After trying a b-stock Harley Benton just to check out the brand, I was so impressed, I started looking for one of their higher end guitars. The day the Fusion III came out, I snatched one up. I've been looking for a roasted maple neck for 2 years, but the prices have really gone up. The prices for the HB roasted maple necks make them almost impossible to pass up. I really do love the "sparkle pink" color. It's more on the purple side - which is a plus. And, I love that it's sparkle pink on the front, then the binding, then an antique red for the back. It's beautiful.
Every inch of this guitar makes it worth more than the actual price. The neck is the first thing that impressed me. It's very comfortable. There are 2 frets with fret sprout, but that's easy to fix.
I love getting a guitar that already has locking tuners. I usually put them on my guitars, but don't have to with this one. And, there aren't any issue with it staying in tune. Graphtech nut - can't complain.
The Roswell pickups are decent enough, but I'm a fan of Dimarzio, so chances are the pickups will be replaced. And, I guess I'm a traditionalist, but I don't really care for coil split. I have my single coil guitars for a reason.
The volume and tone pots are perfect. The volume tapers very well and the tone pot works perfectly. I have 2 other Harley Benton guitars and I have to replace the volume on those because they don't taper well. But the volume on the Fusion III is perfect!
For the price, you really can't go wrong. I own several guitars that were over $1000 ea, and I love them. But, after buying the Fusion III and a b-stock SC-550 II, I won't ever buy another guitar in the $1000+ range as long as Harley Benton keeps putting out this kind of quality. I've even gotten my friends interested in checking them out.
