Head to head
ESP SURVEYOR-204DX Red Burst vs Harley Benton MSB-5 Black Flame Burl
The verdict
The ESP SURVEYOR-204DX Red Burst comes out ahead overall — 79 to 64 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP SURVEYOR-204DX Red Burst wins on
- Better build (87 vs 58)
- Better playability (78 vs 70)
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
- Better value (82 vs 68)
Harley Benton MSB-5 Black Flame Burl wins on
- Lower price ($348 vs $549)
Scorecard
| Metric | SURVEYOR-204DX Red Burst | MSB-5 Black Flame Burl |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 79 | 64 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 78 | 70 |
| Sound | 68 | 63 |
| Value | 82 | 68 |
Full specifications
| Spec | SURVEYOR-204DX Red Burst | MSB-5 Black Flame Burl |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Harley Benton |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | — |
| Body wood | Poplar | Okoume |
| Neck wood | Roasted Maple | Roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Amaranth |
| Strings | 4 | 5 |
| Frets | 21 | — |
| Scale | 34" | 33.3" |
| Pickups | ESP LPB / ESP LJB | 2 HBZ Custom Wound ferrite humbuckers |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $549 | $348 |
| Bridge | LTD DB-4 | — |
| Bridge pickup | ESP LJB | — |
| Case | SURVEYOR BASS FORM FIT CASE | — |
| Case Included | N | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Volume/Balance/Tone Boost | — |
| Finish | Red Burst | Black Burl |
| Fretboard radius | 400mm | 400 mm |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LPB | — |
| Neck profile | Thin U | C - thickness at 1st fret: 21.5 mm, at 12th fret: 22.5 mm |
| Nut | Molded | — |
| Nut width | 40mm | 45 mm |
| Scale length | 34" | — |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | LTD Vintage | — |
| 5 Piece Neck | — | Roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple |
| Multi Scale Length | — | 846 - 889 mm (33.3" - 35") |
| String gauges | — | HB .045 - .065 - .080 - .100 - .130 |
| Top wood | — | Flame burl maole |