Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN

128

Steel-String Guitar with Pickup

  • Solid Standard Series
  • Body design: Jumbo with cutaway
  • Top: Selected solid spruce
  • Advanced scalloped X-bracing
  • Back and sides: Selected walnut
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fingerboard: Ovangkol
  • Fingerboard inlays: Square White MOP+Abalone
  • Binding: ABS
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • 20 Frets
  • Nut width: 43 mm
  • Bridge: Ovangkol
  • Rosette: Abalone/Ivory/ABS
  • Machine head buttons: Pearl-coloured
  • Machine heads: Enclosed
  • Pickup system: Fishman Presys II preamp system with built-in tuner
  • Strings: Adamas 1818NU (art. 438774)
  • Colour: Natural high-gloss
  • Suitable case available under Article Nr 122212 (not included)
Available since November 2017
Item number 425371
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Top Solid Spruce
Back and Sides Walnut
Cutaway Yes
Fretboard Ovangkol
Nut width in mm 43,00 mm
Frets 20
Pickup(s) Yes
Colour Natural
Case No
Incl. Gigbag No
866 AED 217,65 €
Plus 279 AED shipping
The price in AED is a guideline price only
Since we ship from Germany, additional costs through taxes and customs may be incurred
In stock within 12-15 weeks
In stock within 12-15 weeks

This product is expected back in stock soon and can then be shipped immediately.

Standard Delivery Times
1

Large, modern, and elegant

The Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN features a Jumbo-style body complete with a solid spruce top and an elegant high-gloss natural finish together with modern touches that include a cutaway and a pickup. This instrument combines classic looks with a sound that is even fuller than may be immediately apparent, thus giving players everything they have come to expect from a contemporary acoustic guitar. Gone are the days when a comparatively low purchase price and high-quality looks were incompatible, as the Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN capably demonstrates: With its walnut back and sides, mahogany neck, and attractively-grained ovangkol fingerboard, there can be no doubt that this guitar is designed to be an eyecatcher wherever it is played.

Power and resonance combined

The resonant spruce top of the Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN features advanced scalloped X-bracing, which comprises a cross-shaped system of wooden braces that have been planed into an arched shape, a technique that was developed to increase volume and add a fuller low-end response to the sound. The block fingerboard inlays and the soundhole rosette are made from a combination of mother-of-pearl and abalone that is also tastefully mirrored by the mother-of-pearl machine head buttons. In addition, the neck and body (both front and back) are adorned with white binding, which further enhances the guitar's classy looks and, since it is made from ABS, also provides increased resistance to shocks and scratches. Last but not least, the CLJ-503CE WN comes with a set of sealed machine heads that will ensure many years of maintenance-free operation.

Playability at its finest

Players making the transition from electric guitar should feel comfortable with the Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN straight away, particularly if they are used to playing ST-style models, since this acoustic also features the same 648mm (25.5") scale length and 43mm (1.7") nut width found on the latter. The onboard Fishman preamp system, which comes complete with an integrated tuner, also makes this instrument a good choice for guitarists who need the authentic steel-string guitar sound even in environments that require a little more volume. Lead players in turn will appreciate the guitar's generous cutaway, which provides unrestricted access to all 20 frets, and the CLJ-503CE WN's impressive price-performance ratio is completed by the Adamas-brand strings with which the guitar comes as standard.

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.

More than just a beginner's guitar

Whether it's an intimate jam around the campfire, a set of Rock classics, or a singer-songwriter performance, the Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN is designed to deliver a comfortable playing feel and an impressive sound. The guitar is easily loud enough for practising unplugged, while its onboard preamp system means it can be played through an amplifier when gigging in smaller venues or even through a PA on larger stages, so there is no need for a microphone. For those who plan to take the Harley Benton CLJ-503CE WN on the road with them, the Thomann Western Guitar Case (article no. 122212) is the ideal accessory.

128 Customer ratings

4.6 / 5

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108 Reviews

Sv
What a guitar for the price!
Sciurus vulgaris 05.11.2021
First impression when I opened the box was, is this really a budget priced guitar?
It looks expensive; the only thing that seems a little cheap, looking very closely, is the pick guard. Closer inspection found four marks in the varnish on the back, a couple of specks in the varnish on the top and a little excess glue between the rosette and the pick guard where the latter was fitted, but these are the only faults I found with this guitar. The nut is superbly positioned and finished, the finger board smooth and not dry, book matched solid spruce top which will darken nicely with age and a Fishman pickup system. I like the gloss finish on the neck. I left the guitar to acclimatise for a day before tuning two semitones low and again left it for a day before tuning to concert. So how does it play? The action is nicely set up and much as you would expect with an acoustic guitar, could be lower but for me fine as it is. The intonation is right, the neck comfortable, fingerboard a little flatter than some but really easy to play, frets smooth with no rough edges, the sound, string balance and volume really impressive - I have played some well-known expensive brands that sound nowhere near as good as this and not had near the same volume. Machine heads operate smoothly and positively, the guitar stays in tune very well. Fishman Presys II system – I played though a Fishman Loudbox amp, the sound even and well balanced if a little “toppy” but the controls on the guitar and amp give a wide range of settings so no problems there.
Just some observations… the Walnut sides and back are finished in a dark varnish that does nothing to bring out the grain of the wood, just a shame about the marks I found. No battery or user leaflet included for the Fishman Presys II system. The strap button positioned on the underside of the neck makes a standard length guitar strap a little short for a tall person but this seems pretty standard with most acoustics these days. Strangely, no country of origin marked anywhere on the guitar or a serial number. When I ordered the guitar it was advertised as being fitted with Rotosound strings, now shown on the website as supplied with D’addario strings and this one is fitted with Adamus strings. When the time comes to replace them I shall use Elixir strings which I have used before on my other acoustic guitar. Overall, what a guitar for around £200! Really impressed! Service from Thomann is excellent, questions and queries answered promptly and sensibly. Delivery as advised when the guitar became available. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Thomann and Harley Benton to someone looking to buy one of their guitars.
So, what is it like coming up to six months from delivery? Restring with Elixir strings and sounded awful until played in but settled down to a nice sound. Second restring decided to use Adamus strings as fitted when delivered. What a sound! Nice highs with a hint of twang and really resonant mid tones and low end. Superb balanced sound and great volume and even easier to play than before, really came alive the more it has been played. Even more pleased with this guitar now.
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B
OTTIMO PRODOTTO
Bluepicker 06.06.2018
I purchased this Jumbo acoustic guitar for live use, so the instrument had to be equipped with a pickup and an active preamp. Since the instrument in question would have been used mainly with DADGAD tuning and Heavy 0.60 / 0.14 caliber strings I needed an instrument that would support the tension of such big strings, not wanting to use one of my Martin or one of my Taylor I decided for this guitar, which honestly did not seem excellent but with a decent price-quality ratio, a very well-finished aesthetic and massive woods as stated by the seller. After the order the guitar was delivered in 4 days well packaged and intact, at a first visual examination the instrument was of considerable workmanship with very few smears of glue inside the box and valuable inlaid abalone as markers, very soft mechanics and precise with a beautiful golden color and faux mother of pearl knobs. Obviously the instrument was with the loose strings and then I proceeded to tune it and the only drawback: an Action too low that made it impossible to play the instrument, as a result I proceeded to raise the bone of the bridge by about 3 mm with appropriate thicknesses reporting the action at the right height. After retuning the surprise! Powerful bass and deep, medium and sharp balanced and ringing and a total volume in amazing acoustics (Much higher than my Martin D28 of 1978). Moreover, the very fast and fast handle allows easy jumps of position along the keyboard both in standard tuning and in DADGAD. Then I proceeded to test it amplified and yet the Fishman system with pre-amp and digital tuner did not betray my expectations: tested with a Hartke ACR5 50W amp the electrified sound is warm with powerful and defined bass, high-pitched and silvery bass (without the presence of medium frequencies that make an acoustic guitar more like an electric guitar). Ultimately a happy purchase that allows me to recommend this guitar to anyone!
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Z
My 1st Harley Benton and not my last
Zanshelby03 11.08.2020
the guitar shipped from Germany to the USA in 8 days without any issues. This guitar is beautiful. The walnut looks amazing and the solid top is outstanding. I found no flaws on it at all and after an adjustment to the saddle this guitar plays as well as my $2000 taylor. I can literally find no flaws with thise guitar and for the price ... unbelievable. The tone is just beautiful, full bass, sweet mids and tight highs. This is the kind of guitar you would expect to pay much much more for. I will not hesitate to buy another and I will as soon as I save up some more spare cash. If you are holding off on buying one if these fir any reason, stop now and just buy it. Just an incredible value and and tremendous quality instrument, and not just as a beginner/ starter guitar but one you could gig with. Just a great instrument.
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JS
Stunning instrument
Jakey Sully 28.04.2018
I bought this instrument as my second guitar after much thought and perusal. I am (and continue to be) blown away by the overall quality, playability and feel of the guitar. I have always played slightly smaller guitars (3/4 size), so a jumbo was a step into the unknown for me, To my surprise, the tone was very bright, jangly and slightly thin out of the box, whereas I had expected it to be mellower due to the size of the body. I guess spruce has a brighter sound anyway. There was also a very slight fret buzz on the 6th string.
Over the last few weeks the tone has somehow 'settled', with the frett buzz dissapearing completely, and it is now my go-to guitar for daily playing. The sound is simply gorgeous: very rich, warm and bright. My guess is the strings have settled into the saddle and the neck must have relaxed somewhat. Plugged in, the Fishman Isys is fantastic, and gives a great sound on multiple stacks, effects and levels of distortion.

Aesthetically the guitar is beautiful, with a lovely gloss finish all over, high quality pearl inlays in the neck (mother of pearl finish continues around the sound hole and on the bridge pegs, making for a nice motif) and the red pickguard really rounds it off nicely.
As an added note, the neck is much thinner than any of my other guitars, making for really easy finger picking and very quick chord changes when playing rhythm. It takes some getting used to as your fingers can misjudge the gap between the strings, but the payoff is worth it.

Overall a brilliant guitar out of the box, I haven't felt the need to do any extra tweaking as it plays so well. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anybody interested in purchasing a high quality jumbo!
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