Harley Benton SC-550LH II PAF

Harley Benton SC-550LH II PAF review

The Harley Benton SC-550LH II PAF is a left-handed, single-cut electric guitar in the brand's Deluxe Series. At a listed price of $299, it offers a flamed maple top, a glued-in meranti neck, stainless steel frets, and two Tesla Opus-1 AlNiCo-5 humbuckers. Owner feedback points to an appealing combination of appearance and sound, though reports on setup and finish quality vary considerably.

Its chambered meranti body has an arched AAA flamed maple top finished in glossy Paradise Amber Flame. The neck is also meranti, with a Pau Ferro fingerboard, pearloid trapezoid inlays, 22 frets, and a 628 mm scale length. The neck profile follows a 1960s style, measuring 20 mm thick at the first fret and 22 mm at the twelfth. Fingerboard radius is 305 mm, and the nut is 42 mm wide.

Sound and controls

The two humbuckers are a consistent highlight in owner comments. Several players describe the guitar as lively and satisfying, with one reporting that the pickups sounded good enough to keep without modification. Other owners praise the instrument's sound both clean and with distortion. One player characterizes the pickups as somewhat dark, so their tonal balance may not suit every preference, but the general response to the stock set is positive.

Controls consist of two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a three-way pickup selector. The control layout is familiar, but the tone circuit drew specific criticism from left-handed owners. One report says the logarithmic tone potentiometers were wired for left-handed use in a way that made their response behave like an on-off switch near the low end. Another owner also described the tone control as jumping abruptly. These reports do not establish that every guitar has the same issue, but buyers should check the controls across their full range on arrival.

Build, setup, and playability

Appearance is one of the guitar's strongest selling points. Owners repeatedly praise the amber flame finish, and several describe their instruments as arriving clean and visually striking. Some report excellent out-of-box setup and easy playability. Others encountered fret buzz or frets rough enough to make string bends uncomfortable. One player polished the frets and treated the dry-feeling fingerboard, reporting a noticeable improvement after that work.

There are also reports of uneven details around the hardware and body contours. One owner noted that the bridge pickup ring did not follow the arched top closely, leaving a visible gap. Another described mismatched contours between the pickup rings. A separate report found the bridge radius did not match the fingerboard well, leaving the D and A strings too low relative to the others. That guitar also had a stripped low E saddle screw, preventing adjustment. These are individual reports, but they point to areas worth inspecting rather than assuming every example will need the same corrections.

The bridge is a Tune-O-Matic design, paired with Kluson-style tuning machines and chrome hardware. Feedback on tuning stability is mixed. Some players say the tuners hold well, while others plan to replace them or find tuning performance merely adequate. There is no tremolo system, and neither a case nor a gig bag is included. The factory string set is listed as.010 to.046.

What owners should consider

Reports range from guitars described as flawless and ready to play to examples needing fret polishing, setup work, or attention to the electronics. Shipping condition has also varied: some instruments arrived well protected, while one owner reported a damaged box and cracks in the neck. These differences make a prompt inspection after delivery sensible. Check the neck, frets, pickup rings, bridge adjustment screws, and selector and tone controls before settling into regular use.

Weight reports are inconsistent. One owner measured 3.8 kg and considered that light for this style of guitar. Another found the instrument too heavy for a young player to practice standing for long. The body is chambered, but the available reports do not provide a dependable weight expectation for every unit. Players sensitive to weight should confirm the specification for the particular instrument where possible.

Verdict

The SC-550LH II PAF makes a persuasive case on appearance and pickup sound for a left-handed player looking for a single-cut guitar at a modest price. Its maple top, stainless steel frets, and Tesla humbuckers are appealing features, and many owners report being very pleased with the feel and tone. Quality control is less predictable: fret condition, setup, control response, and small fit details may need attention. At $299, it can be strong value if the individual guitar arrives in good condition or the buyer is comfortable making adjustments. Those expecting uniformly polished setup work should inspect it carefully and be ready to address any issues.