Harley Benton Hybrid Steel: An alternative to Fenders Acoustasonic?
Harley Benton have launched new acoustic models for all scenarios
4,6 / 5,0 | 
Harley Benton Hybrid Steel: An alternative to Fenders Acoustasonic? · Source: Harley Benton
The weekend is upon us and Harley Benton is launching with three new acoustic guitar ranges simultaneously. In addition to the more traditional Parlor and Grand Auditorium, there are now exciting new hybrid acoustic models with the Harley Benton Hybrid Steel and Hybrid Nylon.
Harley Benton CLP-12SM Solid Top Parlor
Let’s start with the Parlor guitar. Thanks to its compact form factor, the CLP-12SM is a great guitar for songwriting, practicing, jamming and even traveling. And thanks to the integrated piezo system with tuner, it is always ready for use! The CLP-12SM uses the proven traditional X-Bracing design with a solid Sitka spruce top and bottom and African mahogany sides.
Together with the African mahogany neck along with the fretboard and bridge made of Purpleheart, this ensures a uniform and balanced sound. A bone saddle and bridge ensure that the strings sound clear and clean. It is available in two colours, a dreamy Brown Burst and an elegant black.
Harley Benton CLP-12SM Solid Top Parlor · Source: Harley Benton
Harley Benton CLG-14SE
The CLG-14SE Solid Top offers the advantages of the large auditorium shape – a balanced sound and comfortable handling – and combines it with high-quality tone woods and electronics consisting of an integrated piezo system with 3-band EQ, along with a built-in tuner.
The guitars body consists of a solid sitka spruce top with traditional X-bracing and a laminated, striped ebony back and sides. The mahogany neck has a composite fingerboard with abalone dot inlays and a C profile for a smooth feel.
Harley Benton CLG-14SE and Harley Benton CLG-14SM · Source: Harley Benton
CLG-14SM Solid Top
This CLG-14SM Solid Top is also available as an orchestra version with a more traditional orange gloss finish and a black binding, which give this guitar a noble look. Instead of bone, as with the CLG-14SE above, this one uses modern high density PPS for the saddle and bridge. According to Harley Benton, this contributes to a nice clear tone.
Harley Benton Hybrid Steel and Hybrid Nylon
According to Harley Benton, these thinline instruments combine the best of the world of acoustic and electric guitars in a single, clean solution. For those of you who want a little something different. Traditional woods are paired with modern electronics and construction methods.
Both models have a hollow body construction and are made of traditional tone woods, which are intended to give warmth and character to their acoustic properties. The screwed mahogany neck ensures a snappy, electric response, while the C-profile offers the player modern playing characteristics. You will also get a rosewood fretboard with abalone dot inlays and a bone saddle and bridge.
Hybrid Steel in two colours and Hybrid Nylon · Source: Harley Benton
Differences
The difference between the two versions is the choice of strings, body woods and electronics: The Hybrid Steel uses steel strings and has top, back and sides made of solid African mahogany. The hybrid nylon offers a more classic sound, but with the modern feeling of an electric instrument. It has nylon strings and a solid spruce top, back and sides that emphasise it’s softer tones.
Hybrid steel
The Hybrid Steel has specially developed electronics that combine a piezo pickup with a magnetic pickup and a preamplifier system, making switching from subtle acoustic to wild electric sounds as easy as turning a controller. In addition, both can be mixed to achieve unique timbres that would not be possible with a conventional guitar.
Harley Benton Hybrid Steel · Source: Harley Benton
Hybrid nylon
At 52 mm, the nut of the hybrid nylon is wider than the 43 mm nut of the Hybrid Steel to enhance the authentic feeling of a classical guitar. Unlike a conventional classical guitar, the Hybrid Nylon can be amplified with its piezo pickup system and preamplifier without problems such as feedback, which are often found in traditional acoustic instruments.
Harley Benton Hybrid Nylon · Source: Harley Benton
More Harley Benton Information
This might also interest you
6 responses to “Harley Benton Hybrid Steel: An alternative to Fenders Acoustasonic?”
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Instagram. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from X. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information
Been waiting for someone to release a cheaper version of the Acoustasonics series. The Hybrid Steel looks great as well! I’m glad that they didn’t try to copy the Acoustasonic bodies outright.
They sure look a lot like those Taylor guitars from a decade or so ago.
Who on earth would want a pug-ugly acoustasonic when you could have one of these beauties?
Can’t wait to get my hands on the steel string and nylon string hybrids.
i bought the naturel steel hybrid , looks fantastic 🤣🤣🤣👌👌👌
Fantastic machine for the price. Sounds better than Fender Acoustasonic Player that I had. Stays in tune, easy to operate. Only drawback is flat type batteries under top rear screwed on cover.