Harley Benton ST-80FR HH ASB

Harley Benton ST-80FR HH ASB review

The Harley Benton ST-80FR HH ASB is an affordable, high-output guitar built around familiar superstrat features: a locking Floyd Rose tremolo, two humbuckers, a fast-playing compound-radius fingerboard, and a striking Amethyst Sparkle Burst finish. Listed at 333, it offers a substantial set of specifications for the price. Owner reports, however, describe some variation in setup and fretboard alignment, making a careful inspection worthwhile.

The body is American basswood, paired with a bolt-on roasted Canadian flamed maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. The high-gloss finish and gold hardware give the guitar a bold look. The neck's roasted, figured maple is visually prominent, though one owner noted that the figuring appeared artificial. There is no included bag or case, so transport protection adds to the overall cost.

Neck, frets, and playing feel

The 648 mm (25.5-inch) scale is standard for this style of guitar. The asymmetric C neck measures 20.5 mm thick at the first fret and 23.5 mm at the 22nd. That is not an especially thin profile, and one buyer found it somewhat thick while still preferring the feel. The compound fingerboard radius moves from 305 mm to 406 mm (12 to 16 inches), a design intended to suit both chord work and lower action for bends.

There are 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, each 2.9 mm wide, with rounded ends. Owners praised the fret leveling and polish, and one reported no sharp fret ends. Another found the fret height less substantial than desired. Rounded fret ends may feel smooth under the hand, but a buyer reported that the low E string could slip off the edge during an upward bend. That complaint is particularly relevant because the same owner found the neck off-center, leaving the sixth string close to the fingerboard edge.

The guitar also has dot inlays, glow-in-the-dark side markers, and a dual-action truss rod with a wheel adjustment. These details make routine neck adjustments more convenient, though they do not replace a proper setup. One buyer reported that a fret near the upper register sat slightly high on one of two purchased instruments. If you are not comfortable adjusting a neck or addressing fret issues, have a qualified guitar technician inspect the instrument before making changes.

Pickups and controls

The pickup set comprises a Tesla Plasma-X1b Alnico V humbucker at the bridge and a Tesla Plasma-X1n Alnico V humbucker at the neck. Controls are straightforward: one volume knob, one tone knob, and a three-way pickup selector. Owners described the pickups as surprisingly capable for the price. One found the bridge pickup aggressive and articulate, with a growling high-gain sound that kept individual strings clear. The neck pickup was described as somewhat muddy, although reducing the volume helped bring back clarity.

Those impressions come from individual reports, not a controlled comparison. They suggest that the pickups can deliver usable high-gain tones without an immediate replacement, while the simple control layout keeps adjustments quick. Players who rely on extensive onboard tone shaping may find the single tone control limiting.

Floyd Rose performance and setup

The Floyd Rose 1000 is a major part of the ST-80FR HH ASB's appeal. It comes with Jinho J-02 tuners, a 15:1 gear ratio, and.010 to.046 Elixir coated strings. One owner reported a bridge that sat parallel to the body when tuned, accurate intonation between the open strings and 12th fret, and stable tuning after aggressive tremolo use. That same buyer reported no skipping or unusual noise at the knife edges.

Another buyer's experience was less consistent across two instruments. Both had the low E string positioned close to the fingerboard edge, and one had a lighter, dry-feeling fingerboard and a slightly raised fret. The first owner also noted play in the tremolo arm even when tightened. These accounts do not establish a widespread defect, but they do show why individual inspection matters. Correcting string alignment or fret height can require experience, particularly on a floating tremolo guitar.

Verdict

At 333, the Harley Benton ST-80FR HH ASB offers a compelling specification sheet: a Floyd Rose 1000, stainless steel frets, roasted flamed maple, a compound-radius rosewood fingerboard, and dual Alnico V humbuckers. Reports of clean finishes, good fretwork, strong pickup performance, and reliable tremolo return make the value case persuasive. The caution is unit-to-unit setup variation, especially around the low E string's position and fret condition.

It suits players who want a Floyd Rose-equipped guitar and are prepared to check the setup on arrival. Beginners may want a technician to assess string alignment, neck centering, and fretwork before attempting adjustments themselves. With a good individual example, the ST-80FR HH ASB appears to offer a lot of performance for its asking price. Without that inspection, its attractive specification list cannot guarantee an equally trouble-free playing experience.