Head to head
ESP PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst vs Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK
The verdict
The ESP PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst comes out ahead overall — 81 to 70 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst wins on
- Better build (87 vs 65)
- Better sound (74 vs 63)
- Better value (84 vs 74)
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK wins on
- Lower price ($326 vs $499)
Scorecard
| Metric | PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst | EX-84 Modern BK |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 70 |
| Build | 87 | 65 |
| Playability | 78 | 81 |
| Sound | 74 | 63 |
| Value | 84 | 74 |
Full specifications
| Spec | PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst | EX-84 Modern BK |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | Nyatoh |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | Nyatoh |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.72" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-150N / ESP LH-150B | active Roswell LZ56 (bridge) and Roswell LZ51 (neck) humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $499 | $326 |
| Bridge | TOM & Tailpiece | WSC Tune-O-Matic |
| Bridge pickup | ESP LH-150B | — |
| Case | PHOENIX GUITAR FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Volume/Tone(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch | 1 Master volume, 1 Master tone |
| Finish | Black Burst | Black |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 381 mm |
| Hardware | Black | Black |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-150N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Slim Taper "C" |
| Nut | Molded | Graph Tech TUSQ XL |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42 mm |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 628 mm |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | LTD | HB by Jinho J-03 |
| Fretboard inlay | — | White dot |
| Neck Attachment | — | Set-in |
| Neck Thickness At 1st Fret | — | 22.5 mm |
| Neck Thickness At The 12th Fret | — | 25 mm |