Head to head
ESP EXL-200 Black vs Harley Benton DC-Custom II 612 Cherry
The verdict
The ESP EXL-200 Black comes out ahead overall — 82 to 62 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP EXL-200 Black wins on
- Better build (87 vs 58)
- Better playability (81 vs 67)
- Better sound (74 vs 60)
- Better value (85 vs 66)
Harley Benton DC-Custom II 612 Cherry wins on
- Lower price ($653 vs $699)
Scorecard
| Metric | EXL-200 Black | DC-Custom II 612 Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 62 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 81 | 67 |
| Sound | 74 | 60 |
| Value | 85 | 66 |
Full specifications
| Spec | EXL-200 Black | DC-Custom II 612 Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Meranti |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Maple | Meranti |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | — |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.72" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-301N / ESP LH-301B | — |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $699 | $653 |
| Bridge | TOM & Tailpiece | — |
| Bridge pickup | ESP LH-301B | — |
| Case | EXL GUITAR FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Set-Neck | — |
| Controls | Volume/Tone(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch | — |
| Finish | Black | Cherry, high-gloss |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | — |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-301N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | — |
| Scale length | 24.75" | — |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| Fingerboard Radii | — | 350 mm each |
| Fingerboards | — | Rosewood |
| Neck Profiles | — | C - thickness at 1st fret: 20.5 mm, thickness at 12th fret: 22.5 mm |
| Nut Width 12 String Neck | — | 48 mm |
| Nut Width 6 String Neck | — | 42 mm |
| Pickups 12 String | — | Two Tesla Opus-G1 Alnico-5 vintage-style humbuckers |
| Pickups 6 String | — | Two Tesla TM VR-60 Classic Alnico-5 vintage-style humbuckers |
| Scales | — | 628 mm |
| Set In Necks | — | Meranti |