Head to head
ESP EC-200DX Charcoal Burst vs Harley Benton ST-80FR Amethyst Sparkle
The verdict
The ESP EC-200DX Charcoal Burst comes out ahead overall — 81 to 65 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 61)
- Better playability (84 vs 70)
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
- Better value (84 vs 69)
Harley Benton ST-80FR Amethyst Sparkle wins on
- Lower price ($326 vs $399)
Scorecard
| Metric | EC-200DX Charcoal Burst | ST-80FR Amethyst Sparkle |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 65 |
| Build | 87 | 61 |
| Playability | 84 | 70 |
| Sound | 68 | 63 |
| Value | 84 | 69 |
Full specifications
| Spec | EC-200DX Charcoal Burst | ST-80FR Amethyst Sparkle |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | American basswood |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | Roasted Canadian flamed maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood with rounded edges |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-150N *(Pull Tone for Split) / ESP LH-150B *(Pull Tone for Split) | Tesla Plasma-X1b Alnico V Humbucker (bridge) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $399 | $326 |
| Bridge | TOM & Tailpiece | Floyd Rose 1000 Tremolo |
| 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 | Amethyst Sparkle Burst, high-gloss |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 305 - 406 mm (12" - 16") |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-150N *(Pull Tone for Split) | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Asymmetric-C (thickness at the 1st fret: 20.5 mm, at the 22nd fret: 23.5 mm) |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | 43 mm |
| Scale length | 24.75" | 648 mm (25.5") |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | LTD | Jinho J-02 15:1 with HB-Logo |