Harley Benton’s Fusion series continues to redefine expectations for guitars under 500€. With the Fusion-III, Harley Benton steps up the game by incorporating EMG pickups and replacing the tremolo with a fixed bridge. But is it good?
Disclaimer: Harley Benton sent me this guitar, and I get to keep it as compensation for my work. However, Harley Benton has no say in the content of the video or this post.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Body: Nyatoh
- Bolt-on neck: roasted Canadian maple
- Fingerboard: roasted jatoba
- Fingerboard inlays: Black Dot
- Neck profile: Modern C
- Fretboard radius: 305 mm
- 24 Jumbo Blacksmith stainless steel frets
- Graph Tech TUSQ nut
- Nut width: 42 mm
- Scale: 648 mm
- Pickups: 2 EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Humbuckers
- 1 x Master volume and 1 x master tone control
- 3-way switch
- WSC Hipshot-Style hardtail bridge
- Staggered WSC locking die-cast machine heads
- Colour: Satin Black
What Is Harley Benton Fusion-III EMG HT Roasted SBK?
The Fusion-III offers a modern interpretation of the traditional ‘superstrat’ design, featuring two EMG Retro Active Hot 70 humbuckers. Other specs include a roasted maple neck and jatoba fretboard, stainless steel frets, locking staggered tuners, The guitar is finished in satin black finish.
First Impressions
Unboxing guitars is always fun, but with budget-friendly instruments, it can also be a bit nerve-wracking, as not every guitar is great right out of the box.
However, this time, I was pleasantly surprised: The guitar I received was not only decently set up but also lighter than the average Harley Benton I’ve tried. As I tuned the instrument, I immediately noticed that it would take me a few tune-ups to get used to the reverse headstock. The satin-finished neck and body felt great, and after a brief unplugged jam session, I hung the guitar on the wall to acclimate to the Finnish dry and cold air.
How Does The Harley Benton Fusion-III Sound?
While I’ve always found the Roswell pickups on Fusion series guitars to be decent, the EMG’s take the tones to the next level. They offer a more mid-focused and less shrill sound, which I enjoyed immensely. Using the Neural DSP Archetype: Rabea for all my guitar tones, I was able to create record-ready sounds in mere seconds.
The middle pickup position provides an excellent platform for clean tones, although a coil split option would enhance the guitar’s tonal versatility. This guitar is clearly designed for rock and metal, and it excels in that regard.
What I like And What Could Be Improved
Overall, I believe this is probably the best Harley Benton I’ve ever played. Although it’s one of the more expensive models, I feel the extra price is justified, as the EMG’s make a significant difference and address a common area for upgrade. I also appreciate the fixed bridge, as I’ve had mixed experiences with tremolos on Fusion series guitars in terms of tuning stability. It also feels more comfortable under your hand.
It took me some time to get used to the reverse headstock when tuning, but I do appreciate the more ‘metal’ look it provides. The satin finish on both the body and neck feels super comfortable, but it also appears to chip easily. While some may view this as a negative, I see it as an opportunity for quick relicing and a ‘road-worn’ aesthetic.
Is The Fusion-III EMG Good?
Overall, I think the Harley Benton Fusion-III EMG HT SBK Roasted is a fantastic rock & metal guitar that looks great, sounds good, and justifies the extra investment. Plus, Thomann’s 30-day return policy provides peace of mind. If you’re interested in acquiring your own Fusion-III EMG HT SBK Roasted and supporting what I do, you can use the affiliate link provided.
►►Get The Harley Benton Fusion-III here: https://thmn.to/thoprod/503287?offid=1&affid=394
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