Harley Benton EX-84 Modern: Now with EMG pickups!

03 Jul 2020 by Jef |

4,3 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern · Source: Harley Benton

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Update: Since the EX-84 was launched back in March, Harley Benton has just added a new model to its line-up, with the same specifications as the EX-84 Modern with one crucial exception: the new version houses EMG pickups! Costs a couple pennies more, of course…

Harley Benton has announced a new modern offset guitar designed to help guitarists at the lower end of the price spectrum explore new territory: the EX-84 Modern. And despite the very modest price it has some well-specified hardware and comes in two classic colours, Black or White. The two white versions differ slightly in the finish: the EMG version has a Vintage White finish, while the version loaded with Roswell active PUs has a brighter, Gloss White finish.

Part of its Tribute Series, the new Harley Benton EX-84 Modern is evidently inspired by the Explorer shape. Think James Hetfield of Metallica. It’s certainly got the aesthetic DNA, with a hard-edged, stand-out offset design. This looks like the type of guitar that could easily double up as a weapon in the right hands.

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern

Let’s have a closer look at those specs. The EX-84 Modern has a mahogany body, with a matching set-in mahogany neck and a 24.72″ scale length. The neck has a modern slim taper carve and a C-profile, with 22 extra jumbo frets on an ebony fretboard. You also get a Graphtech Tusq XL nut and locking Grover tuners.

Tribute Series

EX-84 Modern EMG VW · Source: Harley Benton

Active Roswell Pickups

The EX-84 comes factory fitted with a set of active Roswell LZ51 active (bridge) – Roswell LZ56 active (neck) pickups. There’s also a model fitted with EMGs. These are controlled by a single master volume and master tone, plus a three-way switch. The rest of the hardware includes a WSC tune-o-matic bridge. There is also a neat easy access battery compartment on the rear for the active pickups.

All the hardware on these models in black and looks sweet against either the Black or White finish options.

Both guitars come fitted with a set of Daddario EXL110 .010 – .046 strings, but you may want to go heavier if you fancy drop-tuning these beasts. Overall, I honestly think these pack in a lot of bang for your buck and will no doubt be popular at under 300 Euros each.

RRP: