ESP E-II prototype #1 has finally arrived and it is an amazing NGD!!!!

[VitaminG]

I don't generally take much notice of ESP/LTD, probably because the stuff that turns up on the pawnshops tends to be pretty generic. That one is very nice. Really digging that paint.

Haven't kept up with Lord Tim since Dungeon's breakup, but that clip was awesome. Couple of good Aussie chicks there too - bit of filthy abuse when the boys stumble through their picnic

[ZL1hawk]

Umm... you're talking about the E-2 line right? ESP has some crazy artist signature guitars available... many of them make that Horizon look really tame.

Yeah why? It doesn't make the guitar special or anything but that's what they do. You can fill out spec sheets and do a mock up on the computer but eventually you have to build the guitar. By "first" I'm talking about the first ones you make, for the LT-27 ESP built 2 as prototype's. How the dealers got them I don't know.

[vector]

Saw this and I immediately thought of my beloved Hamer Californians. Would love to A/B one against my Cali custom.
Hell, I'd consider ordering one of these with some variations if I was in the market. I love the 12- 27 being scalloped. The alder body also intrigues me. Have always wanted an alder Cali w/ a maple neck. Sadly, when I ordered my custom in 2011, alder was reportedly a "no-go" and neck thru just wasn't done at Hamer.

Hamer Cali Custom:
Body: Mahogany
Neck : 3-piece Maple bound, reversed headstock
Fretboard: Bound Ebony
Inlays: MOP boomerangs
Side Markers: Dot
Construction: Set neck
Scale: 25.5"
Tuners: Schallers
Bridge: Schaller Floyd Rose w/brass big block
Hardware Color: Black
Frets: 27 medium jumbo
Pickups: Seymour Duncan TB-5 (b) and '59 (n)
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 way toggle switch
Color: green and black checkered
Tuning/Strings: D# Standard with EB Slinky Cobalts 9-42

[ZL1hawk]

I don't generally take much notice of ESP/LTD, probably because the stuff that turns up on the pawnshops tends to be pretty generic. That one is very nice. Really digging that paint.

Haven't kept up with Lord Tim since Dungeon's breakup, but that clip was awesome. Couple of good Aussie chicks there too - bit of filthy abuse when the boys stumble through their picnic

They're a funny bunch. Their other videos remind me of the old Queensryche jams. Not exactly my kind of music but they are amazing.

ESP tends to hit home runs with their customs and standard lines. E-II's are exceptional but only if they are built in Japan.

Saw this and I immediately thought of my beloved Hamer Californians. Would love to A/B one against my Cali custom.
Hell, I'd consider ordering one of these with some variations if I was in the market. I love the 12- 27 being scalloped. The alder body also intrigues me. Have always wanted an alder Cali w/ a maple neck. Sadly, when I ordered my custom in 2011, alder was reportedly a "no-go" and neck thru just wasn't done at Hamer.

Hamer Cali Custom:
Body: Mahogany
Neck : 3-piece Maple bound, reversed headstock
Fretboard: Bound Ebony
Inlays: MOP boomerangs
Side Markers: Dot
Construction: Set neck
Scale: 25.5"
Tuners: Schallers
Bridge: Schaller Floyd Rose w/brass big block
Hardware Color: Black
Frets: 27 medium jumbo
Pickups: Seymour Duncan TB-5 (b) and '59 (n)
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 way toggle switch
Color: green and black checkered
Tuning/Strings: D# Standard with EB Slinky Cobalts 9-42

For some reason Hamer never made its way on to my radar. You have a nice one though, they stay away from the neck-thru eh? What was their reason for that?

How did that Duncan Custom work out? I've been tempted to have a go at them before but players seem 50/50 about them pups.

[ZL1hawk]

I have an ESP Custom in the works. Here is a quick mock up of what I have so far...

[toejam]

That blue color is just so cool, I can't stop staring at it! And that trans black custom looks pretty sweet, too.

[vector]

For some reason Hamer never made its way on to my radar. You have a nice one though, they stay away from the neck-thru eh? What was their reason for that?

How did that Duncan Custom work out? I've been tempted to have a go at them before but players seem 50/50 about them pups.

Not sure why they only did set neck and bolties. but they never did neck thru's.

The Customs worked out real well. So good, in fact, that I've put them in all but 2 of my 6 Cali's and 1 Vector. The work real well with the 'hog bodies- real decent crunch and definition with out being trebly. Cuts nicely thru the mix live.

[ZL1hawk]

Ok guys I think I have this right. Prototype's are guitars that are concepts, they are built for testing to see if what you have on paper translates in to the actual product you are trying to build. No matter what a company has built before prototype's are necessary to assure quality and prove beyond doubt a manufacturer is on the right track with their particular goal. Although they are not uncommon on the market since some manage to escape they are not considered special or any more interesting than their equals.

Prototype's are usually a 1 of a kind or sometimes 2 of a kind and hardly ever make it to the public since the builders normally strip a Proto down for parts or shape them in to other guitars to be used for whatever they need to save on cost. They equal the same value as other instruments of like quality and do not sell at higher prices or gain worth over time to be sold. They are cool guitars and a bit exclusive but that's all.

[xenophobe]

Actually a fair amount of prototypes do get released to the public, and usually without their backstory... they usually go to dealers through backchannels and end up as standard stock. Over the years, DCGL had a whole bunch of Schecter prototypes... a few esp as well. Charvel and Jackson both has released prototypes for sale over the years as well. Yes, they're uncommon because of the reasons you stated.

[ZL1hawk]

Actually a fair amount of prototypes do get released to the public, and usually without their backstory... they usually go to dealers through backchannels and end up as standard stock. Over the years, DCGL had a whole bunch of Schecter prototypes... a few esp as well. Charvel and Jackson both has released prototypes for sale over the years as well. Yes, they're uncommon because of the reasons you stated.

That's where I've seen them before! I couldn't remember what store it was.

I'm not sure how each manufacturer does it, Schector is off my radar too they're Abalone happy, but I need to visit ESP itself and grab one of those little bastards and make them talk!

[VitaminG]

I'm not sure how each manufacturer does it, Schector is off my radar too they're Abalone happy,

that's part of why I like the Loomis sig - abalone free

[toejam]

that's part of why I like the Loomis sig - abalone free

The Keith Merrow sig, too.

[nateb]

Damn... reminds me of the old Kramer Stagemasters. I always wanted one of those.

-Nate

[VitaminG]

The Keith Merrow sig, too.

good call. I like Keith's too