Head to head
ESP EC-200DX Charcoal Burst vs Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active VBK
The verdict
The ESP EC-200DX Charcoal Burst comes out ahead overall — 81 to 68 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP EC-200DX Charcoal Burst wins on
- Better build (87 vs 58)
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
- Better value (84 vs 71)
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Active VBK wins on
- Lower price ($326 vs $399)
Scorecard
| Metric | EC-200DX Charcoal Burst | SC-Custom III Active VBK |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 68 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 84 | 81 |
| Sound | 68 | 63 |
| Value | 84 | 71 |
Full specifications
| Spec | EC-200DX Charcoal Burst | SC-Custom III Active VBK |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | Meranti |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | Meranti |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.72" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-150N *(Pull Tone for Split) / ESP LH-150B *(Pull Tone for Split) | Two Tesla TM AH-5 active humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $399 | $326 |
| Bridge | TOM & Tailpiece | — |
| Bridge pickup | ESP LH-150B *(Pull Tone for Split) | — |
| Case | EC Guitar Form Fit Case | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Passive | — |
| Finish | Charcoal Burst | Vintage Matte Black |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 350 mm |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-150N *(Pull Tone for Split) | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Modern C - thickness at 1st fret: 20 mm / 12th fret: 22 mm |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42 mm |
| Scale length | 24.75" | 628 mm |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |