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Harley Benton DC-Custom
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola
VS
Playability
80
Sound
70
Build
54
Value
78
Score
68
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Playability
72
Sound
65
Build
57
Value
70
Score
65
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Harley Benton DC-Custom vs Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton DC-Custom over Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola

Pickups Brand
Roswell vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.898'' (22.8mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.931'' (23.6mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
78 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola over Harley Benton DC-Custom

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Graphite
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.898'' (22.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.931'' (23.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton DC-Custom vs Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola

Bridge Pickup
Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style vs ProBucker 3
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style vs ProBucker 2
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Jatoba vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton DC-Custom vs Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Harley Benton DC-Custom is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton DC-Custom wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

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 DC-Custom is the better choice.

The Harley Benton DC-Custom meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola 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

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

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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.

Harley Benton DC-Custom Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2019 Custom Line series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • DLX Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Harley Benton C Set neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2020 Original Collection series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ProBucker 3 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: ProBucker 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LockTone Tune-O-Matic With Vibrola bridge
  • Slim Taper Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Epiphone Deluxe Vintage machine heads, 18:1 ratio 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

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.

Woods Used in the Harley Benton DC-Custom

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

Woods Used in the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

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

The Harley Benton DC-Custom has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

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: Harley Benton DC-Custom.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Harley Benton DC-Custom and Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton DC-Custom and Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola'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: Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton DC-Custom
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 70
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 65

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 Harley Benton DC-Custom compares to the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola.

Country of Origin

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

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

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 Harley Benton DC-Custom has 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.

On the other hand, the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola 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: Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola.

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.

The Harley Benton DC-Custom's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

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

Both come with regular tuners. The Harley Benton DC-Custom's are Grover while the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola's are Epiphone Deluxe Vintage machine heads, 18:1 ratio

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 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
Harley Benton DC-Custom
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Harley Benton DC-Custom
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 57

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

Harley Benton DC-Custom Nut Width
Harley Benton DC-Custom Nut Width
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola Nut Width
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola 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 Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Harley Benton DC-Custom and Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola'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 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

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

Harley Benton DC-Custom Neck Profile
Harley Benton DC-Custom's neck profile
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola Neck Profile
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola'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.

Both the Harley Benton DC-Custom and the Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola have a C-shaped 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

Harley Benton DC-Custom Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton DC-Custom's Fingerboard radius
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola Fingerboard Radius
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola'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 Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton DC-Custom'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 DC-Custom.

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 small hands .

Harley Benton DC-Custom:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton DC-Custom and Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Harley Benton DC-Custom
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80
Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton DC-Custom vs Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola
General Harley Benton DC-Custom Epiphone SG Standard 60s Maestro Vibrola
Brand: Harley Benton Epiphone
Year: 2019 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Custom Line Original Collection
Colors: White, Red Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: DLX Tune-O-Matic LockTone Tune-O-Matic With Vibrola
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Epiphone Deluxe Vintage machine heads, 18:1 ratio
Fretboard: Jatoba Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Split rhombus pearloid Trapezoid
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Harley Benton C Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.898'' (22.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.931'' (23.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 12"
Nut: Graphite Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker / Passive) ProBucker 3 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Roswell LAF Alnico-5 Vintage-Style (Humbucker / Passive) ProBucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2