Head to head
Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Ebony vs Harley Benton ST-20HSS LH SBK
The verdict
The Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Ebony and Harley Benton ST-20HSS LH SBK are closely matched overall — 70 to 68 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Ebony wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
Harley Benton ST-20HSS LH SBK wins on
- Lower price ($121 vs $145)
Scorecard
| Metric | Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Ebony | ST-20HSS LH SBK |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70 | 68 |
| Build | 61 | 58 |
| Playability | 75 | 78 |
| Sound | 68 | 63 |
| Value | 80 | 78 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Ebony | ST-20HSS LH SBK |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | Basswood |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Laurel |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | Epiphone 650SCR Ceramic Single-Coil / Epiphone 700SCT Ceramic Single-Coil | One humbucker (bridge) and two single coils (middle and neck) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $145 | $121 |
| Binding | None | — |
| Body shape | Les Paul | — |
| Body Styles | Les Paul | — |
| Bridge | Epiphone Lighting Bar Compensated Wrap Around | — |
| Bridge pickup | Epiphone 700SCT Ceramic Single-Coil | — |
| Case | Optional Solid body Electric Guitar Gig bag 940-XEGIG. Les Paul Hard Case 940-ENLPCS, or Les Paul EpiLite™ Case 940-ENLPHG | — |
| Control Knobs | Black ABS “Top Hat” knobs | — |
| Controls | Master Volume, Master Tone | — |
| Finish | Nickel | Black, matt |
| Fretboard inlay | Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 350 mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock | Epiphone Clipped Ear; Les Paul Model in gold; Epiphone logo in silver | — |
| Joint | Bolt-on | — |
| Model | ENOLEBCH1 | — |
| Neck pickup | Epiphone 650SCR Ceramic Single-Coil | — |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 42 mm |
| Pickguard | White SL style | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way Toggle Switch | — |
| Profile | 60s SlimTaper D | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 648 mm |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Bottom and shoulder | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | Black | — |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Bell Shaped; 2-layer (Black/White); Blank | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Neck profile | — | Modern C |