Head to head
Gibson Gary Clark Jr. ES-355, VOS, Cobra Burst vs Harley Benton ST-70 RW
The verdict
The Gibson Gary Clark Jr. ES-355, VOS, Cobra 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 Gary Clark Jr. ES-355, VOS, Cobra 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 $7,999)
Scorecard
| Metric | Gary Clark Jr. ES-355, VOS, Cobra Burst | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 77 | 65 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 74 | 60 |
| Value | 67 | 75 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Gary Clark Jr. ES-355, VOS, Cobra Burst | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | — |
| Body wood | 3-ply Figured Maple/Poplar/Maple | Basswood |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Maple |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Amaranth |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | Custombucker Alnico 3 Magnet / Custombucker Alnico 3 Magnet | 3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style Single Coils |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $7,999 | $195 |
| Back | 3-ply Figured Maple/Poplar/Maple | — |
| Binding | 7-ply Top, 5-ply Back and Headstock, Single-ply Fretboard | — |
| Body Finish | Nitrocellulose VOS | — |
| Body shape | ES-335 | — |
| Body Styles | ES | — |
| Bracing | Spruce | — |
| Bridge | ABR-1 Historic No-Wire | — |
| Bridge pickup | Custombucker Alnico 3 Magnet | — |
| Case | Custom Hardshell | — |
| Centerblock | Maple | — |
| Control Knobs | True Historic Gold Top Hat with Dial Pointer; Black Chicken Head Varitone Knob | — |
| Controls | Mono Varitone, 2 Volume, 2 Tone; CTS 500 k Audio Taper Potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil Capacitors | — |
| Finish | VOS Nickel | Natural High Gloss |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Block | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 305 mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Gibson Logo and Custom Split Diamond in Mother-of-Pearl | — |
| Joint | Glued In, Set Neck; Long Tenon | — |
| Model | 59ES355GCJCBVONH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Custombucker Alnico 3 Magnet | — |
| Nut | Nylon Reissue | — |
| Nut width | 42.85mm / 1.69in | 42 mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Switchcraft | — |
| Pickguard | 5-ply Black ES-355 | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Pickup Selector | Switchcraft 3-way Toggle | — |
| Profile | 50s Rounded Medium C | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 648 mm |
| Side | 3-ply Figured Maple/Poplar/Maple | — |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Aluminum | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | True Historic Amber | — |
| Switchwasher | Varitone: Black with Gold Text | — |
| Tailpiece | Bigsby B7 Vibrato | — |
| Top wood | 3-ply Figured Maple/Poplar/Maple | Imitation rosewood veneer |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | True Historic | — |
| Tuner Plating | VOS Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Grover Rotomatic with Kidney Button | — |
| Ex Factory Stringing | — | D'Addario .010 - .046 (Article no. #104555#) |
| Neck profile | — | C |
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