NGD - Japanese ESP LTD Explorer

[Nitrobattery]

My inner 11 year old is elated.

Just picked up this first run Japanese ESP LTD Explorer from 1997. Apparently only 300 of these are floating around, and I’m thrilled that one of them is here.

 

[guitup too]

Very nice. Set neck?

 

[ClintN667]

Hell yeah

 

[Nitrobattery]

Very nice. Set neck?

It’s a bolt-on.

 

[Devin]

Sexy af!

 

[vmbarrera]

Sexy

 

[thenine]

Beauteous

 

[Nitrobattery]

Never heard of LTDs being built in Japan. How can you tell the difference? Happy NGD!

In 1997 the first batch of them were made in Japan. You can tell by the two dots at the 12th fret. The following year they moved to WMI in South Korea, and EXP-200 was put on the 12th fret. These first few were made in the same factory as the bolt-on Metallica signature models. It’s essentially an ESP JH-2 with LTD on the headstock.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Very nice! To this day one of the nicest guitars I remember playing was a custom ESP. Couldn't have afforded it at the time, but it haunts me.

See you're still rocking the MC...nice!

 

[Nitrobattery]

Very nice! To this day one of the nicest guitars I remember playing was a custom ESP. Couldn't have afforded it at the time, but it haunts me.

See you're still rocking the MC...nice!

It’s really solid and resonant. I’m dropping it off next weekend for a refret and new nut, so I’m really psyched to put it through its paces once it’s back to its former glory.

Yep, the MC isn’t going anywhere. It’s an older one without the pull boost, but nailed with a Koko Boost or SD-1 it rips. It might also be the loudest man made thing in existence.

 

[Nitrobattery]

Yeah, I knew some came with dots and others with the exp-200 inlay, but didn't know they were made at different factories. I have a one-off custom with maple/rosewood and set neck that I'm quite fond of.
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That looks great!

 

[dimensionx]

liking the esp