ESP LTD Elite Series!

[glpg80]

http://www.espguitars.com/news/LTD-Elite.html

The word leaked out early - ESP is releasing an entire series of guitars below the standard models but above the LTD's to compete with other guitars in similar price points I.E. Ibanez Premiums/Prestiges.

Basically ESP LTD's Made in Japan.

Looks interesting

 

[chumbucket]

I'm an ESP and LTD fan but I think that this headstock shape looks better when it is plain maple and not painted. I also don't really dig the model number being the 12th fret inlay.
I bet they'll play and sound good though!

 

[dooredge]

I really wish they'd move off those dadgum flag inlays.

Good looking guitar though...

 

[Steinmetzify]

Saw this on another board; basically Edwards coming to America! The black Eclipse with those new EMGs looks badass.

 

[glpg80]

I'm a pretty avid ESP lover but i have to admit i will wait until the used market is saturated with them before i give them a try. I see them as a way to get LTD price point with Standard series customer service/quality.

The only thing i dislike about them is the headstock. I forsee alot of user confusion on the for sale section with someone trying to pass off a lower LTD for an elite.

 

[Mudder]

Are Edwards made in Japan anymore? I thought I read they were being made in a new China factory.

 

[glpg80]

Are Edwards made in Japan anymore? I thought I read they were being made in a new China factory.

Would make sense. i backed out searching for a new Edwards as i have heard horror stories about fret tangs, fit, and finishes. My custom special ordered MII had fret fitment/tang problems but that was due to climate differences. The same neck developed a bulge, ESP reviewed the neck, warrantied a new custom neck at their cost, and covered return shipping with a new case. You cant argue with customer service like that and the quality of the guitar is obsurdly insane. Just plays and sounds perfect. It will be interesting how this series will play out.

 

[Big Rich]

i wish they made an over sized super strat body (like the kamikaze) with the hockey stick head stock in solid colors with a mix of maple and ebony boards. they used to have an LTD line like that but it was short lived

the other guitars ESP makes like the eclipses and horizons are cool but their best guitars are the shredder strat type floyd rose guitars.


they need to make more of them .... and in 7 string models too

 

[D-Rock]

That blue Horizon is hot. Looks like they tweaked the shape.
Couldn't bond with the volume knob placement though.

 

[xzyryabx]

Like I said on another board, this is an interesting development, but I don't understand it!
The US bound standard series will go up in price (prob even more than their latest bump from $1400ish to almost $1900ish).

And now we have, by rough order of quality:
Grassroots
LTD
LTD elite
Standard series
Signature series
Original series
Navigator
Custom shop

each has a ton of models and options, seems like overkill to me.