Head to head
Epiphone Les Paul Express, Ebony vs Harley Benton CST-24 DIY KIT
The verdict
The Epiphone Les Paul Express, Ebony comes out ahead overall — 70 to 67 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Les Paul Express, Ebony wins on
- Better sound (71 vs 63)
Harley Benton CST-24 DIY KIT wins on
- Lower price ($108 vs $149)
Scorecard
| Metric | Les Paul Express, Ebony | CST-24 DIY KIT |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70 | 67 |
| Build | 61 | 58 |
| Playability | 72 | 73 |
| Sound | 71 | 63 |
| Value | 80 | 77 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Les Paul Express, Ebony | CST-24 DIY KIT |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Rengas (wood colour may vary) with binding |
| Neck wood | Okoume | Maple with binding |
| Fretboard | Granadillo | Laurel |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 21 | — |
| Scale | 21.97" | 24.72" |
| Pickups | Epiphone 650R Humbucker Open-coil / Epiphone 700T Humbucker Open-coil | Two humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $149 | $108 |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | Les Paul | — |
| Body Styles | Les Paul | — |
| Bridge | Epiphone FB-601 fully adjustable | — |
| Bridge pickup | Epiphone 700T Humbucker Open-coil | — |
| Case | optional | — |
| Control Knobs | Black Speed knobs | — |
| Controls | Master Volume, Master Tone | — |
| Finish | Nickel | Natural |
| Fretboard inlay | Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | — |
| Fret Count | 21 | — |
| Headstock | Small Sloped Dovewing | — |
| Joint | Bolt-on, Tapered Heel, 4-bold recessed | — |
| Model | ENL2EBCH4 | — |
| Mounting Rings | black | — |
| Neck pickup | Epiphone 650R Humbucker Open-coil | — |
| Pickup Covers | open-coil | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way Epiphone toggle | — |
| Profile | SlimTaper | — |
| Scale length | 558.0mm / 21.97in | 628 mm |
| Strap Buttons | 2-butt and shoulder | — |
| String gauges | .10, .13, .17, .26, .36, .46 | — |
| Switch Tip | Black | — |
| Switchwasher | Black | — |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Bell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White) Epiphone | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Premium Die-cast | — |
| Neck profile | — | Modern C |
| Note | — | A certain amount of manual dexterity is required for successful assembly.@+Body and neck have been primed with pore filler (suitable for varnishing, but possibly unfavourable for staining - may need to be sanded again) |
| Nut width | — | 42 mm (1.65") |