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Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
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Playability
80
Sound
76
Build
62
Value
83
Score
73
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Playability
77
Sound
84
Build
74
Value
78
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG vs Schecter Balsac E-1 FR

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG over Schecter Balsac E-1 FR

Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.886'' (22.5mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.984'' (25mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
15'' (381mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
83 vs 78
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR over Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.886'' (22.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.984'' (25mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 15'' (381mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG vs Schecter Balsac E-1 FR

Bridge Pickup
EMG 81 vs Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
EMG 60 vs Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
6 vs R6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG vs Schecter Balsac E-1 FR

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Balsac E-1 FR wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG is the better choice.

The Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR 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 EX-84 Modern EMG
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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 EX-84 Modern EMG Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2020 Tribute series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Wsc Tune-O-Matic Bridge bridge
  • Harley Benton Slim Taper C Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Grover Locking Machine Heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Balsac E-1 FR Overview

  • From Schecter's 2020 Artist series
  • Balsac Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1500 Series bridge
  • Ultra Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schecter Locking tuners
  • Weight between 8lbs (3.6kgs) and 9lbs (4.1kgs)
  • 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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Winner: Tie.

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 EX-84 Modern EMG has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Harley Benton EX-84 Modern 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 Schecter Balsac E-1 FR comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's switch options
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR'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: Schecter Balsac E-1 FR.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Pickups 90
Sustain 90
Versatility 44
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 95
Sound 84

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 EX-84 Modern EMG compares to the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

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: Tie

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.

The Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

Winner: Tie.

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.

In this comparison, the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Schecter Balsac E-1 FR.

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.

The Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's brige is a 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.

On the other hand, the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR's is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

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: Schecter Balsac E-1 FR.

Tuners

They both have 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: Tie.

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 EX-84 Modern EMG
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 62
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
Quality of materials 61
Features 85
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 74

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 EX-84 Modern EMG Nut Width
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Nut Width
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR Nut Width
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 0.7mm (0.029'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's Scale Length
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's Scale Length
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR's Scale Length
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR'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 Schecter Balsac E-1 FR has the longest scale: 25.5". The Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) 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 EX-84 Modern EMG Neck Profile
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's neck profile
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR Neck Profile
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR'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 EX-84 Modern EMG and the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR 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 EX-84 Modern EMG Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR's Fingerboard 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.

In this case, the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

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 EX-84 Modern EMG favors large hands more than the Schecter Balsac E-1 FR. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG and Schecter Balsac E-1 FR Frets Size
Both have a similar XL Jumbo fret size

Both have a XL Jumbo fret size. These are really tall frets made like this so you don't meet any resistance when playing techniques like vibrato, bending, tapping, etc. They should make the guitar easier to play, but you have to be careful not to get the notes out of pitch by pressing down too hard, which might happen since the fretboard will be too low to stop your hand.

Final Playability Scores

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG vs Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
General Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
Brand: Harley Benton Schecter
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Tribute Artist
Colors: White, Black Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Wsc Tune-O-Matic Bridge Floyd Rose 1500 Series
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Locking Machine Heads Schecter Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: White Dots BälSäc Jaw at 3rd Fret
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton Slim Taper C Ultra Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.984'' (25mm) 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm)
Frets: 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 15" 14"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 41.3mm (1.625'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 0