Head to head
ESP M-200DX Blue Burst vs Harley Benton DC-Custom II Cherry
The verdict
The ESP M-200DX Blue Burst comes out ahead overall — 80 to 67 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP M-200DX Blue Burst wins on
- Better build (87 vs 58)
- Better playability (81 vs 73)
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
- Better value (83 vs 77)
Harley Benton DC-Custom II Cherry wins on
- Lower price ($293 vs $399)
Scorecard
| Metric | M-200DX Blue Burst | DC-Custom II Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 67 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 81 | 73 |
| Sound | 68 | 63 |
| Value | 83 | 77 |
Full specifications
| Spec | M-200DX Blue Burst | DC-Custom II Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 25.5" | 24.72" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-150N *(Pull Tone for Split) / ESP LH-150B *(Pull Tone for Split) | 2 Tesla TM VR-Nitro Alnico-5 humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $399 | $293 |
| Bridge | TOM w/ String Thru | — |
| Bridge pickup | ESP LH-150B *(Pull Tone for Split) | — |
| Case | MH Guitar Form Fit Case | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Passive | — |
| Finish | Blue Burst | Cherry, high-gloss |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 350 mm |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-150N *(Pull Tone for Split) | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | C - thickness at 1st fret: 20.5 mm / at 12th fret: 22.5 mm |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 43mm | 42 mm |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 628 mm |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Poplar Burl | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |