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Guitar World
Guitar World
Entertainment
Phil Weller

“I was impressed how the DNAfx stood up against my bandmate’s Kemper”: Can a budget Harley Benton prog metal rig rival a Strandberg and Kemper? I took both to a rehearsal room to find out

Harley Benton Kemper Strandberg Guitar Center HB Thomann
This writer's Harley Benton and Strandberg 8-string guitars side-by-side on a beige carpet.

The gear market has a habit of catching up with itself, and in recent years manufacturers have assisted players craving a taste of digital modeling and extended-range guitars for much less. It’s a great time for players on a budget – and this got me thinking.

Outside of contributing to Guitar World, I play in a modern progressive metal band called Prognosis, and my current live rig – featuring an eight-string Strandberg Boden and a Kemper – is archetypal of the genre. It cost me approximately $5,000 and it delivers everything I need.

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