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Harley Benton CST-24HB
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG
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Playability
78
Sound
71
Build
53
Value
77
Score
67
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Playability
77
Sound
72
Build
59
Value
79
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton CST-24HB vs SC-Custom Plus EMG

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton CST-24HB over SC-Custom Plus EMG

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.898'' (22.8mm) vs 0.807'' (20.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.931'' (23.6mm) vs 0.886'' (22.5mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG over CST-24HB

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs Vietnam
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2021 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.807'' (20.5mm) vs 0.898'' (22.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.886'' (22.5mm) vs 0.931'' (23.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
79 vs 77
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton CST-24HB vs SC-Custom Plus EMG

Bridge Pickup
Roswell LAF Alnico-5 vs EMG Retro Active Hot 70
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Roswell LAF Alnico-5 vs EMG Retro Active Hot 70
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Okoume
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Nyatoh
Different Neck Wood

Shared Features
Harley Benton CST-24HB vs SC-Custom Plus EMG

Fretboard Wood
Jatoba
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton CST-24HB Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG is probably the better product overall with its final score of 69 compared to the Harley Benton CST-24HB's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Harley Benton CST-24HB has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG is the better choice.

The Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Harley Benton CST-24HB meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton CST-24HB
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Harley Benton CST-24HB Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2015 Deluxe series
  • Made in Vietnam
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Harley Benton bridge
  • Harley Benton C Set neck
  • 24 Medium frets
  • Deluxe Diecast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2021 Deluxe series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Okoume body
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Harley Benton bridge
  • Harley Benton Modern C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • WSC Schaller Style J07Lkf Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton CST-24HB

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG

Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh
Okoume wood pattern used for guitar building
Okoume

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Okoume is an affordable wood and one of the first to replace Mahogany when the prohibitions started. It's generally softer than Mahogany and the tone has warmer lows.

Winner: Harley Benton CST-24HB.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG's online:

The Harley Benton CST-24HB's pickups are Passive while the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Harley Benton CST-24HB comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Harley Benton CST-24HB pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton CST-24HB's switch options
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Harley Benton CST-24HB.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton CST-24HB
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 46
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 72

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Harley Benton CST-24HB compares to the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Harley Benton CST-24HB is built in Vietnam while the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG is made in Indonesia.

Vietnam is, together with China, a popular country for mass-producing guitars for a low price. Some people think guitars made in these countries are low quality, but that is not true as long as you're buying from a trustworthy brand. Just don't expect the same level of attention to detail as a guitar made in a country like Japan.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Plastic nuts. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton CST-24HB
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Vietnam
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG
  • Locking Tuners
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Harley Benton CST-24HB
Quality of materials 45
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 53
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 59

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Harley Benton CST-24HB Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Harley Benton CST-24HB's Scale Length
Harley Benton CST-24HB's Scale Length
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG's Scale Length
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Harley Benton CST-24HB has the longest scale: 25". The Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.25'' (6.4mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Harley Benton CST-24HB Neck Profile
Harley Benton CST-24HB's neck profile
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG Neck Profile
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Harley Benton CST-24HB and the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Harley Benton CST-24HB Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Harley Benton CST-24HB and the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG have the same fretboard radius of 13.78". It's closer to the 12'' that most Les Paul guitars have, but it's a bit flatter. It'll make it easier to play single notes than chords, but it's still relatively comfortable for chords.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Harley Benton CST-24HB favors large hands more than the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Harley Benton CST-24HB:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton CST-24HB Frets Size
Harley Benton CST-24HB's Frets Size
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG Frets Size
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG's Frets Size

The Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton CST-24HB's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Harley Benton CST-24HB
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton CST-24HB vs SC-Custom Plus EMG
General Harley Benton CST-24HB SC-Custom Plus EMG
Brand: Harley Benton Harley Benton
Year: 2015 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Vietnam Indonesia
Series: Deluxe Deluxe
Colors: Black Burst, Brown Black, Blue, Orange, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Okoume
Bridge: Harley Benton Harley Benton
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Deluxe Diecast WSC Schaller Style J07Lkf Locking
Fretboard: Jatoba Jatoba
Neck Material: Mahogany Nyatoh
Decoration: Tree-Of-Life Design, Mother-Of-Pearl White Pearloid Trapezoids
Scale Size: 25" 24.75"
Shape: Harley Benton C Harley Benton Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.807'' (20.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 13.78"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1