Harley Benton Dullahan Series Review – Is It For You?

One of the most popular brands today is Harley Benton, led by the globally famous music store Thomann. With its affordable yet high-quality musical instruments and gear, Harley Benton impresses users and delivers products that are unlikely to be matched in their price range. 

Harley Benton Dullahan electric guitars are just one of those fantastic instrument lines. Finding an affordable headless guitar is almost impossible, yet Dullahan shines with its price tag as well as its high-quality construction. The series consists of great headless guitars with dual humbucker pickup configuration with 24 stainless steel frets in mahogany or alder body options, different color finishes, and different neck material variations. 

All of these features come for a surprisingly affordable price making the instrument excellent value for the money. The high-quality materials and construction used, such as the fantastic fretwork with the stainless steel frets, are something you expect from much higher-end instruments.

Pros	Cons
Excellent value for money	Small screws and bolts that can easily get lost
High quality and detail-oriented construction	Volume and Tone pots are not the best
Amazing fretwork with stainless steel frets
Eye-catching look
Comes with a gig bag

There is nothing much to say against Harley Benton Dullahan except some minor issues. It easily deserves 5 points out of 5 and is a great instrument if you are on the market for headless guitars. You can’t go wrong with Harley Benton Dullahan.

Harley Benton

Founded in 1954, Thomann Music is one of the most famous music stores in the world today. The company has branches all over in the U.S.A., U.K. while the main store is located in Germany. However, wherever you are, the company ships its products safely and quickly worldwide.

During the 2000s, Thomann opened their e-store to provide a better service worldwide and reach every corner of the world. The last step was to establish their own musical instrument and gear brand, which was realized in the 2010s with the name Harley Benton.

Harley Benton quickly became insanely popular among musicians with its affordable and high-quality instruments. The brand surprised many guitarists with exceptionally good instruments and gear for meager prices, which led to many amazing reviews and feedback all over the internet in blogs, stores, and video reviews. Today, it can easily be said, Harley Benton offers the best products in the price range.

The factories are located in China and the far east, and the brand focuses on producing instruments like well-known models such as Stratocaster, Telecaster, Les Paul. The quality control and the customer service of the brand are also outstanding, as you would expect from the brand of the biggest music store in the world.

The Specs Of Harley Benton Dullahan

Let’s look at the features of the Dullahan Series to better understand the quality of the instrument.

Shared General Specs

Series	Dullahan
Number of Strings	6
Hand Orientation	Right
Weight	5.95 lbs (2.7 kg)

Shared Body Specs

Body Shape	ST
Body Construction	1-Piece Body
Body Type	Solid
Top Material	None / Flamed Maple Veneer Top
Finish	Satin

Shared Neck Specs

Scale Length	25.5” (648 mm)
Neck Material	Maple
Truss Rod	Adjustment at the base of the neck
Truss Rod Type	Wrench
Fingerboard Radius	13,78″ (350 mm)
Position Inlays	Dots
Number of Frets	24
Fret Material	Stainless Steel
Fret Size	Jumbo
Nut	Graph Tech TUSQ XL
Nut Width	1.65” (42 mm)

Shared Electronics Specs

Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B-BK Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	1x Master volume, 1x Mastertone
Switch	5-way blade lever switch

Sahred Hardware Specs

Tailpiece	None
Bridge Type	Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge
Tuners	Headless Tunners on the bridge
Finish	Black
Pickguard	None

Harley Benton Dullahan has many different models with slight differences between them. All of the models share many specs but they all have some nuances making the lines versatile for different needs. The main model series are AT and FT which feature different specs which will be explained later.

Harley Benton Dullahan’s headless guitar features an ST-style body of Alder wood or Mahogany wood. It has a flat or arched top indicated with the letter FT or AT on the name. The 1-piece solid body has a superb-looking satin finish, which is Shell Pink in my case. In this run, the other color options are Deep Blue, Ice Blue, and Pore Black Satin.

The series has another run with other variations of guitars with the color options; Flame Tiger Black Burst, Flame Purple Black Burst, and Transparent Black.

The guitar is relatively light, weighing around 5.95 lbs (2.7 kg). Plus, it feels really balanced, making the longer playing sessions more enjoyable and easier.

The guitar’s scale length is 25.5” (648 mm), which is standard. The neck and the fretboard material are roasted maple. The fingerboard radius is 13,78” (350 mm), and the position inlays are black offset black dots. The truss rod can easily be adjusted at the base of the neck.

The neck is very smooth, with soft edges, no frets sticking out, and they all seem level. The fit and finish also look quite perfect without any defaults. There are ebony or maple fingerboard options and the neck material is maple on all of the models.

Coming to the frets, the guitar’s fretwork is quite excellent with 24 jumbo size stainless steel frets. Stainless steel frets are not something you would expect from a guitar in this price range, but Harley Benton does the magic.

Furthermore, the Graph Tech TUSQ XL size nut measures around 1,65” (42 mm.)

The pickup configuration is HH with Roswell Roswell HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker in the neck and Roswell HAF-B-BK Alnico-5 humbucker in the bridge.

There are two knobs to control master volume and master tone, as well as a 3-way blade lever switch to adjust which pickups to be used.

The bridge is an Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge, and the finish of the hardware is black, which complements the great look of the guitar.

The guitar is made in Indonesia, which is reflected in the quality of the guitar. Most budget headless guitars are made in China, and the cheap quality can be felt all over them, but with this one, that is not the case.

What I didn’t like about the guitar is that there are small screws and bolts that you can lose really easily. Adjusting the height of the saddles isn’t that great, and you need to lose the string and use a special tool to do so, which makes the process a bit difficult. But, this is the case with many headless guitars, not special to this one.

The Sound, The Feel Of Harley Benton Dullahan

Before talking about this guitar, I must say if you haven’t played headless guitar before, it might take a little time before getting used to the feeling. The tuning is different and might be complicated at first. However, you will get used to it before you know it.

Once you pass that phase, Harley Benton Dullahan is quite enjoyable to play around with. The access to the upper frets is easy, and the roasted maple neck feels exceptionally smooth with the stainless steel frets. As the fretwork is outstanding, the fretboard elevates the instrument’s playability to the sky.

The setup was OK. It was not great, but I managed to lower the action quickly. It is not the lowest I have played, but it is still low.

The modern C neck shape coupled with the matte finish makes getting around the neck very easy and fast. Plus, the fingerboard is relatively flat, making it even more comfortable.

The guitar is ultra-lightweight, which is another huge plus as long playing sessions get easier. The guitar does not feel cumbersome at all, and it is extremely well-balanced, which feels comfortable while sitting or standing.

When it comes to the sound, the guitar surprised me a little. I was expecting it to have a more aggressive high-gain style tone, but it turned out to be less aggressive and more versatile. The pickups are high-output, but they are not distortion monsters at all; instead, they thrive both with crunchy and clean sounds with a nice character and great dynamics. 

The pickups are surprisingly good. They sound very close to Seymour Duncan SH-JB set I have.

The extreme overdrives are reserved for the bridge humbucker position. So in this sense, I can say Dullahan is more versatile than I thought in terms of tones. It is not made for vintage-style tones; instead, it is for more modern sounds, both crunchy and clean.

It is not a solo high-gain guitar like many headless guitars; instead, it is a progressive style instrument, perfect for progressive rock and metal, fusion rock, and contemporary instrumental rock guitar music.

To get a better opinion about it, you can watch the video demo where the tester plays the guitar within different pickup positions and styles.

Harley Benton Dullahan Is Perfect For Whom?

Harley Benton Dullahan is a great guitar for players who want a versatile guitar with a lightweight. It may take some time to get used to the headless guitar style, but once you do, you can have an ideal guitar to travel with.

If you are a beginner, I would not recommend you to purchase a headless guitar as things may get more complicated. But, if you insist on doing it, Harley Benton would not disappoint. It lets you avoid the hassle of a headstock and keeps your instrument in tune all the time.

The guitar performs well with many genres, but it is specially designed for progressive rock, fusion rock, instrumental rock, and metal. It has high output pickups, so this guitar is for players who love the modern distortion rock tones. If you are after more vintage vibes, this guitar is not for you.

Harley Benton Dullahan is perfect for guitarists who want to experiment with an affordable headless guitar or players who are often traveling and need a lightweight instrument. Intermediate players, as well as professional players, can go with the Dullahan, but of course, it will need some upgrades, like a pickup upgrade, to provide professional performance.

Differences Between The Models In The Series

There are many models in the Harley Benton Dullahan line with slight nuances on each one, such as the neck, bridge, and color differences. Harley Benton released the Dullahan series in 2 different runs.

Run 1

Dullahan-FT 24 Roasted IB

Model	Dullahan-FT 24 Roasted IB
Run Number	#1
Body Material	Alder
Color & Finish	Ice Blue Gloss
Top Material	–
Top Type	Flat
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graph Tech Tusq XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Bridge Pickup	HAF-B-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-way Blade Switch, Master Volume / Master Tone
Bridge	Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge
Hardware Color	Black

The FT 24 Roasted IB has the same features as the guitar reviewed in this article. The only difference is that it has the Ice Blue Satin finish along with the roasted maple neck. Plus, like all of the guitars in the series with the FT name, it has a flat top and an alder body.

Dullahan-FT 24 BKS

Model	Dullahan-FT 24 BKS
Run Number	#1
Body Material	Alder
Color & Finish	Natural Open Pore Black Satin
Top Material	–
Top Type	Flat
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graph Tech Tusq XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Bridge Pickup	HAF-B-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-way Blade Switch, Master Volume / Master Tone
Bridge	Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge
Hardware Color	Black

On this flat top model, the difference is with the satin finish, which has the color Natural Open Pore Black, and the neck, which is not roasted but made from maple. Like the other guitars on the first run, it has an alder body.

Dullahan-AT 24 TBK

Model	Dullahan-AT 24 TBK
Run Number	#1
Body Material	Mahogany
Color & Finish	Transparent Black
Top Material	Flamed Maple Veneer Top
Top Type	Arched
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Bolt-on Maple Neck & Ebony Fingerboard
Nut	Graph Tech Tusq XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Bridge Pickup	HAF-B-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-way Blade Switch, Master Volume / Master Tone
Bridge	Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge
Hardware Color	Black

The AT letters in the name indicates the arched top feature. These models feature ebony fretboard and mahogany bodies. The TBK in the name shows that the finish has a Transparent Black color.

Run 2

Dullahan-FT 24 Roasted SP

Model	Dullahan-FT 24 Roasted SP
Run Number	#2
Body Material	Alder
Color & Finish	Shell Pink
Top Material	–
Top Type	Flat
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graph Tech Tusq XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Bridge Pickup	HAF-B-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-way blade, Master Volume / Master Tone
Bridge	Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge
Hardware Color	Black

This is the model I have. It has the same features as the FT models. The difference is that the maple neck is roasted and the finish is a Shell Pink color. As with all the FT models, it has an Alder body.

Dullahan-FT 24 Roasted DB

Model	Dullahan-FT 24 Roasted DB
Run Number	#2
Body Material	Alder
Color & Finish	Daphne Blue Satin
Top Material	–
Top Type	Flat
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graph Tech Tusq XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Bridge Pickup	HAF-B-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-way blade, Master Volume / Master Tone
Bridge	Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge
Hardware Color	Black

This model is the same as the reviewed guitar in the article; however, the finish is Daphne Blue Satin, and the neck is made from roasted flame maple. As the name indicates, it has a flat top and an alder body.

Dullahan-AT 24 TBB

Model	Dullahan-AT 24 TBB
Run Number	#2
Body Material	Mahogany
Color & Finish	Transparent Black
Top Material	–
Top Type	Arched
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Bolt-on Maple Neck & Ebony Fingerboard
Nut	Graph Tech Tusq XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Bridge Pickup	HAF-B-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-way Blade Switch, Master Volume / Master Tone
Bridge	Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge
Hardware Color	Black

Dullahan-AT 24 TBB belongs to the AT series, which has an arched top and an ebony fingerboard, and a flamed maple veneer top. The finish has the Flame Tiger Black Burst color. The rest of the specs are the same as the rest. This model is sold out at the time this article is being written. So, you can check the availability from the Harley Benton website.

Dullahan-AT 24 PBB

Model	Dullahan-AT 24 PBB
Run Number	#2
Body Material	Mahogany
Color & Finish	Flame Purple Black Burst
Top Material	Flamed Maple Veneer Top
Top Type	Arched
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Bolt-on Maple Neck & Ebony Fingerboard
Nut	Graph Tech Tusq XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	HAF-N-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Bridge Pickup	HAF-B-BK AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-way Blade Switch, Master Volume / Master Tone
Bridge	Apollo mono HL-STB02 bridge
Hardware Color	Black

Dullahan-AT 24 PBB has the same features as the other models in the AT series. The only difference is the finish color which is Flame Purple Black Burst.

Harley Benton Dullahan FT vs AT

As explained in the Differences Between The Models In The Series section, the FT in the name of the models means Flat Top while AT means arched top. However, this is not the only difference between the models.

FT models feature an alder body with a roasted or not-roasted maple fretboard, while AT models have a mahogany body with an ebony fretboard. Also, the AT models have flamed veneer tops. These are the only differences between the model lines.

Other Harley Benton Guitars Worth Checking Out

Harley Benton Fusion-III

The latest flagship series of Harley Benton is the ST-style guitar line Fusion-III. The series feature many different models with different pickup configurations, ebony or roasted maple necks, different bridge systems, and finish choices. All the guitars have a great feel with stainless steel frets, nyatoh solid bodies, and remarkably balanced necks. Plus, they are ultra-lightweight, making the guitars an excellent purchase for the price.

SC-550 II

Harley Benton’s take on Les Paul-style guitars is SC-550 II. It comes with a chambered mahogany body, curved AAA maple top, set-in mahogany neck, 22 Blacksmith stainless steel frets, 2 Tesla Opus-1 AlNiCo-5 humbuckers, and DLX Tune-O-Matic bridge.

HB-35 Plus

Inspired by Gibson ES-335, HB-35 Plus is an excellent semi-hollow electric guitar with an affordable price tag. It comes in several different colors and high-quality materials with a dual humbucker configuration. It is an excellent option for guitarists looking for an affordable ES-335 style electric guitar.

Is It Possible To Upgrade Harley Benton Dullahan?

As with most electric guitars, you can upgrade Harley Benton Dullahan’s parts to have a better-sounding, more durable, and personalized guitar. Although it is not necessary, the parts you can upgrade to have a better performance are pickups and pots, in this case.

Pickups

The pickups of Dullahan are pretty good. They sound very close to  Seymour Duncan SH-JB. So, you do not have to change them. But if you want professional sound, you might consider having a higher-end pickup set from Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio, for example.

Pots

The volume and tone pots are another weakness of the guitar. Significantly, the volume pot sucks out the tone and sounds tinny as you roll it down. There are many better pots you can purchase, such as Jim Dunlop, Seymour Duncan, or CTS.

Alternatives To The Instrument In Terms Of Look, Feel, Sound, Specs, And Price

NK Headless Electric Guitar

NK is another brand from China that produces good-quality headless guitars and I own one myself. The brand offers many different models with different string amounts. The 6 string model features roasted maple wood with a satin finish and flame maple fretboard. The back and top material is ash wood with a satin finish.

The pickups are Artecsound, while a 5-way blade switch with coil split with push-pull tone knob creates a versatile guitar. It is an excellent guitar for heavy genres such as death metal, hardcore metal.

The cool thing about NK guitars is that you can talk to the seller and he can make you any color, configuration you like, even on based old models.

The NK 6 string model costs more or less the same as Harley Benton Dullahan.

GOC Materia Headless Guitar 6 String MH6MOL

GOC is a lesser-known brand from China that produces great headless guitars. MH2 model features a North American Ash body with a great matte finish, Atlaswood (RW) flat center D-shaped neck, and again Atlaswood (GE) fretboard.

It has 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets and 4th Dimension Calibrated Set pickups. Furthermore, it features  ZSR – 01 All-Brass bridge. 

It looks great with a matte black finish, and the tone is quite aggressive with active pickups. It is an excellent guitar for metal-style playing.

GOC MH2 cost is significantly more than Harley Benton Dullahan.

Strandberg Boden Standard 6

Strandberg is one of the most famous and successful headless guitar producers on the market today. Their models are higher-end products, but one of their top-notch models, Boden Standard 6, is relatively affordable and great.

With its chambered body which is incredibly resonant, and a 4A flame maple cap and roasted maple neck, the guitar sounds great with excellent brightness and defined attack. The chambered body and headless shape make the guitar highly portable, great for traveling musicians.

But of course, this quality comes at a high price. The Strandberg Boden Standard 6 costs 4.5 times more than Harley Benton Dullahan.

Conclusion

In short, Harley Benton Dullahan is a fantastic guitar, especially when its price is taken into account.  With dual humbucker pickup configuration, 24 stainless steel frets and mahogany or alder body options, different color finishes, and different neck material variations Harley Benton Dullahan series has a guitar for every player in search of a headless guitar.

In terms of sound, it is not as aggressive as other headless guitars on the market and is more versatile. It performs well with clean and crunchy tones and is excellent for progressive rock-metal and fusion rock. Plus, it is pretty light and balanced, making it ideal for carrying around or extended practice sessions.

All of these great features come for such an affordable price, making this guitar a gem in the headless guitar world. I have tried many budget headless guitars, but none of them are even close to the quality, feel and sound of this one.

If you are a headless guitar lover, you should try this instrument. I am sure you will be more than satisfied.

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