ESP Eclipse.. Your opinions?

[Gainfreak]

Is this for you band JB?

IMO do what Ralph did and no worries when your out gigging, you can have the nice stuff at home for yourself.

Yeah it is. And I was thinking the same thing.

At that price Id definitely hold off but at $700 for what I got, Can't beat it with a stick and it holds tune better then my LP.

How'd you pull that for $700? Nice!

Ebay Baby!!

The funny thing is that I missed a few of them before I nailed this one!!

Ah, so $700 used then?

Oh definitely used!! I went to sam ash to try one and I liked it but I wanted to keep the cost down and found one used!

 

[Les Zombie]

My brother sold a vinatge white eclipse last year to gc for 700 and they sold it a month later for 1k.

 

[VoodooChild24]

I have been a Les Paul fan for the longest time but got the chance to own an ESP eclipse I last year. I was happy the way it plays. The neck was smooth and fast and plays well. I got mine for $1k shipped.

The only thing that turns me off is the wood thickness. It really lacks the LP wood sound which has more low end. Other than that, I believe they are fine instruments.

I'd say go for it JB.

 

[sebby123]

I let my friend borrow my les paul for recording and he lent me his eclipse so i could still have a guitar to mess on i got to say i like the neck alot! 12" radius 1.650 nut and a very small neck, It fit perfect in my hands so much that when i custom make a suhr im going with similar specs, Love the frets as well! Anywas feels great but i hate the sound of it its very very bright and thin for mahogany, Could be because this one has Emg's but then unplugged its very thin, like anyother guitar if it sounds good to you it sounds good

I have one word for you - Horizon. I can count on my hands the times I played my LPs after I got my Horizons. It was really weird changing from LPs to Horizons (different scale length, neck, lighter weight, different shape & tone, new amp settings), but it was worth it!! They have a sound of their own, pretty dark & mean. They sound warmer & more resonant than any les paul can ever get.

I really like the sound of rob chappers esp horizon hmm ill go try one out and report back

 

[DEWD]

IMO, the full thickness ESP Eclipses beat Gibson LP Customs in every imaginable way. I've owned a shartload of both over the past 10 years.

 

[guitar_god123456]

hated one but it was a cheap one, 200 series. loved the other, 600 or 1000, dont know but it was amazing

 

[thiswaythatway]

Are these guitars all made in Korea?

 

[guitar_god123456]

Are these guitars all made in Korea?

ltd's are. esps are all in japan, i think.

 

[nbarts]

I let my friend borrow my les paul for recording and he lent me his eclipse so i could still have a guitar to mess on i got to say i like the neck alot! 12" radius 1.650 nut and a very small neck, It fit perfect in my hands so much that when i custom make a suhr im going with similar specs, Love the frets as well! Anywas feels great but i hate the sound of it its very very bright and thin for mahogany, Could be because this one has Emg's but then unplugged its very thin, like anyother guitar if it sounds good to you it sounds good

I have one word for you - Horizon. I can count on my hands the times I played my LPs after I got my Horizons. It was really weird changing from LPs to Horizons (different scale length, neck, lighter weight, different shape & tone, new amp settings), but it was worth it!! They have a sound of their own, pretty dark & mean. They sound warmer & more resonant than any les paul can ever get.

I really like the sound of rob chappers esp horizon hmm ill go try one out and report back

Actually, with EMGs MII sounds better than the Horizon, not that Horizon doesn't sound good, but alder body of the MII really glues with EMGs. But Horizons with Bare Knuckles are tha bomb. If you like LPs you'll dig the fixed bridge version better.

 

[sebby123]

I let my friend borrow my les paul for recording and he lent me his eclipse so i could still have a guitar to mess on i got to say i like the neck alot! 12" radius 1.650 nut and a very small neck, It fit perfect in my hands so much that when i custom make a suhr im going with similar specs, Love the frets as well! Anywas feels great but i hate the sound of it its very very bright and thin for mahogany, Could be because this one has Emg's but then unplugged its very thin, like anyother guitar if it sounds good to you it sounds good

I have one word for you - Horizon. I can count on my hands the times I played my LPs after I got my Horizons. It was really weird changing from LPs to Horizons (different scale length, neck, lighter weight, different shape & tone, new amp settings), but it was worth it!! They have a sound of their own, pretty dark & mean. They sound warmer & more resonant than any les paul can ever get.

I really like the sound of rob chappers esp horizon hmm ill go try one out and report back

Yea i was looking at that i dunno i could build a sweet tele on warmoth for that much though

Actually, with EMGs MII sounds better than the Horizon, not that Horizon doesn't sound good, but alder body of the MII really glues with EMGs. But Horizons with Bare Knuckles are tha bomb. If you like LPs you'll dig the fixed bridge version better.

 

[mrp5150]

Are these guitars all made in Korea?

No actual ESP's are made in Korea, just certain LTD models.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Are these guitars all made in Korea?

No actual ESP's are made in Korea, just certain LTD models.

Hmmm, there's a Sam's Ass near me and they have a bunch of these guitars in stock, but i thought most of them had Made In Korea on them. Maybe I'll go check them out again and see if i like the inlays better in person.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I played 2 of them today, both MIJ. One played ok, the other like crap since the action felt 2 inches off the fretboard and the strings were crusty. Sam Ash was charging close to $1500 for them For $700 i guess they're ok but i wouldn't spend much more than that on one.

Funny though, but the body shape bugged me, the contour on the back felt wierd. The neck shape was ok. Overall though, i still got that cheap feeling from it, not sure why. And the inlays suck

I guess for under $800 or so they're not a bad deal used.

 

[jetdriver]

I owned an EC 1000LTD. It was gloss black. Played great. I replaced all the gold hardware with black, and that 'cleaned' up the look for me, but I never did like the flag inlays (and the silly EC-1000 block at the 12th fret) or all the abalone overkill.

Now I play a Schecter Solo 6 Classic. I like it alot. Still has some GREAT features. Real Duncan pickups (I replaced - I prefer DiMarzios), Tonepros locking hardware & Locking tuners. The body is slightly offset, which I don't like as much as the ESP. So, finding a hard case is a bitch. Otherwise, cosmetically, it rocks. Ebony fretboard. Better symmetry & classic styling. Also, the body & neck are thicker - making it fuller sounding. It has a coil tap for some added versatility. The built quality is excellent. On par, if not superior to the ESP EC-1000 I owned, and the more expensive Japanese models I have played at length. Additionally, they are $800-$900. That's a significant savings, AND a better guitar, IMO. I've owned both.

Here it is in its original state:

Here is mine with creme pickup rings and zebra Dimarzios (Tone Zone & Air Norton) Also, I switched to chrome knobs, but have since switched back for a more vintage look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Ly_M9Wjg4&fmt=18

The ESP is solid though, and would make a great addition, IMHO. One thing I have learned is every new guitar (brand new, or new to me...) goes to a trusted tech for a proper setup. This makes a world of difference. Most new guitars are setup at the factory with minimal attention, and the action is way off. They're setup for 'shipping'. Most chain stores just open the box & hang it on the wall. Each of my guitars gets a full setup, which usually costs about $100. That is a small price to pay for the difference in tone & playability & tuning stability. Full intonation checks/set, usually a nut replacement, possible light fretwork and neck adjustment. When I get it back, it plays like a DREAM. I've been told by more than one pro tech that most people don't realize that even NEW guitars should be setup right out of the box. I guess some just figure since it's new, it should already play right. This is usually not the case, for reasons previously mentioned. Good luck!