Head to head
Harley Benton MSB-5 Emerald Sparkle (ESP) vs Ibanez SR505N
The verdict
The Harley Benton MSB-5 Emerald Sparkle (ESP) and Ibanez SR505N are closely matched overall — 64 to 65 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Harley Benton MSB-5 Emerald Sparkle (ESP) wins on
No standout advantage.
Ibanez SR505N wins on
- Better sound (68 vs 63)
Scorecard
| Metric | MSB-5 Emerald Sparkle (ESP) | SR505N |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 64 | 65 |
| Build | 58 | 61 |
| Playability | 70 | 67 |
| Sound | 63 | 68 |
| Value | 68 | 65 |
Full specifications
| Spec | MSB-5 Emerald Sparkle (ESP) | SR505N |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Harley Benton | Ibanez |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Okoume | Okoume |
| Neck wood | Roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple | Roasted Maple |
| Fretboard | Canadian maple | Rosewood |
| Strings | 5 | 5 |
| Frets | — | 24 |
| Scale | 33.3" | 34" |
| Pickups | 2 HBZ Custom Wound ferrite humbuckers | Nordstrand™ Big Break / Nordstrand™ Big Break |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $326 | — |
| 5 Piece Neck | Roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple | — |
| Finish | Emerald Sparkle | — |
| Fretboard radius | 400 mm | — |
| Multi Scale Length | 846 - 889 mm (33.3" - 35") | — |
| Neck profile | C - thickness at 1st fret: 21.5 mm, at 12th fret: 22.5 mm | — |
| Nut width | 45 mm | — |
| Top wood | Maple | — |
| A Width | — | 45mm at NUT |
| Bridge | — | MR5S bridge |
| Bridge pickup | — | Nordstrand™ Big Break bridge pickupPassive |
| B Width | — | 68mm at 24F |
| C Thickness | — | 19.5mm at 1F |
| D Thickness | — | 21.5mm at 12F |
| Equalizer | — | Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ w/EQ bypass switch (passive tone control on treble pot), 3-way Mid frequency switch |
| Factory Tuning | — | 1G,2D,3A,4E,5B |
| Fret | — | Medium frets |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck pickup | — | Nordstrand™ Big Break neck pickupPassive |
| Neck Type | — | SR55pc Roasted Maple/Walnut neck |
| Radius | — | 305mmR |
| Recommended Bag | — | IBB540-BK |
| Recommended Case | — | MB300C |
| Scale length | — | 864mm/34" |
| String Gauge | — | .045/.065/.085/.105/.130 |
| String Space | — | 16.5mm |
| Top Back Body | — | Okoume body |