Harley Benton ST-Modern MN HSS LH FBB

Harley Benton ST-Modern MN HSS LH FBB review

The Harley Benton ST-Modern MN HSS LH FBB is a left-handed, six-string electric guitar in the brand's Deluxe Series. Listed at 190, it pairs a high-gloss Flame Bengal Burst finish with an HSS pickup layout, a two-point tremolo system, and a roasted maple neck. It has been available since October 2024, with item number 573389.

Player feedback points to the finish as a major part of the appeal. Owners describe the burst as striking in person, though one says it looks slightly darker than the product photos. The combination of a figured maple top and zebra humbucker gives the guitar a more distinctive look than a basic ST-style instrument. Its three-ply pearloid pickguard and chrome hardware complete the presentation.

Neck and playing feel

The bolt-on neck is specified as roasted Canadian maple, with a Canadian maple fingerboard and a modern D profile. The listed thickness is 20.5 mm at the first fret and 22.5 mm at the twelfth. A compound fingerboard radius moves from 305 mm to 406 mm, or 12 to 16 inches, which is intended to feel rounder near the nut and flatter higher up the neck. The 648 mm scale is the familiar 25.5-inch length.

There are 22 medium-jumbo nickel-silver frets, dot inlays, rounded fingerboard edges, and a graphite nut. One owner reports clean fret ends and a comfortable neck, while another found the guitar close to properly set up on arrival and needed only minor adjustment. Those are useful signs, but individual setup and fret impressions can vary. The double-action truss rod adjusts through a wheel, an accessible arrangement for routine neck relief changes.

The supplied specifications contain an inconsistency about the body wood. One entry lists alder, while the detailed construction list says poplar. The top is described as figured maple veneer in one place and figured maple in another. Buyers who need to know the exact body or top construction should confirm it with the seller rather than rely on the conflicting descriptions.

HSS tones and controls

The pickup set combines a custom-wound Alnico 5 zebra humbucker at the bridge with Alnico 5 single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. A five-way switch selects the pickup combinations, while the single volume control and tone control keep the layout straightforward. The tone control has a push-pull function that splits the bridge humbucker.

That coil-split option is central to the guitar's versatility. One player who moved from a two-single-coil Tele-style guitar valued the broader range, especially the ability to split the humbucker. Another owner describes the split sound as close to a single coil. A split humbucker will not necessarily behave exactly like a dedicated single-coil pickup, but it can add a leaner, brighter option alongside the fuller bridge sound. The HSS layout therefore covers clean rhythm parts and stronger rock tones without requiring a second guitar for every change in style.

Tremolo and hardware

The synchronized Sung-Il BS-213 Deluxe tremolo is paired with Sung-Il ML-55 locking tuners. Multiple reports describe the guitar as staying in tune, including one owner who tested the tremolo with assertive use shortly after delivery. That is encouraging feedback, although string changes, setup, and playing technique all affect tuning stability. The guitar ships with D'Addario EXL-110 strings in.010 to.046 gauge and is specified for standard E tuning. A tremolo arm is included in the system, but neither a case nor a gig bag is supplied.

Verdict

At the listed price of 190, the ST-Modern MN HSS LH FBB offers left-handed players a feature-rich configuration: a compound-radius maple fingerboard, locking tuners, a push-pull coil split, and a figured burst finish. Buyer reports are especially positive about the neck feel, appearance, fretwork, and tuning stability. The main reservation is the conflicting body-wood information, so confirm that detail if it matters to your purchase. Otherwise, this is a compelling choice for players seeking a single guitar with both humbucker weight and more articulate single-coil-style options.