Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH RW PM

Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH RW PM: hands-on review

The Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH RW PM is a purple-finished electric guitar built around a nyatoh body, a roasted Canadian flamed maple bolt-on neck, and two gold-covered Tesla humbuckers. Its specification points toward a versatile modern instrument, with a compound-radius rosewood fingerboard, a coil-split switch, and a full-contact Babicz tremolo. At a listed price of $475, the feature set is ambitious. Owner feedback adds a useful check on the details that specifications alone cannot show.

Finish, construction, and setup

The glossy Purple Metallic finish drew especially strong praise from the owner whose comments inform this review. They reported an even, blemish-free paint job and described the color as striking. The body has natural wood binding, while the neck's roasted flamed maple gives the guitar a distinctive look. One caveat: the flame figure on that example was less pronounced than in product photos. The amount of visible figuring can vary, so buyers should not assume every neck will match the most dramatic images.

The guitar has a 648 mm (25.5-inch) scale, a 42 mm nut, and 24 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets. Its Modern C neck measures 21 mm at the first fret and 23 mm at the 12th. The fingerboard radius compounds from 305 mm to 406 mm, equivalent to 12 to 16 inches. That flatter profile toward the upper frets suits bends and lower action, while the 24-fret layout extends the instrument's range. Circular fingerboard inlays and fluorescent side markers help with position visibility.

The owner found the factory setup playable straight out of the box, and reported no obvious muddy character from the pickups through their amplifier. That is encouraging, though one owner's experience cannot establish that every guitar will arrive with the same setup or sound. They did note that the fingerboard felt dry and needed a little oil. The fret tops also felt less smooth than desired, with some friction noticeable under the higher strings. A fret polish was planned. These are manageable setup tasks, but worth factoring in if you expect a completely finished feel on day one.

Pickups and controls

The bridge position uses a Tesla Opus-1B Alnico 5 humbucker, while the neck position has a Tesla Opus-1N Alnico 5 humbucker. Both pickups have gold covers, matching the gold-colored hardware. Controls comprise one volume knob, one tone knob, a five-way switch, and a mini-switch for coil splitting. This gives the player access to more than a single fixed humbucker sound, although the supplied information does not specify the exact pickup combinations available in each switch position.

In the reported playing experience, the owner was satisfied with the Tesla pickups and did not hear the dull or muddy response another player had criticized. That difference is a reminder that amplifier settings, playing style, and individual taste all shape pickup impressions. The available feedback supports a positive first impression, not a guarantee of a particular tone across every rig.

Tremolo and tuning hardware

The Babicz FCH 2-Point Special Z Series C is a full-contact, two-point tremolo. It is a non-locking setup, a detail that appealed to one buyer who already owned a Fusion III HH FR and wanted a version without a locking nut. Staggered Jinho JN-07 locking tuners carry the Harley Benton logo. The owner questioned why two string retainers were included alongside staggered tuners, but found them unobtrusive. The nut is GraphTech TUSQ XL.

Harley Benton HQS EL coated strings are fitted in.010 to.046 gauges and are supplied in standard E tuning. The product does not include a bag or case, so budget for separate protection if you need to transport or store it safely.

Verdict

At $475, the Fusion-IV HH RW PM combines a vivid finish and detailed hardware specification with practical playability features. Its strongest reported points are the clean paintwork, playable factory setup, and satisfying pickup sound. The dry fingerboard, slightly rough fret feel, and modest flame on one neck are small but relevant quality-control observations. Buyers should also remember that the included package has no case or bag. Overall, the owner feedback is strongly positive, with a few straightforward refinements separating this guitar from a fully dialed-in instrument.