Harley Benton CST-24T LH Black Flame

This is an excellent low-priced guitar. Having to upgrade the components will raise your initial investment to the price of a standard guitar. But for an entry level beginners guitar it can't be beat. I decided to replace my pickups with a better set, and came to find out that this guitar has misleading advertising. It's listed as having a Mahogany, while the top is Flame Maple. I can verify that the body is indeed a Mahogany type, as I was expanding the knob holes to fit my new pots. But as I was scraping away I noticed that there is a thin white layer where the maple top should be. My determination is, the Maple top is a wood-like vinyl sticker. To have a real maple top paper-thin, would be illogical as any tonal qualities would be lost to the thinness, and would be cost prohibitive for these types of guitars. Disappointed, but not unexpected.

Out of all the guitars I purchased from Thomann, this is probably the most versatile and nicest sounding one, overall. I don't like the PRS body shape as it's uncomfortable playing sitting down; the waist is in the wrong section of the body (like offset Fender bodies) and makes the guitar unbalanced and hard to hold in place when played on one's lap. Another ergonomic fault is the placement of the volume knob. Though not as bad as a Strat volume knob, it still gets in the way and precludes comfortable strumming and picking without hitting it. I removed it. Great to play now but no volume knob (and difficult soldering job)...
Neck is not the best shape for me. Flat radius and thin front to back. So thin and flat that the radius and neck of shape become irrelevant. Good for shredders. Not good for people who play actual music instead of wearing out frets fast.
Good wood + decent pickups = good sound. I have another one with the older Wilkinsons which sound better to me. Less low midrange and more clarity.
By the way, love the new body shape on the new LP styles from Thomann. More comfortable than actual Gibsons when playing sitting down.