Harley Benton ST-20 BK Standard Series

Harley Benton ST-20 BK Standard Series review

The Harley Benton ST-20 BK Standard Series is a black electric guitar with a poplar body, maple neck, laurel fingerboard, and three ST-style single-coil pickups. Its listed price is 85. The available specifications describe a straightforward solid-body setup, with a familiar three-pickup layout, five-way selector, and synchronized tremolo. They establish what the guitar is equipped with, but do not provide evidence about its sound, setup quality, durability, or playing feel.

The model has been available since November 1999. That date is product availability information, not evidence that every detail has remained unchanged over time. The listed item number is 135305. No customer reviews are available, so this assessment is based solely on the supplied specifications.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is made from poplar and has no separate top listed. Its high-gloss black finish gives the instrument a conventional, understated appearance according to the color and finish specification. The data does not identify the finish material or describe the body's weight, contouring, or construction beyond the wood type.

The maple neck has a modern C profile and a double-action truss rod. The profile label gives a broad description of the neck shape, but there are no measurements for neck thickness or shoulder shape. The double-action rod is specified as an adjustment feature; the supplied information does not explain its adjustment range or include setup instructions.

A laurel fingerboard carries dot inlays and has a stated radius of 305 mm. There are 22 frets. The scale length is 648 mm, and the nut width is 42 mm. These measurements are useful reference points when comparing the guitar with other instruments, but they do not establish fret finishing, intonation accuracy, or the condition of a particular unit.

Pickups and controls

The ST-20 BK uses three ST-style single-coil pickups, arranged in an SSS configuration. A five-way pickup switch selects among the available pickup positions. The control set consists of one volume knob and two tone knobs. This gives the instrument several pickup-selection options and separate tone controls, though the specifications do not state the exact switching combinations, pot values, or pickup output.

Single-coil construction identifies the pickup type, not a guaranteed tone. No frequency response, magnet type, wiring diagram, or output measurement is provided. As a result, it would be speculative to describe the guitar as bright, powerful, quiet, or suited to a particular genre based only on this listing.

Tremolo and hardware

The guitar has a synchronized tremolo and chrome-plated hardware. The tremolo is identified by type, but the available details do not specify its bridge materials, adjustment range, or setup. Players considering frequent pitch changes should treat those omissions as a reason to inspect the instrument or request further technical details, rather than assume a particular level of tuning stability.

Enclosed tuning machines are listed, along with factory strings in gauges.009 through.042. The string gauges provide a useful starting reference for replacement sets. The specifications do not name the string brand, describe the tuning machines' gear ratio, or report how well the strings hold tuning.

What the specifications do and do not establish

• Documented: poplar body, maple neck, laurel fingerboard, 22 frets, 648 mm scale, 42 mm nut, SSS pickup layout, five-way switch, synchronized tremolo, and enclosed tuning machines.
• Not documented: instrument weight, pickup output, fretwork quality, factory setup, tuning stability, included accessories, or customer experience.
• Included items: no bag or case is included. The listing names compatible cases as item numbers 122213 and 136377, both sold separately.

At a listed price of 85, the ST-20 BK presents a defined set of standard guitar features on paper. Its specifications may help shoppers compare its materials, dimensions, and electronics with other instruments in the same general category. They cannot confirm how an individual guitar feels or performs, and no customer feedback is available here to fill that gap. Buyers should verify the current price, inspect the setup, and confirm any case requirements before purchasing.