DBL NGD: I got over brand loyalty & import phobia

[toejam]

Nice ones, Tim! What model number is that Horizon, and what is the nut width? I've thinking of getting another 7 and toying with the idea of some kind of ESP/LTD Horizon or the new Whitechapel Alex Wade LTD strat. How would you compare the nut width to, perhaps, a Carvin DC727?

[ekalb09]

Nice ESP!

[xenophobe]

Interesting thread. 15 years ago the guitar media in the UK thought that (generally speaking) USA guitars were the highest quality, followed by Japan and then Korea a distant third. Today, USA and Japan are seen as equal with Korea a close second. Quality has improved across the board

I think MIJ Fender is every bit as good or better, quality wise, when compared to USA Fender or USA Charvel.

I paid $1150 for my one hum Gotoh Floyd Stratocaster. Brand new, it retailed for about $1600-$1800. With the exception of the hand-filed rolled fretboard edges that my Jackson has, the build quality is as good as my '89 USA Custom Shop. It makes the pro-mods feel like they're cheap imports. It makes Fender American Standard and American Deluxe models feel ticky tacky. It's not fancy like the Elite's or Selects though. I've also got another MIJ Fender arriving tomorrow.

[Tmoran]

Nice ones, Tim! What model number is that Horizon, and what is the nut width? I've thinking of getting another 7 and toying with the idea of some kind of ESP/LTD Horizon or the new Whitechapel Alex Wade LTD strat. How would you compare the nut width to, perhaps, a Carvin DC727?

This is the ESP NT-7 horizon. Same thing the guys in whitechapel prefer over their own signature models. Its up to you man depending on what kind of neck you like. The nut width on this guitar is 45mm. The nut width on a carvin 7 is just over 48mm. 3mm of difference doesnt sound like a lot but i assure you its a HUGE difference in the hand. I actually traded off my carvin DC700 because the neck was just too fat and wide for me. And I normally love carvin necks. And also my hellraiser has a 43.33 mm nut on it so its actually closer to the size of a 6 string than a standard 7. The string spacing is slightly tighter but I have smaller hands and its a godsend to have a 7 that plays like a 6. No cramping and I truly love playing a 7 now. Ive heard a lot of great things about the Alex wade guitar but mind you those guys still prefer these NT7's due to the nut width. Playing at the 15th fret on this thing is like playing at the 3rd fret on my old carvin. I believe the Viper 7 esp does has the same neck as this as well if you like SG type guitars better. Just know that you only get the narrow neck on the non trem ESP 7's. If you get a floyd you get the standard 48mm nut. But id think the necks would still be pretty thin even on those. If you like a jackson speed neck profile you will love this guitar. Its not identical but it definitely reminded me of my old King V.

[toejam]

Cool, thanks! The Carvin width doesn't really bother me, even though my hands are a little on the smaller side. Years ago, I had an Ibanez RG7620 and a Schecter 007 Elite that were okay, but they seemed a little bigger than the Carvin. I see the Alex Wade has a 48mm nut, so it should be fine for me if the Carvin is a tiny bit over that. Though, I may have to check out an NT7 or Viper 7.