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Harley Benton RX-40 Black Progressive Series electric guitar:
set-in construction, basswood body, Canadian maple neck, c-shape, rosewood fretboard Thomann with shark inlays, 24 frets, scale length: 648mm, 42mm nut width,
double action truss-rod (!), shark fin inlays,
HBZ active hi-gain humbucker pickups, electronics: 2-volume & 1-tone control, 3-way selector switch,
Floyd rose licensed tremolo bridge, die cast tuners, deluxe black hardware, D'addario 010-046 strings, finish: hi-gloss black, case not included (optional # thomann 166446)
The new guitar has a tune-o-matic Gibson style bridge:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_rx_40_black_progressive_serie.htm?partner_id=73786
I'm a big fan of tune-o-matic bridges and I like the 2nd gen RX-40 model as well. Nevertheless, the FR licensed tremolo system of this HB guitar is really easy to adjust and it's got quality materials. That's something I didn't really expect for the price (149 Euro).
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The guitar came in with only a few minor issues such a slightly high action and it was a bit out of tune. Once I unlocked the nut and adjusted the tremolo, the potential of this guitar was unleashed. I also tightened the tuner bushings and stretched the new D'addario strings it had on. The rx-40 now stays in tune like many decent quality Floyd rose-loaded guitars. The fretwork is really good and there are no fret height or buzzing issues. The nut is holding the strings really well and the stock trem saddles are good. I was thinking about replacing the tremolo before ordering the guitar. I am now convinced that this tremolo will work just fine for some time.
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The main thing about this guitar is the set-in playable neck. With its dual action truss-rod, it can handle any string set or tuning one likes. Sure there are many RR guitar models out there but none of them has such good features for this price.
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HBZ-pickups:
The pickups are active as they're powered by a standard Alkaline 9V battery. There's even a battery compartment at the back of the guitar for quick replacement.
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A way to fix the hissing noise of the HBZ active pickups:
There are tons of output but the electronics are a bit noisy. There's some hissing sound even when you're not playing and this could be annoying at high gain settings without using a noise-gate of some sort. The reason for that is the resistance value of the stock volume and tone pots. Emg and most active pickup manufacturers recommend a set of 25Kohm pots for their pickups. This one has 500Kohm pots... Replacing the 500K pots with 25K ones will reduce the hissing noise dramatically but it will also cut down on pickup output... Using 50k-100kOhm pots would be the best solution. Replacing the pots is really easy for someone with basic soldering experience and it costs around 6 euros in parts.
Overall, this is a value for money guitar and it's got some really interesting features. It's so playable and the finish is really good. I would definitely buy the tune-o-matic version now and I wouldn't mind if it had a set of passive ceramic pickups on.
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-Thanos
Hey there, do you still have the guitar? im thinking in buying the 2nd version but im not sure if i should buy it or save more for the jackson js32 rr. thank you
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήHello!
ΔιαγραφήYes, this guitar is a keeper! The 2nd fixed bridge version is also very good and it's easier to use and set up than the older floyd rose model.
www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_rx_40_black_progressive_serie.htm?partner_id=73786
The rx40 is a set-neck guitar while the js32rr is a bolt-on one. Sure, the "jackson" logo looks good but you get less features for 120Euros more!... http://www.thomann.de/gb/jackson_js32t_rhoads_sbk.htm?partner_id=73786
The action on a js32rr I've used was not that low but its neck was nice and comfortable. The rx40 neck is also pretty playable. In fact, I used the jackson rr neck on a superstrat project and sold the js32 rr body.
If you want a set-neck jackson guitar with active pickups, here's the price you have to pay:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/jackson_rrxmg_gc_mbk_rhoads_ltd.htm?partner_id=73786
This rrxmg model is really good but it costs 4 times the price of the rx40.
IMHO the rx40 is a value for money guitar. A good setup with fresh strings and maybe a new set of 100K potentiometers is all the new rx40 needs. And remember, you can always ask thomann to inspect and set up the guitar before they ship it. Chances are they will do it for you for free.
Cheers,
Thanos
the only thing im afraid is that the action might be too high even with the bridge all the way down, it happened to me with my kelly js30, and i had too shim the neck and with this will be impossible because of the set neck. Did lower the action in yours with no problem? thank you for the fast response
ΔιαγραφήI know, I had the same high-action problem with this js32 rr model. The set-in rx40 fr model had already been set up for low action. I could lower it even further. I don't think the rx40 tune-o-matic bridge will be set for high action. There are customer reviews that suggest the new rx40 fixed bridge model is already set for low action. In any case, you cannot reset the neck on a set-in construction guitar but you can gently tap the bridge posts with a hammer. You have to be gentle as you must not crack the finish. I've done that on an old Epi LP model once. I highly doubt you'll ever have to do that on a new set-neck guitar.
Διαγραφήthank you very much for your advice, my guitar neck is broken, is a necktrough so repairing it is not possible. I only have a budget around 150 euros so i was looking for something cheap but good. In my country is impossible to buy something used they sell used guitar at the price of new ones
ΔιαγραφήHey, I am sorry to hear about your broken guitar neck. But who says broken necks can't be repaired? I've repaired tens of broken les paul and necktrough necks with epoxy glue and it worked like a charm. Ok, some repairs are difficult but not impossible. Do you have all the broken pieces and parts? Can you please send pictures of the broken neck to: guitardreamer.gr@gmail.com ?
ΔιαγραφήThe rx40 is a good choice for the 150E budget. As for a used guitar, it should be first inspected and tested as there are used instruments with many many problems... Thomann provides a 30 day free-return warranty if you have any problem with your new guitar.
Yours,
Thanos
i left it at a luthier and im waiting to see the result. Do you think that the pick ups will need to be replaced or are they good?
ΔιαγραφήOk, I hope your guitar gets fixed. Tell him to use strong epoxy glue or the neck will break again at the very same spot. The epoxy glue is stronger that the original wooden bond itself! If anyone drops his guitar once it's repaired with epoxy glue, it won't break at the same point again. The stock HBZ pickups of the rx40 are good in terms of tone. I 've used EMGs, Duncan Blackouts and I can tell you that the HBZ pickups are quite strong with plenty of highs and mids. I prefer these hbz pickups to the EMG 81/85/60 models! However, the hbz are a bit noisy. That's probably due to the stock 500K Volume/Tone pots of the guitar. A new set of 50K-100K pots fixes this noise/hiss issue. A set of new pots costs less than 5$. If your amp/pedalboard has a built in noise gate, then the noise issue won't even bother you. The rx40 has no hissing noise when the noise gate is enabled.
Διαγραφήi will buy the Behringer NR300 Noise Reducer with the guitar. thank you for your time, i love your blog i will say something as soon as the guitars arrives
ΔιαγραφήDo you have any solution for the jack position?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήYes, I use a guitar cable an angled Jack . On an older Jackson Rr, I removed the last tone pot as I didnt use it and bolted the output Jack in its place... it's like plugging an SG guitar.
Διαγραφή-Thanos
I was thinking in putting a fender style jack input in the place of the "old" one or in the back between the end of the lower wing and the electronic back plate. Do you think it will work?
ΔιαγραφήHello, it may work but I wouldn't modify or route the guitar that much. You can simply rewire the existing electronics and place the jack where the tone knob is and use it like and SG. 3 knobs is too much for this guitar anyway. The two remaining pots could be wired as master volume and master tone.
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