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Harley Benton TE-40
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
VS
Playability
68
Sound
70
Build
50
Value
78
Score
63
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
75
Sound
67
Build
54
Value
75
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton TE-40 vs Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton TE-40 over Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Decorative Top
Ash vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Roswell vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
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
Value Score
78 vs 75
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH over Harley Benton TE-40

Release Year
2018 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
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

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton TE-40 vs Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Bridge Pickup
Roswell HAF Alnico-5 vs Ceramic Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Roswell HAF Alnico-5 vs Ceramic Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton TE-40 vs Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
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
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • 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

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH is probably the better product overall with its final score of 65 compared to the Harley Benton TE-40's 63 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Harley Benton TE-40 has the upper hand when it comes to sound, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH is the better choice.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Harley Benton TE-40 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 TE-40
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
  • 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 TE-40 Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2015 Deluxe series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash top
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro 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
  • Tune-O-Matic String-Thru-Body Bridge bridge
  • Harley Benton C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast Machine Heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2018 Contemporary series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Standard Die-Cast 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

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 TE-40

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

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

The Harley Benton TE-40 has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

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 TE-40.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Harley Benton TE-40 and Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton TE-40 and Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH'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 TE-40
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 70
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
Pickups 60
Sustain 85
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 67

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 TE-40 compares to the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH.

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.

The Harley Benton TE-40 has a Plastic nut. 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH 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: Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH.

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 TE-40's are Die-Cast Machine Heads while the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH's are Standard 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.

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 TE-40
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • 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 TE-40
Quality of materials 45
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 50
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54

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 TE-40 Nut Width
Harley Benton TE-40 Nut Width
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Nut Width
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Harley Benton TE-40 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 TE-40, 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 TE-40 and Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH'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 TE-40 Neck Profile
Harley Benton TE-40's neck profile
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Neck Profile
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH'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 TE-40 and the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH 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 TE-40 Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton TE-40's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH'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 Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton TE-40'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 TE-40.

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 TE-40 favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH.

Harley Benton TE-40:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton TE-40 Frets Size
Harley Benton TE-40's Frets Size
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Frets Size
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton TE-40'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 TE-40
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 68
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton TE-40 vs Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
General Harley Benton TE-40 Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
Brand: Harley Benton Fender Squier
Year: 2015 2018
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Deluxe Contemporary
Colors: Black White, Black
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Poplar
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic String-Thru-Body Bridge 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Die-Cast Machine Heads Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton C Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 12"
Nut: Plastic Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Roswell HAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Roswell HAF Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1