Now this one really surprised me.
According to this guy and the audience, it seems that HB has come a long way quality wise.
An HB Les Paul clone, seems to be on par with a real Gibson. (blind tests).
And for a lot less money too.
Food for thought?
I watch a fair number of his videos. Heās reviewed a number of HBs and the quality has been variable, ranging from excellent to dire. My takeaway is that HB still have work to do on their quality control but if you get a good one it will be an absolute steal.
As for Gibson, their QC needs work tooā¦ look out for his video on the Dave Mustaine V that he mentions a lot. I have no problem with Gibson charging premium prices for handmade guitars but they need to be immaculate for the money. We all know you can get an awesome guitar for a lot less
This was the first video i saw of this guy and instantly i thought: āWow!. Can that be true?ā
I donāt own any gibson stuff (way to expensive for me), so i donāt know personally about gibsonās quality of guitars.
Iām going to have a look at the video you suggest.
Itās always a bit difficult to know which YouTube channels are trustworthy but I think I trust Glenn more than most - he praises the good stuff and slams the bad stuff. In terms of HB stuff, he loved that LP copy, thereās an SG that he also rates highly but there was an Xplorer that had awful electrical issues and was basically unplayable
I 've tried LTD EC-1000, many Fender (Telecasters, Stratocasters), Epiphone, PRS, Ibanez (Prestige), Gibson. And my conclusion is that the best guitar that i ve owned is a Gibson Les Paul 59ās Tribute Goldtop 
When I played with this guitar i couldnāt believe how great it was. Now I am selling all my guitars to change them to Gibsonās. For my taste, the pioneers are the best! 
(and i havenāt play the standards! Thatās unbelievable) Maybe I will keep only one Fender only for the single coils parallax. But the quality isnāt the same.
Good luck with this strategy - putting all your faith in one brand seems a questionable thing to do
Itās been true for a little while that budget brands are catching up to, if not surpassing, some of the legacy ādesirableā ones. Squires and Epiphones being very nearly as good as Fenders and Gibsons. Other brands, too. Not to mention that a lot of pros will grab a dirt cheap instrument for a recording because they like its particular sound better than other expensive options.
I spent less than this (about $450 used) on my Epiphone Les Paul Modern and Iām perfectly happy with the way it sounds.
If Iām going to make a big spend on an electric guitar, Iām going to be spending big for craftsmanship and artistry. And thereās really no solid evidence that you get both of those things buying anything from a factory - no matter what country that factory is based in.
I donāt own any HBs or Gibsonās, however, from what Iāve learnt about electric guitars, I think thereās a sweet spot for new guitars between Ā£500-700 (e.g. Fender Player series, Sire L7, etc). There seem to be several people on YouTube who hold this view (including the very knowledgeable ones from Andertons). I am personally against spending more than Ā£700 on a guitar. Ultimately the price is determined by the manufacturing cost, and that depends largely on where the guitar is produced. This is completely unrelated to the quality of the guitar.
Whatever guitar you get, itās always worth paying for a professional set up. Any cheap or mid range guitar with a proper set up will play better than a premium guitar straight out of the factory.
This view is based on the principle that I donāt care about whatās written on the headstock or where the guitar comes from. Whatās important is how it plays and feels, and how much it inspires me to pick it up.
Having said that, weāre all different, and we tend to find different things appealing.
Noā¦ itās worth spending the money on some basic tools and learning to do it yourself. Unless the fret work is horrible (so maybe you should return it), you can do it yourself with not much more than a screwdriver and some Allen wrenches. Every time the humidity changes and your guitar neck changes do you hand over more money to a tech to do a minor tweak to the truss rod?
Hi Matt.
I should have added, I advise a professional setup after buying a new guitar as a one-off expense. Ongoing maintenance should be done by the guitarist and itās definitely worth investing in basic tools and gaining some general guitar maintenance skills.
I havenāt come across a new guitar which had perfect fret work as it came out of the factory. From all the videos Iāve watched, thatās a normal thing and itās not a reason to send the guitar back.
I personally donāt feel confident filing and crowning frets, and even if I was, I couldnāt do it as well as a professional would.
For that reason I prefer to take the guitar to a professional I trust for a full initial service.
Ongoing maintenance which I do myself involves polishing the frets, adjusting the truss rod, intonation, etc, which donāt require particularly specialist skills. This is a lot easier to do if the guitar was properly set up at the start though.
As mentioned, quality control is the name of the game when youāre buying a Harley Benton. Thery can be very hit and miss and any price point.
I agree with lots of the comments here. I think that @erionstrings is right about the optimal price point and itās probably because at that price you will likely get a good quality, made in the far east, guitar with good quality parts and a lot more than basic QC.
Itās clear that you can get a great buy with a really cheap one (HB, Squier, Jet) but itās just a higher probability that there will be some QC issues.
Iāve been blown away by the quality of 2 guitars I own. A Squier Affinity tele. I canāt believe the quality of that guitar for the small price I paid and the neck is way better than 2 considerably more expensive Squier classic vibes I have owned. I got lucky.
The other is a Yamaha Pacifica Standard Plus which is slightly above Erionās optimal price range but the quality is absolutely exceptional in finish, feel playability, outstanding tonal quality of the pickups, fretwork. Itās a dream
to play and was worth every cent. I cannot imagine you would get something much better if you paid more, except the looks and the name on the headstock.
I tried a Yamaha Revstar standard as well. Same amazing quality and finish. Sent it back as it just wasnāt for me but the quality was top notch.
I think itās all down to probability as QC goes up with the price you pay (up to a certain point). I think I got really lucky with the Squier, but I imagine that 99% of Pacifica Standard Plus are of the same quality as mine because of their QC.
It also makes sense waiting for discounts to buy new guitars. Ā£800-900 guitars are usually reduced by 30%, and that makes them fit in the āmagic bracketā 
Some time ago, i had a financial windfall (small one) and i got a fender strat that was sold for more than 700ā¬
I had it set up by a luthier (i do that standard, i donāt look at the setup it comes with) and i must say, it doesnāt feel all that much different than my other guitars, which are all in the 500-1000ā¬ price range.
For instance when it comes to the āfeelā of playing, and this probably will be me and my lack of knowledge i presume, i donāt feel all that much difference between my Hohner strat and the Fender strat. (ok, the hohner has a laquered maple fretboard, and the strat has a mahogany fretboard)
And that Hohner is some 25y old and came in around 100ā¬.
So for me, this all again proves to me that there is little difference between ācheaperā and more expensive guitars.
It all comes down to the people building the instrument and the name, i guessā¦
Thatās true. When I was looking at my Pacifica, I was deliberating about it for weeks and then it suddenly went down by ā¬100 overnight and then back up again a week later. So I got it then. Itās sometimes worth watching and waiting.
I have read through this thread with some interest, and based on my personal experience I decided to do a bit of research, and I would like to highlight some things that would be best to consider, IMHO, when thinking about what guitar to purchase and why.
Firstly the cost of a modern day guitar. Letās take a Gibson and Rickenbacker, both of which could be considered the great grandfathers of modern guitars. Fender came along somewhat later in the 1950s, but I obviously would not exclude them in having a major impact on the industry and music generally, and they at the forefront of modern mass production with the release of the Fender Broadcast in 1950, which became the Telecaster.
I actually purchased a new Gibson SG Standard for Ā£395 in spring of 1979, and a lovely guitar it was. Taking Ā£395 and adding UK Consumer Price index for inflation up to today
1979 ā Ā£395 Ć 6.5674 ā Ā£2,595 in 2026 money. The cost of a new Gibson SG Standard today Ā£1,699 (Gibson UK) price, so in relative terms it is cheaper to buy than 40 years ago.
A Rickenbacker 330 - US$450 ā $700 (new retail price in 1980), taking $700 and converting to using the exchange rate then it was around Ā£300. Ā£300 in 1980 is equivalent to about Ā£1,650 ā Ā£1,700 in todayās money. Approximately Ā£350 ā Ā£450 GBP (new retail price in the UK, 1980 estimate) , taking Ā£400, a similar price to the SG. The cost of new 330 one today is around Ā£2400 also a little bit cheaper relatively.
Fenderās original instrument was around $229 in the US in 1950 (ā Ā£80). UK prices have increased by roughly 32ā35Ć from 1950 to the mid-2020s using CPI/RPI. Ā£80 Ć ~33 ā Ā£2,640. Current day cost of an American produced Tele is around Ā£1700 to compare a similar build quality, although there are Mexican manufactured models for just over half the price.
So the reality is that whilst current day Gibsonās, Rickenbackerās and even Fenderās may seem to be expensive, in relative terms they are not.
In the 1930-1940ās Kay(Kay Musical Instrument Company), Chicago based with heritage going back to the 1890ās, became one of the largest guitar manufacturers in the world. One of the first companies to mass-produce electric guitars. Brand-new Kay electric guitar in the 1940s likely sold for about: ā $75 ā $125 (US dollars), so a budget guitar of the day. A realistic UK shop price then could easily have been closer to Ā£25āĀ£40. But today that would be Ā£25 (1948ā49) ā ā Ā£1,000āĀ£1,125 today, Ā£40 (1948ā49) ā ā Ā£1,600āĀ£1,800 today.
What does that tell us, well guitars ranging from Ā£350 to Ā£1000 today are actually very cheap. How is that possible, the simple answer is MASS production on a big scale using cheaper components and as cheap as possible labour to keep build costs down. Tstrong texthis can raise quality control issues and long term reliability of components, and is often discussed in guitar press and media.
In summary of the above the perceived high prices of a premium guitars from Gibson, Fender of Rickenbacker and a few others is actually false, it reflects how they are produced and materials used.
If you look at manufacturers this is how it cuts in terms of biggest:-
Biggest overall: Yamaha
Biggest guitar-only brand: Fender
Biggest behind-the-scenes builder: Cort
Brands Cort has built guitars for (varies by era and model line)
Fender ā selected Squiers and entry/mid-range electrics
Ibanez ā large numbers of RG, SR basses, and other models
PRS ā especially PRS SE models
G&L ā Tribute series
Schecter ā many Korean & Indonesian models
ESP ā LTD series
Squier ā historically important OEM partner
Music Man ā Sterling by Music Man
Yamaha ā selected electric & bass models
Where Cort makes guitars:-
South Korea
Cortās original base
Higher-end production historically (1990sā2000s)
Fewer guitars made here today, but still important for design and oversight
Indonesia (Cortās biggest hub today)
Main factories: Surabaya
Produces huge volumes across many brands
Known for very consistent quality in mid-range instruments
China
Entry-level and beginner models
High automation, lower labor costs
Why you donāt always see Cortās name
OEM contracts often forbid branding or publicity
Brands want their guitars perceived as āin-houseā
Cort focuses on manufacturing scale and efficiency, not marketing hype
Ironically, Cort-branded guitars often use the same factories, tooling, and workers as guitars costing much more with famous logos on the headstock.
Here are some things to consider:
1. Build Quality
Cort-built
Very consistent, especially in midrange manufacturing (Korea/Indonesia/China)
Good quality control at scale
Materials range from basic to very solid depending on spec
More assembly-line precision than artisanal finishing
In-house Fender/Gibson
Often more refined detailing
Smoother fretwork
More hand-setup attention
Higher-grade woods on many models
Typically stricter quality control at boutique levels (especially Gibson USA, Fender Custom Shop)
Bottom line:
Cort can match many in-house standards at similar price points, but premium Fender/Gibson usually edges ahead in finish and feel.
2. Materials & Components
Cort
Uses decent woods and hardware appropriate for target price
Electronics (pickups/pots) are often generic or house-brand
Can vary greatly depending on contract/brand spec
Fender / Gibson (In-House)
Often use higher-grade tonewoods
Proprietary pickups (e.g., Fender alnico single coils, Gibson humbuckers)
Brand-specific bridges, nuts, tuners tailored to feel and tone
Bottom line:
Higher-end Fender and Gibson guitars typically have richer woods and better pickups; Cort models are good, but usually non-signature hardware.
3. Craftsmanship & Setup
Cort
Factory setups are usually adequate for price
Many players choose to upgrade or adjust the action for personal feel
More uniform, less bespoke
In-house Fender/Gibson
Better out-of-box setups on many models
Small adjustments often already dialed in
Custom Shop guitars often get individual hand setup
Bottom line:
Premium Fender/Gibson frequently feel better out of the box; Cort may need some setup work.
4. Tone & Playability
Cort
Neutral tone profile; depends heavily on pickups/electronics
Great playability in many midrange models
Solid for practice, gigging, and entryāpro levels
Fender / Gibson
Distinctive tonal signatures:
Fender: bright, open, dynamic
Gibson: warm, thick, sustain-rich
Often more expressive and musically nuanced
Bottom line:
Fender/Gibson can offer more distinctive voice, though Cort is versatile and well-balanced.
5. Price & Value
Cort
Excellent value ā often undercuts similar spec guitars from big brands
Allows players to get good specs at lower prices
Fender / Gibson
Often premium pricing justified by brand heritage, materials, and labor
Higher resale value
Bottom line:
Best value per Ā£: Cort
Best long-term prestige and resale: Fender/Gibson
Why would someone choose to purchase a higher end premium priced guitar, whether a Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacker or possibly hand built boutique?
Likelihood of a better made guitar, better materials, electronics and hardware.
A better long term resale value.
A more distinct voicing, although some Cort produced ones can get close.
Likelihood of out of the box set up being very good, with only minimal changes needed such as string height for personal preference.
Buying into a Guitar brand and its history, and association with famous musicians.
Overall itās up to the individual to decide what fits best for them and along with the above obviously personal budget at the time of purchase will be a key driver.
A brief History of the greats:
Gibson begins with Orville Gibson, a Michigan instrument maker who believed guitars should be built more like violinsācarved tops and backs instead of flat boards.
1894: Orville starts building mandolins and guitars by hand.
1902: The company is officially incorporated in Kalamazoo, Michigan as the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co.
Early Gibson instruments quickly gain a reputation for volume, sustain, and craftsmanship.
Fender was founded by Leo Fender, who famously didnāt play guitar. He was a radio repairman in Southern California obsessed with electronics and practicality.
1938: Leo opens Fender Radio Service in Fullerton, California.
Builds PA systems and amps for local bands.
Starts experimenting with electric lap steels and amplifiers.
This non-musician perspective is keyāLeo designs instruments like machines, not heirlooms.
The solid-body breakthrough (1950ā1954)
Fender solves problems other guitars couldnāt.
1950: The Broadcaster (soon renamed Telecaster) becomes the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar.
Bolt-on neck, flat body, simple electronics.
Cheap to build, easy to repair, brutally effective.
Rickenbackerās roots go back further than almost any electric brand.
Founded in 1931 in Los Angeles as the Electro String Instrument Corporation.
Co-founded by Adolph Rickenbacker and George Beauchamp.
Their first hit: the āFrying Panā lap steelāthe first commercially successful electric guitar.
This predates Fender and Gibson electrics by over a decade.
Early pickup innovation (1930sā1940s)
Rickenbacker were hardcore tech pioneers.
Developed early horseshoe magnet pickups.
Instruments were loud, clear, and futuristic for the time.
Mostly focused on lap steels and Hawaiian-style guitars, which were wildly popular then.
Glenn is a great guy.
You have to appreciate his style but he is always on the lookout for affordable gear and debunking of snob theories.
He will show you that pickups matter less than you think and speakers a lot more.
I noticed that too, playing around with different guitars and different characters of cab IRās. 
It makes clickable videoās to make bold statements and slam the big brands but there usually is a good story behind it. Also he totally affirmed my fun in āblendingā tones to create your own tones by showing how to create your own ādokkenā sound by blending a distorting tape recording in your tone
I have a Harley Benton bass and I currently rehearse with a Harley Benton EX84.
Itās my first āactive pickupā guitar, build quality is awesome, very stable tuning, smooth fretwork and fun playability.
Harley Benton has been around a long time as Thomanns own house brand and a couple of years ago they started to do leaps forward in quality. I absolutely recommend them, especially if you like to try and own multiple instruments.
and the longest comment in any thread ever, goes toā¦ Adrian! 
No, seriously, Dude, well done.
This will be mulled over by many forumites, when they contemplate their next ābest valueā purchases.
I knew nothing of Cort guitars before I read it 
Hey Brian,
Check out this recent video tour of the Cort Factory in Indonesia. And its not just guitars. Quite fascinating, particularly the different ālevelsā of production in specific buildings.
Cheers, Shane