Harley Benton HB-35Plus Metallic Plum w/Bag

Harley Benton HB-35Plus Metallic Plum w/Bag review

The Harley Benton HB-35Plus is a semi-hollow electric guitar with an arched maple body, F-shaped sound holes, and a mahogany sustain block. Its listed price is 256. The specifications describe a set-in Canadian maple neck, laurel fingerboard, two Roswell LAF Alnico 5 humbuckers, and individual push-pull coil-splitting controls on both volume knobs. A padded bag is included; a hard case is not.

There are no customer reviews available for this model, so this assessment is based only on the supplied specifications. Those details establish the instrument's construction and control layout, but do not verify its weight, setup, acoustic volume, amplified tone, or consistency from one unit to another.

Semi-hollow construction and materials

The HB-35Plus is identified as semi-hollow, rather than fully hollow. Its maple body has an arched top, while a mahogany sustain block runs through the body. The F-shaped sound holes are a visible feature of the design, and the central block is a structural part of its construction. The listing does not state the body's depth, its weight, or how much of the body is hollow, so those details should not be inferred.

The neck is set into the body and made from Canadian maple. That joint differs from a bolt-on design, but the available information does not support claims about a particular sustain, feel, or tonal result. The laurel fingerboard has block inlays, 22 frets, and a stated radius of 305 mm. Its scale length is 628 mm, with a nut width of 42 mm. These measurements provide a useful reference when comparing the guitar with other instruments, though personal comfort depends on hand size, setup, and playing preference.

A double-action truss rod is specified. This type allows neck adjustment in both directions, but no details are given about factory setup or adjustment access. Buyers should treat the listed measurements as specifications, not as a guarantee that every instrument will arrive with identical action or neck relief.

Pickups and controls

Two Roswell LAF Alnico 5 humbuckers with covers provide the pickup arrangement. Each of the two volume controls has a push-pull function for coil splitting. In practical terms, this gives the player the option to split each humbucker's coils through its volume control, alongside the fuller humbucker configuration. The specifications do not explain whether the two splits operate independently in every pickup-selector position, so that behavior should be checked on the actual guitar.

Two tone controls and a three-way pickup selector complete the stated control set. Together, they offer separate volume and tone adjustment for the pickups, with selector positions for choosing between them. The listing does not provide wiring diagrams or specify the exact coil combinations available. It would therefore be premature to promise particular single-coil sounds or switching options beyond the stated coil-split function.

Bridge, hardware, and finish

The guitar has a Tune-O-Matic bridge and sealed die-cast tuning machines. The hardware is gold-plated, set against a Metallic Plum finish. No information is provided about bridge materials, saddle design, tuning-machine ratios, or finish durability. The guitar has no tremolo system, which makes the listed bridge configuration a fixed one rather than a vibrato setup.

The supplied strings are listed as.010 to.046 gauge. That gives a starting point for players comparing string tension or planning a replacement set, but the specifications do not identify the factory tuning or confirm whether the instrument has been set up for those strings. The scale, string gauge, and setup work together, so changing string gauges may call for a fresh setup.

Included bag and buying considerations

The package includes a bag, not a case. The bag is described as having 20 mm foam padding, backpack straps, and two exterior pockets. Its internal dimensions are 113 x 45 x 7.5 cm. Those measurements are useful when checking compatibility and storage needs, but they do not establish how protective the bag is against impacts or weather. Anyone who needs hard-shell protection should budget for a separate case.

The product has been available since April 2022 and is listed under item number 541995. It is sold as one piece. Taken together, the published details describe a semi-hollow guitar with a set-in maple neck, dual coil-splitting humbuckers, a fixed bridge, and an included padded carrying bag. There is no customer feedback in the supplied information to support claims about playability, reliability, or sound quality. The strongest basis for judging this model is therefore its stated construction, controls, dimensions, and included accessories, followed by an in-person check of the specific guitar's setup and condition.