Harley Benton is Thomann's own brand, Squier is Fender's budget line, and they're the two names most beginners compare. We counted every guitar and bass each had in stock at Thomann on October 18, 2026, and checked how their models do in our rankings. A "model" here counts color versions once.
The numbers side by side
| Harley Benton | Squier | |
|---|---|---|
| Electric guitar models | 253 | 82 |
| Median electric guitar | $280 | $350 |
| Cheapest electric guitar | $84 | $176 |
| Median Strat-style guitar | $314 | $362 |
| Bass models | 61 | 38 |
| Median bass | $258 | $374 |
| Guitar models in a top 10 of our rankings | 14 (6%) | 20 (24%) |
| Bass models in a top 10 | 18 (30%) | 11 (29%) |
Harley Benton wins on choice and price; Squier wins on how often a guitar ranks near the top. For basses, the two are even. Prices barely moved since August for either brand (see which guitar brands got cheaper).
Where Harley Benton is strongest
Left-handed players and unusual guitars. The highest-ranked left-handed electric guitar we track is a Harley Benton, and so are the top two left-handed 4-string basses. In Thomann's left-handed electric guitar section, Harley Benton has 121 listings and Squier 2. Harley Benton also makes 7 and 8-string guitars (40 listings); Squier makes none.
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS LH, $391
A left-handed Strat-style guitar with an alder body and a roasted maple neck. #16 of 145 lefthanded guitars.
Harley Benton ST-20HSS Standard Bundle, $189
A starter set with an HSS Strat-style guitar for well under $200. #9 of 132 electric guitar sets.
Where Squier is strongest
Starter sets, short-scale guitars and Fender's classic shapes. A Squier Sonic Strat set ranks first of 103 electric guitar sets, and the Mini P Bass is among the best short-scale basses we track.
Squier Sonic Strat HSS Set, $327
A Sonic Stratocaster HSS with a 25.5-inch scale, sold as a starter bundle. #1 of 132 electric guitar sets.
Squier Affinity Jaguar, $301
A 24-inch short-scale Jaguar with a flamed maple top. #4 of 28 shortscale guitars.
Squier Mini P Bass, $189
A short 28.6-inch scale P bass, light and easy for small hands. #3 of 54 short scale basses.
Questions
Is Harley Benton better than Squier?
Neither across the board. Harley Benton is cheaper with more choice, especially for left-handers; Squier models rank in our top 10s four times as often.
Which is better for a beginner?
For the lowest price, Harley Benton. For a classic Fender shape with the Fender name, Squier, ideally as a set.
How we measured. Every Harley Benton and Squier electric guitar and bass Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026. Color versions of one model count once. "Top 10" means the model's best version placed in the top 10 of its category in AudioFu's rankings that day. Prices are converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate; products show today's price and rank.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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