Head to head
ESP GL-200K Black vs Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK
The verdict
The ESP GL-200K Black 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 GL-200K Black wins on
- Better build (87 vs 58)
- Better sound (74 vs 63)
- Better value (84 vs 71)
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK wins on
- Lower price ($511 vs $699)
Scorecard
| Metric | GL-200K Black | SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 68 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 78 | 81 |
| Sound | 74 | 63 |
| Value | 84 | 71 |
Full specifications
| Spec | GL-200K Black | SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Basswood | Okoume |
| Neck wood | Maple | Nyatoh |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Jatoba |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.76" |
| Pickups | ESP LS-120 / ESP LH-150B | EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Covered Ceramic (bridge) & EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Covered Alnico-5 (neck) humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $699 | $511 |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose Special | — |
| Bridge pickup | ESP LH-150B | — |
| Case | ST-TE GUITAR FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Volume(Push/Pull) | — |
| Finish | Black | Vintage Black Matte |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 355 mm |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LS-120 | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Modern C - thickness at the 1st fret: 20.5 mm, thickness at the 12th fret: 22.5 mm |
| Nut | Locking | — |
| Nut width | 43mm | 42 mm |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 629 mm |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| String gauges | — | D'Addario EXL-110 .010 - .046 |