NGD: ESP M-II - Pickup suggestions?

[TheMagicEight]

Scored it from GC for $740. It's got some marks, but the neck is fast and the tone is excellent! This is my first Floyd guitar, and so far I'm very happy with it. The only thing I'm thinking about is swapping the EMGs for BKPs. I normally hate EMGs, and though I'm surprised with how good they sound in this guitar, I want to try something passive.

Basically, I'm looking to make this my metal guitar. I heard an ESP Laiho Signature (same alder body / maple neck / Floyd) a few weeks back with a BKP Aftermath that sounded REALLY good; do you guys think that would be a good choice? Anything else to consider?

 

[JohnSykes]

That looks really nice dude, grats. Are those 81s? You could try a different model of EMG, maybe 85s.

 

[glpg80]

is that a real ESP body? the M-II's always have the switches located where the volume knob is on that guitar. none of them have the small switch located in that position that i have ever seen?

congrats on the NGD

email ESP USA and see if its a custom special one-off with a knob/switch layout change and not a warmoth body...

 

[Ayrton]

is that a real ESP body?

If that is an older NYC job, you could get them any way you wanted.

Pull the bridge pup and see if there is a build number written there.

 

[Ventura]

Kinda weird looking to me.

Anyway, EMGs to passive can be a bit odd to change up - not cheap. I'd just opt for the 85/81 combo, I have these in my FR-II, they're solid.

V.

 

[tnourse]

is that a real ESP body?

If that is an older NYC job, you could get them any way you wanted.

Pull the bridge pup and see if there is a build number written there.

Doesn't look like a 48th Street. But the pic isn't very good.

 

[glpg80]

Kinda weird looking to me.

V.

+1

the route of my ESP M-II is much better around the floyd, its tucked in tight and fits perfectly.

this body does not have this judging by this picture, seems like alot of gapping going on.

might be an ESP neck but that body is way off on a few measurements IMHO.

 

[luxxtone]

BKP Aftermath or Miracle Man would both be great. The Aftermath is a little more raw and in your face, the Miracle Man is all out passive EMG style with a much wider dynamic range. Motor City Solution is also a great metal pickup.

 

[Ventura]

BKP Aftermath or Miracle Man would both be great. The Aftermath is a little more raw and in your face, the Miracle Man is all out passive EMG style with a much wider dynamic range. Motor City Solution is also a great metal pickup.

Agreed, but with this conversion, new pots, caps and cabling are required. Just sayin'...

V.

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

Looks like an ESP MII body to me..
You can tell if it is real by simply looking at the control cavity covers..
Even after 48th street into the mid to late 90's you could order a standard series ESP with custom options, During some years they even offered a few custom options to some of the standard series guitars as a standard option for that model ..

 

[lolzgreg]

I've heard an 81 and Aftermath in the same guitar, and I liked the 81 better. I'd honestly leave them. If you aren't going to, the JB, Custom, or BKP Cold Sweat are all pretty cool.

 

[TheMagicEight]

It's real. It's just been (poorly) refinished and customized. There's even a dip in the finish where the old pot was. It would bother me, but the thing plays ridiculously well! Not to mention I think the controls are better where they are than where they "should" be.

I guess with the pickups, I like the way the EMGs sound with lots of distortion, but I'm pretty convinced passive is the way to go for lower gain in addition to the metal tones. Will the Aftermath clean up decently?

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

It's real. It's just been (poorly) refinished and customized. There's even a dip in the finish where the old pot was. It would bother me, but the thing plays ridiculously well! Not to mention I think the controls are better where they are than where they "should" be.

I guess with the pickups, I like the way the EMGs sound with lots of distortion, but I'm pretty convinced passive is the way to go for lower gain in addition to the metal tones. Will the Aftermath clean up decently?

Yeh the volume looks like it is where the pick up selector was or should have been..

 

[Gsxrbusa]

Very nice sir! Damn ESP guitars play nice. Having 2 now makes me want more.

 

[luxxtone]

BKP Aftermath or Miracle Man would both be great. The Aftermath is a little more raw and in your face, the Miracle Man is all out passive EMG style with a much wider dynamic range. Motor City Solution is also a great metal pickup.

Agreed, but with this conversion, new pots, caps and cabling are required. Just sayin'...

V.

Yup, if switching from EMG's to passive you'll need some 500k pots as well. The EMG pots are 25k. Go with some Bourns premium pots for the best of the best. Or some 10% tolerance, custom tapered CTS. Many standard CTS are all over the place, and a lot of them feel really rough too. Caps really won't be too big of a deal, don't really need to replace them unless you really like to custom tailor your tone pot.

 

[Ventura]

Very nice sir! Damn ESP guitars play nice. Having 2 now makes me want more.

Funny thing you say this... I've got all these "high end axes" at my disposal, beautiful guitars, seriously. But whenever I pick up my NT-II or FR-II, I just can't get over how smooth, fast, and easy they are to play... ESP makes a DAMN fine instrument, regardless of the MIJ stigma.

Just sayin',
V.

 

[TheMagicEight]

Very nice sir! Damn ESP guitars play nice. Having 2 now makes me want more.

Funny thing you say this... I've got all these "high end axes" at my disposal, beautiful guitars, seriously. But whenever I pick up my NT-II or FR-II, I just can't get over how smooth, fast, and easy they are to play... ESP makes a DAMN fine instrument, regardless of the MIJ stigma.

Just sayin',
V.

It's been hit and miss with me. I bought an NT-II about a year ago and it was a bit of a dog; no amount of adjusting would fix the dips in the neck. I sold it at a loss, but after playing this one, I take back anything bad I've ever said about ESP. They can make one hell of a guitar.

That said I'm fairly certain the Aftermath is going in!

 

[glpg80]

i dont get to play my esp....its going back to CA for a custom neck to be reordered from japan because the neck is deffective.....

ESP wont get any more money from me. they've dropped the ball on customer service, product quality, and if they drop the ball on the warranty and blame it off on other things they drop the ball in even caring about their name anymore.

 

[TheMagicEight]

i dont get to play my esp....its going back to CA for a custom neck to be reordered from japan because the neck is deffective.....

ESP wont get any more money from me. they've dropped the ball on customer service, product quality, and if they drop the ball on the warranty and blame it off on other things they drop the ball in even caring about their name anymore.

I contacted them about getting my NT-II looked at and they were pretty useless. When I inquired about having it fixed, they told me unless it buzzes above a certain action, it's not covered. Don't remember the exact height, but it was well above what I consider acceptable.

 

[Ventura]

Are you guys F'N SERIOUS!?!?!?? Holy shit - that's pretty bad man... Seriously, that's really very uncool of ESP. I've NEVER had to deal with their customer service and/or warranty, thankfully. I'd be uber pissed if this was their reaction to problems I'd have with either of my 2 guitars.

Not cool. Sorry to read this gents.
V.