Head to head
ESP E-II Horizon HT-II Granite Sparkle vs Gibson Marcus King ES-345, 60s Cherry
The verdict
The ESP E-II Horizon HT-II Granite Sparkle comes out ahead overall — 82 to 76 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP E-II Horizon HT-II Granite Sparkle wins on
- Better build (97 vs 91)
- Better playability (81 vs 75)
- Better sound (74 vs 68)
- Better value (72 vs 66)
- Lower price ($3,099 vs $3,999)
Gibson Marcus King ES-345, 60s Cherry wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | E-II Horizon HT-II Granite Sparkle | Marcus King ES-345, 60s Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 76 |
| Build | 97 | 91 |
| Playability | 81 | 75 |
| Sound | 74 | 68 |
| Value | 72 | 66 |
Full specifications
| Spec | E-II Horizon HT-II Granite Sparkle | Marcus King ES-345, 60s Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Gibson |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | US |
| Body wood | Alder | 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Maple | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Indian Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | 22 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico 3-Voice Black Nickel Direct-Mount *(Pull Volume for Voice 3 / Pull Tone for Voice 2) / Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic 3-Voice Black Nickel Direct-Mount *(Pull Volume for Voice 3 / Pull Tone for Voice 2) | Custombucker / Custombucker |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $3,099 | $3,999 |
| Bridge | Hipshot Fixed w/ String Thru | ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic |
| Bridge pickup | Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic 3-Voice Black Nickel Direct-Mount *(Pull Volume for Voice 3 / Pull Tone for Voice 2) | Custombucker |
| Case | MH GUITAR FORM FIT CASE | Hardshell |
| Case Included | Y | — |
| Construction | Neck-Thru | — |
| Controls | Master Volume(Push/Pull)/Tone(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch | 2 Volume, 2 Tone, Hand-wired with Orange Drop capacitors |
| Finish | Granite Sparkle | GZold |
| Fretboard radius | 305mm | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico 3-Voice Black Nickel Direct-Mount *(Pull Volume for Voice 3 / Pull Tone for Voice 2) | Custombucker |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Bone | Graph Tech |
| Nut width | 42mm | 43.05mm / 1.7in |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Strap Button | ESP Strap Lock | — |
| Tuners | Gotoh Locking | Grover Rotomatic with Kidney Button |
| Accessories | — | Includes Gibson Accecssory Kit |
| Back | — | 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Binding | — | 3-ply Cream Top and Back, Single-ply Cream Fretboard |
| Body Finish | — | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | — | ES-335 |
| Body Styles | — | ES |
| Bracing | — | Quarter-Sawn Adirondack Spruce |
| Centerblock | — | Maple |
| Control Knobs | — | Black Top Hat with Gold Reflector |
| End Of Board Width | — | 57.4mm / 2.26in |
| Fretboard inlay | — | Acrylic Split Parallelogram |
| Fret Count | — | 22 |
| Headstock Inlay | — | Gibson Logo and Crown in Mother of Pearl |
| Joint | — | Glued In, Set Neck |
| Model | — | ES45MK25SCGH1 |
| Mounting Rings | — | Black |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" |
| Pickguard | — | 5-ply Black |
| Pickup Covers | — | Gold |
| Pickup Selector | — | 3-way Toggle |
| Plastic Parts | — | Stud Anchor Cover, Engraved Marcus King |
| Profile | — | Rounded |
| Side | — | 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Strap Buttons | — | 2 |
| String gauges | — | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| Switch Tip | — | Cream |
| Tailpiece | — | Fixed Vibrola |
| Top wood | — | 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple |
| Truss rod | — | Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | Black, Blank |
| Tuner Plating | — | Gold |