Harley Benton Fusion-IV: The New Superstrat Superstar
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Harley Benton Fusion-IV marks the launch of a new generation of its modern Pro Series guitars. Following Fusion-III and Fusion-T, the new series of Superstrats comes with improved pickups and hardware. And it proves just how serious HB is about making a significant impact in the mid-range market.
This is Fusion-IV:
Harley Benton Fusion-IV: A Worthy Upgrade to Fusion-III?
The new series Harley Benton Fusion-IV brings loads of high-quality Superstrats. These are extremly versatile guitars that are home in just about every genre, whether rock, metal, fusion, pop, prog, or funk. So, if you find Les Pauls a bit too heavy or classic single-coil Stratocasters too limited in terms of sound, these Fusion-IV models will give you the best of both worlds.
You get the sleek, direct feel of a Strat combined with the power and creamy alternative-rock sound of humbuckers, which already won loads of players over with the Fusion III. Here, HB takes things up a notch in several key areas. And in terms of new colors, the series strikes a balance between minimalist finishes and a few very extravagant models. So there’s a guitar for everyone!
Common features of the series
Harley Benton Fusion IV models now feature a Nyatoh body with an ergonomically shaped back instead of Sapele (as in the Fusion-III). In terms of sound, this should result in a slightly warmer and mid-range-heavy tone compared to the previous series. You still get roasted, flamed Canadian maple necks with a Modern C profile. A design we’re already familiar with from the Fusion III and these still look stunning!
When it comes to the fretboard, you have the choice between maple or rosewood. There are two camps in the Strat world when it comes to appearance and, above all, playing feel for fretboard woods: a snappier, more direct sound (maple) or a darker, softer, and warmer tone (rosewood).
What all models have in common: Blacksmith stainless-steel frets, a double-action truss rod with a sprocket wheel, glow-in-the-dark side dots, classic 25.5-inch scale length, and a 12–16-inch compound fretboard radius.
After Roswell comes Tesla
Where the Fusion-III featured Roswell pickups, the manufacturer has equipped the Harley Benton Fusion-IV series with the newer, even better-sounding Tesla pickups, which we’ve seen and heard in the ST Modern Plus series. There are also two models featuring EMG Custom Retro Active Hot 70 humbuckers, 22 frets, and a hardtail bridge for the metal crowd, in black* and as a left-handed model*.
The release is divided into three typical Superstrat configurations: HH, HSH, and HSS. Before we get to these, there are also three models featuring a Floyd Rose bridge and FR locking nut:
- Fusion-IV HH FR Black Metallic Gloss*
- Fusion-IV HH FR White Metallic Gloss*
- Fusion-IV HH FR White Metallic Gloss LH*
- Fusion-IV HH FR Quilt Black Burst Gloss*
All other models in the Harley Benton Fusion-IV series come with a Babicz FCH 2-Point Special Z-Series Tremolo Bridge and 24 frets.
HSS, HSH, and HH
HSS for the Widest Tonal Tange
The series’ HSS models* are the tonal all-rounders of Harley Benton Fusion-IV. You get a Tesla VR-Nitro B Alnico-5 humbucker at the bridge, and two Tesla VR-1 single-coils in the middle and at the neck.
Equipped with a five-way switch and a mini-switch as an alternate switch, these models are best suited to fulfill the classic “one guitar for everything” role: a bridge humbucker for rock and leads, and single-coil sounds for clean tones, funk, pop, and crunchy rhythm parts.
HSH Configurations for a Modern Sound
The HSH configurations* in the Harley Benton Fusion-IV series are better suited to modern lead and fusion guitar styles. For these, Harley Benton includes two humbuckers (Tesla Opus-1B and Opus-1N) and a single-coil (Tesla VR-1) in the middle.
Here, the mini-switch is acts a coil-splitter. If you’re looking for more gain, more sustain, and more neck-humbucker tones, this model is likely a better fit for you than the HSS versions.
Harley Benton Fusion-IV HH for a powerful sound
The HH models* from Harley Benton Fusion-IV are the “most metal” Superstrats in the lineup, sonically speaking. Two Tesla humbuckers, volume and tone controls, a mini-switch (alter switch), and a five-way switch make these high-gain beasts appealing to anyone who is looking a more screeching, brutal, and dynamic sound
More on the new Guitars from Harley Benton
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2 responses to “Harley Benton Fusion-IV: The New Superstrat Superstar”
I like the recessed knobs, the even more sculpted neck heel and especially the hollow brass pipe neck inlays, but on the hardtail models I much preferred the old Hipshot-style bridges. The Babicz hardtail bridges with the square plate look too much like those super cheap hardtail bridges that are on just about every cheap Chinese-made guitars out there. Also, those fat Babicz bridge saddles are terrible for anyone wanting to do palm mutes. You probably won’t be able to swap the Babicz hardtail bridge for a Hipshot-style bridge either since they have the bridge screws in different places, but they are still close enough to each other that you’ll most likely destroy the top if you try to drill new holes without filling the old ones. It looks like a Hipshot bridge won’t cover the two outer screws of the Babicz bridge either, so unless you literally refinish the whole guitar (or at least the top), it will look like shit. I wish they at least had kept the Hipshot bridges on the Fusion EMG models (the ones with the reversed headstocks).
Now let’s do some new hardtail versions!
41 new Fusion-IV models and only ONE new Fusion hardtail just isn’t cutting it.