Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH RW FBB

Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH RW FBB review

The Fusion-IV HH RW FBB brings together a flame-patterned maple top, gold-finished hardware, two humbuckers, and a two-point tremolo. Its specifications suggest a guitar aimed at players who want flexible electric-guitar tones and a modern playing feel. Owner reports add useful context: several describe excellent finishing and tuning stability, while also noting that a careful initial setup may be worthwhile.

The body is made from nyatoh, with a laminated flamed maple top and a high-gloss Flame Bengal Burst finish. A natural wood binding outlines the body. The neck is roasted flamed maple, bolted to the body, and fitted with a rosewood fingerboard. The finish and gold hardware give the instrument a distinctive look, though appearance is subjective. One owner felt that photographs did not capture how striking the guitar looks in person.

Neck, frets, and setup

The neck has a Modern C profile, measuring 21 mm thick at the first fret and 23 mm at the twelfth. Its 648 mm scale length is the familiar 25.5-inch format, with a 42 mm nut width. The compound fingerboard radius runs from 305 mm to 406 mm, or 12 to 16 inches. That gradual change provides a rounder feel near the nut and a flatter surface higher up the neck.

There are 24 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, each 2.7 mm wide, along with circular fingerboard inlays and fluorescent side markers. The nut is a Graph Tech TUSQ XL model. A double-action truss rod is adjusted with a wheel, which can make access more convenient than a traditional adjustment at the headstock.

Owner feedback on fretwork is notably positive, although experiences are not identical. One buyer reported polished frets with no high or poorly seated frets, and described a clean setup with action at 1 mm on the first string at the twelfth fret. Another noticed a slightly scratchy feel at first, which smoothed out after about half an hour of playing. A separate owner said a full setup, including a truss-rod adjustment and action changes, made the guitar feel right. These reports point to good potential out of the box, but they do not guarantee that every example will arrive adjusted to an individual player's preference.

Pickups and controls

The guitar has a Tesla Opus-1B Alnico 5 humbucker at the bridge and a Tesla Opus-1N Alnico 5 humbucker at the neck. Both pickups have gold covers. The listed controls are one volume knob, one tone knob, a five-way switch, and a mini-switch for coil splitting. This arrangement gives the player access to humbucker sounds and split-coil options without adding a bank of extra knobs.

One owner found the switching combinations difficult to remember and less practical during live playing, and considered replacing the controls with a simpler arrangement. That account refers to ten positions, which does not match the supplied specification of a five-way switch and a coil-split mini-switch. Treat that particular criticism as an individual impression rather than a confirmed description of the guitar's control layout. Buyers who prefer straightforward switching should still spend time learning the available combinations before a performance.

Tremolo and tuning stability

The Babicz FCH 2-Point Special Z Series C full-contact tremolo is a prominent part of the specification. It is paired with staggered Jinho JN-07 locking tuners. One owner praised the bridge and reported strong tuning stability, even when comparing the guitar with much more expensive instruments. That is encouraging feedback, though tuning results also depend on setup, string installation, and playing style.

The guitar ships with coated Harley Benton HQS EL strings in.010 to.046 gauge, tuned to standard E, A, D, G, B, E. One report raised a practical concern about access to the Allen-screw holes for adjusting the saddles, saying the supplied hex key did not fit those openings. This is worth checking during setup, particularly if you intend to adjust the bridge yourself.

Verdict

The Fusion-IV HH RW FBB offers a substantial specification for its category: stainless steel frets, a roasted maple neck, a compound-radius fingerboard, locking tuners, and a Babicz full-contact tremolo. Available since April 2026, it is listed under item number 618119. A gig bag and case are not included, so factor in separate protection for transport.

Based on the supplied owner reports, build quality and fret finishing are strong points, while an initial adjustment may be needed and the switching layout may take time to learn. The reported issues are specific rather than conclusive, and they do not establish a consistent problem across all examples. Players who value the listed hardware and are comfortable checking a guitar's setup should find the Fusion-IV HH RW FBB worth a close look. Those who want a case included or prefer very simple controls should account for those trade-offs before buying.