GuitarIV
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2017
- Messages
- 1,395
- Reaction score
- 3,882
So I wanted to create this thread 2 days ago but I had band rehearsal yesterday and I went to see Tool play on Wednesday (worth every cent, they slay live!). I finally had the chance to snap some pictures so I can share some eyecandy with you:
I got into ESP guitars when I found my red E-II Eclipse last year. I got it brandnew for half the price (1200 instead of 2400), my local music store had a clearance sale and it was a floormodel, but basically untouched.
The craftmanship on these guitars is stellar. The Japanese know their shit, I can absolutely say with full conviction that these are the best guitars I held in hands so far. The neck profiles are perfect, the one on the Eclipse is close to a 60ies LP slim taper neck, the on the M-II is a bit thinner but my fretting hand feels comfortable on both necks and doesn't cramp up. I had that problem with my Jackson Rhoads where the neck was super broad and thin.
This guitar is from 2009, so it has a good ten years on it but it feels like new. Apart from the frets that don't shine like the ones on my Eclipse do everything feels rocksolid. The rosewood is dark and has small grain, feels fast, it's a 3 piece maple neck with the hump at the headstock back to prevent easy breakage (*cough*why don't you copy that Gibson*coughcough*), Alder body, currently equipped with EMGs, 60 in the neck and 85 in the bridge, one master volume placed at the perfect spot where you don't bump it (seriously!) and a 3 way toggle. The Floyd Rose on this feels rock solid and flutters work perfectly. The thing even arrived in tune. Neck is perfectly straight. 12 inch radius, my favourite one.
When you look at it you might think "black, how boring", but this is a no frills, no bullshit, straight to the point sleek riff and shred machine. The cutouts are unbelievably comfortable, upper fret access is impeccable despite the bolt on neck, action is low and holy mother of god this guitar sounds mean. I ditched EMGs some time ago but I might keep these in actually. Everyone says actives sound the same in every guitar but believe me when I tell you it's a load of horsecrap. I had plenty of EMG models, the 81, the 85 and the 57 in plenty of guitars. In some they sounded tight and precise. In others they were a flubby mess in the low mids or thin and piercing. This guitar sounds great for riffs and solos with the 85 and I usually always exchange that pickup for the 81.
The single volume knob is exactly what I want in a metal axe. On and off. 3 way toggle so I can switch between bridge and neck for cleans, solos etc.
What more can I say, I am officially an ESP fanboy now. Only downside is that the guitar is not the lightest one, but maybe that contributes to the sound. Oh, no neck dive either.
I could go on and praise this thing some more, all I can say I regret nothing. I paid 999 Euros including shipping, the guy has a custom guitar in the works and needed the cash, so he put a special price on it till the 31st of May. My lovely girlfriend was kind enough to lend me the money until my paycheck came in so I could snag it fast. If I'd have to compare it to a car, I'd say this thing is a Ferrari.
Seriously guys. If you get the chance to get a good deal on one of these or any other Standard Series ESP, do it. You will get a quality instrument.
More pics!
I got into ESP guitars when I found my red E-II Eclipse last year. I got it brandnew for half the price (1200 instead of 2400), my local music store had a clearance sale and it was a floormodel, but basically untouched.
The craftmanship on these guitars is stellar. The Japanese know their shit, I can absolutely say with full conviction that these are the best guitars I held in hands so far. The neck profiles are perfect, the one on the Eclipse is close to a 60ies LP slim taper neck, the on the M-II is a bit thinner but my fretting hand feels comfortable on both necks and doesn't cramp up. I had that problem with my Jackson Rhoads where the neck was super broad and thin.
This guitar is from 2009, so it has a good ten years on it but it feels like new. Apart from the frets that don't shine like the ones on my Eclipse do everything feels rocksolid. The rosewood is dark and has small grain, feels fast, it's a 3 piece maple neck with the hump at the headstock back to prevent easy breakage (*cough*why don't you copy that Gibson*coughcough*), Alder body, currently equipped with EMGs, 60 in the neck and 85 in the bridge, one master volume placed at the perfect spot where you don't bump it (seriously!) and a 3 way toggle. The Floyd Rose on this feels rock solid and flutters work perfectly. The thing even arrived in tune. Neck is perfectly straight. 12 inch radius, my favourite one.
When you look at it you might think "black, how boring", but this is a no frills, no bullshit, straight to the point sleek riff and shred machine. The cutouts are unbelievably comfortable, upper fret access is impeccable despite the bolt on neck, action is low and holy mother of god this guitar sounds mean. I ditched EMGs some time ago but I might keep these in actually. Everyone says actives sound the same in every guitar but believe me when I tell you it's a load of horsecrap. I had plenty of EMG models, the 81, the 85 and the 57 in plenty of guitars. In some they sounded tight and precise. In others they were a flubby mess in the low mids or thin and piercing. This guitar sounds great for riffs and solos with the 85 and I usually always exchange that pickup for the 81.
The single volume knob is exactly what I want in a metal axe. On and off. 3 way toggle so I can switch between bridge and neck for cleans, solos etc.
What more can I say, I am officially an ESP fanboy now. Only downside is that the guitar is not the lightest one, but maybe that contributes to the sound. Oh, no neck dive either.
I could go on and praise this thing some more, all I can say I regret nothing. I paid 999 Euros including shipping, the guy has a custom guitar in the works and needed the cash, so he put a special price on it till the 31st of May. My lovely girlfriend was kind enough to lend me the money until my paycheck came in so I could snag it fast. If I'd have to compare it to a car, I'd say this thing is a Ferrari.
Seriously guys. If you get the chance to get a good deal on one of these or any other Standard Series ESP, do it. You will get a quality instrument.
More pics!
