The ridiculously affordable double-cut packs stainless-steel frets, versatile pickup switching and a choice of ebony or roasted maple fretboards
(Image credit: Harley Benton)
Unstoppable affordable gear co Harley Benton is launching so many guitars, we’re going to have to start recruiting for a fulltime HB news editor (and we’re only half-joking). In its third announcement this week alone, the Thomann brand has launched the Fusion-III, a high-spec double-cut electric guitar line that builds on the success of its Fusion-II range.
HB will be releasing the new series in a number of runs with different finishes and feature sets – this first batch constitutes Run #1, and will be followed by additional options throughout 2021.
Run #1 models offer a choice between Canadian maple necks and Macassar ebony fingerboards, or roasted maple necks and fingerboards. Stainless-steel frets and Graph Tech nuts feature across the range.
Both HH and HSH pickup configurations are available – the former comes with “punchy, dynamic” Roswell Alnico V humbuckers, complete with coil-split; the latter packs two Roswell humbuckers and a single coil.
Other hardware appointments include a Wilkinson two-point tremolo and locking tuners, while finishes span Black, Silver Sparkle, Flame Blue Burst, Flame Charcoal Burst and Flame Bengal Burst.
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Consistent with the rest of Harley Benton’s offerings, the Fusion-III comes with an almost laughably low price tag of $299 over at Thomann Music, increasing to $399 for roasted maple-necked offerings.
Kudos, too, to HB for equipping long-lasting stainless-steel frets on sub-$300 guitars – it can’t be long before bigger brands take notice.
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Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.