Best Electric Guitars Under $400 in 2025
Here you'll find the best electric guitars under $400. Here you'll find the best electric guitars under $400.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
1. Harley Benton MR-Modern Baritone
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Sightly unstable (1 vote)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (31 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (24 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Clean (1 vote)
Show All Specs
| Harley Benton MR-Modern Baritone | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Harley Benton | |
| Year: | 2022 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Vintage | |
| Colors: | Sunburst | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Alder | |
| Bridge: | Wilkinson VS-50 II Precision Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Kluson-style Wilkinson locking | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dot | |
| Scale Size: | 27" | |
| Shape: | Harley Benton C | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Medium Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Ivory Tusq | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Artec AHC-90 Soapbar (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Artec AHC-90 Soapbar (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Speed | |
| Pickup Mods: | Coil Tap | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton MR-Modern Baritone
Harley Benton MR-Modern Baritone
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Tap Pickups
- Tremolo
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
2. Dean MD 24 Select Floyd
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (5 votes)
Show All Specs
| Dean MD 24 Select Floyd | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Dean | |
| Year: | 2019 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Select | |
| Colors: | Black | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Eastern Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose 1000 (Korean) | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Grover | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 3 Piece Maple | |
| Decoration: | Pearloid Dot | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | C | |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 43mm (1.693'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Seymour Duncan TB-5 (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 0 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean MD 24 Select Floyd
Dean MD 24 Select Floyd
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
3. Gretsch G2210 Streamliner Junior Jet Club
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (3 votes)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (3 votes)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (2 votes)
- Weight: Lightweight (2 votes)
- Neck profile shape: C (12 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (16 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (2 votes)
Show All Specs
| Gretsch G2210 Streamliner Junior Jet Club | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Gretsch | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Streamliner | |
| Colors: | Gold, White, Blue, Brown | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Nato | |
| Bridge: | Wrap-Around | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Die-Cast | |
| Fretboard: | Laurel | |
| Neck Material: | Nato | |
| Decoration: | Pearloid Neo-Classic Thumbnail | |
| Scale Size: | 24.75" | |
| Shape: | Thin U | |
| Frets: | 22 Medium Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Synthetic Bone | |
| Nut Width: | 42.8mm (1.685'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Gretsch Broad'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Gretsch Broad'Tron (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Nickel | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G2210 Streamliner Junior Jet Club
Gretsch G2210 Streamliner Junior Jet Club
- Synthetic Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- 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
All Prices
4. Jackson JS Series RR Minion JS1X
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (57 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (56 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (23 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (15 votes)
Show All Specs
| Jackson JS Series RR Minion JS1X | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Jackson | |
| Year: | 2024 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | China | |
| Series: | JS | |
| Colors: | Black, Blue, Gray | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Poplar | |
| Bridge: | 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Jackson Sealed Die-Cast | |
| Fretboard: | Amaranth | |
| Neck Material: | Maple | |
| Decoration: | Pearloid Sharkfin | |
| Scale Size: | 22.5" | |
| Shape: | Speed | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" to 16" | |
| Nut: | Plastic | |
| Nut Width: | 41.3mm (1.625'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Speed | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson JS Series RR Minion JS1X
Jackson JS Series RR Minion JS1X
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- 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 Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
5. Fender Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Easy (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (3 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (2 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Clean (1 vote)
Show All Specs
| Fender Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Fender Squier | |
| Year: | 2023 | |
| Configuration: | P90P90 | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Paranormal | |
| Colors: | ||
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Okoume | |
| Bridge: | Compensated Wrap-Around | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Vintage-Style | |
| Fretboard: | Laurel | |
| Neck Material: | Maple | |
| Decoration: | Pearloid Dot | |
| Scale Size: | 24.75" | |
| Shape: | C | |
| Frets: | 22 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Graphite | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Pickup Mods: | Parallel Split, Phase Out, Series Split | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic
Fender Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic
- Parallel Split, Phase Out, Series Split Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No High-Quality Nut
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
6. Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (2 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (11 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (12 votes)
Show All Specs
| Sterling Cutlass Short Scale | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sterling | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | HS | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Cutlass | |
| Colors: | Green, Pink | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Poplar | |
| Bridge: | Fulcrum Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Diecast | |
| Fretboard: | Maple | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dot Markers | |
| Scale Size: | 24" | |
| Shape: | Cutlass | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.965'' (24.5mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Compensated | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Schecter Banshee-6 FR SGR
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (65 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (50 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (22 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (21 votes)
Show All Specs
| Schecter Banshee-6 FR SGR | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Schecter | |
| Year: | 2017 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | China | |
| Series: | SGR | |
| Colors: | Black, Brown | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Basswood | |
| Bridge: | SGR by Floyd Rose | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Schecter | |
| Fretboard: | Rosewood | |
| Neck Material: | Maple | |
| Decoration: | Offset/Reverse Dots | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Thin C | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 14" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 41.3mm (1.625'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Schecter Diamond Plus (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Schecter Diamond Plus (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black & Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Banshee-6 FR SGR
Schecter Banshee-6 FR SGR
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in China
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
8. Sire Larry Carlton S5
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (19 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (9 votes)
Show All Specs
| Sire Larry Carlton S5 | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sire | |
| Year: | 2024 | |
| Configuration: | SSS | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | S | |
| Colors: | White, Sunburst, Black, Green, Natural | |
| Left-Handed Version: | Yes | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | North American Alder | |
| Bridge: | S7V 2-post(Steel Block and Steel Bent Saddle) | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Sire Standard | |
| Fretboard: | Hard Maple Edgeless (Rolled Fretboard Edges) | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Black Dots | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | C-Shape | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.94'' (23.9mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Medium Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 9.5" | |
| Nut: | Bone | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | LC Super-V (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Middle Pickup: | LC Super-V (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | LC Super-V (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 2 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sire Larry Carlton S5
Sire Larry Carlton S5
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
9. Harley Benton MR-Modern
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (31 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (24 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Clean (1 vote)
Show All Specs
| Harley Benton MR-Modern | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Harley Benton | |
| Year: | 2022 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Vintage | |
| Colors: | White, Sunburst, Black, Blue, Red | |
| Left-Handed Version: | Yes | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Alder | |
| Bridge: | Wilkinson VS-50 II Precision Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Kluson-style Wilkinson locking | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | Maple | |
| Decoration: | White Dots | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Harley Benton C | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Medium Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Black Tusq XL | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Artec AHC-90 Soapbar (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Artec AHC-90 Soapbar (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Speed | |
| Pickup Mods: | Coil Tap | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton MR-Modern
Harley Benton MR-Modern
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Black Tusq XL Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Tap Pickups
- Tremolo
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
10. Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Very Easy (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (20 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (11 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noisy (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (5 votes)
Show All Specs
| Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Harley Benton | |
| Year: | 2021 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Pro | |
| Colors: | Brown Burst, Red | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Flame Maple Veneer | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Nyatoh | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Grover GH305 6L | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | Maple | |
| Decoration: | Clay Dot | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Harley Benton Modern C | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.807'' (20.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.886'' (22.5mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Coil Split | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH FR EB
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
