please help with Jackson/ESP info

[guitarnut1980]

Could anyone give me a comparison on the current line of Import Jacksons in comparison to the current Ltds, and also on the current high end lines. All help would be greatly appreciated

[Grandturk]

Here's my comparison - Jackson players get more trim than ESPee players.



seriously - you're asking a very broad question. Both companies put out dozens of import models.

[Jacksonguy666]

Here's my comparison - Jackson players get more trim than ESPee players.



seriously - you're asking a very broad question. Both companies put out dozens of import models.

What do you mean by trim?

[The Rossness]

I've played a few of the higher level LTD's and lower level ESP's. I think you get more for your money with ESP/LTD ans far as features and parts. Some of the guitars comming out of asia are right up there in quality. In my opinion, the best stock LTD is the Alexi 600. It's slightly more comfortable to play sitting down than a Jackson RR. As for the jackson imports- I'm partial to maple fingerboards, so I'd say their best model is the RR24M. Also, Jackson necks typically feel better than anyrhing else. As for Jaskson USA Vs. ESP, they're pretty equal. If you want something totally unique and hand carved, I'd give the nod to ESP.

[Grandturk]

What do you mean by trim?

Oh, son... if you have to ask...

[Jacksonguy666]

Oh, son... if you have to ask...

Oh, I know, I just thought it would have been funny if you played along and posted/ (hence the smiley) :ROTF:

[guitarnut1980]

I've played a few of the higher level LTD's and lower level ESP's. I think you get more for your money with ESP/LTD ans far as features and parts. Some of the guitars comming out of asia are right up there in quality. In my opinion, the best stock LTD is the Alexi 600. It's slightly more comfortable to play sitting down than a Jackson RR. As for the jackson imports- I'm partial to maple fingerboards, so I'd say their best model is the RR24M. Also, Jackson necks typically feel better than anyrhing else. As for Jaskson USA Vs. ESP, they're pretty equal. If you want something totally unique and hand carved, I'd give the nod to ESP.

thanks for your help, i've noticed that some of the more recent jacksons have started to incorporate some of the bells and whistles that were seen on Ltds ( Floyds, Seymour Duncans and EMG's ect) thats why i asked thanks again

[SlaytanicDude]

Jacksons have had Floyds for a long time.

[Deadlock]

I'm a big Jackson fan, but ESP/LTD gives you more bang for your buck than Jackson when it comes to low-mid price guitars. High end guitars from either brand are kick ass.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I consider myself fairly unbiased, although I'm a huge Jackson fan.

ESP sucks.

Jacksons rule!



Um no seriously, I'm not really sure what you are after. Most people here are Jackson fanboys or at least chose to buy a Jackson vs. an ESP at some point. And you're not going to get a model-by-model feature/price showdown without doing the leg-work yourself and making some kind of decision on what you like. The question of "brand vs. brand" is silly, because within eithr brand, there are some outstanding values, and there are some STUPID OVERPRICED guitars.

For example, as much as I like Jackson and Adrian Smith, I think the Adrian Smith Signature is a bit much at $2000 for a simple bolt-on Strat guitar. Yes, it's a very nice bolt-on Strat and I'd love to have one, but I'd definitely feel like I over-paid for what I got on a purely "features to dollars" basis.

Some of the non-signature models from ESP seem to be a great deal. The artist-endorsed guitars (depending) will typically have a close ESP or LTD model which is priced a lot lower. And ESP has some OUTRAGEOUSLY STUPID OVERPRICED stuff.

So, the LTD stuff compared to the Japanese Jackson Pro's... I think depending on model it could go either way.

I don't feel the higher-end ESP Japan stuff compares favorably with the USA Jacksons on a price or feature basis, but that's in part due to my particular preferences. I cross-shopped Soloists with ESP's, and I bought a Soloist.

The M-II NTB vs. a Soloist, you lose the binding and ebony and shark fins, and the included CASE, vs. the Jackson USA Soloist. You gain EMG's. For $100 less, which covers the case. So effectively they're the same price, and I think the USA Soloist is a better value.

Or there's the Horizon FR-II which has ebony and binding and EMG's for the same price as a Soloist. But still, no case. Either way, I think the Soloist wins, here.

If you like bolt-ons, I think the M-II STD vs. DK1, again, it's pretty much the same deal. The DK1 wins. That's why I have a USA DK1 and not an ESP.

Then there are the ridiculous ESP artist-series guitars. For $10K I can buy the stupid Hetfield Iron Cross Less Paul Copy ( ) or I can buy a Pablo Santana Custom Shop Jackson or a USA Koa Super-Soloist Limited Edition. And still have several thousand dollars left over. The Kirk Hammet, Jeff Hanneman, and George Lynch guitars are STUPID OVERPRICED and I feel sorry for anyone dumb enough to believe in the collectibility of the instruments and a justification for the insane price.

Anyway, I don't think ESP guitars are bad at all, and they DO have some very competitive models. I just haven't found one that I really like and that I think is a great value, for me.

[Grandturk]

For example, as much as I like Jackson and Adrian Smith, I think the Adrian Smith Signature is a bit much at $2000 for a simple bolt-on Strat guitar. Yes, it's a very nice bolt-on Strat and I'd love to have one, but I'd definitely feel like I over-paid for what I got on a purely "features to dollars" basis.

Ignore this man, he has no idea what he's talking about! He has the word "jazz" in his name! Everyone know jazz cats are all hepped up on Chlorox and the reefer!

[Rich#6]

I bought a ltmh401 earlier this year(now made in indonesia). great player, the quilt top is ok for the price, made from cheaper woods. I fear is will it stand the test of time. We all know the MIJ charvel/jacksons do. My big fear is that in a few years the action will be crap and the truss rod really SUCKS so adjusts will probably not work!

[Rich#6]

When you buy a signature guitar you are paying extra to be a fanboy.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Ignore this man, he has no idea what he's talking about! He has the word "jazz" in his name! Everyone know jazz cats are all hepped up on Chlorox and the reefer!

You can get high off of Clorox? I might have a busy weekend ahead...

When you buy a signature guitar you are paying extra to be a fanboy.

That's the truth. Usually anyway. At least, there's an extra charge that they tack on because they are pretty sure the fanboys will pay it, to be fanboys.

There are some signature guitars that just have cool features (like the PC1) that a lot of people buy even though they don't really care about the artist very much (like me). Where else are you gonna get a quilt-topped, mahogany-bodied, Strat-head, 24-fret guitar?

The ESP LTD Jeff Hanneman guitar, I almost bought (versus an SL3.) I like Slayer as much as the next guy but it wasn't because of Jeff's name. But, I thought the guitar sounded dead as hell tonally. And I'm not talking about the EMG sterility, I mean, playing it without an amp. It had no resonance at all. It was like playing a hunk of plastic.

[Grandturk]

Where else are you gonna get a quilt-topped, mahogany-bodied, Strat-head, 24-fret guitar? .

The International Bad Taste Shop?

The ESP LTD Jeff Hanneman guitar, I almost bought (versus an SL3.) I like Slayer as much as the next guy but it wasn't because of Jeff's name. But, I thought the guitar sounded dead as hell tonally. And I'm not talking about the EMG sterility, I mean, playing it without an amp. It had no resonance at all. It was like playing a hunk of plastic.

+1 - I also had the same results with an LTD Alexi. Sounded like a rubber ball strung with rubber bands. I have played very nice ESP strats, however - the Vintage Plus series, and the old, what, 400 series? Also a nice Horizon, but it was an 80's Soloist copy - with Jackson heastock.