Roundback guitars are the epitome of the electro-acoustic guitar. They traditionally come from the USA and are usually handsomely priced – a perfect reason for Harley Benton to develop its own interpretation of this classic design: The HBO-850 Blue. Of course, all the essential features and adornments – including the richly decorated off-centre sound holes and the rounded bowl – are included here, and the HBO-850 Blue also boasts an integrated pickup, which makes it an ideal choice for even the most devoted electric guitarists.
For once, the focus is not on the guitar’s top but rather on its ABS shell. Beyond its inherent technical advantages (such as excellent feedback suppression), this design also has a strong influence on the acoustics, since the sound waves behave differently than they do inside flat-backed guitars, and that is what creates this guitar’s characteristic tone. Because the guitar’s body is also very shallow and features a cutaway, it provides unrivalled playing comfort. The spruce soundboard is fitted with X-bracing and finished in a deep blue lacquer, while the sapele neck offers a 650 mm (25.59”) scale length and the fingerboard extends to an impressive 24 frets on the treble side.
Yes, the Harley Benton HBO-850 Blue is the right instrument for acoustic-savvy electric guitarists. The slim neck, low action, thinline body, cutaway, and last but not least the .011-gauge strings fitted as standard will make every electric guitarist feel at home in an instant. In addition, the piezo pickup with its three-band EQ will deliver the very sound that fans have come to associate with this type of guitar thanks to countless Stadium Rock anthems. And needless to say, this complete package comes at a sensational price.
Since 1998, the Harley Benton brand has been catering for the needs of numerous guitarists and bassists. In addition to an extensive range of stringed instruments, Thomann's house brand also offers a wide choice of amplifiers, speakers, effect pedals, and other accessories. In total, the range includes over 1,500 products. Built by established names in the industry, all Harley Benton products combine quality and reliability at attractive and affordable prices. The continuous expansion of the range ensures that Harley Benton always provides new, exciting, and innovative products that keep players perfectly in tune with the musical world, day after day.
Of course, one can play the Harley Benton HBO-850 Blue purely acoustically. The shallow body delivers a subtle yet incisive bass response, and the sound feels well-rounded and “grown-up”. However, this guitar really thrives on stage – and the louder, the better. This guitar is pretty much feedback-proof thanks to its rounded ABS back and the design of its top. Incidentally, we recommend playing this guitar standing up and using a strap. This doesn’t just look good – the guitar also naturally tilts towards the player’s face, which allows an excellent view of the fingerboard.
Roseacer
Rosewood is a particularly hard wood that has long been popular as a material for making guitar and bass fretboards. This wood is now considered endangered, however, and resources are scarce and expensive – which is why guitar makers have already spent several years searching for alternatives. The wood that Harley Benton has chosen as a fretboard material for its HBO series and many other guitars is a type of thermally treated maple known as “roseacer” (a word coined from “acer”, the name of the genus to which maple belongs). The heat treatment to which the wood is subjected reduces its water content to around three percent, which prevents subsequent shifting or warping and increases the wood’s stability while also giving it a visual appearance similar to that of rosewood.