Head to head
ESP A-300E BLACK vs Ibanez EP5
The verdict
The ESP A-300E BLACK comes out ahead overall — 82 to 67 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP A-300E BLACK wins on
- Better build (96 vs 66)
- Better playability (78 vs 67)
- Better value (81 vs 67)
Ibanez EP5 wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | A-300E BLACK | EP5 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 67 |
| Build | 96 | 66 |
| Playability | 78 | 67 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 81 | 67 |
Full specifications
| Spec | A-300E BLACK | EP5 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Ibanez |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Solid Engelmann Spruce |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | — |
| Fretboard | Roasted Jatoba | Maple |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 24 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.6" |
| Pickups | Fishman Sonicore | Fishman® S-Core |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | — | — |
| Bridge | Roasted Jatoba Bridge w/ Graphtech Nubone Saddle | Cultured Maple bridge |
| Bridge pickup | Fishman Sonicore | — |
| Case | - | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Set-Neck | — |
| Controls | Active | — |
| Finish | Black | — |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | — |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Graphtech Nubone | — |
| Nut width | 43mm | — |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 651mm/25.6" |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka Spruce | Solid Engelmann Spruce top |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| A Length | — | 20 1/8" |
| A Width | — | 43mm at NUT |
| Back Sides | — | Okoume back & Okoume sides |
| Battery | — | 9V x1 |
| Body shape | — | Special Thin EP body |
| Bridge Pins | — | Ibanez Advantage™ |
| B Width | — | 16 1/8" |
| C Max Depth | — | 2 7/8" |
| C Thickness | — | 20mm at 1F |
| D Thickness | — | 21mm at 7F |
| Factory Tuning | — | 1E,2B,3G,4D,5A,6E |
| Inlay | — | "Vai" special inlay on 12th fret inlay |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" output |
| Preamp | — | Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp w/Onboard tuner |
| Radius | — | 305mmR |
| Recommended Bag | — | IAB540-BK |
| Recommended Case | — | FS40DA |
| Soundhole Rosette | — | Original Design Decal |
| String Gauge | — | .012/.016/.024/.032/.042/.053 |
| String Space | — | 11mm |
| Tuning Machine | — | Gold Die-cast tuners w/Brown Acrylic knobs |