I'm thinking about buying one of the Harley Benton telecaster style guitars:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_fusion_t_hh_ht_eb_oct.htm
although as I'm left-handed I'll have to wait until the LH model becomes available:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_fusion_t_hh_ht_lh_eb_bk.htm
For the price these guitars get some pretty good write ups, although one criticism is that the p/u selector is too close to the volume knob. However, the layout on the HB guitars is very similar to that on the guitar that Bill is holding on his home page (sorry I don't recognise the make). So my question is does this cause a problem for Bill, or is it something quite minor? All comments aprreciated!
PS I've taken a punt on a HB guitar already, the GS Travel E LH Mahogany:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_gs_travel_e_lh_mahogany.htm
It's a copy of the Taylor GS mini. For the money it's great value with a piezo p/u and gig bag included. It played pretty well straight out of the box and with a few mods will be even better!
The pickup selector being close to the volume knob can be annoying depending on how you play. I had a similar setup on one of my guitars, and at first, I kept knocking it by accident when I got into the rhythm. After a while though, I got used to it, and now it doesn’t bother me at all. If you're just starting out or want to brush up on your skills, I found some solid online lessons at https://www.artmaster.com that really helped me out. Definitely worth checking out if you're into learning from pro teachers.
Thanks for the replies guys!!!
andreyduplanti5 - yes the GS Travel E LH Mahogany is a guitar that I play every day. I love it! The newer ones have some controls on the side of the body. I'm going to buy a this tele style guitar as soon as they are available again in UK (sorry HB):
Gehrman - follow your dreams! There are a lot of good basic guitar lessons on Youtube. Good luck!
I have not had any issues with the p/u selector being too close to the volume knob on the HB guitar. I think it is a minor issue. I also have the GS Travel E LH Mahogany, which is a great guitar for the price. It played pretty well straight out of the box, and with a few mods will be even better. When buying one of these guitars, I think the main thing to consider is whether you like how it sounds and feels. I can see you're a pro in this field. Thus I recommend taking a look at the best electric guitar accessories here. These guys have some cool original stuff. I hope you're doing well. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing the links; I was looking for good guitar reviews. Quite recently, I had thoughts about fulfilling my long-standing dream and learning to play this instrument. All my childhood, I dreamed of becoming a singer and guitarist in a rock band, but unfortunately, it remained only a dream. I'm embarrassed to sing, as I'm doing it very badly. But for a month now, I have been taking steps to get rid of my phobia and do what I always wanted. So far, I am learning to sing with the help of video lessons and useful information about music. This helps me gain a lot of knowledge about music theory and how it works. Soon I will buy a guitar and study playing this instrument in parallel.
Thanks for sharing - some good looking guitars there! I must admit I'm a bit conservative when it comes to guitar styles, although I find my explorer style guitar very comfortable to play. You've given me a few ideas :)
Maybe an Epiphone or a Danelectro. Brands that would normally sell for £400-£500 new that can be picked up in good condition second-hand for £200-£300.
Some examples of guitars I have purchased second hand or old stock are:
Fernandes Ravelle X for £249 plus delivery (Stargoat still has a few of these)
Eko 295 (one major dink which I had repaired) £210 plus delivery
Westone Spectrum MX £275 (I've subsequently seen these for under £200 on Gumtree)
I got this Danelectro DC59M on sale, new for £399
What did you have in mind?
If you're buying on a budget, Harley Benton and Tanglewood have both received pretty good reviews. Personally, I'd be more inclined to get something a bit higher up the pecking order second-hand for the same money, but then I'm into the more quirky guitar designs.