Head to head
Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst vs Harley Benton CLA-15MCE
The verdict
The Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst comes out ahead overall — 73 to 70 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst wins on
- Better build (91 vs 70)
- Better playability (72 vs 64)
Harley Benton CLA-15MCE wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (79 vs 62)
- Lower price ($271 vs $5,699)
Scorecard
| Metric | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst | CLA-15MCE |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 73 | 70 |
| Build | 91 | 70 |
| Playability | 72 | 64 |
| Sound | 60 | 68 |
| Value | 62 | 79 |
Full specifications
| Spec | SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst | CLA-15MCE |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Harley Benton |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | — |
| Body wood | Maple | Okoume |
| Neck wood | 2-piece Maple | Okoume |
| Fretboard | Indian Rosewood | Pau Ferro |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.31" |
| Pickups | LR Baggs Anthem | Fishman Presys-II preamp system with built-in tuner |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $5,699 | $271 |
| Back | AAA Flame Maple | — |
| Binding | 5-ply Top, 3-ply Back | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer | — |
| Body shape | SJ-200 | — |
| Body Styles | Super Jumbo | — |
| Bracing | Traditional Hand-Scalloped X-Bracing | — |
| Bridge | Two bar SJ-200 Moustache; Rosewood | Pau Ferro |
| Bridge Pins | TUSQ | — |
| Case | Gibson Hardshell | — |
| Controls | Soundhole Mounted Volume, Mix Control (mixes between internal mic and under-saddle piezo pickup), Phase Inversion Switch, Battery Check, Mic Level Control | — |
| Finish | Gold | Natural, matte |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Graduated Crowns | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | — |
| Fret Count | 20 | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Mother of Pearl Gibson Logo and Crown | — |
| Joint | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide Glue | — |
| Model | MCJB20TB | — |
| Nut | TUSQ | Bone |
| Nut width | 43.82mm / 1.73in | 43 mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Endpin Jack | — |
| Pickguard | SJ-200 Cream Flower with Border and Dots | — |
| Preamp | LR Baggs Anthem | — |
| Profile | Rounded | — |
| Saddle Material | TUSQ | — |
| Scale length | 647.7mm / 25.5in | 643 mm |
| Side | AAA Flame Maple | — |
| Strap Buttons | Gold | — |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | D'Addarío XTAPB Light .012 - .053 (Art. #471307#) |
| Top wood | AAA Sitka Spruce | Solid okoume |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply Bell, Black and White | — |
| Tuner Plating | Gold | — |
| Tuners | Grover Rotomatic | — |
| Under Saddle Pickup | LR Baggs Anthem | — |
| Neck profile | — | Modified Oval C |
| Style | — | Auditorium 000-14 with cutaway |
| Suitable Case | — | Art. #208576# (not included) |