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Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active
Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
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Playability
80
Sound
73
Build
64
Value
82
Score
72
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Playability
77
Sound
79
Build
68
Value
75
Score
75
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Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active vs Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Specs Comparison
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
General
Brand: Harley Benton Jackson
Year: 2024 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Custom Line Pro
Colors: White, Black Brown Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Meranti Mahogany
Bridge: Wsc Tune-O-Matic Floyd Rose 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed)
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Neck-Through
Tuners: Grover Machine Heads Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Jatoba Ebony
Neck Material: Meranti Maple
Decoration: White pearloid crown Alumiloid Piranha Tooth
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton Modern C Jackson Standard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.807'' (20.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 12" to 16"
Nut: Graphite Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Tesla TM AH-5 Active Humbuckers (Humbucker / Active) Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Tesla TM AH-5 Active Humbuckers (Humbucker / Active) Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No Yes
Hardware Color: Gold Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active's switch options
Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's switch options

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active over Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2024 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Harley Benton Modern C vs Jackson Standard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.807'' (20.5mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.886'' (22.5mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
82 vs 75
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH over Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 13.78"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Jackson Standard vs Harley Benton Modern C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Nut Material
Locking vs Graphite
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.807'' (20.5mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.886'' (22.5mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active vs Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH

Bridge Pickup
Tesla TM AH-5 Active Humbuckers vs Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Tesla TM AH-5 Active Humbuckers vs Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Meranti vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Meranti vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Jatoba vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Graphite vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active vs Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH 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.

    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH favors large hands more than the Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH 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 SC-Custom III Active
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    • Comfortable shape
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners
    • Easy-to-use bridge

    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 SC-Custom III Active

    Meranti wood pattern used for guitar building
    Meranti
    Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
    Jatoba

    Meranti is an affordable wood used mainly for affordable electric guitars. It's generally lighter and softer than Mahogany. Find out more about Meranti.

    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.

    Woods Used in the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH

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

    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.

    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: Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    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.

    We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's online:

    The Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active's pickups are Active while the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's are Passive.

    Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

    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.

    Only the Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active 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.

    When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

    Winner: Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 61
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 73
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 64
    Tuning Stability 85
    Sound 79

    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 SC-Custom III Active compares to the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    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 SC-Custom III Active has 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.

    On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH 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: Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    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 SC-Custom III Active 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 SC-Custom III Active.

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

    On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH'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: Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    Tuners

    Both come with regular tuners. The Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active's are Grover Machine Heads while the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast

    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.

    The Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active has 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.

    On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH comes with Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

    Winner: Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

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

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active
    • Stainless Steel Frets
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Split Pickups
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Expensive Woods
    • 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
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    • Expensive Wood
    • Locking Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Neck-Through Build
    • Tremolo
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Strap Lock
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Retainer Bar

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active
    Quality of materials 71
    Features 55
    Quality Control 65
    Build Quality 64
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    Quality of materials 45
    Features 85
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 68

    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 SC-Custom III Active Nut Width
    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active Nut Width
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Nut Width
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH, 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 SC-Custom III Active's Scale Length
    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active's Scale Length
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's Scale Length
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH'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 Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH has the longest scale: 25.5". The Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

    This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

    This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

    Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

    Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

    Neck Profile

    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active Neck Profile
    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active's neck profile
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Neck Profile
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH'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.

    In this case, both have different neck shapes:

    The Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active has a C type of 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.

    The Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

    Fretboard Radius

    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active Fingerboard Radius
    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active's Fingerboard radius
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Fretboard Compound Radius
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's Compound 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.

    In this case, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

    Fret Size

    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active Frets Size
    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active's Frets Size
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Frets Size
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's Frets Size

    The Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active's Medium Jumbo frets.

    Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

    Final Playability Scores

    Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 75
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 80
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 100
    Playability 77