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Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Limited Edition Murphy Lab Aged With Brazilian Rosewood, Tom's Dark Burst vs Harley Benton ST-70 RW

Harley Benton ST-70 RW
Harley Benton
ST-70 RW
Electric$195
No ratings yet
65Overall / 100

The verdict

The Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Limited Edition Murphy Lab Aged With Brazilian Rosewood, Tom's Dark Burst comes out ahead overall — 77 to 65 on our estimated score.

Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.

Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Limited Edition Murphy Lab Aged With Brazilian Rosewood, Tom's Dark Burst wins on
  • Better build (87 vs 58)
  • Better sound (74 vs 60)
Harley Benton ST-70 RW wins on
  • Better value (75 vs 67)
  • Lower price ($195 vs $19,999)

Scorecard

Estimated scores
Metric1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Limited Edition Murphy Lab Aged With Brazilian Rosewood, Tom's Dark BurstST-70 RW
Overall7765
Build8758
Playability7572
Sound7460
Value6775

Full specifications

Specification comparison
Spec1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Limited Edition Murphy Lab Aged With Brazilian Rosewood, Tom's Dark BurstST-70 RW
BrandGibsonHarley Benton
TypeElectricElectric
Years
CountryUS
Body woodSuper Lightweight MahoganyBasswood
Neck woodSolid MahoganyMaple
FretboardBrazilian RosewoodAmaranth
Strings66
Frets22
Scale24.75"25.51"
PickupsCustombucker Alnico 5 Magnet Zebra Coils / Custombucker Alnico 5 Magnet Zebra Coils3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style Single Coils
Rating
Price$19,999$195
AccessoriesLeather Bound Certificate of Authenticity, Mounted Custom Shop Switchplate Medallion; Reissue Switch Backplate in Case
BindingSingle-ply Cream Royalite, Top and Fretboard
Body FinishMurphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body shapeLes Paul
Body StylesLes Paul
BridgeABR-1 Historic Reissue
Bridge pickupCustombucker Alnico 5 Magnet Zebra Coils
CaseAged Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch Case
Control CoversBlack Royalite; Gibson Custom Shop Medallion Switchplate Cover, Blank Switchplate Cover in the Case
Control KnobsGold Butyrate Top Hat
Controls2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500K Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors
End Of Board Width56.89mm / 2.24in
FinishNickel; Murphy Lab AgedNatural High Gloss
Fretboard inlayAged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Fretboard radius304.8mm / 12.0in305 mm
Fret Count22
HeadstockSerial Number: 9 4071
Headstock InlayGibson logo in Mother of Pearl, Les Paul Model silkscreen
Jack Plate CoverLaminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
JointLong Tenon, Hide Glue Fit
ModelLPR59PSL21493B
Mounting RingsM69 Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Neck pickupCustombucker Alnico 5 Magnet Zebra Coils
NutNylon
Nut width42.85mm / 1.69in42 mm
Output Jack1/4" Switchcraft
PickguardLaminated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Pickup CoversMurphy Lab Aged Nickel
Pickup Selector3-way Switchcraft
Plastic PartsMurphy Lab Aged
Profile50s Rounded Medium C
Saddle MaterialNickel-plated Brass
Scale length628.65mm / 24.75in648 mm
Strap Buttons2 - True Historic, Bottom and Shoulder
String gauges.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Switch TipAmber Catalin
SwitchwasherReplica Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
TailpieceLightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Top woodHand-Selected AAAA Figured MapleImitation rosewood veneer
Truss rodAuthentic 1950s No-Tube
Truss Rod CoverAuthentic Stepped 2-Ply
Tuner PlatingNickel; Murphy Lab Aged
TunersKluson Single Line, Single Ring
Weight ReliefNone
Ex Factory StringingD'Addario .010 - .046 (Article no. #104555#)
Neck profileC

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