As someone who is completely new to guitar playing, choosing my first acoustic felt like a bit of a minefield. After a lot of reading, watching reviews, and second-guessing myself, I settled on the Harley Benton CLD-65M NT — and honestly, I couldn’t be happier with that decision.
From the moment I took it out of the box, the first thing that struck me was just how well made this guitar feels. For the price, I wasn’t expecting anything close to premium, but the CLD-65M NT immediately punches above its weight. The all-mahogany construction gives it a warm, rich look, and the natural satin finish feels smooth and classy rather than cheap or plasticky. It looks like a guitar that costs far more than it actually does.
Build quality is excellent. The frets are clean and well finished, the neck feels solid and comfortable in the hand, and everything feels properly put together. As a beginner, these things matter more than I realised — there’s nothing worse than fighting the instrument while you’re trying to learn. The neck profile is very friendly for new players, making chord shapes easier to form and transitions less frustrating. Straight out of the box, the setup was surprisingly good, and it was perfectly playable without needing immediate adjustments.
Sound-wise, the CLD-65M NT has completely blown me away. The all-mahogany body gives it a warm, full tone that’s forgiving and pleasant, especially for someone still developing technique. Chords sound rich and balanced, while single notes have clarity without being harsh. It’s the kind of sound that actually makes you want to keep picking it up and playing — which, for a beginner, is exactly what you want from a first guitar.
Another thing I love is how inspiring it feels to play. There’s something motivating about owning an instrument that looks and sounds this good. It doesn’t feel like a “starter guitar” you’ll outgrow in six months; it feels like something you could happily keep playing for years. I often catch myself just picking it up to strum for a few minutes, and those minutes quickly turn into much longer sessions.
In short, the Harley Benton CLD-65M NT has made my first steps into guitar playing genuinely enjoyable. It’s beautifully made, sounds fantastic, and offers ridiculous value for money. As a beginner, I feel incredibly lucky to have started my guitar journey with an instrument this good. If you’re new to guitar and want something that looks great, feels solid, and sounds far better than its price suggests, I genuinely can’t recommend it highly enough.
