Head to head
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard, Antique Gold, Exclusive vs Harley Benton ST-70 RW
Electric$1,299
No ratings yet68Overall / 100
The verdict
The Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard, Antique Gold, Exclusive comes out ahead overall — 68 to 65 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard, Antique Gold, Exclusive wins on
- Better build (65 vs 58)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
Harley Benton ST-70 RW wins on
- Better value (75 vs 66)
- Lower price ($195 vs $1,299)
Scorecard
| Metric | Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard, Antique Gold, Exclusive | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 68 | 65 |
| Build | 65 | 58 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 66 | 75 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Tak Matsumoto 1955 Les Paul Standard, Antique Gold, Exclusive | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Basswood |
| Neck wood | One Piece Mahogany | Maple |
| Fretboard | Laurel | Amaranth |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5 / Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5 | 3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style Single Coils |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $1,299 | $195 |
| Binding | Single-ply, Top and Fretboard | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | Les Paul | — |
| Body Styles | Les Paul | — |
| Bridge | Gibson Historic Wraparound with Intonation Set Screws | — |
| Bridge pickup | Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5 | — |
| Case | Vintage-style Brown/Pink Hardshell with Inspired by Gibson Logo and Tak Signature Reproduction | — |
| Control Covers | Brown | — |
| Control Knobs | Gold Speed | — |
| Controls | 2 Volume, 2 Tone; 50s-era Wiring with CTS Potentiometers and Luxe Grey Tiger Paper in Oil Capacitors | — |
| Finish | Nickel | Natural High Gloss |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Trapezoid | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 305 mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock | Gibson Open Book, Inspired by Gibson Custom Double Diamond Logo on Rear | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Epiphone Logo in Mother of Pearl (Aged and Set Slightly Lower), Les Paul Model Gold Silkscreen | — |
| Jack Plate Cover | Nickel Plated Metal | — |
| Joint | Glued In, Set Neck; Long Tenon | — |
| Model | ECTM55AGNH3 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Cream | — |
| Neck pickup | Gibson Burstbucker PRO Alnico 5 | — |
| Nut | Graph Tech | — |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 42 mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Switchcraft | — |
| Pickguard | 1959 Les Paul, Cream, No Bevel | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-way Switchcraft | — |
| Profile | Custom Tak '59 Rounded C | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 648 mm |
| Strap Buttons | 2 Pro Rock Gear Locking - Bottom and Upper Bout | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | Amber | — |
| Switchwasher | Cream with Gold Text | — |
| Top wood | Maple | Imitation rosewood veneer |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Black 2-ply Bell, Wide White | — |
| Tuners | Epiphone Deluxe | — |
| Ex Factory Stringing | — | D'Addario .010 - .046 (Article no. #104555#) |
| Neck profile | — | C |
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