Harley Benton CST-24HB TOL Tobacco Flame

I was looking forward to receiving this guitar so you can understand my disappointment when it wasn't playable. The nut on the low E string was cut so low it was lower than the first fret. On first inspection, I noticed the action was so high one could place a match book under the strings without touching the neck. I tried lowering the strings but the low E just laid on all the frets. To make it somewhat playable, I made a mixture of plastic and superglue and rebuilt the nut to raise the strings at the first fret. I spent about two days trying to get it right. I would have sent to back but the cost to ship is just to high compared to the cost of the guitar, So what I have now is wall art,

I originally created a review on 1 March 2018 after receiving the product. Since then I have found myself in the unenviable position of having to change my review. Do not buy this guitar! Nor do I recommend any Harley Bentons. Buyer please beware.

I'm an ex-pro who has been playing semi-pro for many years.I loved the look of this guitar on youtube. I didn't need another guitar, but I thought what the heck? For the money even if it was bad it was no big loss.

Traveling over the water, I had to have the guitar set-up and though I know how to set up my own guitars, I used a professional luthier I have worked with for over 20 years. Once the neck was adjusted I discovered that the frets were not level and I could not use the guitar as it was. Rather than go through the time, trouble, and expense of sending it back to Europe I offered a compromise.

If Thomann would refund me the cost of the re-fretting, (they still would be making money), I could get the guitar into playable condition, and they would still keep most of the money I paid for the guitar. This way there would not be additional shipping costs, wait times, etc.

Rather than finding a solution Thomann decided to have it sent back not only incurring additional costs, but additional wait times. When one thinks about it, it's almost designed so that they figure the return from the USA would be so problematic that one would be willing to write off the cost of an instrument. This is poor customer service and I would not be surprised if this review is not published. I had spent several hundred dollars with Thomann to try them out. They do not stand behind their products. So if you decide to buy this from them do not be surprised to find yourself cheated as I have. Buyers beware.