Head to head
Gibson Johnny Winter 1964 Firebird V, Polaris White vs Harley Benton ST-70 RW
The verdict
The Gibson Johnny Winter 1964 Firebird V, Polaris White comes out ahead overall — 75 to 65 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson Johnny Winter 1964 Firebird V, Polaris White wins on
- Better build (87 vs 58)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
Harley Benton ST-70 RW wins on
- Better value (75 vs 65)
- Lower price ($195 vs $8,999)
Scorecard
| Metric | Johnny Winter 1964 Firebird V, Polaris White | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 75 | 65 |
| Build | 87 | 58 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 65 | 75 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Johnny Winter 1964 Firebird V, Polaris White | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | — |
| Body wood | Layered Mahogany | Basswood |
| Neck wood | 5-piece Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through | Maple |
| Fretboard | Indian Rosewood | Amaranth |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | Firebird Alnico 5 / Firebird Alnico 5 | 3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style Single Coils |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $8,999 | $195 |
| Binding | Fretboard 1-ply Cream | — |
| Body Finish | Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer | — |
| Body shape | Firebird | — |
| Body Styles | Firebird | — |
| Bridge | No-Wire ABR-1 | — |
| Bridge pickup | Firebird Alnico 5 | — |
| Case | Custom Shop Hardshell | — |
| Control Covers | Black | — |
| Control Knobs | True Historic Black Top Hats with Silver Inserts | — |
| Controls | 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 500K CTS Potentiometers, Hand-Wired Harness | — |
| Finish | Nickel and Chrome | Natural High Gloss |
| Fretboard inlay | Aged Celluloid Trapezoids | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 305 mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Joint | Neck-Through Construction | — |
| Model | FB5JWAPWNH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Firebird Nickel | — |
| Neck pickup | Firebird Alnico 5 | — |
| Nut | Corian | — |
| Nut width | 42.86mm / 1.69in | 42 mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Switchcraft | — |
| Pickguard | 3-Ply White/Black/White | — |
| Pickup Selector | 3-Way Switchcraft | — |
| Profile | Medium C | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 648 mm |
| Side | Solid Mahogany Wings | — |
| Strap Buttons | 3 - Upper Bout, Heel, and Bottom | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Switch Tip | Chrome | — |
| Tailpiece | Chrome Plated Aluminum Stop Bar | — |
| Truss rod | Standard | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Black, No Stamp | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Deluxe Banjo Tuners | — |
| Weight Relief | None | — |
| Ex Factory Stringing | — | D'Addario .010 - .046 (Article no. #104555#) |
| Neck profile | — | C |
| Top wood | — | Imitation rosewood veneer |
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