Head to head
Epiphone DC PRO, Faded Cherry vs ESP EXL-200 Black
The verdict
The ESP EXL-200 Black comes out ahead overall — 82 to 73 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone DC PRO, Faded Cherry wins on
- Lower price ($599 vs $699)
ESP EXL-200 Black wins on
- Better build (87 vs 65)
- Better value (85 vs 76)
Scorecard
| Metric | DC PRO, Faded Cherry | EXL-200 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 73 | 82 |
| Build | 65 | 87 |
| Playability | 78 | 81 |
| Sound | 74 | 74 |
| Value | 76 | 85 |
Full specifications
| Spec | DC PRO, Faded Cherry | EXL-200 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | JP |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | 3Pc Maple |
| Fretboard | Pau Ferro | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | 22 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | ProBucker 2 / Epiphone ProBucker 3 | ESP LH-301N / ESP LH-301B |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $599 | $699 |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | DC PRO | — |
| Body Styles | Double Cut | — |
| Bridge | LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic™ | TOM & Tailpiece |
| Bridge pickup | Epiphone ProBucker 3 | ESP LH-301B |
| Controls | Neck and Bridge Volume with push-pull coil-splitting and treble bleed Neck Tone control with push pull Phase feature, Bridge Tone | Volume/Tone(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch |
| Fretboard inlay | Block and Triangle, Pearloid and Abolone | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 350mm |
| Fret Count | 24 | — |
| Headstock | Epiphone Sloped Dovewing, | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Epiphone “Vine”, Pearloid and Abalone | — |
| Joint | Glued-in | — |
| Model | ENG2FCNH1 | — |
| Neck pickup | ProBucker 2 | ESP LH-301N |
| Nut | Graph Tech® NuBone® | Molded |
| Nut width | 42.67mm / 1.68in | 42mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Heavy-Duty Epiphone | — |
| Pickguard | None | — |
| Profile | Custom C | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 24.75" |
| Strap Buttons | Epiphone StrapLocks | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Tailpiece | Stop Bar | — |
| Top wood | AAA Flame Maple Veneer | — |
| Truss rod | 2-way Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2 ply (b/w), “DC PRO” in silkprint | — |
| Tuners | Grover® 18:1 ratio | LTD |
| Case | — | EXL GUITAR FORM FIT CASE |
| Case Included | — | N |
| Construction | — | Set-Neck |
| Finish | — | Black |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck profile | — | Thin U |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |