Harley Benton SC-550 II FTF

Coming from a Yamaha Pacifica 112V, this guitar initially felt like a step down in craftsmanship. The neck is shorter and the action was very high out of the box, but I was able to fix that quickly with a couple of screw adjustments.

Once I started playing, the sound completely won me over. The Tesla pickups are warm, full, and much fatter than what you’d get from a typical Strat. I’ve owned a Gibson SG before, and I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in sound quality. It also looks much better in person than it does in the photos.

Overall, it’s a great guitar for beginners and intermediate players and offers very good value for the money. I paired mine with a Boss Katana amp, and it’s perfect for classic rock ’n’ roll.