Head to head
Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst vs Harley Benton CLF-50E Black Metallic
The verdict
The Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst and Harley Benton CLF-50E Black Metallic are closely matched overall — 74 to 72 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 66)
Harley Benton CLF-50E Black Metallic wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (82 vs 63)
- Lower price ($217 vs $3,199)
Scorecard
| Metric | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst | CLF-50E Black Metallic |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 74 | 72 |
| Build | 91 | 66 |
| Playability | 75 | 75 |
| Sound | 60 | 68 |
| Value | 63 | 82 |
Full specifications
| Spec | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst | CLF-50E Black Metallic |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Harley Benton |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany | — |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.8" |
| Pickups | LR Baggs VTC | — |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $3,199 | $217 |
| Accessories | Includes Gibson Accessory Kit | — |
| Back | Mahogany | — |
| Binding | Multi-ply top, single-ply back | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer | — |
| Body shape | J-45 | — |
| Body Styles | Round Shoulder | — |
| Bracing | Traditional hand scalloped X-bracing | — |
| Bridge | Traditional belly up | Sonokeling rosewood |
| Bridge Pins | Tusq | — |
| Case | Hardshell Case | — |
| Controls | Volume and Tone Controls | — |
| Finish | Nickel | Natural high-gloss with black top |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother-of-pearl dots | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 380 mm |
| Fret Count | 20 | — |
| Joint | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body | — |
| Model | OCRS4550VS | — |
| Nut | Bone | — |
| Nut width | 43.81mm / 1.72in | 43 mm |
| Pickguard | 50's, Tortoise | — |
| Profile | Rounded | — |
| Saddle Material | Bone | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 630 mm |
| Side | Mahogany | — |
| String gauges | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 | — |
| Top wood | Sitka Spruce | Solid selected Canadian sitka spruce |
| Truss Rod Cover | Black | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Grover Strap Cream Button | — |
| Under Saddle Pickup | LR Baggs VTC | — |
| Back And Sides | — | Selected Sonokeling mahogany |
| Neck profile | — | D |
| Open Chrome Machine Heads With 18 | — | 1 gear ratio |
| Style | — | Parlor |
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