NGD: Edwards (not ESP) Viper!

[severinsteel]

I generally don't do NGD threads since guitars tend to come and go a lot in my case, but this is a pretty cool one.

I've been in love with my ESP Viper ever since I purchased it. It got me off the Ibanez train I was on and I've never looked back. For my rock and metal playing, the Viper kicks ass! If you are not familiar with the Viper, it's essentially a thicker, beefier, Gibson SG with 24 frets and excellent tuning stability.

So I ran across this Edwards Viper on Ebay from a seller in Japan. After a ton of research, it turns out this is an Edwards Viper Vintage model, and that it was only sold in Japan. It's almost identical to my ESP Viper and except for the neck joint, which is like a Gibson SG neck joint. It also comes standard with the pickguard; I had to order a pickguard for my ESP. I got it for $399, not including shipping of course. And shipping wasn't cheap (Japan to US!). But, he seller got the guitar from Japan to my house in 3 days!

I've only found one other Viper Vintage and that was on a Russian website, and that one was in black. This may be the only Edwards Viper Vintage in the US :eeks. Not a big deal really, but I thought it was a cool notion.


The two side by side. Edwards on the left.



Crazy goofy headstock logo


Both of the guitar play pretty much the same and sound awesome! I have some PRS VB and HFS pickups that I'll slap in the Edwards to match the set I have in the ESP.

Thanks for reading! I will make a youtube vid tomorrow hopefully.

 

[dooredge]

Very cool! Congrats!

 

[The Hoff]

Pretty sweet. Nice guitar. HNGD!

 

[soc_monki]

nice! one day i will own an Edwards or 2...grats!

 

[Steinmetzify]

That's crazy that you got it that cheap! Dude you can't find an high end Edwards LP for less than 2k usually. Great job!

I'd the neck pretty much the same as the ESP ones? That skinny D shape?

 

[guitarmike]

cool!

 

[jmgman69]

 

[severinsteel]

That's crazy that you got it that cheap! Dude you can't find an high end Edwards LP for less than 2k usually. Great job!

I'd the neck pretty much the same as the ESP ones? That skinny D shape?

I know! It had been on eBay for a while actually, but I guess nobody searched for Edwards Viper, haha.

The neck shape is actually pretty fat. It may be slightly fatter than my ESP Viper. Closer to LP territory, but not the skinny LP necks.

The reason why I love these is because you get the 24 3/4" scale, 24 frets, and not a Gibson! I do love my Gibsons by the way, but it's nice to have something different.

 

[JerEvil]

Love my Edwards LPC. Great guitars. Congrats.

 

[155]

love my esp viper ...that thing is awesome love the logo!

 

[skoora]

That's crazy that you got it that cheap! Dude you can't find an high end Edwards LP for less than 2k usually. Great job!

I'd the neck pretty much the same as the ESP ones? That skinny D shape?

You might be confusing Edwards with Navigator or some Tokai's. The Edwards top out at about $1250. If that Viper new was $399 it's probably not Japanese but that doesn't take away at all how good it might be. I had a Korean Burny LP std that with a JB in the bridge played and sounded as good as it's Gibson counterpart.

 

[JerEvil]

That's crazy that you got it that cheap! Dude you can't find an high end Edwards LP for less than 2k usually. Great job!

I'd the neck pretty much the same as the ESP ones? That skinny D shape?

You might be confusing Edwards with Navigator or some Tokai's. The Edwards top out at about $1250. If that Viper new was $399 it's probably not Japanese but that doesn't take away at all how good it might be. I had a Korean Burny LP std that with a JB in the bridge played and sounded as good as it's Gibson counterpart.

This. It's rare to see an Edwards LP over $1250 (shipping not included)

 

[severinsteel]

This guy was $399 used; definitely not new.

 

[Steinmetzify]

That's crazy that you got it that cheap! Dude you can't find an high end Edwards LP for less than 2k usually. Great job!

I'd the neck pretty much the same as the ESP ones? That skinny D shape?

You might be confusing Edwards with Navigator or some Tokai's. The Edwards top out at about $1250. If that Viper new was $399 it's probably not Japanese but that doesn't take away at all how good it might be. I had a Korean Burny LP std that with a JB in the bridge played and sounded as good as it's Gibson counterpart.

My bad dude.....I WAS thinking of Navigators. Thanks for the correction.

 

[nwright]

Those Vipers aren't that uncommon in the Japanese market. I've seen a few on ebay over the years. I've never heard them called "Viper Vintage" though. Pickguards on Viper models are/were more common for the Japanese market. Meestursparkle has had a few over the years.

I tracked that guitar for a while. The initial listing was stupid high for the condition of the guitar. I have an old LTD 301 that looks virtually identical, sans the pickguard.

What's the story on the natural finished Viper? You buy that new or used? If the finish on that is original, I'd say that guitar is much more rare than the Edwards, especially in the US.

I'm a sucker for anything Viper related. My favorites are japanese domestic original series Vipers or late 90's standard series bolt-ons.

 

[severinsteel]

The natural Viper is factory original. It was a limited run of around 100 or less for the 'Drum City Guitar Land' music store. I snagged it off of The Gear Page. Very happy I did!

Those Vipers aren't that uncommon in the Japanese market. I've seen a few on ebay over the years. I've never heard them called "Viper Vintage" though. Pickguards on Viper models are/were more common for the Japanese market. Meestursparkle has had a few over the years.

I tracked that guitar for a while. The initial listing was stupid high for the condition of the guitar. I have an old LTD 301 that looks virtually identical, sans the pickguard.

What's the story on the natural finished Viper? You buy that new or used? If the finish on that is original, I'd say that guitar is much more rare than the Edwards, especially in the US.

I'm a sucker for anything Viper related. My favorites are japanese domestic original series Vipers or late 90's standard series bolt-ons.