Head to head
Gibson Chuck Berry 1970s ES-355, Wine Red vs Harley Benton ST-70 RW
The verdict
The Gibson Chuck Berry 1970s ES-355, Wine Red 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 Chuck Berry 1970s ES-355, Wine Red 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 $6,999)
Scorecard
| Metric | Chuck Berry 1970s ES-355, Wine Red | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 77 | 65 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 74 | 60 |
| Value | 67 | 75 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Chuck Berry 1970s ES-355, Wine Red | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | — |
| Body wood | Layered Maple | Basswood |
| Neck wood | 3-piece Maple | Maple |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Amaranth |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | 68 Custombucker Alnico 5 / 68 Custombucker Alnico 5 | 3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style Single Coils |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $6,999 | $195 |
| Accessories | Captain's Hat, Conduit Bracket/Finger Holder (with instructions), Certificate of Authenticity | — |
| Back | Plain Maple Laminate | — |
| Binding | 7-ply Top, 3-ply Back, 5-ply Headstock, Single-ply Fretboard and F-Holes | — |
| Body Finish | Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina) | — |
| Body shape | ES-335 | — |
| Body Styles | ES | — |
| Bracing | Red Spruce | — |
| Bridge | Tune-O-Matic | — |
| Bridge pickup | 68 Custombucker Alnico 5 | — |
| Case | Custom 1970s-style ES-335 Case with Red Lining | — |
| Centerblock | Lightweight Maple | — |
| Control Knobs | Black Witch Hats with Gold Inserts, Chicken Head Knob (Varitone) | — |
| Controls | 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 500K CTS Audio Taper Potentiometers, Ceramic Capacitors, 6-Position Mono Varitone | — |
| End Of Board Width | 52.37mm / 2.06in | — |
| Finish | Aged Gold | Natural High Gloss |
| Fretboard inlay | Custom Inlays | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 305 mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Closed B & O Gibson logo, and Custom Split Diamond, both in Mother of Pearl | — |
| Joint | Hide Glue Fit | — |
| Model | CBES355ULWRGM1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | 68 Custombucker Alnico 5 | — |
| Nut | Corian | — |
| Nut width | 42.85mm / 1.69in | 42 mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Switchcraft | — |
| Pickguard | Bound Tortoiseshell | — |
| Pickup Covers | True Historic Aged Gold | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-Way Switchcraft | — |
| Profile | Artist Profile | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 648 mm |
| Side | Plain Maple Laminate | — |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Brass | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | Cream | — |
| Switchwasher | Gold Varitone Plate | — |
| Tailpiece | Long Maestro Vibrola | — |
| Truss rod | Reissue No-Tube | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Black, Engraved Stereo | — |
| Tuner Plating | Aged Gold | — |
| Tuners | Grover Keystone | — |
| Ex Factory Stringing | — | D'Addario .010 - .046 (Article no. #104555#) |
| Neck profile | — | C |
| Top wood | — | Imitation rosewood veneer |
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