Electric guitars

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG pairs a roasted maple neck and stainless steel frets with two capable humbuckers and a coil-split option. One owner reports excellent playability and strong pickup performance for the price.

★★★★★ 5/5 · 1 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG review

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG pairs a familiar ST-style outline with a hardtail bridge, two humbuckers, and a roasted Canadian flamed maple neck. Listed at 375, it has a practical feature set aimed at players who want a straightforward double-cut guitar with a stable bridge and a coil-split option. It became available in September 2026, and its item number is 613662.

The supplied player feedback comes from a guitarist who already owns and regularly plays two Harley Benton Fusion-T guitars. The ST-Modern Plus HH TG appealed because of its ST-style shape and hardtail HH configuration. Their initial verdict was strongly positive, particularly about the neck's feel and its flamed maple appearance. That experience is useful context, though it remains one player's account rather than a controlled comparison.

Neck, fingerboard, and playability

The bolt-on neck is roasted Canadian flamed maple, with a laurel stripe along the back. A double-action truss rod has an adjustment wheel. The maple fingerboard has rolled square edges, dot inlays, and fluorescent side dots. Harley Benton specifies a Modern C profile measuring 20.5 mm at the first fret and 22.5 mm at the twelfth. The compound radius runs from 305 to 406 mm, or 12 to 16 inches.

There are 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, each 2.9 mm wide, with rounded edges. The scale is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches, and the graphite nut measures 42 mm across. The reviewer singled out the neck as especially comfortable to play and praised the look of the flamed maple. Those details make the neck the clearest highlight in the available hands-on report, although the feedback does not describe setup measurements or compare fretwork with other guitars.

Pickups and controls

The two Tesla CROW85b Gold humbuckers are controlled by one volume knob, one tone knob with a push-pull coil split, and a three-way pickup selector. The reviewer compared them favorably for the price, while noting that they did not match the DiMarzio pickups in their other guitars. In their assessment, the bridge pickup had plenty of bite, and the neck pickup stayed clear and usable with substantial gain instead of turning muddy.

The coil split adds a way to change the pickup response without installing additional switches. The reviewer prefers not to operate a push-pull control during live performances and plans to replace it with a five-way super switch. They made clear that this is a personal preference, not a complaint about the supplied electronics. The available information does not specify the exact coil-split wiring or provide measured output levels.

Hardtail bridge and hardware

A Babicz FCH Z hardtail bridge anchors the strings through the body. The player found its saddles noticeably high, but also rounded and comfortable. They did not claim that the bridge improves tone over other hardtail designs, though it made a substantial impression in terms of construction. Staggered machine heads and black hardware complete the setup. There is no tremolo system.

The guitar has a poplar body in Tangerine, with no separate top. A single-ply black pickguard provides contrast against the finish. It ships with Elixir coated strings in.010,.046 gauge. Neither a gig bag nor a hard case is included, so buyers should account for separate protection if they need it for transport or storage.

Verdict

The ST-Modern Plus HH TG makes its case with a roasted flamed maple neck, stainless steel frets, a through-body hardtail bridge, and a flexible humbucker layout. The player report supports the neck's comfort and appearance, and describes both pickups as capable, especially the clear neck pickup under gain. The reviewer also regarded the bridge and electronics as well made, while pointing out preferences about saddle height and push-pull operation.

At a listed price of 375, this Harley Benton is worth considering for players looking for an ST-style hardtail with two humbuckers and a coil-split control. The provided feedback is enthusiastic, but it does not establish how the guitar compares across multiple units or how it performs over long-term use. Buyers should also note the Tangerine finish is the specified color, and a case or bag is not part of the package.

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG, front view
8.5/ 10 overall score
$375current price at the retailer
Check today's price price and delivery time at the retailer

Shipping and duties

The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.

Scores by area

Where it shines, where it stumbles

What convinced me

  • Roasted maple neck has a comfortable Modern C profile and a compound radius.
  • Stainless steel frets, rounded fret edges, and fluorescent side dots support comfortable playability.
  • Tesla CROW85b Gold humbuckers offer a push-pull coil split for added tonal options.

What bugged me

  • The push-pull coil-split control may feel fiddly during live performance.
  • The Babicz bridge saddles sit relatively high, which may not suit every player.

Is it the right one for you?

Good pick if

Ideal for players seeking a modern hardtail with dual humbuckers, a coil-split option, and a comfortable roasted maple neck. A strong fit for buyers who value stainless steel frets and a feature-rich setup at this price.

Look elsewhere if

Not ideal for players who require a tremolo or expect a case or bag to be included. Players who frequently switch pickup modes live may find the push-pull control inconvenient.
RockMetalAlternative

Suggested level: Intermediate

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG, $375Check today's price →

Specifications

Color
Tangerine
Body
Poplar
Top
None
Neck
Caramelised Canadian Maple
Fretboard
Caramelized Canadian Maple
Frets
22
Scale
648 mm
Pickups
HH, HH
Tremolo
None
Incl. bag
No
Including case
No

What other players say

The owner is highly pleased with the guitar, particularly its comfortable, attractive roasted maple neck and clear, usable pickups, including at high gain. They consider the Tesla pickups strong for the price and describe the bridge and electronics as well made. Their reservations are that the bridge saddles sit high and the push-pull control feels inconvenient for live switching.

5 ★
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Positive 90% Neutral 10% Negative 0%
The neck is simply fantastic to play and looks impressive, too.
For this price range, they are still very good.
The neck pickup remains usable even with a lot of gain, stays clear, and does not get muddy.

Up close

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG, detail 2Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG, detail 3Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG, detail 4Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG, detail 5

Watch and listen

Watch the video demo on YouTube →

Before you decide

Questions players ask

Does this guitar have a tremolo?

No. It has a Babicz FCH Z hardtail bridge with strings routed through the body.

Can the humbuckers be split?

Yes. The tone control has a push-pull function that splits the coils.

What kind of neck and frets does it have?

It has a roasted Canadian maple neck with a Modern C profile and 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets.

Is a case or bag included?

No. The listed specifications state that neither a bag nor a case is included.

Is it suitable for live playing?

Its hardtail bridge and versatile pickup setup suit live use. One owner found the push-pull control fiddly onstage, so players who switch coil modes often may prefer a different switching arrangement.

The last word from the bench

This is a well-equipped hardtail electric guitar with a roasted maple neck, compound-radius fingerboard, and stainless steel frets. Its two humbuckers provide clear, usable tones, while the push-pull coil split adds flexibility. The single owner review is strongly positive, though the bridge saddle height and live-use practicality of the push-pull control may be matters of personal preference. At the listed price of 375, it offers an appealing feature set for players seeking a modern HH guitar.

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG, $375Check today's price →

Hanging next to it

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HH TG

Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer.

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