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Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB
Harley Benton CST-24
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Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
69
Value
82
Score
72
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Playability
78
Sound
72
Build
52
Value
77
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
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Add more to comparison

Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB vs CST-24

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB over CST-24

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs Vietnam
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Graphite
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
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
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
82 vs 77
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton CST-24 over Fusion-T HH EB

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB vs CST-24

Bridge Pickup
Roswell LAF-B-CR Alnico-5 vs Roswell HAF Alnico-5
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Roswell LAF-N-CR Alnico-5 vs Roswell HAF Alnico-5
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Sapele vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Jatoba
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB vs CST-24

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
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
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Harley Benton CST-24's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Harley Benton CST-24 has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB is the better choice.

The Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Harley Benton CST-24 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 Fusion-T HH EB
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton CST-24
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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-T HH EB Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2020 Pro series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Sapele body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell LAF-B-CR Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell LAF-N-CR Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Wilkinson Tremolo bridge
  • Harley Benton Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton CST-24 Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2017 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 HAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell HAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Harley Benton bridge
  • Harley Benton C Set neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Dlx 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 the Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB

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

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.

It's similar to Mahogany in both color and tone. It can produce warm tones, and it's known for its beautiful figured grain patterns. Find out more about Sapele.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton CST-24

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba

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.

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.

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 Fusion-T HH EB 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: Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB.

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.

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.

They both share the following switching options:

Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB and Harley Benton CST-24 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB and Harley Benton CST-24'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-T HH EB.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 77
Harley Benton CST-24
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 70
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 Fusion-T HH EB compares to the Harley Benton CST-24.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB is built in Indonesia while the Harley Benton CST-24 is made in Vietnam.

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.

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.

Winner: Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB

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-T HH 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 CST-24 comes with a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

Winner: Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB.

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-T HH EB 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-T HH EB.

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-T HH 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 CST-24's 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.

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-T HH 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.

Winner: Harley Benton Fusion-T HH 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.

The Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB has 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.

On the other hand, the Harley Benton CST-24 comes with 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: Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Fusion-T HH 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 CST-24
  • 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 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 Fusion-T HH EB
Quality of materials 71
Features 70
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 69
Harley Benton CST-24
Quality of materials 45
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52

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-T HH 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-T HH EB's Scale Length
Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB's Scale Length
Harley Benton CST-24's Scale Length
Harley Benton CST-24'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 Fusion-T HH EB has the longest scale: 25.5". The Harley Benton CST-24 is only 25" long. This is a 0.5'' (12.7mm) 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 Fusion-T HH EB Neck Profile
Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB's neck profile
Harley Benton CST-24 Neck Profile
Harley Benton CST-24'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-T HH EB and the Harley Benton CST-24 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-T HH EB Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB's Fingerboard radius
Harley Benton CST-24 Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton CST-24'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 Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton CST-24'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 CST-24.

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 CST-24 favors large hands more than the Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton CST-24:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB and Harley Benton CST-24 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-T HH EB
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Harley Benton CST-24
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB vs CST-24
General Harley Benton Fusion-T HH EB CST-24
Brand: Harley Benton Harley Benton
Year: 2020 2017
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Vietnam
Series: Pro Deluxe
Colors: Black, Blue Black, Red, Red Burst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Sapele Mahogany
Bridge: Wilkinson Tremolo Harley Benton
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: WSC staggered locking die-cast Dlx
Fretboard: Ebony Jatoba
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Dots Pearloid Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25"
Shape: Harley Benton Modern C Harley Benton C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.807'' (20.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm) 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 13.78"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Graphite
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Roswell LAF-B-CR Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Roswell HAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Roswell LAF-N-CR Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Roswell HAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1