Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus MN HSS LH PUBL

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus MN HSS LH PUBL review

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus MN HSS LH PUBL makes a strong first impression on paper. This left-handed, ST-style guitar combines an HSS pickup layout, a roasted Canadian maple neck, stainless steel frets, and a Babicz two-point tremolo. At a listed price of 377, it offers a substantial set of features for players looking for a versatile electric guitar without moving into a higher price bracket.

Owner feedback is notably positive about the finish, neck feel, and overall value. Several players describe a guitar that arrived well protected and needed little or no setup before playing. However, reports on fretwork, switching, and tuning machines vary. The experience may depend on the individual instrument, so buyers should be prepared to inspect their guitar and arrange a setup if needed.

Construction and playability

The Purple Blast finish is described by one owner as mostly black, with purple accents that stand out without dominating the look. Another review calls the finish excellent. The supplied specifications list the body as alder in one place and American ash in another. That conflict cannot be resolved from the available product information, so confirm the body wood with the retailer if it is a deciding factor.

The bolt-on neck is made from roasted Canadian maple, with a Canadian maple fingerboard. Its smooth D profile measures 20.5 mm at the first fret and 22.5 mm at the twelfth. One owner coming from a slimmer Ibanez Wizard II profile found it thicker, but still comfortable, and praised its satin feel. Glow-in-the-dark side markings are included alongside dot position markers.

The 305 to 406 mm compound-radius fingerboard, 42 mm nut, and 648 mm scale give the guitar familiar proportions. It has 22 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, rounded fingerboard edges, and a double-action truss rod adjusted by a wheel. One player especially liked the fret finish and smooth edges. Another reported that roughly 12 frets needed recrowning and polishing. That difference is worth keeping in mind: the frets may feel excellent straight away, but quality control is not guaranteed to be identical on every example.

Pickups, controls, and tremolo

The HSS layout uses a Tesla VR-Nitro Alnico 5 open humbucker at the bridge, with Tesla TV-S1 Alnico 5 single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. Controls include one volume knob, one tone knob with a push-pull coil-split function, and a five-way pickup selector. A player praised the bridge humbucker for rock and metal sounds, while another found the stock pickups clear and usable. One owner replaced them with other pickups, a personal choice rather than evidence that the stock set is inadequate.

The Babicz FCH 2-point Z-Series C full-contact tremolo earned positive feedback from a player who had not used this design before. They reported that it worked well, and another owner said the bridge generally stayed in tune. Those reports are encouraging, though they do not establish long-term performance for every playing style.

Hardware and ownership considerations

The guitar has staggered machine heads, black chrome-plated hardware, a three-ply black pickguard, and factory-fitted coated strings in.010 to.046 gauge. There is no case or gig bag included. The listed standard tuning is E, A, D, G, B, E.

Machine heads drew mixed comments. One owner described them as stiff and less refined than premium alternatives. A separate left-handed buyer reported that the tuner shafts and buttons on their guitar felt plastic, moved unevenly, and were difficult to turn, leading them to return it. That is a significant complaint, but it is a report about one instrument, not proof that every unit has the same problem. Check tuner operation and smoothness soon after delivery.

There is also a weight concern in one review. That buyer did not weigh the guitar but felt it was heavy compared with another model. Since no measured weight is provided, players sensitive to instrument weight should try it in person when possible.

Verdict

The ST-Modern Plus MN HSS LH PUBL has a compelling feature set for a left-handed player: a roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, a compound-radius fingerboard, flexible HSS electronics, and a well-regarded tremolo. Owners praise its appearance and comfortable feel, and several consider the value exceptional. The main caveat is unit-to-unit consistency, with reports of fretwork, selector, and tuner problems alongside accounts of excellent setup and finish. At the listed price of 377, it looks like a capable platform, provided buyers inspect their example and allow for possible setup work.