Harley Benton Fusion-IV HSH RW BM

Harley Benton Fusion-IV HSH RW BM review

The Harley Benton Fusion-IV HSH RW BM is a black, high-gloss electric guitar with a nyatoh body, a roasted Canadian flamed maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. Its HSH pickup layout combines a bridge humbucker with single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. The listed price is 475, and the model has been available since April 2026.

On paper, it is built for players who want a broad range of tones and a two-point tremolo. The real-world reports supplied for this review are sharply divided, especially on finish, fretwork, and the bridge's playing feel. That makes quality control and personal ergonomics important considerations alongside the specification sheet.

Neck, fingerboard, and fretwork

The bolt-on 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 to 16 inches, with 24 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, each 2.7 mm wide. The scale length is 25.5 inches, and the nut is 1.65 inches wide. A Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut, circular fingerboard inlays, fluorescent side markers, and a double-action adjustment wheel complete the neck details.

Those specifications describe a neck suited to players who want room for bends and upper-fret access. One owner described the neck as comfortable and reported that their guitar arrived tuned and playable after a small adjustment. Another reported unevenly installed, unpolished frets that needed leveling before the strings could be set low enough for comfortable playing. These accounts point to a meaningful difference between individual instruments, rather than a consistent setup experience.

That distinction matters. Stainless steel frets can be durable, but the material alone does not guarantee even fret height or a polished playing surface. Buyers who prefer low action should check the fretwork and setup promptly after delivery, and confirm the seller's return or service options before purchase.

HSH electronics and switching

The pickup set consists of a Tesla Opus-1B Alnico 5 humbucker at the bridge and Tesla VR-1BK M and VR-1BK N Alnico 5 single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. Controls include one volume knob, one tone knob, a five-way switch, and a mini-switch for coil splitting. One owner praised the range of available sounds and described the guitar as capable of warm, full tones. The HSH arrangement and coil-split control give players options for moving between humbucker and single-coil-style sounds, though the precise results will depend on the amp and settings.

The same owner mentioned that they missed a treble-bleed circuit. That is a personal preference, not a listed feature, and the supplied specifications do not identify one. They also noted a scratchy potentiometer as a reason for returning their guitar. A separate buyer said the pickup heights needed minor adjustment. Checking the controls and pickup balance during the return period is sensible, particularly if you rely on smooth volume changes or want closely matched output across switch positions.

Babicz tremolo and playing position

The bridge is a Babicz FCH two-point Special Z-Series C full-contact tremolo, paired with staggered Jinho JN-07 locking tuners. The guitar ships with coated Harley Benton HQS EL strings in.010,.046 gauge and has black hardware. One owner said the tremolo worked well and held tuning; another found that the bridge's shape made palm muting uncomfortable. In that player's experience, the strings sat below the bridge line, making it awkward to rest the picking hand and mute the strings.

This is an ergonomic concern rather than a universal fault. Palm-muting technique and hand position vary, so players who anchor their hand on the bridge should try this design before committing, if possible. The favorable report on tuning stability is useful, but it does not settle the question of comfort for every playing style.

Finish and buying considerations

The body has natural wood binding and no separate top. The finish is Black Metallic with a high-gloss surface. One buyer was impressed by the appearance and finish on arrival, while another said the guitar looked less convincing in person than it had at first glance. That player also disliked the visual contrast of a white single-coil pickup against the rest of the instrument. Appearance is subjective, but the comments suggest checking product images carefully and considering the actual pickup colors before ordering.

No gig bag or case is included. The listed item number is 618061, and the sales unit is one guitar. At 475, the Fusion-IV offers a detailed specification list, including stainless steel frets, locking tuners, a TUSQ XL nut, and a full-contact tremolo. The owner reports, however, range from a well-finished, stable instrument to one with fretwork and control issues.

Verdict

The Harley Benton Fusion-IV HSH RW BM has a versatile pickup layout and a neck specification that may appeal to players seeking a modern-feeling instrument. Its biggest uncertainty is execution: fret leveling, control behavior, and setup quality received inconsistent reports. The Babicz bridge also deserves a hands-on check if palm muting is central to your playing. Buy with a clear return window, inspect the frets and electronics on arrival, and judge the bridge from your own playing position.