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Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS
VS
Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
69
Value
84
Score
74
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Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
59
Value
72
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted vs Fender Player Stratocaster HSS

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted over Fender Player Stratocaster HSS

Decorative Top
Ultra Flame Maple Veneer vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2021 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
HSH vs HSS
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.807'' (20.5mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.886'' (22.5mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
84 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS over Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted

Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HSS vs HSH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.807'' (20.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.886'' (22.5mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted vs Fender Player Stratocaster HSS

Bridge Pickup
Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 vs Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 vs Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 vs Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Nyatoh vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted vs Fender Player Stratocaster HSS

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
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

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 Roasted 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
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Roasted Maple 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 >

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Overview

  • From Fender's 2018 Player series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Standard Cast/Sealed tuners
  • Weight between 7.5lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.5lbs (3.9kgs)
  • 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 the Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted

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

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

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

Woods Used in the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted has an HSH configuration while the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS has HSS 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, HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

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 Fender Player Stratocaster HSS has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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: Fender Player Stratocaster HSS.

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 Fusion-III HSH Roasted 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 Fusion-III HSH Roasted pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted's switch options
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS'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 Roasted.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

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 Roasted compares to the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted is built in Indonesia while the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS is made in Mexico.

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.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

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 Roasted 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 Fender Player Stratocaster HSS comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

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 Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted 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: Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted.

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: 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.

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 Fusion-III HSH Roasted 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 Fusion-III HSH Roasted.

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 Roasted
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • 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 Roasted
Quality of materials 73
Features 70
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 69
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 70
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 Fusion-III HSH Roasted 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 Roasted and Fender Player Stratocaster HSS'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 Roasted Neck Profile
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted's neck profile
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Neck Profile
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS'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 Fusion-III HSH Roasted and the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS 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 Roasted Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted's Fingerboard radius
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Fingerboard Radius
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS'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 Fender Player Stratocaster HSS's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted'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 Fusion-III HSH Roasted.

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 Fender Player Stratocaster HSS favors large hands more than the Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted and Fender Player Stratocaster HSS 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 Roasted
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted vs Fender Player Stratocaster HSS
General Harley Benton Fusion-III HSH Roasted Fender Player Stratocaster HSS
Brand: Harley Benton Fender
Year: 2021 2018
Configuration: HSH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Mexico
Series: Pro Player
Colors: Red White, Sunburst, Black, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Nyatoh Alder
Bridge: Wilkinson Tremolo 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: WSC staggered locking die-cast Standard Cast/Sealed
Fretboard: Roasted Maple Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Clay Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton Modern C Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.807'' (20.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2