Head to head
ESP M-II Dx Blue Lava vs Harley Benton ST-70 RW
The verdict
The ESP M-II Dx Blue Lava 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 M-II Dx Blue Lava wins on
- Better build (93 vs 58)
- Better playability (81 vs 72)
- Better sound (74 vs 60)
Harley Benton ST-70 RW wins on
- Lower price ($195 vs $5,699)
Scorecard
| Metric | M-II Dx Blue Lava | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 65 |
| Build | 93 | 58 |
| Playability | 81 | 72 |
| Sound | 74 | 60 |
| Value | 71 | 75 |
Full specifications
| Spec | M-II Dx Blue Lava | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Roasted Alder | Basswood |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Maple | Maple |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Amaranth |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | Seymour Duncan ’59 Black Nickel Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Split) / Seymour Duncan JB Black Nickel Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Split) | 3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style Single Coils |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $5,699 | $195 |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose Original | — |
| Bridge pickup | Seymour Duncan JB Black Nickel Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Split) | — |
| Case | MH Guitar Form Fit Case | — |
| Case Included | Y | — |
| Coa | Y | — |
| Construction | Bolt-on | — |
| Controls | Volume/Tone(Push/Pull)/3-way Switch | — |
| Finish | Blue Lava | Natural High Gloss |
| Fretboard radius | 305mm | 305 mm |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Seymour Duncan ’59 Black Nickel Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Split) | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | C |
| Nut | Locking | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42 mm |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 648 mm |
| Strap Button | ESP Strap Lock | — |
| Tuners | Gotoh Locking | — |
| Ex Factory Stringing | — | D'Addario .010 - .046 (Article no. #104555#) |
| Top wood | — | Imitation rosewood veneer |