Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS SBBL

Overview: Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS SBBL

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS SBBL stands out in the sub-$400 electric guitar market, bringing together modern features and a classic configuration. Sporting an American ash body in a translucent SunBlast finish, its aesthetic draws attention right away. The combination of a roasted Canadian flamed maple neck and rosewood fingerboard offers both visual flair and practical benefits related to durability, stability, and feel.

Build and Hardware

This model uses a bolt-on neck, delivering the familiar snap and resonance associated with this construction. The neck profile is a smooth, contemporary "D" shape, measuring 20.5 mm at the first fret and 22.5 mm at the twelfth. This thickness, along with right-angled rounded fingerboard edges, delivers a comfortable, slightly chunky modern feel, excellent for both chord work and faster playing.

The fingerboard sports 22 medium jumbo, 2.7 mm wide stainless steel frets, which are finely dressed and almost perfectly polished. Glow-in-the-dark side markers are a premium touch, making navigation easy in low light. The compound fingerboard radius (305 mm to 406 mm, or 12" to 16") supports both rhythm comfort at the nut and easier string bending higher up the neck. The 25.5-inch scale (648 mm), 42 mm graphite nut, and double-action truss rod with a convenient adjustment wheel all reflect up-to-date design choices aimed at stability and versatility.

Hardware is finished in black chrome, lending a modern edge to the appearance. The tremolo is a Babicz full contact design with a two-point mounting system. Staggered machine heads improve tuning stability and break angle over the graphite nut. The instrument comes strung with Elixir coated.010,.046, set up for standard E tuning.

Electronics and Controls

The pickup layout follows a versatile HSS format, with a Tesla VR-Nitro Alnico 5 open humbucker at the bridge and two Tesla TV-S1 Alnico 5 single coils at the neck and middle. The setup is managed by a five-way selector, single volume knob, and a tone knob with push/pull for coil split, offering access to both humbucker and traditional single-coil sounds. The output is clear and the sonic palette is notably broad, covering sparkling cleans as well as heavier overdriven tones. However, real-world feedback suggests the electronics may suffer from unwanted hum and noise in some positions, which may disappoint those expecting completely silent switching. In terms of tactile feel, the pot knobs are serviceable but lack the refinement seen elsewhere on the guitar. Fortunately, these are easily replaced if they seem subpar to the user.

Aesthetics and Ergonomics

The SunBlast open-grain finish, paired with visible wood grain, lends the guitar a boutique vibe. That said, several users noted that the grain can be noticeably less dramatic than Johnson's renders or catalog images may suggest. The body weight comes in on the heavier side for a double-cut, reportedly around 4.3 kg (9.5 lbs). This heft brings some Les Paul-like solidity and sustain but may be fatiguing for smaller players or long sets. If lightweight swamp ash had been chosen instead, the mass would drop at the expense of cost and possibly sustain. The stainless steel frets, roasted flamed maple neck, and overall hardware choices feel far more premium than guitars typically found at this price point.

Playability and Setup

The playability is widely praised. A satin neck finish gives a smooth, low-friction surface for the fretting hand. Most units come with excellent fretwork for a guitar at this price, requiring little to no adjustment out of the box. The compound radius truly helps with string bending and shredding on the upper register, and the graphite nut offers tuning stability even in heavy use. Glow-in-the-dark side markers are extremely useful in stage situations, a thoughtful inclusion.

The only substantial ergonomic criticism concerns the tremolo bridge. Multiple reports highlight that the Babicz unit tends to break the high E string when bending up on the upper frets, with possible sharp edges in the string-through holes. Additionally, the screw-in tremolo arm can have undesirable play, or else become overly stiff if over-tightened. These mechanical faults affect reliability, especially for players who use the tremolo extensively or rely on heavy string bends above the 20th fret. For occasional vibrato or subtle use, the bridge delivers excellent transfer of string vibration and stable tuning, but serious whammy users should consider a hardware upgrade or modification.

Tonal Performance

The basic character is clear and dynamic, befitting Alnico 5 magnets throughout. The humbucker offers thick, modern rhythm and lead sounds, while the single coils handle crisp cleans and edge-of-breakup tones with ease. Coil splitting works as expected, though some users suggest the pickups may not rival boutique sets for detail or transparency; an upgrade may be warranted for more demanding players, but the stock set is more than competent for home recording, rehearsal, and moderate gigging use.

Conclusion

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS SBBL represents a remarkable value in the current solid-body market. Its combination of professional-level fretwork, stable roasted maple neck, modern hardware, and versatile HSS electronic array leaves little to desire for the price. The heavier body might be divisive, and the tremolo bridge's E-string issue is a tangible flaw for aggressive lead players. Still, in the $400 segment, few other models manage to combine this level of build quality, features, and playability. With minor hardware tweaks, it can easily outperform guitars costing several times as much.

• Pros: Premium fretwork and neck, compound radius, versatile electronics, high build quality
• Cons: Heavy body, tremolo bridge E-string issue, basic control knobs