Head to head
ESP EXL-200 Black vs Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK
The verdict
The ESP EXL-200 Black comes out ahead overall — 82 to 68 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 sound (74 vs 63)
- Better value (85 vs 71)
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK wins on
- Lower price ($511 vs $699)
Scorecard
| Metric | EXL-200 Black | SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 68 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 81 | 81 |
| Sound | 74 | 63 |
| Value | 85 | 71 |
Full specifications
| Spec | EXL-200 Black | SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Okoume |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Maple | Nyatoh |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Jatoba |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.76" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-301N / ESP LH-301B | EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Covered Ceramic (bridge) & EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Covered Alnico-5 (neck) humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $699 | $511 |
| 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 | Vintage Black Matte |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 355 mm |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-301N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Modern C - thickness at the 1st fret: 20.5 mm, thickness at the 12th fret: 22.5 mm |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42 mm |
| Scale length | 24.75" | 629 mm |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| String gauges | — | D'Addario EXL-110 .010 - .046 |