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Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige
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Playability
70
Sound
78
Build
70
Value
83
Score
73
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Playability
73
Sound
80
Build
82
Value
73
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS vs Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige Specs Comparison
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige
General
Brand: Harley Benton Ibanez
Year: 2024 2021
Configuration: HSS SH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Japan
Series: Pro AZS
Colors: Black, Blue, Green, Burst Black
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: Tremolo Gotoh T1802 Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sung-Il ML-55 locking machine heads with HB logo Gotoh Magnum Lock machine heads w/H.A.P.
Fretboard: Laurel Roasted Maple
Neck Material: Caramelised Canadian Maple Roasted Maple
Decoration: Dot Abalone dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton D AZ Oval C
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12"
Nut: Graphite Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Tesla VR-Nitro Alnico 5 Humbuckers (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Custom (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Tesla TV-S1M Alnico 5 Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Tesla TV-S1M Alnico 5 Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan Magic Touch-mini (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Parallel Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's switch options
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige's switch options

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS over Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige

Release Year
2024 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Harley Benton D vs AZ Oval C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Parallel Split
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs SH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Value Score
83 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige over Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
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
Neck Profile
AZ Oval C vs Harley Benton D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Pickup Mods
Parallel Split vs Coil Split
Connects pickups in parallel to brighten tone
Pickups
SH vs HSS
Very bright bridge tone and a very warm neck pickup
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS vs Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige

Bridge Pickup
Tesla VR-Nitro Alnico 5 Humbuckers vs Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Custom
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Tesla TV-S1M Alnico 5 Single Coil vs Seymour Duncan Magic Touch-mini
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS vs Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
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 Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

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

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige meets only 6. 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 ST-Modern Plus HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

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

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

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.

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Woods Used in the Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS has an HSS configuration while the Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige has SH pickups.

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.

On the other hand, SH is a more versatile version of the classic telecaster (SS) configuration. The bridge pickup usually produces a bright and twangy tone, while the neck Humbucker gives you the warmer tone you'll need for more Jazzy/Bluish solos and chords.

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 Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige's online:

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

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige gives you 3. This means that the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS offers 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.

On the other hand, the Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige comes with the following: Parallel Split.

The Parallel Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in parallel. When wired in parallel, the result is a very bright tone. This is the wire technique used in most Stratocaster guitars, and it's what gives them their signature transparent and clear sound. This is because the pickups' inputs and outputs are wired together, which reduces the signal's travel distance to the output jack.

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 ST-Modern Plus HSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 80

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS compares to the Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS is built in Indonesia while the Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige is made in Japan.

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.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige

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 ST-Modern Plus HSS 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 Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige.

Fret Material

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

Both in this comparison come with stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

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

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

They both have 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: 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 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 ST-Modern Plus HSS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Parallel Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
Quality of materials 66
Features 80
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 70
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige
Quality of materials 81
Features 75
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 82

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 ST-Modern Plus HSS 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 ST-Modern Plus HSS and Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige'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 ST-Modern Plus HSS Neck Profile
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's neck profile
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige'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 ST-Modern Plus HSS has a D type of 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.

The Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige, on the other hand, has a C 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 ST-Modern Plus HSS Fretboard Compound Radius
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's Compound Fretboard Radius
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige'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 ST-Modern Plus HSS 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 ST-Modern Plus HSS Frets Size
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's Frets Size
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige Frets Size
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige's Frets Size

The Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS'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 ST-Modern Plus HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Ibanez AZS2200 Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73