Harley Benton DC-580 – Best Gibson SG Alternative? [REVIEW]

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

harley benton dc-580 review

If you’re wondering whether Harley Benton DC-580 is a good electric guitar or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth review, I’m going to take a very close look on that budget copy of the famous Gibson SG. It’s really affordable, but is it actually good?

The truth is that Harley Benton DC-580 offers a fantastic value for the money. It’s not flawless, but it sounds and feels like a much more expensive guitar. Surely, it’s one of the best cheap Gibson SG alternatives that you can currently find on the market.

Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes this axe so good and so popular all around the world! Firstly, we’ll start with a quick overview of the specifications of that model. Additionally, we’ll have a look at the biggest pros and cons of that axe. Of course, there will also be a sound demo included as well.

Overview – Specs & Pricing

Harley Benton DC-580 is one of the most popular SG-style guitars manufactured by this famous brand. To be honest, it’s not surprising why so many people choose it – it’s simply great!

The guitar features a basswood body and a comfortable C-shaped maple neck with the roseacer fingerboard (it’s a thermally treated maple wood). There’s also a Tune-o-matic bridge and the die cast machine heads which guarantee a superb tuning stability.

What’s important, the manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of really good sounding vintage-style humbuckers. This means that this guitar – just like the Gibson or Epiphone SG – can be efficiently used for rock, hard rock, punk and metal music.

It is also worth mentioning that the DC-580 model looks absolutely amazing from the outside too. Although it’s a budget guitar, it doesn’t feel or look cheap at all. I’m sure that a lot of you will be pleasantly surprised by its overall quality.

Undoubtedly, Harley Benton DC-580 is one of the best cheap SG copies that you can currently find on the market. It’s budget-friendly and it sounds fantastic – who needs anything else?

Here’s the sound demo.

Who Is It For?

Harley Benton DC-580 is suitable for guitarists of all levels. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re an experienced player or not – you will definitely appreciate the good quality of that budget axe.

However, since it’s a cheap model, it’s most often recommended for everyone who’s searching for their first electric guitar.

It is also worth mentioning that the DC-580 is a really versatile guitar that can be efficiently used for a lot of different genres of music. No matter whether you’re searching for glassy cleans or fat and distorted tones – this guitar can do it all.

What’s important, this is also a perfect axe for anyone who’s looking for a cheap guitar that can be upgraded. For example, putting some new high quality humbuckers into that model will significantly improve its sound.

Overall, I’m positive that the vast majority of guitarists will really enjoy playing on the Harley Benton DC-508. It’s not perfect, but considering how inexpensive and good sounding it is, it’s definitely worth every cent.

Pros & Cons

Just like any other cheap electric guitar, Harley Benton DC-580 has its own advantages and disadvantages. That’s totally normal! Bear in mind that this is a budget guitar. However, it seems pretty clear that this particular model has far more pros rather than cons.

Advantages
  • Great tone
  • Cheap price
  • Comfortable neck
  • Perfect for beginners
  • Sounds and looks like a real SG
Disadvantages
  • No gig bag included
  • Pretty common quality control issues (factory setup could always be better)

As you can see, there are a lot of things that can be considered as major advantages of the DC-580 model. It looks, sounds and feels like a much more expensive guitar. Additionally, it’s perfect for beginners and it’s really cheap. Isn’t it all that matters in the end?

On the other hand, the DC-580 usually comes without a gig bag. This is not a huge issue, but it would be awesome to have it included. The truth is that finding a good and reliable case is often very challenging, especially if you’re just an amateur.

Additionally, some guitarists complain about the common issues with the quality control of that axe. There’s a chance that you’ll have to adjust the string action in order to make it more playable. Still, that’s totally normal – it happens in all cheap guitars.

Nevertheless, I’m positive that the advantages of that guitar outweigh its disadvantages. It’s not flawless, but it’s still one of the best cheap Gibson and Epiphone SG alternatives that you can currently find on the market.

Harley Benton DC-580 vs Epiphone SG

A lot of guitarists wonder whether they should choose the Harley Benton DC-580 or a bit more expensive Epiphone SG. Both of these guitars are very popular among the beginners, but which one of them is actually better?

Honestly, it’s really tough to clearly determine whether you should choose the Harley Benton or the Epiphone model – it’s all really subjective. But if you’re on a tight budget, choosing the DC-580 will be a better choice for you.

Both of these guitars are very similar although they look a bit differently. Personally, I prefer the look of the DC-580 – it looks almost the same as the Gibson SG. The Epiphone model visible above has different fret markers and only two tone and volume controls instead of four.

However, no matter which one you decide to get for yourself, I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed. These are one of the best cheap SG-style guitars that you can possibly find on the market.

Here’s a quick comparison of Harley Benton and Epiphone SG guitars – feel free to check it out below.

FAQ

Where is Harley Benton DC-580 manufactured?

Harley Benton DC-580 is manufactured in China.

What is the scale length of the DC-580 model?

The scale length of that model has 628mm (24.75″).

What is the nut width of the DC-580 model?

The nut width of that model has 43mm.

Where can I find out more about Harley Benton guitars?

If you want to learn more about Harley Benton guitars, make sure to visit the official website of Harley Benton.

Summary

As you can see, Harley Benton DC-580 is an absolutely fantastic electric guitar that exceeds all the expectations. In my opinion, this is one of the best budget Gibson SG alternatives that you can possibly find on the market. That’s why I have no hesitation in recommending this model!

What do you think of that axe? Would you get it for yourself or do you think that it’s overrated? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful and you found what you were looking for. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:


Posted

in

by