Harley Benton Fusion-IV HSH RW QBLB

Harley Benton Fusion-IV HSH RW QBLB review

The Harley Benton Fusion-IV HSH RW QBLB is a double-cutaway electric guitar built around an HSH pickup layout, a roasted maple neck, and a two-point Babicz tremolo. Its Blue Burst finish and figured maple veneer give it a distinctive look, while the hardware and switching offer a broad range of practical options. At a listed price of $469, it sits in a part of the market where setup, playability, and component choices matter as much as appearance.

A player who normally uses a Les Paul described buying the Fusion-IV as a way to add a more ST-style guitar to their collection. Their first impression was the finish, which looked especially appealing in person. The guitar arrived in tune and ready to play, according to that owner. Those are useful details from one individual example, though they should not be treated as a guarantee about every unit or shipment.

Construction and finish

The body is made from nyatoh, with a quilted maple veneer and natural wood binding around the body. The high-gloss Quilt Blue Burst finish highlights the top's pattern. Roasted Canadian flamed maple is used for the bolt-on neck, while the fingerboard is rosewood. Circular fingerboard inlays and fluorescent side markers provide the position references.

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 305 mm (12 inches) to 406 mm (16 inches), gradually flattening toward the higher frets. That layout is intended to combine a comfortable feel in lower positions with a flatter surface for bends and lead work. The owner's feedback describes the guitar as comfortable to play, including for someone used to a Les Paul, but that remains a personal assessment rather than a measured comparison.

The 648 mm (25.6-inch) scale is paired with a 42 mm (1.65-inch) nut width. There are 24 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, each 2.7 mm wide, and a Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut. A double-action truss rod is adjusted with a wheel. The supplied strings are Harley Benton HQS EL.010,.046 coated strings, with standard EADGBE tuning.

Pickups and controls

The HSH arrangement combines two humbuckers with a single-coil pickup in the middle position. At the bridge is a Tesla Opus-1B Alnico 5 humbucker with a chrome cover. The middle position uses a Tesla VR-1WH M Alnico 5 single-coil pickup, and the neck position has a Tesla Opus-1N Alnico 5 humbucker with a black open design.

Controls consist of one volume knob, one tone knob, a five-way switch, and a mini-switch for coil splitting. The owner particularly liked the range of sounds available from the HSH layout and the additional humbucker switching options. The specifications confirm the coil-split mini-switch, but do not describe every switching combination, so players should check the guitar's wiring details if a specific pickup arrangement is essential to their setup.

Tremolo and hardware

The tremolo is a Babicz FCH 2-Point Special Z Series C full-contact unit. It is paired with staggered Jinho JN-07 locking tuners bearing the Harley Benton logo, and the hardware has a chrome finish. Locking tuners can make string changes more straightforward, while the two-point tremolo provides a different feel from a fixed bridge. No case or gig bag is included, so buyers should account for protection and transport separately.

What the owner reports

The available hands-on feedback is strongly positive. The owner found the guitar visually striking, comfortable to play, and useful as a complement to their Les Paul. A friend who owns a Fusion-III also tried the Fusion-IV and felt it differed enough to make owning both models worthwhile. That comparison is encouraging, but it is one player's reaction, not a complete model-to-model evaluation.

The owner's experience supports the Fusion-IV's appeal as a versatile second guitar, especially for someone seeking a contrasting body style and pickup setup. The HSH configuration, coil-split control, and five-way selector provide the clearest reason to consider it for varied playing needs. The finish, roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, and Babicz tremolo round out a specification list that is substantial for the stated $469 price.

Verdict

The Harley Benton Fusion-IV HSH RW QBLB combines a striking Blue Burst finish with a detailed neck specification and a flexible pickup layout. Reported playability and its ready-to-play delivery add to the case, though those observations come from a single owner. It does not include a bag or case, and players should confirm the switching details that matter to them. For someone adding an ST-style guitar alongside a Les Paul, the Fusion-IV offers a well-equipped option with a clear emphasis on tonal range and visual character.