Harley Benton Extreme 84 explorers (used)

[warm burrow]

Planning on buying one of these, one is with HBZ active pickups (160 euros) and the other is with EMG 81/60 (210 euros). Both are used and have some visible traces like small scratches or bumps, on the pics it seems like nothing serious except that the EMG one has a crack right at the start of the neck which the seller says is just the paint and clear coat that's cracked and that it doesn't affect the guitar.

I'm interested in overall thoughts on these Harley Bentons, I see most people say they're good for the money and so far I've tried a bass and a superstrat that seemed completely fine Imo. Also interested in opinions HBZ actives vs EMG 81/60 and if the EMGs are worth and extra 50 euros in this case.

here are the pics of the black EMG one:

Here's the HBZ one:

Here's a white EMG one:

Black HBZ : 160 euros
Black EMG : 210 euros
White EMG : 280 euros

[little bison]

get the one you like the most

might help if you look up a comparison

between pickups

[warm burrow]

true

I'm most worried about the crack on the black EMG one

I guess getting EMGs would be fulfilling my childhood dream lol and a white explorer with EMGs would do it completely, though I'd still probably go with a cheaper one but the only thing that worries me on the black EMG explorer is the crack on it's neck

[little bison]

trust me the amp matters way more than your pickups

[warm burrow]

the seller says it's just the paint and clear coat that cracked and not the wood and that it doesn't affect it, but that's always a gamble whether to trust or not

[tired moss]

why are EMG pickups so important

[warm burrow]

not really important tbh

[little bison]

looks like a finish crack to me but doesn't hurt to be safe

[warm burrow]

I just assume they're better quality than HBZ, though I'm gonna listen to some comparisons

[little bison]

which amp do you plan on using with this?

[tired moss]

I would go with the white one

[warm burrow]

if there was one of these on sale with passive pickups I wouldn't mind going for it

[tired moss]

why

[warm burrow]

I'm too embarassed to talk about my gear

since it's just some crappy processor lol

I mean I mostly record so it goes straight into the PC

[little bison]

maan its not like im gonna put you on a stadium and make fun of you lol

[warm burrow]

?

[warm burrow]

lol

well currently just a digitech rp90

that should be getting replaced next

[little bison]

interface?

[warm burrow]

processor?

lol

[little bison]

so it just connects the guitar to your pc right?

[warm burrow]

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RP90--digitech-rp90/reviews

[warm burrow]

yeah

[little bison]

okay cool

which software do you use for amps?

[warm burrow]

oh no

you meant

the rp90 does the amp imitation

[little bison]

oooh

[warm burrow]

yeah

[little bison]

apologies im not familiar with it

[warm burrow]

it's like an all in one pedal/amp for poor people

no worries

I thought you were and wasn't sure what you were asking lol

[little bison]

well can you get a decent metallica tone with it?

[warm burrow]

I got some semi acceptable tone for now

just a sec

[little bison]

amp matters more than pickups for you now

pickups are the last thing you touch when trying to catch a certain tone

[warm burrow]

was planning on sending this for the weekly challenge too lol

[warm burrow]

true, I'm more looking into a new guitar than pickups

[tired moss]

is this you?

[warm burrow]

I was just worried I'll get too lazy to switch out batteries cause I didn't know these pickups don't suck the batteries like the microphone on an acoustic

[warm burrow]

yeah

some shitty riff and all

[tired moss]

thats a good tone

[little bison]

shitty acoustic not surprised

[tired moss]

nothing wrong with it

[warm burrow]

thanks

[little bison]

anyway

pickups don't matter for you currently

not gonna notice a huge difference

[warm burrow]

yeah I know

next upgrade is some processor

or a whole new setup

[tired moss]

EMGs are gonna be a pretty trustworthy choice

[warm burrow]

nice

[little bison]

yeah but a better amp is gonna do way more

[warm burrow]

so would you trust the crack or would you say spend extra 70 euros for the white explorer

[little bison]

I would say choose either the white one or the one for 160

[tired moss]

I would buy it simply because i like it more

[warm burrow]

ok 2 going for white

[little bison]

whichever one your heart desires

[warm burrow]

well I mean

https://www.guitarscollector.com/gallery/540667_430998600254905_408917444_n.jpg

[little bison]

@warm burrow do you like white or black more?

[little bison]

i think that answers my question

go with white

👍

[warm burrow]

tbh both look awesome, black is maybe safer especially if it gets scratched but when I was a kid I watched that white explorer like I was looking at tits for the first and 1000th time

that's fucking amazing

[little bison]

what is?

[warm burrow]

his dream guitar

lol

[warm burrow]

one day a V is a must

[little bison]

this one?

[warm burrow]

same seller has this HB V

tbh I'd have to throw a coin between this and the explorer

[little bison]

If you're comparing a guitar to tits i think you should go with that guitar😂

[tired moss]

Modded Jackson RR24 limited edition MIJ

[warm burrow]

lol

[tired moss]

my current guitar

[little bison]

beautiful

how much does that set you back?

[tired moss]

which one

[little bison]

the jackson

[tired moss]

i sent two

[little bison]

I would go with the explorer

[tired moss]

same

[little bison]

they both are the same thing

[tired moss]

not even close

[warm burrow]

yeah same, also a friend was looking into getting the V so it's only fair to let him have it

[tired moss]

they are similar but very different

[little bison]

huh? they literally both are the exact same thing

[warm burrow]

absolutely beautiful

also nice wallpaper

[little bison]

right

[tired moss]

Other is MIJ so its slightly different shape (better looking), ebony fretboard, standard headstock, single pickup, better specs

and a huge price difference

[little bison]

oooo my bad i didn't see the neck pickup lol

[tired moss]

idk why i suddenly started yapping about RR's

[little bison]

beautiful guitar though

[tired moss]

thanks

[little bison]

how much did it set you back?

[tired moss]

800€ this one

[tired moss]

this one is unfortunately not mine

but it woul sell for like +2500€ even though it was 999€ new in 2008

[warm burrow]

I just noticed

[warm burrow]

very solid

[little bison]

alright enough yapping the poor guy wants help😂

@warm burrow what will you go with?

[tired moss]

yup

[little bison]

fr1k?

[tired moss]

?

[little bison]

fr1000 on your jackson?

[tired moss]

I would go either with white one or black with non emg pickups

[tired moss]

nope

special

[little bison]

aw man

for 900????

[tired moss]

800

[little bison]

still

[tired moss]

brandnew

[little bison]

thats floyd rose 1000/1500 territory

[tired moss]

good luck finding guitars nowadays less than 900 with fr1000

[little bison]

bruh so many

[tired moss]

I specifically wanted a Jackson RR24

that specific guitar

[little bison]

yeah i get that

[tired moss]

because of Alexi Laiho man

but seriously, enough yapping

i mean i dont mind

[warm burrow]

just listened to a comparison between 81/60 and these HBZ and although HBZ aren't bad at all the EMGs have such a clear and precise sound

HBZs seem to be a bit dirty, have a bit of noise and the sound is slightly more muffled

[tired moss]

I meant that the pickups will not be holding him back in the future

[warm burrow]

so I'm most likely going with one of the EMG explorers, the 15 year old me is telling me white but I'll ask the guy what shape they're in

if the black one is iffy with the neck crack I'll go with the white one

[tired moss]

then why not go white if it had emgs

[warm burrow]

yeah definitely white

or just gonna go with white anyway

lol

[tired moss]

good choice

[warm burrow]

the dude also has the black one with EMGs at 310 euros, probably just better shape

[tired moss]

the black one is kinda scetchy and crusty looking

[little bison]

get the whiteeee

[tired moss]

send pic

[warm burrow]

just a sec

[little bison]

try to haggle the white one though

[warm burrow]

this is the one at 310e

I mean it looks fine, but except the suspicious crack at the neck both black ones seem ok-ish

white one looks the cleanest except that nasty corner

but it's on the rear side so not too visible from the front and I'd probably just fill that in so I don't hit and crack it more

[warm burrow]

I knew it was familiar from somewhere

[tired moss]

Alexi Laiho🇫🇮 🇫🇮 🇫🇮 🇫🇮

Suomi perkele

[warm burrow]

ah perkele

one of the most epic guitarists I've seen in my life

that I'm aware of ofc

[tired moss]

that you are ever going to be aware of

[warm burrow]

lol

true

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6amhY1MJFk

the intro/chorus riff gives me goosebumps

the heaviness is beyond physics

[little bison]

@warm burrow get the white one

its the cleanest

good pickups too

and as a fellow explorer owner you're not going to notice that corner at all

[warm burrow]

I guess it's decided

[little bison]

yessir

[warm burrow]

3/3 for white explorer

[warm burrow]

good thing my elbow doesn't have an eye

lol

thanks guys

you helped out a lot

[little bison]

lol

[little bison]

of course man

anytime

hit me up if you need anymore help with anything else

[warm burrow]

and probably saved me money and time, I'm sure I wouldn't go wrong with the Kelly but for my use and tragic finances this HB is probably a great choice

[warm burrow]

next time hopefully for some recording gear or a replacement for this digitech rp90

or if I manage to fuck up something with the explorer lol

[little bison]

lmao ill be here

[warm burrow]

oh god I hope that thing can fit on a standard guitar stand

no I'll have to get a new one anyway

[little bison]

yessir it can

stand or hanger?

[warm burrow]

already got 1 nomad guitars don't need 3

stand

[little bison]

ahh i think it can

no promises

[warm burrow]

hopefully

tho this one is busted

bent a bit

[little bison]

let me know how it is when you get it though

[warm burrow]

and I'm already due 2 extra stands/holders

[warm burrow]

absolutely

hopefully a sound demo too

lol

[little bison]

bet lol

have a good one

[warm burrow]

thx man you too

off to get some rest

[tired moss]

I can play a lot of their songs

[warm burrow]

man if you can play all that 10/10

[warm burrow]

@tired moss@little bison heyy I got the white EX84

had time just for a few min to try it out with the correct amount of volume (glass shattering) and this thing is fucking amazing

it's even better than I expected even with all the positive reviews

as far as I can tell and remember, it literally feels the same as the Epiphone '84 explorer with these EMGs

[unreal edge]

I personally wouldn’t buy considering the crack

[warm burrow]

and in this case the finish is absolutely awesome

[warm burrow]

oh no I got the white one

[unreal edge]

Ey nice

[warm burrow]

it only has that rear corner paint damaged

everything else seems in factory shape

[unreal edge]

One thing for a used guitar is I highly suggest changing the strings

Before using it

[warm burrow]

tho it probably is factory, apparently it got damaged at some point and was pulled from sales

[warm burrow]

they seem to be new too, though that's definitely coming soon cause who knows how long these stayed somewhere

[unreal edge]

I’d still change em just to be sure

[warm burrow]

yeah definitely

I'm also wondering if I should go heavier or not

these are I think 10-46

[unreal edge]

I like really light strings personally

[unreal edge]

That’s like medium

[warm burrow]

yeah

probably next thing I'll try to figure out

haven't put heavier than 46 on this scale before

I'll have to see how much of a difference it can make

or if there is any in terms of sound

[little bison]

nice maaaan

glad you enjoyed it

[unreal edge]

Not much

The materiel changes sound

[warm burrow]

man thanks again if it wasn't for you 2 I probably wouldn't have bought it

[warm burrow]

so mainly the feel of the strings

fatter ones won't give me a tighter sound lol

[little bison]

Higher gauge strings are tighter at lower tunings

hence low gauge for high or normal tuning and high gauge for low tuning

[clever apex]

yes, yes they would

the sound difference is not big going from 20ish lbs to 25

but 15 to 20lb extreme difference

if you get your 46 to B itll sound like ploppy mud

much better on a 52 or above

[warm burrow]

ah makes sense

[warm burrow]

ok so for a range between drop C and E standard what would you guys recommend?

[clever apex]

1148

i use them for constant shifting between drop C and E standard

[warm burrow]

nice

[clever apex]

over that i feel like bending becomes kinda hard on E

[warm burrow]

ah

[clever apex]

and 46 is too loose for C

so good ol balance

[warm burrow]

so some middle ground

[clever apex]

hb explorers are usually 25.5in scale

so yeah 1148

[warm burrow]

probably perfect for D or E flat

[clever apex]

yeh

[warm burrow]

then probably going for it

[cedar locust]

10 - 52 is what I would use

[clever apex]

52 in E???

i mean ok but

thats kinda tense

[tired moss]

@warm burrow Congratulations man! I’m glad to hear that you’re satisfied with the guitar.

If you change the strings, I recommend to buy Elixir strings. The lowest strings have a plastic/rubber coating on them so they last literally forever.