Swap
Swap
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
VS
Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
69
Value
84
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
Thomann logo
Playability
73
Sound
80
Build
69
Value
84
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB vs Fusion-III HH FR EB

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB over Fusion-III HH FR EB

Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSH vs HH
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB over Fusion-III HSH EB

Pickups
HH vs HSH
High output without hum
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Tremolo
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB vs Fusion-III HH FR EB

Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB vs Fusion-III HH FR EB

Bridge Pickup
Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Nyatoh
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.807'' (20.5mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.886'' (22.5mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Ultra Flame Maple Veneer vs Flame Maple Veneer
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that both instruments scored 74 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB wins when it comes to sound. On the other hand, the Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB is the better choice.

The Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB meets only 4. 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 Fusion-III HSH EB
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • 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 Fusion-III HSH EB Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2021 Pro series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Ultra Flame Maple Veneer top
  • Nyatoh body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Wilkinson Tremolo bridge
  • Harley Benton Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2021 Pro series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple Veneer top
  • Nyatoh body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose bridge
  • Harley Benton Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Grover GH305 6L 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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

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.

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.

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

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB has an HSH configuration while the Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB has HH pickups.

HSH is a versatile pickup configuration that will give you the high output, full tone, and quiet sound of humbucker pickups, but with the possibility of using a single coil for cleaner tones. The disadvantage is that the middle single-coil pickup will have a noticeable lower volume, so you might want to adjust the height of the pickups. Another problem is that if you set the middle pickup too high, it might interfere with your picking hand.

On the other hand, 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.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

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

The Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB gives you 5 switch options while the Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB gives you 3. This means that the Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: 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 Fusion-III HSH EB pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB's switch options
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB'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 Fusion-III HSH EB.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 79
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 80

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 Fusion-III HSH EB compares to the Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB.

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 Fusion-III HSH EB 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 Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB 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.

Both in this comparison come with 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: 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.

The Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB'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: Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB.

Tuners

The Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB 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.

Nevertheless, the Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB.

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 Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB
Quality of materials 73
Features 70
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 69
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
Quality of materials 73
Features 70
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 69

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 Fusion-III HSH EB 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 Fusion-III HSH EB and Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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 Fusion-III HSH EB Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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 Fusion-III HSH EB and the Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB 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 Fusion-III HSH EB 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 Fusion-III HSH EB and the Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB and Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB vs Fusion-III HH FR EB
General Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH EB Fusion-III HH FR EB
Brand: Harley Benton Harley Benton
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: HSH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Pro Pro
Colors: Purple, Green Burst Brown Burst, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Nyatoh Nyatoh
Bridge: Wilkinson Tremolo Floyd Rose
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: WSC staggered locking die-cast Grover GH305 6L
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Clay Dot Clay Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton Modern C Harley Benton Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.807'' (20.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm) 1st Fret: 0.807'' (20.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1