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Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone
VS
Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
72
Value
62
Score
72
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Playability
78
Sound
77
Build
72
Value
71
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP vs ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone

Reasons to Get
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP over ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone

Release Year
2022 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
10" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
SlimTaper with Volute vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Graphite
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.91'' (23.1mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 27'' (685.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Reasons to Get
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone over Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Thin U vs SlimTaper with Volute
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.91'' (23.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
71 vs 62
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP vs ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone

Bridge Pickup
Dave Mustaine Signature Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor vs Seymour Duncan JB SH-4
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP vs ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone

Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone is the better choice.

The ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP 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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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.

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Overview

  • From Gibson's 2022 Artist Collection series
  • Dave Mustaine Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Dave Mustaine Signature Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • SlimTaper with Volute Set neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Mini Rotomatics with Kidney Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone Overview

  • From ESP's 2017 Signature series
  • Ben Burnley Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Graph Tech Ghost Loaded Resomax NV Bridge w/ Gotoh Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel 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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

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 Ben Burnley EC Baritone

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.

Winner: Tie.

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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone's online:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

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 Ben Burnley EC Baritone 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.

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's switch options
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone'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 Ben Burnley EC Baritone.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 56
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77

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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP compares to the ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP is built in United States while the ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone is made in Japan.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP has 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.

On the other hand, the ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone comes with a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

Winner: Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP.

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.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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: Tie.

Tuners

The ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone has the best tuners of the two because they are 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: ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone.

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 Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 72
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone
Quality of materials 55
Features 70
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 72

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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Nut Width
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Nut Width
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone Nut Width
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Scale Length
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Scale Length
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone's Scale Length
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone's 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.

The ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone has the longest scale: 27". The Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP is only 25.5" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Neck Profile
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's neck profile
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone Neck Profile
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone'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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP has a C type of 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.

The ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone, on the other hand, has a U 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.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Fretboard Compound Radius
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Compound Fretboard Radius
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone Fingerboard Radius
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone'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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP favors large hands more than the ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone.

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Frets Size
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Frets Size
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone Frets Size
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone's Frets Size

The ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Medium 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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 72
ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP vs ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone
General Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP ESP Ben Burnley EC Baritone
Brand: Gibson ESP
Year: 2022 2017
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Japan
Series: Artist Collection Signature
Colors: Natural, Gray See Thru Black Sunburst Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Nashville Tune-O-Matic Graph Tech Ghost Loaded Resomax NV Bridge w/ Gotoh Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Mini Rotomatics with Kidney Buttons Sperzel Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany 3pc Maple
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Teeth Breaking Benjamin symbol
Scale Size: 25.5" 27"
Shape: SlimTaper with Volute Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.91'' (23.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" to 16" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Graphite
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Dave Mustaine Signature Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 1 0