Harley Benton ST-80FR MN HH PSB

Harley Benton ST-80FR MN HH PSB review

The ST-80FR MN HH PSB is a distinctly '80s-style electric guitar with a high-gloss Pink Sparkle Burst finish, a locking-style tremolo, and a pair of passive humbuckers. At a listed price of 311, it offers a feature set that looks ambitious for the money. One player's account also praises the finish and fretwork, while pointing out a potential issue with the tremolo arm on their individual guitar.

The product has been available since March 2026. Its body is listed as linden, also identified in the detailed specifications as American basswood, with no separate top. The contoured body is designed for an ergonomic fit, and black nickel-plated hardware contrasts with the bright finish. The color is a matter of taste, but the reviewer found that the metallic pink makes a strong impression.

Neck and fretwork

The bolt-on neck is made from roasted, flamed Canadian maple, with a roasted Canadian maple fingerboard. The asymmetric C profile measures 20.5 mm thick at the first fret and 23.5 mm at the 22nd. Although the profile is described as somewhat substantial, the reviewer found the neck quicker to play than expected. Its compound radius transitions from 305 mm to 406 mm, a layout intended to feel more rounded near the nut and flatter higher up the neck.

The 648 mm scale is the familiar 25.5-inch length. The fingerboard has 22 medium-jumbo stainless-steel frets, rounded edges, dot inlays, and glow-in-the-dark side markers. The reviewer specifically praised the fret finishing, but noted that the frets do not extend all the way to the fingerboard edges. That distinction is worth checking in person if edge coverage is important to you. The luminous side markers are a useful extra on a guitar at this price.

A double-action truss rod has an adjustment wheel, and the nut is 43 mm wide. These details make routine neck adjustment more accessible, though the source review does not report a full setup assessment or measurements of the guitar's action. No gig bag or case is included.

Pickups and controls

Harley Benton specifies Tesla Plasma-X1 humbuckers with Alnico V magnets: the X1b at the bridge and the X1n at the neck. Controls consist of one volume knob, one tone knob, and a three-way pickup switch. The reviewer considered the pickups, electronics, and tuning machines more than adequate. They described the pickups as passive, with a particularly assertive sound from the bridge position. There is no detailed description of clean tones, output levels, or noise performance, so players should audition the guitar to judge those qualities for themselves.

The Jinho J-02 tuners have a 15:1 ratio and a Harley Benton logo. The supplied strings are coated Elixir.010,.046. The reviewer changed to a lighter.009,.042 set, so their comments about the feel and tremolo response reflect that modification, not the factory string setup.

Floyd Rose tremolo and setup notes

The listed bridge is a Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo. The reviewer reported that the tremolo worked well on their instrument, but that its arm had some play. They associated this with Floyd Rose Special systems and suggested a push-in replacement arm as a fix. That reference does not match the 1000 model named in the product specifications. Treat the reported looseness as an observation about that particular guitar, not as a confirmed issue with every ST-80FR or with the specified bridge model.

The reviewer also removed one tremolo spring and moved to lighter strings, saying the result felt smoother. Those changes alter the balance and response of a floating tremolo. They are personal setup choices, not a necessary correction, and changing springs or string gauge may require adjustment to the bridge and neck.

Verdict

The ST-80FR MN HH PSB makes a clear case for itself through its roasted maple neck, stainless-steel frets, compound-radius fingerboard, and Floyd Rose 1000 bridge. The player feedback backs up the finish quality and fretwork, and suggests that the bridge humbucker has enough output for a forceful sound. The main cautions are the distinctive finish, the reported tremolo-arm play on one unit, and the absence of a supplied case or bag.

For players drawn to the look and feel of an '80s-inspired guitar, this Harley Benton is a versatile-looking option at its listed price of 311. Check the tremolo arm fit and overall setup on the specific guitar you are buying, particularly because the review's bridge reference conflicts with the published specification. The reported impressions are encouraging, but they do not replace a hands-on check.