ESP Experts Help? (NGD!!)

[glpg80]

There are no extra fees. We don't have customs/taxes here. The only potential fee would be your bank charging a percentage for doing foreign currency exchange. It's usually like ~3% for most banks. BTW, this year, ESP only offers the M-II in Red and Black overseas. They offered them in White previously, but I don't really recall many "special" colors. You could also get a guitar repainted over here.

ahh so only 2 colors this year? damn.

i didnt know if there were any other fee's attached from ordering over-seas or not. the currency exchange would make sense, but im going through an ESP dealer who is going much lower than i bet 99% of any other dealers. so i guess i dont have much of a choice. i didnt want to bother him with this as to be a neusance.

yeah repainting afterwards is an option, but the headstock would also have to be done matching white as well. would be expensive to have done professionally on an already expensive instrument.

looks like im screwed then. o well

 

[Code001]

There are no extra fees. We don't have customs/taxes here. The only potential fee would be your bank charging a percentage for doing foreign currency exchange. It's usually like ~3% for most banks. BTW, this year, ESP only offers the M-II in Red and Black overseas. They offered them in White previously, but I don't really recall many "special" colors. You could also get a guitar repainted over here.

ahh so only 2 colors this year? damn.

i didnt know if there were any other fee's attached from ordering over-seas or not. the currency exchange would make sense, but im going through an ESP dealer who is going much lower than i bet 99% of any other dealers. so i guess i dont have much of a choice. i didnt want to bother him with this as to be a neusance.

yeah repainting afterwards is an option, but the headstock would also have to be done matching white as well. would be expensive to have done professionally on an already expensive instrument.

looks like im screwed then. o well

The headstocks are black on every model.

 

[glpg80]

There are no extra fees. We don't have customs/taxes here. The only potential fee would be your bank charging a percentage for doing foreign currency exchange. It's usually like ~3% for most banks. BTW, this year, ESP only offers the M-II in Red and Black overseas. They offered them in White previously, but I don't really recall many "special" colors. You could also get a guitar repainted over here.

ahh so only 2 colors this year? damn.

i didnt know if there were any other fee's attached from ordering over-seas or not. the currency exchange would make sense, but im going through an ESP dealer who is going much lower than i bet 99% of any other dealers. so i guess i dont have much of a choice. i didnt want to bother him with this as to be a neusance.

yeah repainting afterwards is an option, but the headstock would also have to be done matching white as well. would be expensive to have done professionally on an already expensive instrument.

looks like im screwed then. o well

The headstocks are black on every model.

actually ive seen new M-II's in a german store with matching headstocks with hardshell cases for 1475 euros. so they do make them like that from the factory. but i can understand older models only being black. although, i have a queensryche guitarworld magazine clip with horizon and M-II's that are white with matching headstocks too.

i think im just going to wait on this guitar, sell everything i have, and then order one from a dealer overseas. i dont see the reason or the logic for paying that much money for something you dont like. in time hopefully i can get one within the next few years.

edit: although i am emailing them to see if it is possible to pay to have it transferred to a certified USA ESP dealer. they have it on order, so we will see. if this works out it will be amazing. hopefully they will work with me on this

 

[Code001]

Pretty cool. The white one in the ESP catalog I have (picked it up when I was in Tokyo in 07) has a black headstock, just like the rest of them. ESP Japan's site showed the red and black ones with black headstocks, too. The only one I knew that had the matching headstock was the camo model shown on Drum City Guitarland's site. Horizons almost always seem to have matching headstocks, though. I'll be honest, I think that price is ridiculous for an M-II. I really think buying a used M-II for around $700 is the way to go.

 

[glpg80]

Pretty cool. The white one in the ESP catalog I have (picked it up when I was in Tokyo in 07) has a black headstock, just like the rest of them. ESP Japan's site showed the red and black ones with black headstocks, too. The only one I knew that had the matching headstock was the camo model shown on Drum City Guitarland's site. Horizons almost always seem to have matching headstocks, though. I'll be honest, I think that price is ridiculous for an M-II. I really think buying a used M-II for around $700 is the way to go.

100% agree. but i cant find anything that doesnt have the usual dents or scratches. im OCD about shit like that, just cant help it. i treat my musical instruments with alot of care. the fact that i now want a very rare color adds complexity to the situation.

dont worry though, im not getting ripped at all on a brand new black one. ive got some connections through zao here on the forum to get a great deal on a new black M-II. im wondering if i can setup a transfer from this german dealer, pay out of pocket to import it, and then deal with this ESP dealer in the states without the TERRIBLE euro/dollar conversion.

purchasing a rare M-II and importing it would be like burning american currency in a bucket. id be stupid to do it right now the way things are.

although, i do want it badly enough to do it

 

[Code001]

Just throwing this out there, but Sims Custom Shop in TN will paint the body + headstock for $280.

 

[glpg80]

wow i just did the conversion to US currency

it would cost me $2,100 for a custom white M-II in euro value

the black one will do for that price, but like i mentioned earlier i will see if they will work with me, dealer to dealer instead of dealer to customer. that way i dont have to sell my left nut and my right arm on the black market.

 

[glpg80]

Just throwing this out there, but Sims Custom Shop in TN will paint the body + headstock for $280.

cool, thanks for the help.

im very skeptical about anything being repainted, especially new guitars. i dont trust anyones painting/stripping abilities at $280, and secondly the factory paint jobs are usually laid on pretty thick and are decent on upper-end models. the idea of sanding away an already sanded block of wood, which makes the guitar thinner, isnt my idea of awsomeness. plus there is the concern of actual logos from ESP.

what im saying is, no matter the color of the guitar i would like matching headstock colors.

but allas, we will see how it all plays out. things will fall into place one way or the other. i would love for this to work out and import dealer to dealer, as this is less headache on my part and will cost about the same as a new paint job. but if i have to have an ESP M-II repainted, then i wont bother with it. like you, the economy and the common sense in paying $2,100 for an M-II or even buying new at $1500 is outrageous. it would make more sense to wait it out either economy or buying used.

i demo'ed one at charlotte once again last week, and sam ash had to pry it out of my hands by asking "so are you going to get it today".

 

[Qweklain]

If you are looking at an M-2 you could always buy my snakeskin mirage, only diff is it has a single in the neck instead of a hum. The neck profile is the same I had an M-1, have a USA MX-2 (same spec body/neck as M-2), have played that model M-2 at my local Music-go-round, and it is the same.

Link to my ad (3rd one down "Snakeskin Mirage")

I would sell it to you for $750 ship/PP if you are interested.

 

[glpg80]

If you are looking at an M-2 you could always buy my snakeskin mirage, only diff is it has a single in the neck instead of a hum. The neck profile is the same I had an M-1, have a USA MX-2 (same spec body/neck as M-2), have played that model M-2 at my local Music-go-round, and it is the same.

Link to my ad (3rd one down "Snakeskin Mirage")

I would sell it to you for $750 ship/PP if you are interested.

most gratifying for your offer bro, but its gotta have a hum in the neck + the white. the 1989 charvel i have for sell is up for sell for that exact reason - no hum in the neck.

but again thank you very much for your offer

 

[HerbieTheRadDorklift]

I had an ESP M-II Deluxe that I sold for £450.

How stupid I was.

 

[glpg80]

well, heres an update. they refused to do a transfer to another ESP store, and would rather pull a 10% "exporting discount" with another 115 euro in shipping costs on top of the full price of the guitar.

they claimed that if you could purchase it new in the states at 1500, then 2100 for a dream guitar is very reasonable. and that the economic status of the USA is "all media hype"

im not paying anything near 1500 "here in the states" to begin with. i dont understand why he couldnt just sell the guitar to another ESP dealer here in the USA and help me out.

fuck'em. im just going to look for one to go on sale used in white. thanks for all the help everyone, it is much appreciated

 

[Code001]

Since you're looking for a used white one, try here:

http://www.guitarsatbmusic.com.au/forum/

 

[glpg80]

thanks bro.

i got to reading the site and stuff, excellent small place to chill. i might register over there. is that caparison's home-base forum? in ausi-land?

anyways heres another update. Nick said if it is a model that ESP makes, then it can be ordered, but just like you he is skeptical about the matching white headstock.

i told him if i had to do some research for him to get the exact model numbers and such that i wouldnt mind, but he said anything that is custom is strictly through the custom shop and is something he cant touch (common sense really)

so, allas, if i can get the model number of the "snow white" M-II, then im in business in the USA without breaking my balls

he said it would take ~2-3 months to receive. now i know how some of the fortin amp guys feel

finding out more info as i can

 

[Code001]

I'm not sure how "official" it is, but he's one of the largest Caparison and ESP dealers out there. It's definitely the best forum for Caparisons and ESPs, IMO.

 

[glpg80]

I'm not sure how "official" it is, but he's one of the largest Caparison and ESP dealers out there. It's definitely the best forum for Caparisons and ESPs, IMO.

yeah i fumbled through the for sales forum, and saw ihave27frets was registered, so i knew it must be an awsome caparison forum

but picking aside, ill definately register over there and settle in to keep an eye out. a used snow white M-II would be a little bit cheaper than what i could go for new. but not by much, as the waiting times for either used or new are pretty insane.

still an awsome place. i saw a custom shop peavey wolfgang for sale in faded white. there aren't many more of those guitars around so that forum is indeed a treasure hole just waiting to happen

-matt

 

[steve_k]

I have one of the ESP KH2's (Caution Hot) and I must say, an ESP (not LTD) out of the box is the finest guitar I have put my hands around. The necks and neck through bodies, especially on the KH2 or MII are absolutely phenomenal. The action and set up is second to none.

Steve

 

[nbarts]

I have one of the ESP KH2's (Caution Hot) and I must say, an ESP (not LTD) out of the box is the finest guitar I have put my hands around. The necks and neck through bodies, especially on the KH2 or MII are absolutely phenomenal. The action and set up is second to none.

Steve

And alder body on those sounds mean. Their fixed bridge versions are even better.

 

[glpg80]

I have one of the ESP KH2's (Caution Hot) and I must say, an ESP (not LTD) out of the box is the finest guitar I have put my hands around. The necks and neck through bodies, especially on the KH2 or MII are absolutely phenomenal. The action and set up is second to none.

Steve

i got to put my hands on the only M-II for MILES here in NC last week once again. that neck is smoother, thinner, and the best looking maple i have ever seen in a guitar. the quality isnt flashy like alot of companies try to put on you, it really feels solid.

the neck feels super smoothe on the fretboard side as well. i felt like i could glide all over it with complete control on all locations, and its 20x better sounding than alot of guitars i have owned. its no joke, it stomps the 2007 Jem VWH i had up and down.

hell, im toying the idea of getting 2 ESP's and selling all 3 of my guitars for them. i have always been an ibanez guy at heart, but i quickly learned i was missing out badly with upper-end ESP's. althought the diversity of owning both is pretty nice as well.

i do agree, the LTD's just arent even worth the effort to obtain. the wood feels super cheap comparedto ESP's uper-end line of guitars. you said you own the Kh2? isnt that the extremely expensive kirk hammett version? i bet that guitar has a tone all its own

 

[glpg80]

I have one of the ESP KH2's (Caution Hot) and I must say, an ESP (not LTD) out of the box is the finest guitar I have put my hands around. The necks and neck through bodies, especially on the KH2 or MII are absolutely phenomenal. The action and set up is second to none.

Steve

And alder body on those sounds mean. Their fixed bridge versions are even better.

yeah the 09's are alder. i was skeptical to won alder ocne again because the Jem i bought new had an alder body and sounded terrible. but its very smoothe and agressive. totally awsome, i cant wait to get the chance to order my white one