So… I pulled the trigger.

[Grizzlyman]

So, I’m kinda happysad about this.
I’ve been saving for a few months for a deposit for my custom Jaydee SG Junior, I’d got my quote and registered for the Jan 2022 slot, so it was all looking great. Got a black Schaller 456 bridge to go on there, and was also gonna get a Bareknuckle Pig 90 to go on it.
Sadly, expected work raises haven’t happened, some issues with my car HAVE happened, and it turns out it’s just too tight financially to get it, so I had to cancel my pre-order.

BUT

instead I decided to pull the trigger on the new Harley Benton DC 60 Junior. I can fit my Schaller bridge to it, and gonna install the Bareknuckle Pig 90 along with an upgraded 50s wiring harness from James’ Home of Tone (check them out, they’re awesome!).
Basically gonna pimp the fudge out of the Harley Benton, and then do a shootout between that and my Gibson SG Junior 60s which has identical mods apart from the wiring harness.

Will do a stock review when the guitar arrives from Thomann (hopefully next week).

What do you guys think? Have I made a massive mistake?

pics of the Benton for illustrative purposes!

cheers,
Grizz

 

[donepearce]

Nope, no mistake there. That is a nice guitar. I like the idea of the bridge and pickup, but seriously, save your cash and forget the harness. The only part of that which can make a difference is the caps. And if they are actually the same value, they won't make a difference either. Buy a decent strap, a straplock and a bunch of spare strings instead - a far more productive way to spend your money.

 

[Grizzlyman]

Nope, no mistake there. That is a nice guitar. I like the idea of the bridge and pickup, but seriously, save your cash and forget the harness. The only part of that which can make a difference is the caps. And if they are actually the same value, they won't make a difference either. Buy a decent strap, a straplock and a bunch of spare strings instead - a far more productive way to spend your money.

Thanks for the input man, the only reason I was gonna get the harness is that apparently the tone pot in the Harley is a mini pot, and the taper on them is apparently kinda crap.
The harness I had in mind is only £44 and top quality pots and caps…
But I guess I could do everything else first, and if it sounds great, just leave out the harness upgrade!

 

[Grizzlyman]

This is the spec for the harness if interested…

 

[donepearce]

That settles it. The only difference you will hear is whatever wishful thinking can persuade you of. Don't buy it. If you want to buy an audio taper pot or two, just buy them separately.

 

[Grizzlyman]

That settles it. The only difference you will hear is whatever wishful thinking can persuade you of. Don't buy it. If you want to buy an audio taper pot or two, just buy them separately.

Haha, cool! I’ll steer clear of the snake oil in that case!

 

[Go Nigel Go]

Good advice above, I really can't think of a single thing to add. As Don said, if you are using the same values for the components, there is no point in changing anything in the harness except to repair something that doesn't work. Unless you just want to of course, but don't expect it to affect the "sound" one way or the other.

 

[Grizzlyman]

Good advice above, I really can't think of a single thing to add. As Don said, if you are using the same values for the components, there is no point in changing anything in the harness except to repair something that doesn't work. Unless you just want to of course, but don't expect it to affect the "sound" one way or the other.

Thanks man, I’m looking forward to this project! The price on those new HB SG Junior copies is just insane. The Cherry one is £152 delivered to my door, and they do a lovely looking Pelham blue for £170!

 

[MR D]

NO mistakes there Bro, you do what you must, and do the best you can.
The JayDee may be a minor heartbreak at the moment but you will carry on, surely. Maybe later....
The waiting time on a JayDee is what got me to go for a Flying 'V' recently. It was either The MONKEY SG or the '70's Tribute Flying 'V' after I heard the wait time for the JAYDEE 'The OLD BOY'.
I'm not familiar with the Harley Benton but I'm sure itssa BEAST !
YOU WILL ROCK THAT BAD-A$$ !

 

[DrBGood]

I never understood why people want to replace everything on a new guitar before they even put their hands on it. It is beyond me ...

 

[Grizzlyman]

I never understood why people want to replace everything on a new guitar before they even put their hands on it. It is beyond me ...

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll certainly play it for a fair while stock when I get it. But I’ve already had to replace a Gibson P90 that came stock in my SG Junior 60s as it was just not suitable for the sound I have. I’ve listened to a ton of demos and those Roswell pickups, although they sound fine on a video on YouTube through a kemper or whatever, I have a suspicion that they won’t cut it through my amp.
The bridge has been criticised as being a little sharp, nothing that a well place file couldn’t sort out, but I already have this Schaller 456 bridge that I’d bought for the Jaycee I was going to get made, and it should fit on this Harley Benton perfectly.
I got plenty of guitars that I’ve left stock, and plenty I’ve modded, I love both!

 

[Grizzlyman]

NO mistakes there Bro, you do what you must, and do the best you can.
The JayDee may be a minor heartbreak at the moment but you will carry on, surely. Maybe later....
The waiting time on a JayDee is what got me to go for a Flying 'V' recently. It was either The MONKEY SG or the '70's Tribute Flying 'V' after I heard the wait time for the JAYDEE 'The OLD BOY'.
I'm not familiar with the Harley Benton but I'm sure itssa BEAST !
YOU WILL ROCK THAT BAD-A$$ !

Cheers man, appreciate that! I might get back to my dream Jaycee order one day or maybe I’ll go for another Gibby SG Junior!

 

[papagayo]

Harley Benton guitars are nice and low price. I like this Telecaster-like Prince inspired,

https://www.thomann.de/fr/harley_be...iZnIiLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6MiwibGFuZ3VhZ2UiOiJmciJ9

 

[papagayo]

Pelham blue version: https://www.thomann.de/fr/harley_benton_dc_60_junior_pelham_blue.htm

 

[laza616]

For this price you did well. According to the specs it has graphite nut, Wilkinson tuners.
If this guitar will be set up properly by the luthier or if you can do it properly on your own , this is gonna be a score
If the shape was correct with the correct bewels , Gibson would probably sued them (or did? I never followed this brand), so its slightly offset but anyway, the Pelham Blue one looks very sweet
And its for only 199€ with free shipping, set in neck, no bolt on one.
You did good man!

 

[cerebral gasket]

P-90’s sound the best to my ears out of all the different type of pups that I have used in the past.

I find that swapping pickups of the same type is often a waste of time and money when most of the time all that is needed is a proper height adjustment and turning a few knobs on the amp.

 

[Grizzlyman]

For this price you did well. According to the specs it has graphite nut, Wilkinson tuners.
If this guitar will be set up properly by the luthier or if you can do it properly on your own , this is gonna be a score
If the shape was correct with the correct bewels , Gibson would probably sued them (or did? I never followed this brand), so its slightly offset but anyway, the Pelham Blue one looks very sweet
And its for only 199€ with free shipping, set in neck, no bolt on one.
You did good man!

Thanks man! Ah yeah the spec is all really good, I can do all the set up myself so no problem there!
Yeah I get you with the offset shape, reminds me of an ESP Viper, but as you say, any closer to the original and they would upset Gibson. Harley Benton is the house brand of Thomann, the huge German shop, and they stock a lot of Gibsons!
Mmmmmm, that blue one is tasty!

 

[Grizzlyman]

P-90’s sound the best to my ears out of all the different type of pups that I have used in the past.

I find that swapping pickups of the same type is often a waste of time and money when most of the time all that is needed is a proper height adjustment and turning a few knobs on the amp.

Totally agree with you on the sound of a P90, I’m a total convert!
My experience with pickups is however very different. IME if a pickup is bad, it’ll be bad whatever you do about the height. Honestly, in all my guitars the biggest difference you can make is changing the pickups. I don’t do it in ALL my guitars, my Epiphone Iommis have the original iommi pickups, my Gibson SG special has the original gibbo humbuckers, I have a charvel model 6 with original Jackson active pups…
I just couldn’t get on with the Gibson P90, would just scream with any serious gain on it.

 

[cerebral gasket]

Yes, if pup is defective or too weak, by all means replace it.

P-90 at the neck for cleans and Humbucker at the bridge for hi gain.

With guitar routed for P-90’s, Kinman Hx Nasty 90 Heavy installed at bridge and stock P-90 at neck is my favorite combo.

 

[Grizzlyman]

Soun

Yes, if pup is defective or too weak, by all means replace it.

P-90 at the neck for cleans and Humbucker at the bridge for hi gain.

With guitar routed for P-90’s, Kinman Hx Nasty 90 Heavy installed at bridge and stock P-90 at neck is my favorite combo.

Sounds like a great combination!
I Favour the Bare Knuckle Pig 90 in the bridge position, best bridge pickup sound I’ve ever heard!