Head to head
ESP PHOENIX-200DX Red Burst vs Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Black
The verdict
The ESP PHOENIX-200DX Red 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 Red Burst wins on
- Better build (87 vs 62)
- Better playability (78 vs 70)
- Better sound (74 vs 63)
- Better value (84 vs 69)
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Black wins on
- Lower price ($380 vs $499)
Scorecard
| Metric | PHOENIX-200DX Red Burst | ST-Modern Plus HSS Black |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 66 |
| Build | 87 | 62 |
| Playability | 78 | 70 |
| Sound | 74 | 63 |
| Value | 84 | 69 |
Full specifications
| Spec | PHOENIX-200DX Red Burst | ST-Modern Plus HSS Black |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | American alder |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | Roasted flamed Canadian maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | ESP LH-150N / ESP LH-150B | One Tesla VR-Nitro Alnico 5 covered humbucker (bridge) and two Tesla TV-S1M Alnico 5 single coils (middle and neck) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $499 | $380 |
| 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 | Black, high-gloss |
| Fretboard radius | 350mm | 305 - 406 mm (12" - 16") |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LH-150N | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | D - thickness at 1st fret: 20.5 mm, at 12th fret: 22.5 mm |
| Nut | Molded | Graphite |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42 mm (1.65") |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 648 mm (25.50") |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | LTD | — |
| String gauges | — | Elixir Coated .010–.046 |