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Ibanez AR520HFM
Harley Benton RB-600
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Playability
73
Sound
64
Build
55
Value
69
Score
64
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Playability
77
Sound
70
Build
52
Value
76
Score
66
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Ibanez AR520HFM vs Harley Benton RB-600

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AR520HFM over Harley Benton RB-600

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
AR vs Harley Benton C
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Tri-Sound vs None
Grants 3 ways to modify the sound of the pickups
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.898'' (22.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.931'' (23.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton RB-600 over Ibanez AR520HFM

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Harley Benton C vs AR
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Artec vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.898'' (22.8mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.931'' (23.6mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
76 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez AR520HFM vs Harley Benton RB-600

Bridge Pickup
Super 58 vs Artec Classic Mini Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Super 58 vs Artec Classic Mini Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Jatoba vs Purpleheart
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Ibanez AR520HFM vs Harley Benton RB-600

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Semi-Hollow
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
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
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Harley Benton RB-600 Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Harley Benton RB-600 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 66 compared to the Ibanez AR520HFM's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton RB-600 wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Ibanez AR520HFM has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton RB-600 is the better choice.

The Harley Benton RB-600 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez AR520HFM 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

Ibanez AR520HFM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton RB-600
  • 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.

Ibanez AR520HFM Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 AR series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Maple body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Bound Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gibraltar Performer bridge
  • AR Set neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Weight between 6.65lbs (3kgs) and 7.2lbs (3.3kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton RB-600 Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2015 Classic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Artec Classic Mini Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Artec Classic Mini Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Rik-O-Matic bridge
  • Harley Benton C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Die-Cast Machine Heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

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 Ibanez AR520HFM

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba

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 Harley Benton RB-600

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Purpleheart (also known as Amaranth) is a hard, dense wood with a brilliant tone. As its name suggests, the purple color makes this wood look exotic.

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

Winner: Harley Benton RB-600.

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 RB-600 pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez AR520HFM. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer 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 RB-600.

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 Ibanez AR520HFM comes with some kind of pickup modification: Tri-Sound.

Tri-Sound gives you the choice of using the pickup coils at the same time, splitting them or connect them im parallel for a brighter sound.

Ibanez AR520HFM pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AR520HFM's switch options
Harley Benton RB-600 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton RB-600'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: Ibanez AR520HFM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez AR520HFM
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 64
Harley Benton RB-600
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 70

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 Ibanez AR520HFM compares to the Harley Benton RB-600.

Country of Origin

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

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

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

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

Fret Material

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

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

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

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

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

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Ibanez AR520HFM's are Ibanez while the Harley Benton RB-600's are Die-Cast Machine Heads

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AR520HFM
  • Tri-Sound Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton RB-600
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez AR520HFM
Quality of materials 45
Features 60
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 55
Harley Benton RB-600
Quality of materials 46
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52

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

Ibanez AR520HFM Nut Width
Ibanez AR520HFM Nut Width
Harley Benton RB-600 Nut Width
Harley Benton RB-600 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez AR520HFM 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 Ibanez AR520HFM, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Ibanez AR520HFM and Harley Benton RB-600's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

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

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

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

Neck Profile

Ibanez AR520HFM Neck Profile
Ibanez AR520HFM's neck profile
Harley Benton RB-600 Neck Profile
Harley Benton RB-600'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 Ibanez AR520HFM has a SA type of neck. Like most Ibanez necks, it's thinner than most modern C necks. It's very similar in thickness and shape to their unique Wizard profile.

The Harley Benton RB-600, 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

Ibanez AR520HFM Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez AR520HFM's Fingerboard radius
Harley Benton RB-600 Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton RB-600'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 Ibanez AR520HFM's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton RB-600'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 RB-600.

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.

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

Ibanez AR520HFM:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton RB-600:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez AR520HFM Frets Size
Ibanez AR520HFM's Frets Size
Harley Benton RB-600 Frets Size
Harley Benton RB-600's Frets Size

The Harley Benton RB-600 has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez AR520HFM's Medium 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

Ibanez AR520HFM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Harley Benton RB-600
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez AR520HFM vs Harley Benton RB-600
General Ibanez AR520HFM Harley Benton RB-600
Brand: Ibanez Harley Benton
Year: 2021 2015
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: AR Classic
Colors: Sunburst Black, Red Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Maple Mahogany
Bridge: Gibraltar Performer Rik-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Ibanez Die-Cast Machine Heads
Fretboard: Bound Jatoba Purpleheart
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Maple
Decoration: Acrylic & Abalone block Dots
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: AR Harley Benton C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 13.78"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive) Artec Classic Mini Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive) Artec Classic Mini Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: Tri-Sound None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2