Harley Benton closes US Reverb store blaming “changes in economic conditions”
Thomann-owned budget gear brand Harley Benton has announced it’s closing its Reverb US online store, citing “changes in economic conditions” which have “made it increasingly difficult for us to continue operating in the US”.
The store is set to close on 31 January, 2026, with “no more products available” from 1 February. Harley Benton does say, however, that its team will remain active for warranty, repairs and customer support”.
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“This wasn’t an easy decision, and we’re truly grateful for the enthusiasm and support you’ve shown to our brand,” Harley Benton writes in a new post on social media.
It adds that until the store’s closure on 31 January, “this is your last chance to grab Harley Benton gear directly from our warehouse – discounted and without tariffs”.
“Thank you to our US community for the trust, passion, and love – you’ll still be able to order Harley Benton instruments anytime via harleybenton.com, shipped from Germany through Thomann. We still focus on our mission to provide high-quality gear at fair prices.”
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Tariffs implemented by US president Donald Trump over the past year have led to an increasingly hostile economic climate for guitar brands.
Just last month, Höfner – the German maker of Paul McCartney’s legendary violin bass – blamed its recent bankruptcy filing on the effects of US tariffs.
And a report in September from financial information and analytics expert S&P Global revealed that Fender had increased prices over the first half of 2025 to offset higher costs from tariffs, “especially from China, which makes up 40% of purchases (half of which enter the US).”
Speaking in July, guitar accessories manufacturer D’Addario said it expected to incur more than $2 million in tariffs in 2025 as a result of US international trade policy.
We caught up with John Mlynczak, CEO of NAMM – which is due to kick off later this week – in July to get his views on how Trump’s tariffs are shaping (and damaging) the musical instruments industry.
“We met with high-level members of Congress just to follow up and say… American-made brands can’t make these products unless they get wood from overseas,” he said. “We don’t grow these species of wood in the United States!’”
You can check out Harley Benton’s Reverb US store until 31 January.
The post Harley Benton closes US Reverb store blaming “changes in economic conditions” appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
