report should not be treated as a confirmed problem with the model. Still, test every switch position during setup or while the return window is open.

Babicz tremolo and playing feel

The Babicz FCH two-point Special Z Series C full-contact tremolo is a prominent part of the design. The owner found it stable through tremolo use and said the guitar stayed in tune. They also noted that the string exit position at the rear of the tremolo did not interfere with their palm muting. Hand position is personal, so players who rest their picking hand heavily on the bridge should try that area for themselves.

A double-action truss rod with a rear adjustment wheel rounds out the setup features. It gives access for neck relief adjustments without relying on a traditional adjustment point at the headstock.

Verdict

The Fusion-IV HH MN RM combines a striking red finish with a roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, locking tuners, coil splitting, and a full-contact tremolo at a listed price of $429. The owner's example arrived clean, played evenly across the neck, and held tuning during tremolo use. Its pickup switching and finish also earned positive comments. The main cautions are the conflicting top and veneer details in the specifications, the lack of an included case, and the need to verify the wiring and setup on the individual guitar. On the reported evidence, it is a compelling feature-heavy option for players seeking a versatile double-humbucker guitar at this price.