ESP vs LTD Deluxe

Jack Vegas

I'm the proud owner of a beautiful ESP Ltd Deluxe EC-1000, which I plan on keeping for quite some time, but out of curiosity I was looking at a few genuine ESP Eclipses the other day.

I noticed that the ESP Eclipses, despite costing a good 500-700 euro more than my Ltd, didnt have many of the accessories my Ltd possessed, such as Tone Pros locking bridge, Earvana Compensated nut etc. instead opting for standard Gotoh hardware, and on a purely cosmetic note, none of them had the purdy abalone binding that adorns my pride and joy.

Does anyone else think this is strange?

Doctor J

Not really. ESP in Japan make truly stunning top of the line instruments and hire very good people to enable them to do it. Gotoh hardware is as good as it gets, in my experience and I'd say ESP Japan are more selective about the wood they use too. I'd guess the labour involved in making a guitar is cheaper in Korea, cheaper again in China, Indonesia, Taiwan, etc which, apart from brands farming out their lower range products out to these countries, would also have an influence on the cost of the final product.

Vim Fuego

I just got an ESP Eclipse delivered this week and I loooooove it.



I was planning to get an ec-1000 (wanted one for ages) but I went for the ESP. As for the hardware, it's got pretty much the same spec as the jh-3 they did a few years (but thinner and no schallers). Still doesn't answer your question but jJesus, I love it to bits, just want to share the love. Oh, and I don't like the abalone binding and prefer the pinstripe.

Jack Vegas

That is pretty gorgeous alrite! I'd agree that the woods are probably of superior quality, as for saying Gotoh hardware is as good as it gets I wouldn't know much about that, I just know that TonePros bridges are locked into the guitar rather than floating, which supposedly helps intonation and tuning, a fair few pro guitarists use those style of bridges.

bombidol

Have an EC 1000 myself and was weighing the benefits of both the LTD and ESP models. went for the LTD as the price difference didnt match the spec difference to be honest.

Karl Hungus

bombidol wrote: »

Have an EC 1000 myself and was weighing the benefits of both the LTD and ESP models. went for the LTD as the price difference didnt match the spec difference to be honest.

There's more to a guitar than mere specs tbh.

Comparing the Japanese made Ibanez guitars to their Korean and Indonesian made counterparts, there is an absolute world of difference, and I would imagine it's the same with ESP/LTD. I've actually been to an ESP shop in Tokyo, and seen those guys making guitars by hand, it's a far cry from a production line in some Korean factory, I'll tell you that.

Voodu Child

Jack Vegas wrote: »

Does anyone else think this is strange?

No, you'll find that with lots of brands.

You can buy a cheap Korean Ibanez RG with a great spec on paper (flamed maple top, neck binding, matching headstock etc), and then you move up to the Prestige guitars and the cheapest RG is plain and dull, black headstock, no trimmings. But it's unquestionably a better guitar.

Spec on paper isn't always everything. Some guys go for a simple high quality guitar, others go for a cheaper made one with all the extra's. It's just a choice thing, neither is better/worse, depends what you're after and what your budget is.

Patricide

Id agree with you here, but not always. Esp's factory in korea is actually very very good surprisingly. When you play anything from a 400 series up it sounds and feels and plays like a guitar thats worth maybe a grand and a half. Honestly iv never played a real Esp but i cant fathom how they could be much better than the 1000 series iv played.

bombidol

Ive played the ESP version also, Theres a few very minor differences between them but nothing near enough to warrant the price difference. Also remember that when dealing with battery powered active pickups you could pretty much lash them on a piece of plywood and it would sound good.

bat boy

A mate of mine has an ec 1000. Savage guitar. Thinking of getting one myself when I've got the cash. Seen someones selling one on adverts.ie at the moment.

Jack Vegas

bat boy wrote: »

A mate of mine has an ec 1000. Savage guitar. Thinking of getting one myself when I've got the cash. Seen someones selling one on adverts.ie at the moment.

Get it!! Seriously love mine. Keep your eyes peeled on eBay for any models, new or used, I got mine new from America and it worked out €250 cheaper than Thomann even with import tax and delivery.

SxE Punk

For a difference of 700 bills, I'd get the LTD and upgrade.

Johnny Storm

bombidol wrote: »

...Also remember that when dealing with battery powered active pickups you could pretty much lash them on a piece of plywood and it would sound good.

:eek: Blasphemer!

DHYNZY

I grabbed a EC-1000 yesterday, and I cannot tell you how shocked I was at how amazing it is! I can't believe it! I wasn't sure what to expect but it blew me away! If the ESP Eclipse models are better then I reckon I've found my perfect guitar! Anyone selling one??

Demeyes

DHYNZY wrote: »

I grabbed a EC-1000 yesterday, and I cannot tell you how shocked I was at how amazing it is! I can't believe it! I wasn't sure what to expect but it blew me away! If the ESP Eclipse models are better then I reckon I've found my perfect guitar! Anyone selling one??

Did you realise that this thread is about 2 years old? Congrats on the new guitar anyway!

DHYNZY

Haha I did! But no harm reviving a classic thread! And I really am blown away by the quality! Plus saves me starting a new topic about the quality of these guitars!