90's ESP MII Deluxe. Whats it worth?

[sambencuda]

I found what appears to be a 90's era ESP MII Deluxe for sale. Typical MII, reverse headstock, maple/maple neck, Hum/single (EMG in Bridge, some aftermarket no name single coil). The bridge has been swapped out for a cheesy floyd knock off. No writing, but it doesnt fit the recess that well. It rubs against one side. The locking nut has been replaced with a Kahler. Looks thinner than what was there originally (1-11/16?). It has various dings a dents for a guitar this old that has been played. the frets are flat, but no buzzing. Kinda like a fretless wonder. Asking price is $900. I think thats way too high. Thoughts? Id pay $500 considering it needs a new bridge and either a new neck pickup if I stick with the EMG or two new pick ups if I stay passive.

[Axewielder]

Sounds like mine, which is a mid 90's with a Kahler ESP-branded fulcrum trem. I paid $700 or so about three years ago, and it was 9/10 condition and bone stock (I've since been busy molesting it with EMG's lol). Great guitars! $500 would be a steal, and $900 seems a bit high.

[NextInLine]

Sounds like mine, which is a mid 90's with a Kahler ESP-branded fulcrum trem. I paid $700 or so about three years ago, and it was 9/10 condition and bone stock (I've since been busy molesting it with EMG's lol). Great guitars! $500 would be a steal, and $900 seems a bit high.

Dude that's one shiny guitar you got there! I like it a lot.. I'm hoping to land one of those sometime in the future

[sambencuda]

Thats exactly it except this one is dark blue and no where near mint. I also forgot to mention that the 3 way switch is gone and was replace with aother knob (maybe a tone). the electronics seem to have been butchered. Not a problem for me and actually a bargaining point. BTW, nice ax.

[Axewielder]

Thats exactly it except this one is dark blue and no where near mint. I also forgot to mention that the 3 way switch is gone and was replace with aother knob (maybe a tone). the electronics seem to have been butchered. Not a problem for me and actually a bargaining point. BTW, nice ax.

Cool! I will say that these came stock with 9's, and mine really didn't take to 10's very well. It was a total buzz-o-matic! I ended up having to have the board replaned and refretted with jumbo 10's. Chris Cotter out of Charlotte did the work, and the results were AMAZING. I'm pretty anal too, and this baby really plays like a dream now. I think that just is how it is with guitars sometimes, as I had a USA Jackson suffer the same fate once when I went from 9's to 10's. DAMMIT they should ship all guitars with 10's!

[jim777]

I had one of those ESP branded Floyds in my mutt Model 6, and it was a decent trem.

[DonP]

I found what appears to be a 90's era ESP MII Deluxe for sale. Typical MII, reverse headstock, maple/maple neck, Hum/single (EMG in Bridge, some aftermarket no name single coil). The bridge has been swapped out for a cheesy floyd knock off. No writing, but it doesnt fit the recess that well. It rubs against one side. The locking nut has been replaced with a Kahler. Looks thinner than what was there originally (1-11/16?). It has various dings a dents for a guitar this old that has been played. the frets are flat, but no buzzing. Kinda like a fretless wonder. Asking price is $900. I think thats way too high. Thoughts? Id pay $500 considering it needs a new bridge and either a new neck pickup if I stick with the EMG or two new pick ups if I stay passive.

Sounds like a very high price considering all of the issues it has.

Think about what you could buy for $500 and what you are getting here for $500, if he even drops the price. Think of how much money you will need to through into it to bring it back up to spec, and how much you'll need to get out of it if you decide to sell.

[Wayniac]

Jimbo - Way high bud. I think $650ish w/out issues is tops of what they were going for.
I loved mine - great neck - but have no need for 24 frets any more...
The Kahlers they came with (Flyer i believe) are actually really good bridges

[sambencuda]

Thanks for the input. Im going to take another look today. BTW, the Kahler is long gone. not sure whats in it now. it looks cheap. Wayne, I owe you a call. Haven't forgotten.

[Chad]

Cool! I will say that these came stock with 9's, and mine really didn't take to 10's very well. It was a total buzz-o-matic! I ended up having to have the board replaned and refretted with jumbo 10's. Chris Cotter out of Charlotte did the work, and the results were AMAZING. I'm pretty anal too, and this baby really plays like a dream now. I think that just is how it is with guitars sometimes, as I had a USA Jackson suffer the same fate once when I went from 9's to 10's. DAMMIT they should ship all guitars with 10's!

That seems very odd. Did Chris explain what caused the problem with 10s? I believe thicker strings have a wider vibrating area, but I would have thought that could be dialed out with action & truss road tweaking...and at worst a fret leveling. An entire fretboard and replaning for a string gauge change is hardcore!

[Axewielder]

That seems very odd. Did Chris explain what caused the problem with 10s? I believe thicker strings have a wider vibrating area, but I would have thought that could be dialed out with action & truss road tweaking...and at worst a fret leveling. An entire fretboard and replaning for a string gauge change is hardcore!

Oh yeah those were dark days for this guitar! I'm here to tell you this guitar bucked every attempt to set it up. I think it had some kind of a twist to the neck, or perhaps severe rising tongue. This was several years ago, when I wasn't as skilled at setting up guitars myself. It played like utter shit and went back into Chris' shop at least three times before we punted and went the refret route. That was definitely a good (but expensive) diagnosis, because this is now one of my best playing guitars.