Head to head
ESP B-204SM NATURAL SATIN vs Harley Benton BZ-5000 II NT
The verdict
The ESP B-204SM NATURAL SATIN comes out ahead overall — 80 to 65 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP B-204SM NATURAL SATIN wins on
- Better build (87 vs 62)
- Better playability (81 vs 72)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (83 vs 69)
Harley Benton BZ-5000 II NT wins on
- Lower price ($522 vs $649)
Scorecard
| Metric | B-204SM NATURAL SATIN | BZ-5000 II NT |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 65 |
| Build | 87 | 62 |
| Playability | 81 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 83 | 69 |
Full specifications
| Spec | B-204SM NATURAL SATIN | BZ-5000 II NT |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Ash | Mahogany / Ash / Mahogany / Ash |
| Neck wood | 5Pc Maple/Jatoba | Canadian maple and nyatoh |
| Fretboard | Roasted Jatoba | Rosewood |
| Strings | 4 | 4 |
| Frets | 24 | — |
| Scale | 34" | 34" |
| Pickups | ESP SB-4N / ESP SB-4B | Tesla TV-SBL1-5B (bridge) and Tesla TV-SBL1-5N (neck) soapbars |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $649 | $522 |
| Bridge | LTD BB-604 w/ String Thru | — |
| Bridge pickup | ESP SB-4B | — |
| Case | B BASS FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Passive | — |
| Finish | NATURAL SATIN | Natural, high-gloss |
| Fretboard radius | 400mm | 400 mm, thickness 1st fret: 21 mm, 12th fret: 23 mm |
| Hardware | Black Nickel | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP SB-4N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | C |
| Nut | Molded | Graphite |
| Nut width | 40mm | 45 mm |
| Scale length | 34" | 864 mm (34") |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Spalted Maple | AAA flamed maple veneer |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| 5 Piece Neck Thru Body | — | Canadian maple and nyatoh |
| String gauges | — | HB HQS .045–.130 |
| Wsc Jb 15dlx 17 | — | 1 die-cast machine heads |