We all know how much a great-sounding 12-string acoustic guitar can transform a recording, beef up a solo performance and even aid the songwriting process. There’s just something about a jumbo 12-string that makes you want to dig in and let rip with a big open chord. That said, purchasing a 12-string can feel like a wasted investment for those of us who may not use one for every session. Well, the Harley Benton Custom Line King-12 CE NT may well be the answer.
Harley Benton’s new addition to its popular Custom Line range is a full-bodied, maple-and-spruce, cutaway acoustic-electric designed to put that classic 12-string shimmer and jangle within reach of just about every guitarist. At first glance, you’ll notice its nod to the grand old king of the flat-tops, with more than a passing resemblance to Gibson’s SJ-200. The King-12 features a bold jumbo silhouette, a gloss natural finish, and enough binding and inlay to make you double-take at this price point.
Spec-wise, it’s loaded for bear. The top is solid spruce, while the back and sides are layered maple. The maple neck is capped with a rosewood fingerboard, and it joins the body at the 14th fret, while the large cutaway makes those upper frets fully accessible – even if you would be a little mad to attempt a solo on a 12-string.
Rather surprisingly, there’s a real bone nut and saddle on board, a Moustache-style rosewood bridge adorned with pearloid inlays, and multi-ply binding throughout the body and the neck completes the look. At the other end of the guitar is a dozen gold die-cast tuners proudly displayed on a rather massive headstock.
For plugging-in, the Fishman Presys-II preamp system gives you a built-in tuner, EQ controls, a phase switch and a volume knob, all conveniently mounted on the upper bout. With the Custom Line King-12 CE NT, Harley Benton is promising a big sound, big style, and big value, but is it too good to be true? I take it for a spin to find out.