Surf’s Up

The latest range from Harley Benton is based on the rare Mosrite brand. A viable cheapie or a clone too far?

- Dave Burrluck

HARLEY BENTON MR-MODERN £295

WHAT IS IT?

Budget Mostritestyle offset double-cut from Thomann's in-house brand

Fast becoming the place to find a bargain, Harley Benton - a house brand of online giant Thomann - seems to release new models on a monthly 'Classic' models at £209 and this rather more pimped 'Modern' version at a lofty £295. And when we say pimped, we get jumbo stainless-steel frets on a Macassar ebony fingerboard, a Wilkinson VS-50 II vibrato, Graph Tech nut, rear locking tuners, and a pair of coil-splittable Artec humbucking soapbars.

We're probably not alone in saying we've only played an original Mosrite for moments. To be honest, it's likely the same for Harley Benton's designers. Yes, the MR-Modern sort of apes the reverse body style, but it's noticeably more bulky - not least the over-large treble horn - than this writer's Eastwood Sidejack that's awaiting a makeover in The Mod Squad. As a result, this chunky chap weighs in a 4.01kg (8.8lb), the 45mm thick alder body completely hidden by the well-applied and very glossy Candy Apple Red finish, one of five offered.