Head to head
Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Sunset Yellow vs Harley Benton CST-24 DIY KIT
The verdict
The Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Sunset Yellow 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 Melody Maker E1, Sunset Yellow wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
Harley Benton CST-24 DIY KIT wins on
- Lower price ($108 vs $145)
Scorecard
| Metric | Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Sunset Yellow | CST-24 DIY KIT |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 70 | 67 |
| Build | 61 | 58 |
| Playability | 75 | 73 |
| Sound | 68 | 63 |
| Value | 80 | 77 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Les Paul Melody Maker E1, Sunset Yellow | CST-24 DIY KIT |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | Rengas (wood colour may vary) with binding |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Maple with binding |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Laurel |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.72" |
| Pickups | Epiphone 650SCR Ceramic Single-Coil / Epiphone 700SCT Ceramic Single-Coil | Two humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $145 | $108 |
| 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 | Natural |
| Fretboard inlay | Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | — |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock | Epiphone Clipped Ear; Les Paul Model in gold; Epiphone logo in silver | — |
| Joint | Bolt-on | — |
| Model | ENOLSYCH1 | — |
| Neck pickup | Epiphone 650SCR Ceramic Single-Coil | — |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 42 mm (1.65") |
| Pickguard | White SL style | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way Toggle Switch | — |
| Profile | 60s SlimTaper D | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 628 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 |
| 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) |