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Harley Benton R-457MN WH Progressive Series

4.3 out of 5 stars from 150 customer ratings ()

7-String Electric Guitar

  • Progressive Series
  • Body: Poplar
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Neck profile: D
  • Fretboard: Maple
  • Offset dot fretboard inlays
  • ABS nut
  • 24 Medium jumbo frets
  • Fretboard radius: 400 mm (15.748")
  • Nut width: 48 mm (1.89")
  • Scale: 648 mm (25.512")
  • Pickups: 2 Hi-gain humbuckers (neck and bridge)
  • 1 Volume knob and 1 tone knob
  • 3-Way toggle switch
  • DLX bridge
  • Black hardware
  • DLX die-cast machine heads
  • Strings: HB .009 - .054
  • Colour: White, high-gloss
  • Available since August 2017
  • Item number 419527
  • Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
  • Colour White
  • Body Poplar
  • Top None
  • Neck Maple
  • Fretboard Maple
  • Frets 24
  • Scale 648 mm
  • Pickup System HH
  • Tremolo No
  • Including Case No
  • Incl. Gigbag No
£138
All prices incl. VAT
In stock
1

When six strings just aren't enough

Harley Benton R-457MN WH Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

Harley Benton instruments have long offered solid quality at very affordable prices, with the range including both entry-level guitars and a few more unusual, extended-range options. One of the most popular models in this category is the seven-string R‑457MN WH from the Progressive Series, which provides an accessible way to step into extended-range playing – and explore deeper tunings without making a major investment. Compared to eight-string models, the seven-string format keeps things a little more familiar while still extending the range into lower registers. It all starts with a poplar body, combined with a bolt-on maple neck featuring a slim Speed-D profile: The maple fingerboard offers a smooth, fast playing surface with a clear, immediate response, while two high-gain humbucking pickups deliver a punchy, assertive tone. Together, this combination produces a sound with plenty of definition and presence, especially in the low end.

Bolt-on maple neck on the Harley Benton R-457MN WH Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

Extended range, familiar feel

The sound of the Harley Benton R‑457MN WH draws much of its strength from its 648mm (25.5") scale length, which provides a reliable balance between string tension and playing comfort. This makes it easy to handle lower tunings while keeping the overall feel consistent across all strings, particularly for players coming from standard six-string guitars. Two deep cutaways, combined with an ergonomically shaped neck joint, allow comfortable access all the way up to the highest of the 24 frets, making lead playing and upper-register work feel effortless. The electronics are kept simple and effective, with two high-gain humbuckers controlled by a three-way switch and shaped via volume and tone controls. A black DLX bridge with individual saddles, together with a set of solid die-cast machine heads, completes the setup and ensures dependable tuning stability.

A budget-friendly way in

With its very accessible price, the Harley Benton R‑457MN WH is aimed at both beginners and more experienced players who are new to seven-string guitars and want to explore extended range playing without spending a fortune. That being said, the overall value on offer here is undeniable: Few instruments in this price category offer such a convincing combination of design, playability, and sound. The proven blend of tonewoods and high-gain pickups delivers a powerful and focused response, particularly suited to low-end riffing, while still remaining versatile enough for a range of playing styles. The flat 400mm (15.74") fingerboard radius is particularly well suited to the fast, modern playing styles that seven-strings are designed for, offering a smooth and consistent feel across the strings.

Headstock on the Harley Benton R-457MN WH Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

About Harley Benton

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.

Pickups on the Harley Benton R-457MN WH Progressive Series, 7-string guitar

Low-end riffing and beyond

Paired with a suitably powerful amplifier and speaker setup, the Harley Benton R‑457MN WH is well suited to tight, percussive low-end riffs with plenty of weight behind them. At the same time, the two humbucking pickups can be dialled in for clear clean sounds and dynamic crunch tones, which only adds to this versatile instrument’s appeal. And of course, Heavy Metal and Rock'n'Roll are as much about appearance as they are about sound. With its modern shape and striking white high-gloss finish, combined with contrasting black hardware, this model makes a confident visual statement on stage, leaving no doubt about where it belongs.

150 Customer ratings

4.3 / 5

features

sound

quality

115 Reviews

S
Great bang for your buck
Synic42 29.07.2019
I've been playing guitar on and off for 25+ years and was wondering if a 7 string would be my kind of thing. This is the perfect instrument to try it out, at an affordable price with decent enough quality. Of course you can expect some problems at this price point, but I was surprised by how minor and manageable they are.

I only found one chip in the finish on the back, which is negligible. One ferule was protruding a bit, which needed a couple of taps to be put back in place. The strings it came with were too light, but I ordered some power slinkies with it anyway. And the frets were a bit dull, some even a bit corroded. All of these things are minor issues and easily fixed with a bit of TLC.

I discovered the worst problem however while polishing the frets: a sub-standard fret job. Some frets were leveled, but not crowned, giving a flat, unpolished surface. This even resulted in one dead spot on the 7th string at the 12th fret, which couldn't be polished or intonated. This will require a leveling and crowning job in the future, so it's not a quick fix. However this is not a deal breaker, the guitar is still very usable and payable.

Overall these sort of problems are to be expected at this price and I am still amazed at the value for money. With a little effort this quickly transforms from a decent enough to a good instruments. This guitar makes me wish entry-level instruments had this kind of quality back in the 90's.
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d
Great entry level 7 string
drntheripper 03.05.2018
I'll try and keep this simple.

I am not the greatest player in the world, I've struggled my entire playing life to progress and to "get good" which has only been made worse due to a fairly serious hand injury a few years ago. Along the way I've become partial to the "Ibanez Prestige" guitars the neck profile works well with my busted up hands and the build quality keeps my inner gear nerd happy.

When I first started looking for a 7 string I could not find anything local that I liked for under $1000 CAD which was far more then I wanted to spend on something I was not sure that I would like. After reading some reviews I decided to Order this Harley Benton unit.

I had mixed feeling when I opened up the box..

The good:
*Good quality hardware
*The electronics are nice quality and work well.
*Almost perfect set up
*Fantastic finish
*great neck profile
*Really light weight, this may be a double edged sword (see negatives)

The bad:
*Mine came with three good sized dents on the body despite there being no damage to the packaging. i suspect the body wood is soft
*The pickups are muddy down low and lack definition

Overall I am super happy with my guitar, I would say it is as good as the competitions guitars at twice the price.
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P
Very Good for the price
Pablo56 17.02.2018
First venture into 7 string territory and didn't want to spend much. Here's my opinion of the R-457MN WH.

Pickups - not great but passable, and they are either on or off, a small turn of the the volume control and its on full blast, but for the price cant complain and this is the type of guitar that needs to be full on all the time.
Neck - unfinished, Ibanezesque, the fret ends are sharp and need to be sanded/filed down and polished, the neck is relatively straight, an hours work would get a good setup. Its not so wide that its uncomfortable for a 6 string player and access up to 24th fret ok.
Tuners - not very accurate, but my strings are staying in tune ok.
Bridge : had to lower the saddles to bring the string height down. standard block no real issues.
The overall guitar is very light and sits well, the neck is not heavy so it doesn't tip over when standing up.
For the price, this is a very good guitar, with some work it can be better. I'd say it's comparable with the Ibanez GIO but at half the price, this is very good value for money.
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5
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b
Awesome.
beratguitar 18.10.2022
this guitar is just awesome. I've been playing a cheap strat copy for 2 years and finally bought my 2nd ever guitar. it's worlds of difference! absolutely no regrets. i love it. its beautifully set up, no sharp frets, no buzzing. tuners work fine, bridge is fine, pickups are ok, the finish is really nice, knobs are fine, everything is pretty decent. and for this price, it's an absolutely amazing deal. thank you so much thomann and Harley benton. i can finally play metal songs!!!
oh, by the way, its just a little bit heavy. and the neck has a tiny damage but it took me like 30 mins to notice that, not a big deal at all.
i actually wanted the fanfret one, i couldn't buy it. i think it would be a better option for me. but this one works just fine. im gonna get some .74s for this and i can finally play some of my favorite modern metal songs in Drop F
oh also, u get a free cable and 2 allen wrenches for adjusting the saddles and the truss rod. thanks a lot for those :D
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