Harley Benton CLG-70ASR CE NAT Solid w/Case

I came to the ST-Acoustic as someone who mostly plays electrics but wanted a compact, stage-friendly acoustic tone without losing upper-fret access or familiar neck feel - this guitar promised both. In my hands it proved to be a clever hybrid: a spruce top on a thinline ABS body with a modern D maple neck and an onboard pickup/4-band EQ that make it useful plugged in, and pleasantly playable unplugged for practice.

First Impressions

Right away I noticed how light it is - the ABS thinline body keeps weight down so it feels more like an electric than a typical dreadnought, which suited my playing style. The gloss black finish is striking in person and the slim modern-D maple neck felt very familiar under my hand, letting me move up to the upper frets with virtually no heel interference.

Design & Features

The ST-Acoustic pairs a spruce top with an ABS thinline body, giving it an unconventional construction for an acoustic-shaped instrument. The neck is maple with a roseacer (thermally treated maple) fretboard, a modern D profile, and what the spec sheet lists as a 648 mm scale and a 42 mm nut width - those measurements translate to a feel that blends electric familiarity with acoustic spacing. There’s a blackwood bridge, die-cast tuners, a dual-action truss rod and factory bronze strings, and the onboard pickup is paired with a 4-band EQ that lets you shape presence, mids and lows for plugged performance.

Build Quality & Protection

Construction is solid for the price point - joints and binding are tidy, and the ABS body resists dings and humidity better than thin laminated wood, which gives me peace of mind for gigging or travel. Hardware is functional: the die-cast tuners hold tuning adequately for normal use, though they’re not as smooth as premium machine heads. The roseacer fretboard was comfortable and the fret edges were acceptable out of the box after a modest setup from me - nothing alarming, but a little setup goes a long way.

Playability & Comfort

I appreciated how the slim neck profile and cutaway give full upper-fret access - sliding into higher positions felt natural and effortless, especially for players who come from an electric background. The lightweight body makes long practice sessions easier on my shoulder, and the string spacing and nut width are comfortable for fingerpicking and hybrid picking alike. Action was manageable after I lowered it slightly at the bridge and checked intonation - standard setup steps improved the feel noticeably.

Sound & Electronics

Unplugged, the ST-Acoustic sounds thinner and more focused than a full-bodied acoustic - that’s expected with a thinline ABS body, and it’s not a bad thing if you want an acoustic-like voice without the volume of a dreadnought. Strummed chords have clarity, and fingerpicked notes come through with a pleasant top end, though bass response is limited compared to larger acoustics. Plugged in, the onboard pickup and 4-band EQ are the guitar’s real strength - with a bit of EQ adjustment I was getting usable stage-ready tones with good presence and a surprisingly natural feel through my acoustic amp and PA.

Real-World Experience

I used the ST-Acoustic for rehearsals and a couple of low-key live slots. On stage its light weight and reliable plugged tone made it easy to slot into a set without fighting feedback or volume issues. For songwriting and travel it has been a great practice companion - I could play comfortably for long stretches and still get decent acoustic tone when I needed amplification. The EQ allowed me to cut muddiness at the venue and add presence for fingerstyle parts.

The Trade-Offs

If you want a full, booming acoustic unplugged this isn’t that instrument - the ABS thinline construction limits acoustic body resonance and low-end weight. The onboard electronics are useful, but they’re not a substitute for a high-end preamp/pickup system and some players may want to upgrade hardware over time. Also, while build quality is good for the price, I’d recommend a quick setup to get the best action and intonation for serious performance use.

Final Verdict

Overall, the ST-Acoustic is a thoughtfully designed hybrid that will appeal to electric players who need an acoustic voice without sacrificing playability or upper-fret access. It’s light, comfortable, and—once set up—reliable both unplugged for practice and plugged in for gigging; its onboard 4-band EQ gives useful sonic flexibility. For the price, it’s an excellent value for hobbyists, gigging musicians who want a backup acoustic, or electric players exploring acoustic textures.