Harley Benton Fusion-III Series Review – Is It Really That Good?

Harley Benton has been getting more and more popular in recent years with its high quality yet affordable instruments and accessories. The internet is full of positive reviews of Harley Benton products which actually is a side-brand of the globally famous music store Thomann Music.

The brand introduced the Fusion-III electric guitar series back in July 2021 with the promise of new Fusion-III models in the following months, which turned out to be accurate. Two months after the first run, Harley Benton introduced run#2, and after 4 months came run#3 with two new models and six lovely finishes, finally came run#4 with four new variations.

To summarize, Harley Benton Fusion-III is an excellent purchase for the price. It shines with its comfortable neck, high-quality nut, great locking tuners, its lightweight and impressive fretwork with stainless steel frets. Plus, it comes in many different finishes for different tastes, all looking quite elegant.

Pros	Cons
Excellent value for money	Pickups could be better
High quality and detail-oriented construction
Amazing fretwork with stainless steel frets

I would definitely rate this guitar 5 out of 5, especially when the price is taken into account. I like Harley Benton guitars in general, but Fusion III exceeds the expectations with its high playability and high-quality parts that you would expect from higher-end instruments. But Harley Benton does the magic and delivers these instruments for under $400.

Harley Benton

When it comes to music instruments and gear, Thomann is one of the biggest retail stores globally. The main store is located in Germany, but the company ships worldwide and has stores all over the world, including England and U.S.A. It was founded in 1954 and, year by year became the most famous music store in Europe.

With the internet reaching every house in the 2000s, Thomann opened an e-store where every musical instrument and accessories can be easily purchased. And in the last decade, Thomann took things further, launching their own brand of instruments and gear called Harley Benton.

Harley Benton quickly became popular with its affordable and high-quality instruments. Many users were surprised and amazed by the quality of the instruments and gear, leaving fantastic reviews and feedback all over the internet. There is no doubt that Harley Benton offers the best guitars in the price range.

The factories are located in China, 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 Fusion-III

Let’s have a look at the Shared Specs of Fusion-III series has to offer. Individual models are covered in a section down below.

General Shared Specs

Series	Fusion III
Number of Strings	6
Hand Orientation	Right
Weight	7.3 lbs (3.3 kg)

Shared Body Specs

Body Shape	ST
Body Construction	1-Piece Body
Body Type	Solid
Body Material	Nyatoh
Top Type	Flat with armrest curve

Shared Neck Specs

Scale Length	25.5” (648 mm)
Truss Rod	Adjustment at the base of the neck
Truss Rod Type	Wrench
Fingerboard Radius	12″ (305 mm)
Position Inlays	Ivory Dots
Number of Frets	24
Fret Material	Blacksmith Stainless Steel Frets
Fret Size	Medium-jumbo
Nut Width	1.654″ (42 mm)

Shared Hardware Specs

Tailpiece	None
Pickguard	None

The Harley Benton Fusion-III has a lot of models, each of them is slightly different from the other but they share some specs. All the models are ST-style body shapes made from Nyatoh wood. The necks in that series are Roasted maple necks or hard Canadian maple necks with Macassar ebony fingerboard. The scale length on all the models is 25.5″ (648 mm).

When it comes to pickups, there are HH, HSH, and HSS configurations. All of the pickups are some kind of Rosewell pickup type. As for the bridge, most of them are 2 point Wilkinson tremolo, but there are hardtail models and Floyd rose as well. The type of the bridge determines the nut, for tremolo and hardtail you will have a Graph tech nut and for Floydrose you will have a locking nut.

When it comes to color variations and top variation there is a huge selection. I have listed down below all the models with all their specific specs and differences.

I got the Fusion-III HSS Roasted DB that comes with Daphne Blue with a stain finish. The guitar is quite lightweight, weighing around 7.3 lbs (3.3 kg), and feels really balanced. This is great as it will not get you tired of playing it for hours.

The scale length of the guitar is pretty standard, 25.5” (648 mm). The neck is made of Roasted Canadian Flame Hard Maple, while the fingerboard material is Roasted Canadian Hard Maple. Both are high-quality woods that offer high playability.

The fingerboard radius is 12” (305 mm), and the position inlays are ivory dots that look pretty elegant. The truss rod is adjusted at the base of the neck with a wrench.

The guitar’s fretwork is quite excellent with medium-jumbo size stainless steel frets. There are 24 frets which give you the full scale for high playability.

The nut is Graph tech TUSQ with the measurement of 1.654” (42 mm.)

The pickup configuration is HSS with Roswell S74-N Alnico-5 single-coil in the neck, Roswell S74-M Alnico-5 single-coil in the middle, and the Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker in the bridge. The pickups are pretty good for the price but can be upgraded for higher performance.

The controls are 1x Master volume, 1x Master tone push/pull (Single/Humbucker) with a 5-way blade lever switch to adjust which pickups to be used.

The bridge is a Wilkinson WVS 50IIK tremolo bridge, and the tuners are WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners. The finish of the hardware is chrome which elevates the elegant look of the guitar.

The Sound, The Feel Of Harley Benton Fusion-III

The first thing to say about the feel of Fusion-III is that it is simply amazing. The neck feels phenomenal with the excellent satin finish. It is not too chunky like a baseball bat, and it is not paper-thin like a shredder neck. It is just in the right balance and feels genuinely outstanding.

The guitar is exceptionally lightweight and sits very balanced on lap, which elevates the instrument’s comfort and feel.

When it comes to the sound, the Roswell pickups deliver a satisfying job, but I must say they are not the best pieces of pickups. They are okay for an amateur player and are pretty versatile in which you can play many genres from pop to hard-rock, but for semi-pro and professional usage, you will have to upgrade them with higher-quality ones.

I feel the sound lacks a bit of clarity, transparency in all positions, but it is most noticeable in the neck-middle position. But, this is definitely not a dealbreaker, and you can upgrade the pickups whenever you want.

You can check the following video demo of the guitar to have a better opinion of the tone of the instrument.

Harley Benton Fusion-III Is Perfect For Whom?

Harley Benton Fusion-III is an excellent guitar for those looking for an affordable yet high-quality ST-style electric guitar to practice, perform, or record. Whether you are an experienced player looking for another guitar for your collection or a beginner in search of the first electric guitar, you can go with Harley Benton Fusion-III without hesitation.

The guitar’s setup is quite okay, and the materials are high quality which means you will not need to spend much time adjusting action or anything on the guitar. I think it can be lowered even more. However, as it is it is good for beginners.

Also, with a quick upgrade on the pickups, the guitar can sound highly professional. With the high-quality material and the comfortable playing experience it offers are taken into account, Fusion-III can be a good companion for experienced guitarists playing in live gigs or recording sessions.

Another great feature is the matte finish of the guitar. This is especially important for players with sweaty hands because the matte finish prevents your hands from slipping successfully.

As it is an ST-style guitar, you can play pretty much any genre, which means Fusion-III is quite versatile. It is also lightweight, not getting you tired of playing for hours. All in all, if you are a guitarist, it does not matter your level or playing style; you will most probably enjoy this guitar.

Differences Between The Models In The Series

There are many models in the Harley Benton Fusion-III line with slight nuances on each one, such as the neck, bridge, and color differences. Harley Benton released the Fusion-III series in four different runs, with a few months between each run.

Run#1

Fusion-III HH Roasted SSP

Model	Fusion-III HH Roasted SSP
Run Number	#1
Color & Finish	Gloss silver sparkle
Top Material	–
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Nu-Bone bone nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Roswell LAF-N-GD AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	–
Bridge Pickup	Roswell LAF-B-GD AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	3-way switch , Master Volume & tone control with push/pull function
Bridge	Wilkinson 50II 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners
Hardware Color	Matt nickel

This model comes with dual humbuckers, and a Wilkinson 50II 2-point tremolo along with a gloss silver sparkle finish. The neck is made of roasted curly maple along with the roasted maple fingerboard.

Fusion-III HSH Roasted FBB

Model	Fusion-III HSH Roasted FBB
Run Number	#1
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Bengal Burst
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HSH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N AlNiCo humbucker
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-C BK AlNiCo-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Switch, Master Volume & tone control with push/pull function
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners
Hardware Color	Matt nickel

This one features a humbucker, single-coil, humbucker configuration, and a Wilkinson 50II 2-point tremolo with a gloss trans-flamed Bengal burst finish. Again, the neck is made of roasted curly maple, and the fingerboard is roasted maple.

Fusion-III HSH Roasted FCB

Model	Fusion-III HSH Roasted FCB
Run Number	#1
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Charcoal Burst
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HSH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N AlNiCo humbucker
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-C BK AlNiCo-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Switch, Master Volume & tone control with push/pull function
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners
Hardware Color	Chrome

Again, this model has a humbucker, single-coil, humbucker configuration, and a Wilkinson 50II 2-point tremolo with a gloss trans flamed charcoal burst finish. The neck and the fingerboard are made from roasted maple.

Fusion-III HSH EB FBLB

Model	Fusion-III HSH EB FBLB
Run Number	#1
Color & Finish	Trans Flamed Blue Burst
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple Neck & Macassar Ebony (diospyros celebica) Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HSH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N AlNiCo humbucker
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-C BK AlNiCo-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Switch, Master Volume & tone control with push/pull function
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners
Hardware Color	Chrome

This is another humbucker, single-coil, humbucker configuration model with a Wilkinson 50II 2-point tremolo. However, this model features a Macassar ebony fingerboard and a gloss trans-flamed blue burst finish. The neck is again Canadian hard maple but not roasted.

Fusion-III HH EB BK

Model	Fusion-III HH EB BK
Run Number	#1
Color & Finish	Gloss black
Top Material	–
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Maple Neck & Ebony Fingerboard
Nut	Nu-Bone bone nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Roswell LAF-N-CR Alnico-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	–
Bridge Pickup	Roswell LAF-B-CR Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	3-Way Switch, Master Volume & tone control with push/pull function
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners
Hardware Color	Chrome

This dual humbucker model with a gloss black finish features the standard Wilkinson 50II 2-point tremolo and maple neck along with an ebony fingerboard. The neck is made of Canadian hard maple. Plus, it has a Nu-Bone nut.

Fusion-III HSH EB FCH

Model	Fusion-III HSH EB FCH
Run Number	#1
Color & Finish	Flame Cherry
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ XL nut
Pickup Configuration	HSH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N AlNiCo humbucker
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-C BK AlNiCo-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B AlNiCo-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Switch, Master Volume & tone control with push/pull function
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast tuners
Hardware Color	Chrome

The last model of the first run has the humbucker, single-coil, humbucker configuration with Macassar ebony fingerboard, Canadian hard maple neck, and a flame cherry finish. This model is currently sold out but you can check the availability on the Harley Benton website.

Run#2

Fusion-III HH FR EB FCH

Model	Fusion-III HH FR EB FCH
Run Number	#2
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Cherry
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Macassar Ebony (diospyros celebica) Fingerboard
Nut	Floyd Rose with string tension bar
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	–
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	3-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Floyd Rose 1000
Tuners	Grover GH305 6L
Hardware Color	Chrome

Here we have the dual humbucker, Macassar ebony fingerboard, Canadian hard maple neck model in the flame cherry finish with the added Floyd rose bridge system.

Fusion-III HH FR EB FCB

Model	Fusion-III HH FR EB FCB
Run Number	#2
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Charcoal Burst
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Macassar Ebony (diospyros celebica) Fingerboard
Nut	Floyd Rose with string tension bar
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	–
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	3-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Floyd Rose 1000
Tuners	Grover GH305 6L
Hardware Color	Chrome

Again, this model features the dual humbucker configuration, Canadian hard maple neck, and Macassar ebony fingerboard in the gloss trans flamed Bengal burst finish with the Floyd rose bridge system.

Fusion-III HSH EB FBB

Model	Fusion-III HSH EB FBB
Run Number	#2
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Bengal Burst
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Macassar Ebony (diospyros celebica) Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ XL
Pickup Configuration	HSH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast
Hardware Color	Chrome

The last model of the second run has the humbucker, single-coil, humbucker configuration along with Macassar ebony fingerboard in the gloss trans flamed Bengal burst finish.

Run #3

Fusion-III HH HT Roasted SPP

Model	Fusion-III HH HT Roasted SPP
Run Number	#3
Color & Finish	Sparkle Pink Gloss, back/sides Trans Mahogany
Top Material	–
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Roswell LAF-N4 Alnico humbucker
Middle Pickup	–
Bridge Pickup	Roswell LAF-B4 Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	3-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	WSC Hipshot style HT bridge
Tuners	LCSG118-6L-D07 staggered
Hardware Color	Black

This one features a dual humbucker configuration with roasted Canadian flame hard maple neck and a sparkle pink finish. The new addition is the hard-tail bridge.

Fusion-III HSS Roasted SP

Model	Fusion-III HSS Roasted SP
Run Number	#3
Color & Finish	Shell Pink Satin
Top Material	–
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Neck Pickup	Roswell S74-N Alnico-5 single coil
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-M Alnico-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Blade Lever Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Wilkinson WV550IIK tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast
Hardware Color	Chrome

This model with a shell-pink finish has the humbucker, single-coil, single-coil configuration along with the standard Wilkinson 50II 2-point tremolo bridge. Plus, the neck is made of roasted Canadian flame hard maple.

Fusion-III HSS Roasted IB

Model	Fusion-III HSS Roasted IB
Run Number	#3
Color & Finish	Ice blue, Gloss finish
Top Material	–
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Neck Pickup	Roswell S74-N Alnico-5 single coil
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-M Alnico-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Blade Lever Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Wilkinson WV550IIK tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast
Hardware Color	Chrome

This one is another humbucker, single-coil, single-coil configuration model with roasted Canadian flame maple neck, Wilkinson 50II 2-point tremolo, and ice blue finish.

Fusion-III HSS Roasted DB

Model	Fusion-III HSS Roasted DB
Run Number	#3
Color & Finish	Daphne blue satin finish
Top Material	–
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Neck Pickup	Roswell S74-N Alnico-5 single coil
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-M Alnico-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Blade Lever Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Wilkinson WV550IIK tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast
Hardware Color	Chrome

Here is another humbucker, single-coil, single-coil configuration model with roasted Canadian flame maple neck and fingerboard with the daphne blue satin finish. The bridge system is standard Wilkinson WV550IIK tremolo.

Fusion-III HSS Roasted DP

Model	Fusion-III HSS Roasted DP
Run Number	#3
Color & Finish	Dark pink gloss finish
Top Material	–
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ
Pickup Configuration	HSS
Neck Pickup	Roswell S74-N Alnico-5 single coil
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-M Alnico-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Blade Lever Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Wilkinson WV550IIK tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast
Hardware Color	Chrome

This one again features humbucker, single-coil, single-coil configuration with roasted Canadian flame maple neck and fingerboard. The finish is dark pink gloss, and the bridge is Wilkinson WV550IIK tremolo.

Fusion-III HH HT Roasted IB

Model	Fusion-III HH HT Roasted IB
Run Number	#3
Color & Finish	Ice blue, gloss finish
Top Material	–
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Roswell LAF-N4 Alnico humbucker
Middle Pickup	–
Bridge Pickup	Roswell LAF-B4 Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	3-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	WSC Hipshot style HT bridge
Tuners	LCSG118-6L-D07 staggered
Hardware Color	Black

This is another dual humbucker model in the 3rd run and features a roasted Canadian flame maple neck and fingerboard with a hard-tail bridge and an ice blue finish.

Run#4

Fusion-III HSH EB FCB

Model	Fusion-III HSH EB FCB
Run Number	#4
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Charcoal Burst
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Macassar Ebony (diospyros celebica) Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ XL
Pickup Configuration	HSH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast
Hardware Color	Chrome

This model from the 4th run has the humbucker, single-coil, humbucker configuration with a roasted Canadian flame maple neck and fingerboard. The finish is gloss trans-flamed charcoal burst, and the bridge system is Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point.

Fusion-III HSH EB FPU

Model	Fusion-III HSH EB FPU
Run Number	#4
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Purple
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Macassar Ebony (diospyros celebica) Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ XL
Pickup Configuration	HSH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast
Hardware Color	Chrome

This one, again, has the humbucker, single-coil, humbucker configuration with Canadian hard maple neck and Macassar ebony fingerboard. The finish is gloss trans-flamed purple, and the bridge system is Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point.

Fusion-III HSH Roasted FCH

Model	Fusion-III HSH Roasted FCH
Run Number	#4
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Cherry
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Graphtech TUSQ XL
Pickup Configuration	HSH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 single coil
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	5-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo
Tuners	WSC staggered locking die-cast
Hardware Color	Chrome

Here is another model with the humbucker, single-coil, humbucker configuration model with roasted Canadian flame maple neck and fingerboard. The bridge system is standard Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point, and the finish is gloss trans-flamed cherry.

Fusion-III HH FR Roasted FPU

Model	Fusion-III HH FR Roasted FPU
Run Number	#4
Color & Finish	Gloss Trans Flamed Purple
Top Material	“Ultra Flame” flamed maple veneer
Neck & Fingerboard Material	Roasted Canadian Hard Maple Neck & Fingerboard
Nut	Floyd Rose with string-tension bar nut
Pickup Configuration	HH
Neck Pickup	Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 humbucker
Middle Pickup	–
Bridge Pickup	Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 humbucker
Controls	3-Way Switch, 1x master volume, 1x master tone push/pull (single-coil/humbucker)
Bridge	Floyd Rose
Tuners	Grover GH305 6L
Hardware Color	Black

This model features a dual humbucker pickup configuration along with a roasted Canadian flame maple neck and fingerboard. The bridge is standard Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point, and the finish is gloss trans-flamed purple.

Harley Benton Fusion II vs III

There is not much difference between the Fusion-II line of guitars and the Fusion-III line. The only difference in the specs is that Fusion-II has a humbucker-single coil switch while Fusion-III has push-pull style tone knobs. 

The humbucker-single coil switch allows you to activate a single-coil at the bridge and another single coil at the neck, isolating one of the coils on each humbucker. On the other hand, Fusion-III has a master volume and master tone with a push-pull coil-split.

Other Harley Benton Guitars Worth Checking Out

Harley Benton Dullahan

Harley Benton Dullahan is a great line of headless guitars from Harley Benton. The guitars have a dual humbucker configuration with 24 stainless steel frets in mahogany or alder body options, different color finishes, and different neck material variations.

Fusion-T HH

The Fusion-T HH line of guitars brings the 50’s style vintage guitars to modern times. They come in various color options, nyatoh body, flamed maple veneer top, roasted Canadian flamed maple neck with, roasted maple or ebony fingerboard variations, 22 medium-jumbo blacksmith frets made of stainless steel, Wilkinson 50IIK 2-point tremolo, and chrome hardware.

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.

Is It Possible To Upgrade Harley Benton Fusion-III?

Although Harley Benton Fusion-III is excellent for its price as it is, you can upgrade the bridge and pickups for more durability and higher performance. I would not change anything else on this guitar.

Bridge

The bridges the Fusion series come with are not stainless steel which means they are prone to corrosion and oxidation. You can upgrade the bridge to a stainless steel one for more durability.

Pickups

The pickups on the guitar actually are pretty satisfying, but with a bit of upgrade, the guitar’s sound can go to professional levels. Depending on the model you have, you can check some higher-end Seymour Duncan or Dimarzio models to elevate the sound quality of the guitar.

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

Fender Player MIM Stratocaster

Fender Player MIM Stratocaster is the replacement of the Mexican Standard Series that stopped being produced in 2018. It is now one of the most famous electric guitars globally as it offers the Stratocaster quality for an affordable price.

Player Stratocaster features Alnico 5 pickups that provide a slightly thicker Strat tone without losing its bite when pushed. The HSS configuration makes a very versatile guitar that will take you from Hendrix to Metallica with the flip of a switch. It features an Alder body with a maple neck and choice of either a maple or pau Ferro fingerboard.

With the modern C-shaped neck profile with a 9.5″-radius fingerboard and a two-point tremolo bridge with bent-steel saddles, it is a great guitar that is just a point down from a real Strat. The only difference is materials are slightly lower-quality, and the production was made in Mexico instead of the U.S.A.

Fender Player MIM Stratocaster costs double the price of Harley Benton Fusion-III.

Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC112V

Although it is not precisely a Strat-style guitar, Yamaha Pacifica has many Strat-like features like the alder body, maple neck, Vintage Style Tremolo w/ Block Saddle, and two Alnico V single-coil pickups as well as an Alnico V Humbucker pickup.

The Pacifica Series is well known for its great sound and high playability. They are great guitars for blues, rock n’ roll, punk, classic rock, and even hard rock with the help of the humbucker.

The neck is well-shaped, and it is a full C-shaped neck that feels thinner in-depth than it actually is. It is really solid and stable, offering a comfortable playing experience.

In short, it is a great budget guitar, which is why it is one of the best-selling models of Yamaha. It costs less than Harley Benton Fusion-III.

Cort G-300 Pro

Probably, the best alternative guitar to Fusion-III in this article is the Cort G-300 Pro. It is the flagship model of the iconic G series of Cort and is a boutique-style guitar with modern enhancements, as explained on the official website.

It offers superb playability, high tonal versatility, and an elegant design for the eyes. It is made of an American Basswood body with a maple top, roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, along with two Seymour Duncan humbuckers.

The guitar is highly versatile in terms of tones, with excellent modern-sounding tones with rich midrange and bright sparkles, making it a great guitar for soloing.

Cort G-300 Pro costs more than double the Harley Benton Fusion-III.

Conclusion

In short, Harley Benton Fusion-III is one of the most remarkable guitar series in its price range. The high quality of the materials, the neck, the nut, the locking tuners, the lightweight, excellent fretwork with stainless steel frets are all top-notch features that you would expect from higher-end guitars.

The guitar reminds me of my Cort G300 Pro, which I bought for double the price of Harley Benton Fusion-III. Like many guitarists around the world, I am too amazed by this tremendous ST-style guitar series by Harley Benton. Plus, there are 19 models on the series with a different finish, neck material, and bridge system options which means everybody can find something for their taste. This guitar is definitely a keeper.

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Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API