Swap
Swap
Harley Benton HB-35Plus
Harley Benton SC-450Plus
VS
Playability
77
Sound
72
Build
54
Value
78
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
Thomann logo
Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
57
Value
77
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
Thomann logo
Add more to comparison

Harley Benton HB-35Plus vs SC-450Plus

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton HB-35Plus over SC-450Plus

Release Year
2017 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
78 vs 77
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton SC-450Plus over HB-35Plus

Decorative Top
Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
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 HB-35Plus vs SC-450Plus

Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood

Shared Features
Harley Benton HB-35Plus vs SC-450Plus

Bridge Pickup
Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style
Same Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.898'' (22.8mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.931'' (23.6mm)
Same neck comfortability
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
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
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • 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 HB-35Plus Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
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 the Harley Benton HB-35Plus is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the Harley Benton SC-450Plus's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton HB-35Plus wins when it comes to playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Harley Benton SC-450Plus has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Harley Benton HB-35Plus.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton HB-35Plus is the better choice.

The Harley Benton HB-35Plus meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Harley Benton SC-450Plus 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 HB-35Plus
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton SC-450Plus
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • 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 HB-35Plus Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2017 Vintage series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Deluxe Tune-O-Matic Bridge bridge
  • Harley Benton C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Harley Benton tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton SC-450Plus Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2015 Classic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Dlx Tune-O-Matic Bridge bridge
  • Harley Benton C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Dlx Kluson Style Machine Heads 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

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton HB-35Plus

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.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton SC-450Plus

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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

Winner: Harley Benton SC-450Plus.

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.

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

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 HB-35Plus and Harley Benton SC-450Plus pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton HB-35Plus and Harley Benton SC-450Plus'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton HB-35Plus
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 72
Harley Benton SC-450Plus
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 65
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 HB-35Plus compares to the Harley Benton SC-450Plus.

Country of Origin

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

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

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.

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

Fret Material

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

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

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

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

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

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Harley Benton HB-35Plus's are Harley Benton while the Harley Benton SC-450Plus's are Dlx Kluson Style Machine Heads

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 HB-35Plus
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton SC-450Plus
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • 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 HB-35Plus
Quality of materials 46
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54
Harley Benton SC-450Plus
Quality of materials 60
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 57

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 HB-35Plus Nut Width
Harley Benton HB-35Plus Nut Width
Harley Benton SC-450Plus Nut Width
Harley Benton SC-450Plus Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Harley Benton SC-450Plus has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Harley Benton SC-450Plus, 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 HB-35Plus and Harley Benton SC-450Plus'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 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

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 HB-35Plus 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 HB-35Plus and the Harley Benton SC-450Plus 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 HB-35Plus Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton HB-35Plus's Fingerboard radius
Harley Benton SC-450Plus Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton SC-450Plus'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 HB-35Plus's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton SC-450Plus'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 SC-450Plus.

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 SC-450Plus favors large hands more than the Harley Benton HB-35Plus.

Harley Benton HB-35Plus:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton SC-450Plus:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton HB-35Plus and Harley Benton SC-450Plus 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 HB-35Plus
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77
Harley Benton SC-450Plus
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton HB-35Plus vs SC-450Plus
General Harley Benton HB-35Plus SC-450Plus
Brand: Harley Benton Harley Benton
Year: 2017 2015
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Vintage Classic
Colors: Sunburst, Black, Blue, Green, Red, Yellow Brown Burst, Yellow, Orange Burst
Left-Handed Version: Yes Yes
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Deluxe Tune-O-Matic Bridge Dlx Tune-O-Matic Bridge
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Harley Benton Dlx Kluson Style Machine Heads
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Blocks Fretboard Inlays Trapezoid
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Harley Benton C Harley Benton C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 13.78"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker / Passive) Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker / Passive) Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2