ESP Snakebyte vs Ltd.

[Frehley12]

$3k difference. Worth it?

 

[rottingcorpse]

$3k difference. Worth it?

If you can afford(and dont mind spending) the extra scratch,it's worth it to you. This can be said about any import vrs USA product.

 

[Fordman65]

Depends. If you don't have a pot to piss in and are living paycheck to paycheck; then no, it's not worth it. If you make real money and have your house in order, yes, it's worth it.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Yes. Most definitely.

 

[Frehley12]

Yes. Most definitely.

Do tell.

 

[Metlupass2]

 

[skoora]

Lol, 3k difference and is it worth it? Unless the neck profile of the Japanese one is sheer perfection compared to the Korean one there’s no way in hell that difference is justified. The fretwork on the Ltd’s is very good.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Yes. Most definitely.

Do tell.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=197694&hilit=Snakebyte

Huge difference in quality of materials (ebony, inlays, wood)... and craftsmanship for example on the fret ends alone.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Put on a blindfold, play them both, make your own decision. See those Andertons blindfold challenges? Sometime the cheaper one's win. Some guy on TGP had a big Les Paul shootout comparing 6 Gibson LP's. But he lied and used a PRS SC250 for one of the clips, guess which had the most votes?

 

[IntenseJim]

I had an 'original' decades ago. No way was it worth $3k then, now, or no matter when you time travel to.

Neck shape defined "wide thin".

 

[Frehley12]

It's not like you can walk into any store and play the LTD, let alone the ESP. Specs are the same. Cosmetics and craftsmanship is what it comes down to.

I have a '96 Ibanez PS-10 II made in Korea and a 2015 Ibanez PS-10 made in Japan. Both are great guitars, slightly different. But the MIJ PS-10 did not blow away the MIK.

 

[romanianreaper]

I think there are a few different ways to look at this. Like others mentioned, obviously being able to comfortably afford purchasing one. But the ESP would be an investment and a model that could eventually go away down the road. Will the Snakebyte and James become the equivalent to the 1959 Les Paul and Jimmy Page investment wise down the road? Absolutely not, but hey you never know.

One thing I will say is that with all of the higher/lower model comparisons out there, I think ESP/LTD has a much smaller difference than Gibson/Epiphone, Fender/Squier, etc. I mean you pick up some guitars from those lower end brands and they don't stay in tune, buzz, etc. (not all the time but frequently). One of the best guitars I've EVER played, was an LTD for like $400 or so. It was phenomenal.

 

[JerEvil]

Probably not in all honesty BUT I’d certainly pay more for ESP on the headstock... because I am stupid

I am sure there are differences in the actual wood grades, thickness of tops, etc but like mentioned, blindfolded you probably wouldn’t be feeling two radically different and playing guitars. I think it comes down to what you value personally in an instrument and what your willing to pay.

 

[SFW]

Keep an eye on the used market. I see the ESP model going for $1200-1500 regularly. I recently saw one at a local shop priced at $1,000. You can find them out there if you are patient.

 

[Frehley12]

Where are you seeing those prices?!!

 

[Pseudo Drew Peterson]

What does better wood, construction and parts matter when the guitar is equipped with EMG pickups?

 

[Metlupass2]

Keep an eye on the used market. I see the ESP model going for $1200-1500 regularly. I recently saw one at a local shop priced at $1,000. You can find them out there if you are patient.

And you didn't buy it because..........

 

[skoora]

What does better wood, construction and parts matter when the guitar is equipped with EMG pickups?

Lol...I actually thought the same thing before.

 

[bubucci]

omg how much cost Snakebyte these days ? My bandmate has 2 and payed 2000€ for each new in EU. He also has LTD explorer and there was no contest. ESP has that distinct “made for metal” sound in a good way, LTD was little bit dead acousticaly and bland sounding.
EMG thing ... they can help average (usually import) guitars sounds better , but there is no way they can ruin good guitars. When it roars, it roars no matter what pickup.

 

[SFW]

Keep an eye on the used market. I see the ESP model going for $1200-1500 regularly. I recently saw one at a local shop priced at $1,000. You can find them out there if you are patient.

And you didn't buy it because..........

Mainly because I can't justify spending the money on a guitar that won't get used. I'm a Les Pual kinda guy.