Head to head
ESP B-205DX Black Burst vs Harley Benton MV-4JB BassTheWorld
The verdict
The ESP B-205DX Black Burst comes out ahead overall — 80 to 61 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP B-205DX Black Burst wins on
- Better build (87 vs 58)
- Better playability (81 vs 62)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (83 vs 64)
Harley Benton MV-4JB BassTheWorld wins on
- Lower price ($380 vs $599)
Scorecard
| Metric | B-205DX Black Burst | MV-4JB BassTheWorld |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 61 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 81 | 62 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 83 | 64 |
Full specifications
| Spec | B-205DX Black Burst | MV-4JB BassTheWorld |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | American alder |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | Caramelised Canadian maple with roseacer skunk stripe |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | 305 mm (12") |
| Strings | 5 | 4 |
| Frets | 24 | — |
| Scale | 34" | 34" |
| Pickups | ESP SB-5N / ESP SB-5B | Two Tesla VR-1B Alnico 5 single coils |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $599 | $380 |
| Bridge | LTD DB-5 | — |
| Bridge pickup | ESP SB-5B | — |
| Case | B BASS FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Volume/Balance/Bass/Treble | — |
| Finish | Black Burst | Shell pink |
| Fretboard radius | 400mm | — |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP SB-5N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Modern soft D - thickness at 1st fret: 21 mm, at 12th fret: 23 mm |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 45mm | 38 mm |
| Scale length | 34" | 864 mm (34") |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| Jb 350 Di Cast Machine Heads With 22 | — | 1 gear ratio |
| String Spacing | — | 20 mm |