ESP EII Question

[Pentatonic Wanker]

A pretty decent deal came up for me on an ESP EII Eclipse.

It's not a local deal, so I won't be able to take it for a test drive. I have an older "The Eclipse" from the early 90's that I really like, mostly because it has a pretty thin neck. Just curious how the necks on these.

Anyone own one?

 

[EXPcustom]

I don't want to bash E-II but Honestly I haven't seen any E-II stuff that made me jump out of my seat. I would just get an older early 2000's ESP standard series or something ESP earlier. That stuff was Japan made by the late 00's ESP started using blanks made from cheaper wood in China and then assembled in Japan with lots of QC issues.

 

[maddnotez]

Same neck dimensions as the SS series.

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

That stuff was Japan made by the late 00's ESP started using blanks made from cheaper wood in China and then assembled in Japan with lots of QC issues.

I'm actually surprised to hear this. The reason I was thinking of going with another ESP was to avoid the Gibson QC issues I keep hearing about.

In an effort to avoid Gibson I went with a PRS S2 Singlecut as my main player about 6 months ago, but I just haven't been able to bond with it. I've had good luck with ESP's, but admittedly they were all pre 2005 guitars (never owned an E-II).

Maybe I'll check out the EC-1000's too.

 

[engage757]

That stuff was Japan made by the late 00's ESP started using blanks made from cheaper wood in China and then assembled in Japan with lots of QC issues.

I'm actually surprised to hear this. The reason I was thinking of going with another ESP was to avoid the Gibson QC issues I keep hearing about.

In an effort to avoid Gibson I went with a PRS S2 Singlecut as my main player about 6 months ago, but I just haven't been able to bond with it. I've had good luck with ESP's, but admittedly they were all pre 2005 guitars (never owned an E-II).

Maybe I'll check out the EC-1000's too.

They are the exact same guitars as Standard Series and the exact same quality. I have a friend who is a top ESP dealer and he says they are consistently some of the best guitars around, and he has been through hundreds and hundreds, in addition to custom runs. The entire rumor started because in the Chinese factory owned by ESP someone posted a picture showing that there was an E-II sitting in a rack with some Edwards etc. It is very common for large companies to send around instruments to use as examples of different things to their other factories. It's the same thing, different logo on the headstock. I personally have had no fewer than 150 ESPs, and at least 10-15 E-IIs and my hands on many more, including one band I was out with that each guitarist had 7-8, both ESP Standard and E-II. There is no difference, it is merely ESP trying to separate the brand name into a higher bracket.

Super great guitars, and you can get . them cheaper than high-end LTD often-times used.

 

[EXPcustom]

That stuff was Japan made by the late 00's ESP started using blanks made from cheaper wood in China and then assembled in Japan with lots of QC issues.

I'm actually surprised to hear this. The reason I was thinking of going with another ESP was to avoid the Gibson QC issues I keep hearing about.

In an effort to avoid Gibson I went with a PRS S2 Singlecut as my main player about 6 months ago, but I just haven't been able to bond with it. I've had good luck with ESP's, but admittedly they were all pre 2005 guitars (never owned an E-II).

Maybe I'll check out the EC-1000's too.

They are the exact same guitars as Standard Series and the exact same quality. I have a friend who is a top ESP dealer and he says they are consistently some of the best guitars around, and he has been through hundreds and hundreds, in addition to custom runs. The entire rumor started because in the Chinese factory owned by ESP someone posted a picture showing that there was an E-II sitting in a rack with some Edwards etc. It is very common for large companies to send around instruments to use as examples of different things to their other factories. It's the same thing, different logo on the headstock. I personally have had no fewer than 150 ESPs, and at least 10-15 E-IIs and my hands on many more, including one band I was out with that each guitarist had 7-8, both ESP Standard and E-II. There is no difference, it is merely ESP trying to separate the brand name into a higher bracket.

Super great guitars, and you can get . them cheaper than high-end LTD often-times used.

No they are not, E-II body blanks are made in China at the Jixi plant along with the Edwards series of guitars.

There is an entire thread on the ESP forum where I point this out and this is why ESP had to separate out the logo's on the headstocks to stop brand confusion.

They even went as far to post on the ESP Japan website that they will not warranty Standard Series guitars in Japan because they are not made to the same quality standards as the regular ESP lines.

Then we did a photo comparison of the SS vs K serial Hammett green burst runs, the SS series had no beveled recesses and the body blank was totally different, the forearm bevel was not the same and the cutaway was different location as well.

This is why ESP had to make the E-II line to stop brand confusion in International markets.

Anyways if you want an E-II play before you buy most I have come across were turds.

Yes I have actually owned 100's of ESPs over the years and have T serial real deal artist custom shops in my collection. I think I may have a little bit of experience in this department.

 

[maddnotez]

My buddy has a 7 string E2 Horizon FR. I owned a SS Horizon 6 NT. Obviously not a fair comparison but the E2 plays fantastic and was just as good as my SS.

This has been debated forever. Idk what's on the forums over there but ESP promises they are the same exact guitars.

 

[Kagami]

My E-II Arrow 7 is better than any ESP Standard series I've owned or played, the fret finishing is very nice as well which was barely acceptable previously. The ESP Standard models were a bit hit or miss in my experience, there were always people complaining to me in person as well as online that their guitar had some problem just like any mass produced line. Whether they have resolved that or not I cannot say.

ESP never sold standard series models in Japan and they were never warrantied there hence the "export" catalogs and website. They rebranded that line when they started selling them in Japan as ESP has always been custom shop only there since the beginning. They're probably all made by CNC instead of by hand hence why horizons and such have much less detailed lines on the carved tops and such which is why the price is so low. Anybody that's ever bought or used and compared the two side by side knows this and it's not like they hide it you can see in their product photos. (ESP USA uses the same standard series type body shapes too). LTDs also tend to have different body finishing and sizing too as well, the Viper Standard and LTD Matt Devries Viper I have are quite a bit different.

 

[jasonP]

I have owned a made in Japan KH-2 and everything about that guitar was awesome. I bought a E-II M1 from Sweetwater and had to send them both back because of issues. Both had fret markers that didn't line up, neck finish issues, one had frets that had been installed incorrectly. I believe the LTD line up is better quality in my opinion.

 

[Inearthed]

The two EII’s I’ve ran had were both great, both were used from decent sellers that were honest with their descriptions - price on both was also under $700. I’ve played another that was total junk at a shop though. I’ve also had some junker ESP LTD’s and some amazing ones. ESP standard series has been mostly good and a couple of lemons. A roommate of mine had an ESP Standard Eclipse and an LTD EC1000 years ago and the LTD beat the pants off of the Standard Series - there was just something magical about it.

To be honest I would prefer to try before I buy with regards to 99% of guitars.

 

[EXPcustom]

To be honest I would prefer to try before I buy with regards to 99% of guitars.

Straight up this is the point of this thread regardless of brand. So many manufacturers playing games or trying to switch up names on headstocks or where or how much of the guitar was made in x country.

If you have to buy online make sure the dealer has a decent refund policy but the bottom line is play before you buy or make a commitment to buy.

 

[engage757]

Ok, they are the same thing.

 

[cardinal]

All I know is that it's going to be hard for me not to buy the E-II MF-9 guitar next year.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I've a few E-II Horizon NT. They were top notch, about as well built as anything. I just eventually wanted a smaller neck and that dumb headstock they use always bugged me.

 

[Inearthed]

I've a few E-II Horizon NT. They were top notch, about as well built as anything. I just eventually wanted a smaller neck and that dumb headstock they use always bugged me.

Which one? The 3x3 rounded one?

 

[maddnotez]

I've a few E-II Horizon NT. They were top notch, about as well built as anything. I just eventually wanted a smaller neck and that dumb headstock they use always bugged me.

Which one? The 3x3 rounded one?

Cack Stack

 

[Bad.Seed]

I've owned 4 ESP Eclipses, and 1 EII

The first 3 ESP Eclipses that I owned literally sounded, felt identical. When I got the EII, I wasn't surprised to find that it sounded and felt identical to the ESP Eclipses I had owned. Literally have never played 4 guitars from the same brand that felt so consistent. If the price on the EII is right, I'd go for it.

I just got a Silverburst ESP eclipse last week, and this is the first one that showed any signs of difference, but it's actually quite a bit brighter sounding than the ESP's, which I'm personally happy about as I like bright guitars.

 

[Pushead]

Late to the party here.

I have a bunch of Eclipses. The E-II I had was the same neck shape and dimensions as my Standard Series guitars.

At the 1st fret it's around .83" (20mm) and around .89" (22mm) at the 12th.