Harley Benton SC-Custom III Ocean Flame

Harley Benton SC-Custom III Ocean Flame: A specification-based review

The Harley Benton SC-Custom III Ocean Flame is a solid-body electric guitar listed at 279. Its specification sheet describes a meranti body with an AAAA flamed maple veneer top, a set-in meranti neck, and two Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 humbuckers. The listed controls add a push-pull coil-split function, while the bridge is a WSC Tune-O-Matic design. Those details provide a clear basis for assessing the guitar's layout and construction, but there are no customer reviews available, so playing feel, sound quality, and long-term reliability cannot be confirmed here.

One listing detail needs checking before purchase. The general color field says Lemon Flame, while the product name and finish description say Ocean Flame, high-gloss. The specifications do not explain whether these refer to different finishes or reflect a catalog error. Buyers should confirm the exact finish with the seller rather than assuming the name and color field match.

Body, top, and neck construction

The body is made from meranti, with a flamed maple veneer top. The more specific description calls the veneer AAAA grade, a designation that describes the listed appearance classification rather than providing a measured performance claim. The guitar has a set-in meranti neck, cream binding, and white pearloid crown-shaped fingerboard inlays. Chrome hardware completes the stated visual specification.

The neck uses a Modern C profile. Its listed thickness is 20 mm at the first fret and 22 mm at the 12th fret, giving buyers concrete dimensions to compare with instruments they already know. The fingerboard radius is 350 mm, and the nut is graphite with a width of 42 mm. These figures describe the geometry, but they cannot establish whether the neck will feel comfortable to a particular player. Hand size, playing posture, and personal preference all affect that judgment.

The sheet names the fingerboard as roasted jatoba in the detailed specification, while the short specification list calls it rosewood. That is a second inconsistency worth resolving with the retailer. Since the two descriptions identify different woods, the material should not be treated as confirmed without clarification.

Frets, scale, and hardware

The guitar has 22 medium-jumbo Blacksmith stainless steel frets and a 628 mm scale length. Stainless steel is the stated fret material, and the medium-jumbo size is useful information for players comparing fret dimensions. The sheet does not provide fret measurements, setup details, or information about the factory string gauge, so it cannot establish how the instrument arrives adjusted.

A WSC Tune-O-Matic bridge is listed, with no tremolo system. The Grover machine heads and chrome hardware are specified by name and finish. Together, these details give a clear picture of the tuning and bridge hardware, but specifications alone do not verify tuning stability, intonation accuracy, or component durability in use. There is no case or gig bag included, so buyers should account for separate protection if they need to transport or store the guitar safely.

Pickups and controls

Both pickups are Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 humbuckers, one at the bridge and one at the neck. The controls comprise two volume knobs, one tone knob with a push-pull coil-split function, and a three-way pickup selector. The split function offers a way to switch the humbuckers into a coil-split configuration, but the listing does not state the exact wiring behavior, output levels, or tonal results. No sound claims can be made without listening tests.

The separate volume controls allow the two pickups to be adjusted individually, while the three-way switch selects between the bridge pickup, neck pickup, or a combination. This is a familiar control arrangement and gives the player direct access to both pickup positions. Whether the Tesla pickups suit a particular style or amplifier depends on how they perform in practice, and the supplied data does not answer that question.

What the specifications establish

At 279, the SC-Custom III Ocean Flame presents a detailed feature set on paper: a set-in meranti neck, a veneered flamed maple top, stainless steel frets, named Grover tuners, and a push-pull coil-split control. Its documented dimensions and hardware make it possible to compare the instrument against other guitars before trying it. The available-since date is July 2024, and the item number is 570223.

The main cautions are the conflicting color and fingerboard descriptions, plus the absence of customer reviews. The specifications support a factual account of the build and electronics, not conclusions about sound, comfort, finish quality, or value in actual use. Confirm the finish and fingerboard material with the seller, then try the guitar if possible. That is the most reliable way to judge whether its neck shape, pickup response, and overall setup suit your needs.