Head to head
ESP PHOENIX-200DX Red Burst vs Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK
The verdict
The ESP PHOENIX-200DX Red Burst comes out ahead overall — 81 to 68 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP PHOENIX-200DX Red Burst wins on
- Better build (87 vs 58)
- Better sound (74 vs 63)
- Better value (84 vs 71)
- Lower price ($499 vs $511)
Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | PHOENIX-200DX Red Burst | SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 68 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 78 | 81 |
| Sound | 74 | 63 |
| Value | 84 | 71 |
Full specifications
| Spec | PHOENIX-200DX Red Burst | SC-Custom Plus EMG VBK |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | Okoume |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | Nyatoh |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Jatoba |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.76" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-150N / ESP LH-150B | EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Covered Ceramic (bridge) & EMG Retro Active Hot 70 Covered Alnico-5 (neck) humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $499 | $511 |
| 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 | Red Burst | Vintage Black Matte |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 355 mm |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-150N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | Modern C - thickness at the 1st fret: 20.5 mm, thickness at the 12th fret: 22.5 mm |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42 mm |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 629 mm |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| String gauges | — | D'Addario EXL-110 .010 - .046 |