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Harley Benton TE-53KR
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster
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Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
57
Value
77
Score
67
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
54
Value
74
Score
64
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton TE-53KR vs Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton TE-53KR over Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster

Release Year
2023 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Tesla vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickups
SH vs SS
Very bright bridge tone and a very warm neck pickup
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 27'' (685.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
77 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster over Harley Benton TE-53KR

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
Pickups
SS vs SH
Beautiful cleans
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton TE-53KR vs Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
Tesla Opus-TE Alnico-5 vs Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Tesla Opus-4 Alnico-5 vs Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Maple vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton TE-53KR vs Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster

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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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 Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

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
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Harley Benton TE-53KR is probably the better product overall with its final score of 67 compared to the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton TE-53KR wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Harley Benton TE-53KR.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

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

The Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Harley Benton TE-53KR 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 TE-53KR
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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-53KR Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2023 Tribute series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash body
  • Caramelized Canadian Maple neck
  • Caramelized Canadian Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Tesla Opus-TE Alnico-5 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Tesla Opus-4 Alnico-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gold-plated BT101 bridge
  • C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Kluson-style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2020 Paranormal series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail bridge
  • C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.2lbs (3.3kgs) and 7.9lbs (3.6kgs)
  • 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 TE-53KR

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

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.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster

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

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.

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: Harley Benton TE-53KR.

Pickup Configuration

The Harley Benton TE-53KR has an SH configuration while the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster has SS pickups.

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.

On the other hand, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Pickups Quality

The Harley Benton TE-53KR has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster. 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 Jazz 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-53KR.

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.

Harley Benton TE-53KR pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton TE-53KR's switch options
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster'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-53KR
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster
Pickups 70
Sustain 75
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-53KR compares to the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster.

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-53KR has 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster 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: Tie.

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-53KR's are Kluson-style while the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster's are Vintage-Style

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-53KR
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • 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 Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster
  • 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-53KR
Quality of materials 66
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 57
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster
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-53KR Nut Width
Harley Benton TE-53KR Nut Width
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster Nut Width
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Harley Benton TE-53KR has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.1mm (0.004'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Harley Benton TE-53KR, 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-53KR's Scale Length
Harley Benton TE-53KR's Scale Length
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster's Scale Length
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster'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 Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster has the longest scale: 27". The Harley Benton TE-53KR is only 25.5" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) 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 TE-53KR Neck Profile
Harley Benton TE-53KR's neck profile
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster'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-53KR and the Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster 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-53KR Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton TE-53KR's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster'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 Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton TE-53KR'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-53KR.

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 Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster favors large hands more than the Harley Benton TE-53KR.

Harley Benton TE-53KR:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton TE-53KR Frets Size
Harley Benton TE-53KR's Frets Size
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton TE-53KR'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-53KR
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Fender Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton TE-53KR vs Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster
General Harley Benton TE-53KR Squier Paranormal Baritone Cabronita Telecaster
Brand: Harley Benton Fender Squier
Year: 2023 2020
Configuration: SH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Tribute Paranormal
Colors: Yellow Sunburst, Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Ash Poplar
Bridge: Gold-plated BT101 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Kluson-style Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Caramelized Canadian Maple Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Caramelized Canadian Maple Maple
Decoration: Black dot fretboard Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 27"
Shape: C C Shape
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Tesla Opus-TE Alnico-5 (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Tesla Opus-4 Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1