Whose tried ESP LTD line of guitars?

[tweed]

Looking at AMS and noticed a couple of nice looking guitars at insane prices. I know they are made overseas but for the price I'm not sure how you could go wrong.

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ESP-ST203FR-LIST

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ESP-PHX200-LIST

 

[Inearthed]

Any LTD's that I've tried that were above the 300 have been pretty solid. 200's are hit or miss. I'd not buy one without a good return policy or playing it before hand. Nice prices on the axes but keep in mind that they come stock with ESP branded hardware and will likely at the very least require a pickup swap (so $100 right from the get go). Also, the lower priced "distressed" stuff often looks bad in person. Just food for thought.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

They are very hit and miss...try before you buy

 

[Red_Label]

I've owned two Ltd Hybrids (300 and 400), four Ltd EC400/401s, and two Ltd EC1000s. Every one of them was more bang-for-buck than any other import guitar I've ever owned. The only other import that held its own with them was a Schecter C1 Classic that I picked-up for $300. I currently own a pair of ESP Eclipse IIs (that I bought for Ltd EC1000 prices). But I'd have NO problem only playing Ltds for the rest of my musical journey. I've been itching to try some of those strats, teles, and maybe an MH250/350/327. Played them all in the music store and enjoyed the crap out of every one of them.

Take it from a former Strat and PRS guy... you cannot beat Ltds for the money. I've been playing for 27 years and owned a little bit of everything, but from now on most every guitar that finds its way to my house will likely have ESP or Ltd on its headstock.


BTW... I'm a chronic gear whore. I get bored with things after a while and sell them just to mix it up and stay inspired. So that's why I've been through so many Ltds. I wish I still had most/all of them to be honest. But I'm just not a hoarder. The minute I decide I want to try something else, I sell what I've got and move-on. Doesn't matter though, as I always seem to come back to ESP/Ltd.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

i agree that they're pretty good bang for the buck above the 3, 4, 500 range.

they don't allways sound good with good wood, but never seen one that didn't play like a dream.


get rid of the flag inlays, and the EC1000 would be one badass guitar.

 

[tweed]

Thanks for the input fellas. I'll try and see if I can find them locally before I pull the trigger.

 

[Red_Label]

Honestly, I sat-down and shredded it up on an EC-256 (sunburst) recently and it was every bit as shred-worthy as the two EC-1000s and two Eclipses that I've owned. Yes, as mentioned, you're not always getting a tone machine at that level. But I would have killed to have such an axe for such a price when I grew-up in the 80s. If you didn't build your own franken-strat, you had to spend $2K to get an axe that played like that back then...

 

[chipples10]

i have one and its frickinn awesome! basically all of em over 500 bucks are solid but def try them out b4 u buy them

 

[killertone]

I have owned an LTD H-207 for over 10 years that is ridiculously good. Worth much more than I paid for it and it sounds killer.

 

[tweed]

I have serious gas for a firebird. Looks like epiphone has one around $400, wonder how it compares to the LTD?

 

[OUTLAW1969]

i agree that they're pretty good bang for the buck above the 3, 4, 500 range.

they don't allways sound good with good wood, but never seen one that didn't play like a dream.

+1

Not always made out of the best choice of woods, but are great bang for the buck. I have seen some of the better ones sound great, with a pickup change, too.

 

[irondeth21]

I have serious gas for a firebird. Looks like epiphone has one around $400, wonder how it compares to the LTD?

In my experience I've liked ltd stuff better then epiphone. Just better attention to detail, etc...

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I have serious gas for a firebird. Looks like epiphone has one around $400, wonder how it compares to the LTD?

I would pick an LTD over an Epiphone

 

[mixohoytian]

always set up great
and play like a much more expensive guitar

 

[Red_Label]

I have serious gas for a firebird. Looks like epiphone has one around $400, wonder how it compares to the LTD?

I would pick an LTD over an Epiphone

Absolutely, I've owned Epis as well, and the Ltds KILL the Epis in every way. I spent a bunch of money upgrading all of the parts on a sunburst Epi LP years ago and the first stock EC-400 that I bought used (gold top with Gator hard case for $325) crapped all over it in every possible way. In fact, the EC-400s that I had were comparable to the Gibson Studio and Standard LPs that I had and stuck around a lot longer...

 

[roundman3gz]

I have an LTD PB-500 with P-rails. I use it as my main guitar because it's very flexible. Never had any problems with it and I've had it for about two years. All the hardware is good quality. My other guitars are a Schecter C-1 Hellraiser and an Ibanez RG370DX. As for other LTDs I can't say but this one is solid.

 

[Steinmetzify]

get rid of the flag inlays, and the EC1000 would be one badass guitar.

Like this? My #1.....this thing craps all over everything else I've kept.....not everything I've ever played of course,

but for the $, I honestly don't think you can go wrong with them. Great guitars.

 

[Shask]

What model is that? I have never seen a completely black EC....

Yeah, the higher number LTDs are good. I have an old MH-301 (what the 400 series is today), and a Viper 401. Both are solid guitars. I have had about 5-10 other LTDs over the years as well. They are always solid. Maybe not my favorite since they have the Korean plastic thing going on, but they are always solid.

 

[Steinmetzify]

It's called an EC-1000 'Stealth'. Part of a special run for Musicians Friend a few years back...81/60 combo, ESP locking tuners and black binding....love the EC's,
hate the flag inlays and all the 'abalone'. This one was perfect for me.

There is a Viper version as well called a 500S, and another EC version, an EC500....the 500's dont have the binding and locking tuners IIRC.

 

[some dude]

Murdered out guitars are sweet.