Head to head
ESP PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst vs Harley Benton SC-550 II BCF
The verdict
The ESP PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst comes out ahead overall — 81 to 66 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 58)
- Better sound (74 vs 63)
- Better value (84 vs 69)
Harley Benton SC-550 II BCF wins on
- Lower price ($359 vs $499)
Scorecard
| Metric | PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst | SC-550 II BCF |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 66 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 78 | 75 |
| Sound | 74 | 63 |
| Value | 84 | 69 |
Full specifications
| Spec | PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst | SC-550 II BCF |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | — |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | — |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.72" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-150N / ESP LH-150B | Two Tesla Opus-1 Alnico-5 humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $499 | $359 |
| Bridge | TOM & Tailpiece | — |
| Bridge pickup | ESP LH-150B | — |
| Case | PHOENIX GUITAR FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Volume/Tone(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch | — |
| Finish | Black Burst | Black Cherry Flame Gloss |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 305 mm (12") |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-150N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42 mm (1.65") |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 628 mm (24.72") |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| 60s Neck Profile | — | Thickness at 1st fret: 20 mm, at 12th fret: 22 mm |
| Archtop | — | AAA flamed maple |
| Chambered Body | — | Meranti |
| String gauges | — | D'Addarío EXL-110 .010 - .046 |