Head to head
Epiphone Slash J-45, Vermillion Burst vs Harley Benton BJ-74Pro 4 String Banjo
The verdict
The Epiphone Slash J-45, Vermillion Burst comes out ahead overall — 72 to 63 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Slash J-45, Vermillion Burst wins on
- Better build (70 vs 61)
- Better playability (75 vs 64)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (75 vs 66)
Harley Benton BJ-74Pro 4 String Banjo wins on
- Lower price ($598 vs $799)
Scorecard
| Metric | Slash J-45, Vermillion Burst | BJ-74Pro 4 String Banjo |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 72 | 63 |
| Build | 70 | 61 |
| Playability | 75 | 64 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 75 | 66 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Slash J-45, Vermillion Burst | BJ-74Pro 4 String Banjo |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Harley Benton |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Flamed maple |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Flamed maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 22.99" |
| Pickups | LR Baggs VTC | — |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $799 | $598 |
| Back | Solid Mahogany | — |
| Binding | 4-ply Top, Single-ply Back | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | J-45 | — |
| Body Styles | Round Shoulder | — |
| Bridge | Laurel, Reverse Belly | Maple / ebony |
| Bridge Pins | Ivory | — |
| Case | Hardshell Case with Slash Skully Logo Included | — |
| Controls | Soundhole mounted Volume and Tone | — |
| Finish | Nickel | Brown Burst |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Dots | — |
| Fretboard radius | 406.4mm / 16.0in | — |
| Fret Count | 20 | — |
| Headstock | 60s Kalamazoo | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Epiphone logo in Mother of Pearl | — |
| Joint | Tapered Dovetail; Glued-In | — |
| Model | EISLASHJ45VMNH3 | — |
| Nut | Graph Tech TUSQ | — |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 31 mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Endpin Jack | — |
| Pickguard | Tortoise Shell, 50s J-45 Shape | — |
| Preamp | LR Baggs VTC | — |
| Profile | Slash Custom C-Shape | — |
| Saddle Material | Graph Tech TUSQ | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 584 mm |
| Side | Solid Mahogany | — |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Side of Heel and Endpin Jack | — |
| String gauges | .012 .016 .024 .032 .042 .053 | — |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | — |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply Bell with Slash Signature | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Grover Rotomatic | — |
| Under Saddle Pickup | LR Baggs VTC | — |
| Drumhead | — | Remo BJ-1100-H1 |