Harley Benton

Harley Benton is the in-house budget brand of the German retailer Musikhaus Thomann. Thomann's own history dates the brand to 1998, when Hans Thomann laid its foundations, while another account says the first unbranded models in 1997 did not catch on until the Harley Benton name was attached the following year. The idea was a store-exclusive line for buyers on a tight budget.

The instruments are made by contract factories in Asia, including in China, Indonesia and Vietnam, which also build for other well-known manufacturers. For years the label was seen as a basic beginner option with variable quality, but consistency improved in the 2010s, and the brand's profile rose largely through YouTube reviewers. Thomann says that one in five of its customers has bought at least one Harley Benton product.

Harley Benton is the standout among Thomann's roughly 32 house brands, covering guitars, basses, amps and pedals. Guitar Radar follows its new models, anniversary editions and the discussion around budget instruments.