Head to head
ESP PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst vs Harley Benton ST-80FR EMB
The verdict
The ESP PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst 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 PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst wins on
- Better build (87 vs 61)
- Better playability (78 vs 70)
- Better sound (74 vs 63)
- Better value (84 vs 69)
Harley Benton ST-80FR EMB wins on
- Lower price ($326 vs $499)
Scorecard
| Metric | PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst | ST-80FR EMB |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 65 |
| Build | 87 | 61 |
| Playability | 78 | 70 |
| Sound | 74 | 63 |
| Value | 84 | 69 |
Full specifications
| Spec | PHOENIX-200DX Black Burst | ST-80FR EMB |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | American basswood |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | Roasted Canadian flamed maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood with rolled edges |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-150N / ESP LH-150B | Tesla Plasma-X1b Alnico V Humbucker (bridge) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $499 | $326 |
| Bridge | TOM & Tailpiece | Floyd Rose 1000 Tremolo |
| 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 | Emerald Sparkle Burst, high-gloss |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 305 mm - 406 mm (12" - 16") |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-150N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Asymmetric-C (thickness at the 1st fret: 20.5 mm, at the 22nd fret: 23.5 mm) |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | 43 mm |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 648 mm (25.5") |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | LTD | Jinho J-02 15:1 with HB-Logo |