Head to head
Harley Benton MSB-5 Emerald Sparkle (ESP) vs Schecter Diamond-J 5 Plus LH
The verdict
The Schecter Diamond-J 5 Plus LH comes out ahead overall — 73 to 64 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
- Lower price ($326 vs $600)
Schecter Diamond-J 5 Plus LH wins on
- Better build (65 vs 58)
- Better playability (78 vs 70)
- Better sound (74 vs 63)
- Better value (76 vs 68)
Scorecard
| Metric | MSB-5 Emerald Sparkle (ESP) | Diamond-J 5 Plus LH |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 64 | 73 |
| Build | 58 | 65 |
| Playability | 70 | 78 |
| Sound | 63 | 74 |
| Value | 68 | 76 |
Full specifications
| Spec | MSB-5 Emerald Sparkle (ESP) | Diamond-J 5 Plus LH |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Harley Benton | Schecter |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Okoume | Alder |
| Neck wood | Roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple | Maple w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods |
| Fretboard | Canadian maple | Rosewood |
| Strings | 5 | 4 |
| Frets | — | 20 |
| Scale | 33.3" | 35" |
| Pickups | 2 HBZ Custom Wound ferrite humbuckers | Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound 5-String J SJ5-3 / Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound 5-String J SJ5-3 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $326 | $600 |
| 5 Piece Neck | Roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple / okoume / roasted Canadian maple | — |
| Finish | Emerald Sparkle | — |
| Fretboard radius | 400 mm | 12" (305mm) |
| 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 | Thin "C" |
| Nut width | 45 mm | 1.771" (45mm) |
| Top wood | Maple | — |
| Battery Compartment | — | 18-volt w/Screw Plate |
| Binding | — | White 1-ply |
| Bridge | — | Wilkinson Bass WBBC w/Custom String Thru Body |
| Bridge pickup | — | Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound 5-String J SJ5-3 |
| Construction | — | 6 Bolt-on |
| Controls | — | Master Volume (Phase Push-Pull)/4-Way Rotary Pickup Selector Switch/Active Seymour Duncan 2-Band 'STC-2S-B0' EQ |
| Dexterity | — | Left Handed |
| Fretboard inlay | — | MOP Blocks |
| Guitar Colors | — | Ivory (IVY) |
| Hardware | — | Chrome |
| Knobs | — | Metal Knurled w/ Set Screw |
| Neck pickup | — | Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound 5-String J SJ5-3 |
| Nut | — | Graph Tech XL Ivory Tusq |
| Scale length | — | 35" (889mm) |
| Thickness | — | @ 1st Fret- .826" (21mm)/ @ 12th Fret- .905" (23mm) |
| Top Contour | — | Flat Top |
| Truss rod | — | 2-Way Adjustable Rod w/ 5/32" (4mm) Allen Nut |
| Tuners | — | Schecter |