I will try and give a little info, i currently own 8 esp guitars and 3 are kh models.
from experiance with ltd,esp, and esp custom shop alot of the times they have the same specs but that doesnt mean they sound and feel the same, i had 3 versions of the laiho model, the ltd was pretty nice for the price but compared to the esp sig series version it didnt have as much clarity, wasnt as resonate and had less sustain and compared to the custom shop version of the same guitar the custom shop version was a step up in every area in tone feel and attention to detail. i had all 3 at the same time and went back and forth quite often but in the end as much as i wanted to sell the custom and keep the ltd i could justify the price difference and i sold the ltd. i also sold the sig series version too, most of my esp are custom shop. i caqn definately tell the difference in the feel, attention to detail, the tone and time spent in building the guitars.
ltd are made in korea and use lesser quality woods and materials, for the money they can be very nice guitars and i have owned and played many, some good and some bad.
i played a ltd ouija a few weeks ago and it was very nice but i wouldnt pay the 1400 they were asking for it, i would rather just buy a kh2.
the esp custom version of the ouija is very nice, kirk has been seen playing the newer version in white and black with teh ebony board and mirror inlays, i have a kh20 and that is around the same price as the ouija and its one of the finest built guitars i have ever had my hands on, i wouldnt say i think its worth 10k but at the price i paid i think its worth it, its also one of the best sounding guitars i have ever played, im not just saying it because i own it either. when it comes to guitars i dont care about the cost if its really cheap or expensive, if i can afford it and like it i will buy it, i have had many expensive guitars that have been sold because i found something alot cheaper. i owned a few expensive guitars that just sounded dead and sold them because a expensive price doesnt always mean its better, so you really need to try one out before you buy, everytime time with esp i have gotten a great sounding guitar from the custom shop, i cant say the same for their ltd and standard series stuff. i have had gibson and prs that i have good and bad dealing woth also, but from what i have seen with the esp custom shop they are pretty consistant. i cant say the same for ltd.
esp is asking too much for the ouija, iron cross and kh20 at 9 and 10k. i personally wouldnt pay those prices. but i have seen them cheaper than that and if you shop around you will find the prices are better.
so yes theres a difference in the time spent building, the fretword, the quality of the woods, the feel, and the other materials, you get what you pay for. others can disagree and thats fine, i only speak of what i have experianced in owning esp and ltd over the years.
