Head to head
Epiphone Futura ES-355, Firestorm Shift vs Harley Benton ST-70 RW
The verdict
The Epiphone Futura ES-355, Firestorm Shift comes out ahead overall — 70 to 65 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Futura ES-355, Firestorm Shift wins on
- Better build (71 vs 58)
- Better sound (74 vs 60)
Harley Benton ST-70 RW wins on
- Better playability (72 vs 67)
- Better value (75 vs 68)
- Lower price ($195 vs $899)
Scorecard
| Metric | Futura ES-355, Firestorm Shift | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70 | 65 |
| Build | 71 | 58 |
| Playability | 67 | 72 |
| Sound | 74 | 60 |
| Value | 68 | 75 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Futura ES-355, Firestorm Shift | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | 5-ply layered maple/poplar | Basswood |
| Neck wood | — | Maple |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Amaranth |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | — | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | Epiphone ProBucker Ignite / Epiphone ProBucker Ignite | 3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style Single Coils |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $899 | $195 |
| Binding | Multi-ply top and headstock | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | ES-335 | — |
| Body Styles | Semi-hollow body | — |
| Bridge | LockTone Tune-O-Matic | — |
| Bridge pickup | Epiphone ProBucker Ignite | — |
| Case | Epiphone premium gig bag included | — |
| Control Knobs | Knurled | — |
| Controls | 2 volume, 2 tone with push/pull coil split and phase | — |
| Finish | Nickel | Natural High Gloss |
| Fretboard inlay | Split-block | — |
| Fretboard radius | Compound, 10 in. to 14 in. | 254 mm to 355.6 mm | 305 mm |
| Joint | Glued in, set neck | — |
| Model | EIF355FSSNH | — |
| Neck pickup | Epiphone ProBucker Ignite | — |
| Nut | Graph Tech | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way toggle | — |
| Plastic Parts | Black | — |
| Profile | Modern C | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 648 mm |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Tailpiece | LockTone Stop Bar | — |
| Tuners | Grover Rotomatic, locking | — |
| Ex Factory Stringing | — | D'Addario .010 - .046 (Article no. #104555#) |
| Neck profile | — | C |
| Nut width | — | 42 mm |
| Top wood | — | Imitation rosewood veneer |