Harley Benton ST-80FR MN HH SSB

Harley Benton ST-80FR MN HH SSB review

The ST-80FR MN HH SSB is a right-handed electric guitar with a Silver Sparkle Burst finish, two humbucking pickups, and a Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo. Its combination of an ergonomic basswood body, roasted flamed maple neck and fingerboard, and stainless-steel frets gives it a feature set aimed at players who want a stable tremolo-equipped instrument without an elaborate setup process. It has been available since March 2026, with a listed price of 311.

One owner's experience is useful context for expectations. After receiving the guitar, they made a small neck-position adjustment because the low E string sat too close to the edge of the fingerboard. They also lowered and set up the bridge. With those changes, they report string action between 1.5 and 1.75 mm. They did not need to alter the neck relief, intonation, frets, or nut to reach that action. This is one player's account, rather than a guarantee that every example will arrive with the same setup.

Neck and fretwork

The neck is bolt-on roasted Canadian flamed maple, with a roasted maple fingerboard and rounded fingerboard edges. Its asymmetric C profile measures 20.5 mm thick at the first fret and 23.5 mm at the 22nd. The compound fingerboard radius moves from 12 inches to 16 inches, and the 648 mm scale is the familiar 25.5-inch length. Twenty-two medium-jumbo stainless-steel frets have rounded edges. Dot inlays mark the fingerboard, while the side markers glow in the dark.

The owner specifically praised the neck and fret finish, describing the workmanship as impressive. They did note that the outer strings sit close to the fret edges, so players may need to adapt their fretting hand. The initial low E string alignment also required a minor correction by loosening the neck screws and repositioning the neck. These observations point to a potential setup detail worth checking on arrival, rather than a reported need for extensive fretwork. The guitar's double-action truss rod has an adjustment wheel.

Pickups and controls

Harley Benton equips the guitar with 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. The owner found the pickups stronger and better suited to heavy metal than the Ibanez Quantum pickups in a guitar they had previously owned. That comparison reflects their playing and taste, not a measured output test.

The owner also mentioned that raising the pickups may require adding foam beneath them. Anyone planning to adjust pickup height should check the available adjustment range before assuming the factory padding will accommodate a higher position. The supplied strings are Elixir coated.010 to.046, which the owner found slightly firm for a set of tens, while also commenting positively on their ring and sustain.

Floyd Rose 1000 and hardware

The Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo is a central part of this model's appeal. After lowering and setting up the bridge, the owner reported that it worked properly and the guitar stayed in tune. They were also pleasantly surprised by the sustain, which they felt compared favorably with a fixed-bridge guitar they own. The tremolo arm has some play in its mounting, a concern the owner associates with the Floyd Rose 1000 design. The rear spring-cover plate is screwed to the body and sits slightly proud, though it did not bother them in use.

Other hardware includes Jinho J-02 tuning machines with a 15:1 ratio and black nickel plating. The supplied specifications list no included bag or case, so buyers should plan separately if they need a carrying solution.

Verdict

The ST-80FR MN HH SSB makes a strong case for players seeking a metal-ready guitar with a double-locking tremolo and a detailed roasted maple neck. In this owner's experience, its finish quality, fretwork, sustain, and tuning stability stood out, and the setup needed was limited to neck alignment and bridge adjustment. The close string-to-edge spacing and loose-feeling tremolo arm are practical caveats to inspect, alongside the pickup height and rear cover fit.

The comparison with a more expensive Ibanez is based on one player's ownership experience, and the reviewer describes themselves as an amateur home player. Even with that limitation, their report gives a clear picture of what to check and what they liked after three weeks of playing. The guitar is supplied without a case or bag, and the listed specifications identify its body as basswood, with no separate top. For a player comfortable with a basic setup check, it appears to offer a well-finished, high-output platform with a functional Floyd Rose system.