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ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune
Harley Benton Amarok-7
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Playability
77
Sound
81
Build
68
Value
70
Score
75
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Playability
78
Sound
76
Build
76
Value
82
Score
77
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LTD SH-7 Evertune vs Harley Benton Amarok-7

Reasons to Get
LTD SH-7 Evertune over Harley Benton Amarok-7

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Extra Thin U vs Harley Benton Slim Modern C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.827'' (21mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.827'' (21mm) vs 0.906'' (23mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.969'' (50mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Evertune vs Fixed
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton Amarok-7 over ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Harley Benton Slim Modern C vs Extra Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.827'' (21mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.906'' (23mm) vs 0.827'' (21mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.969'' (50mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Evertune
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
82 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
LTD SH-7 Evertune vs Harley Benton Amarok-7

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic vs EMG Retro Active Hot 70
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico vs EMG Retro Active Hot 70
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
LTD SH-7 Evertune vs Harley Benton Amarok-7

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R7
Same Headstock
Strings
7
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs Flamed maple veneer
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Joint
Neck-Through
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Harley Benton Amarok-7 Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Harley Benton Amarok-7 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune's 75 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton Amarok-7 wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton Amarok-7 is the better choice.

The Harley Benton Amarok-7 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton Amarok-7
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2017 Signature series
  • Brian (Head) Welch Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Basswood w/ Maple Cap body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune (F model) bridge
  • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton Amarok-7 Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2020 Progressive series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed maple veneer top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple, Mahogany, Maple, Mahogany, Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • WSC HPS-7 Custom hardtail bridge
  • Harley Benton Slim Modern C Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Grover locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton Amarok-7

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Harley Benton Amarok-7.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Harley Benton Amarok-7's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune's switch options
Harley Benton Amarok-7 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton Amarok-7's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 81
Harley Benton Amarok-7
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune compares to the Harley Benton Amarok-7.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Harley Benton Amarok-7 comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Harley Benton Amarok-7.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Harley Benton Amarok-7 is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Harley Benton Amarok-7.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune's brige is a Evertune. It will keep your guitar in tune and intonated until the next string swap. If you really like extremely subtle vibratos, this might not be the bridge for you because you won't be able to perform them as well. However, the fact that you won't need to tune your guitar is a huge advantage that many people will gladly pay the extra price for.

On the other hand, the Harley Benton Amarok-7's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Amarok-7
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune
Quality of materials 45
Features 80
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 68
Harley Benton Amarok-7
Quality of materials 83
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 76

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune Nut Width
ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune Nut Width
Harley Benton Amarok-7 Nut Width
Harley Benton Amarok-7 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune has the wider nut with 50mm (1.969'') vs 48mm (1.89''). This is a 2mm (0.079'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune and Harley Benton Amarok-7's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune Neck Profile
ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune's neck profile
Harley Benton Amarok-7 Neck Profile
Harley Benton Amarok-7's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune has a U type of neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

The Harley Benton Amarok-7, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune's Fingerboard radius
Harley Benton Amarok-7 Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton Amarok-7's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton Amarok-7's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Harley Benton Amarok-7.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor large hands .

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton Amarok-7:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune Frets Size
ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune's Frets Size
Harley Benton Amarok-7 Frets Size
Harley Benton Amarok-7's Frets Size

The ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton Amarok-7's Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

ESP LTD SH-7 Evertune
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77
Harley Benton Amarok-7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 100
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD SH-7 Evertune vs Harley Benton Amarok-7
General LTD SH-7 Evertune Harley Benton Amarok-7
Brand: ESP LTD Harley Benton
Year: 2017 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Signature Progressive
Colors: Purple Black, Blue, Green, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood w/ Maple Cap Mahogany
Bridge: Evertune (F model) WSC HPS-7 Custom hardtail
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Neck-Through
Tuners: LTD Locking Grover locking
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Maple, Mahogany, Maple, Mahogany, Maple
Decoration: Offset Blocks White dot offset pearloid
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Extra Thin U Harley Benton Slim Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.906'' (23mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 14"
Nut: Plastic Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 50mm (1.969'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active) EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker / Active) EMG Retro Active Hot 70 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1