NGD (with photos): 1990 ESP Mirage Custom neckthru

[Number Of The Priest]

Final NGD photo/documentary post of 2016. Thirteenth guitar I've acquired and shared with JCF in 2016. No more after this. I want to say "Bring on 2017!" but right now my stable is packed with keepers that play and sound amazing... I really should stop buying.

This 1990 ESP Mirage Custom was listed with generic hardshell case at CAD$1200 (USD$893.29). I bought it for CAD$900 (USD$674.38), which I consider very fair. Some scratches and various cosmetic blemishes, but overall the bones of the guitar are solid, and it feels and plays like a Jackson Soloist. Despite being a Japanese Edwards owner for over a decade and also recently owning a Korean LTD EC-1000, this is my first true Japanese ESP-branded ESP.

From what I've been able to gather thanks to expertise on the ESP & LTD Guitars Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1512...target&fref=nf), this guitar was made during a transitional period, between the Jackson lawsuit headstock and the one seen here, but before "Mirage" was shortened to "M". ie - not many guitars have the "current" headstock with the old "Mirage" designation. Other than the fretboard being ebony, I've been unable to determine what other woods are in this guitar.

Stock Synclair tremolo was switched out at some point for a Gotoh GE1996T (reviewed by xenophobe here: http://www.jcfonline.com/threads/133...ighlight=gotoh).

Stock pickups, whatever they were, were switched out at some point for Bare Knuckle Pickups of unknown type. Given the normal-looking bobbins and polepieces, and the DC resistances (15.41 bridge and 7.97 neck) written on the underside of the baseplates, the bridge pickup MIGHT be a Crawler (https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/mai...pickup=crawler) and the neck pickup MIGHT be a Holydiver (https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/mai...ckup=holydiver). Just guessing. Nice to finally try some Bare Knuckle Pickups and see what the hype was all about, but would I specifically buy them to replace perfectly functional pickups in other guitars? Perhaps not. My rig sounds good with all kinds of pickups, or perhaps my ear gets diminishing returns and can't tell the difference as the pricing reaches boutique levels.

Photos were taken after I acquired the guitar but before I did any cleaning and setup work. Too lazy to reshoot "after" pics. The Gotoh bridge looks very deeply sunken into the body, which it was. I assume the stock Synclair trem's baseplate can be set flush with the body, but for whatever reason the Gotoh needed to be sunken to achieve the same low action, or the guitar wasn't built with sufficient neck angle (there is none). Anyway, I raised the Gotoh bridge while somehow miraculously achieving low action, and while the bridge baseplate is still not quite flush with the guitar body, it is nowhere near as deep as it was before.

Note there is a tremolo stopper bracket installed in the trem cavity but is missing the adjustment screw. Honestly I want to remove the bracket, but as seen in the final two photos, it doesn't look like it can be unscrewed and removed. I tried screwdrivers and allen keys, and none of them "bite" that fastener. Maybe I'll find the appropriate adjustment screw and complete the proper tremolo stopper setup. Also need to find the appropriate truss rod cover for the headstock.

Full sized images on my new Imgur account: http://notp1.imgur.com/





























The ESP case ("ESP MH guitar form fit case") pictured below was purchased later for CAD$50 and satisfies my OCD need to match guitars with appropriate cases.

[shreddermon]

Cool one. I'm not up on ESP history, but two hums seem possibly somewhat rare for that era and model?

[Number Of The Priest]

Thanks, and I agree. Because I'm also not an ESP expert, when I originally stumbled across the listing for this guitar, I tried to do Google research for "ESP Mirage Custom".

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=923&q=esp+mirage+custom&oq=esp+mirage+&gs_l=img.3.0.0l2j0i24k1l2.1054.2368.0.3459.11.7.0.3.3.0.132.731.3j4.7.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..1.10.739.qTBlZUNTOWY

There are no photos that depict the odd combination of features on mine: Reverse ESP (non-Jackson) headstock, 2 hums, and missing the lowercase "the" in the full model name of "the Mirage Custom", which originally led to my doubting the authenticity of the guitar.

When I posted photos of this particular guitar to the ESP & LTD Guitars group on Facebook, nobody raised any concerns, and neither did xenophobe in his private guidance to me (for which I thank him). So I proceeded with the transaction.

My conclusion is that I likely have a one-off or just a rare combination of specific features. I do enjoy trying to put these documentary photo posts together, CSI-style, to hopefully increase the online knowledge base on various pieces and determine the plausible history of each piece.

[Catharpin]

Final NGD photo/documentary post of 2016. Thirteenth guitar I've acquired and shared with JCF in 2016. No more after this. I want to say "Bring on 2017!" but right now my stable is packed with keepers that play and sound amazing... I really should stop buying.

Sounds like me at the end of this year....and last year....
Great acquisition!
Keep it up....or don't ;-)

[daisp]

Great guitars..nice score

[xenophobe]

You stole it for that price. ESP was kinda like Jackson during that era, there are a lot of standard config guitars out there and a handful of unique ones. Grats!

[BenoA]

You are a whore! Congratz!!!

[Kisonen]

Cool guitar. Someone swapped hardware to gold on this one? Locking nut doesn't seem to fit properly and the sustain block is too long on that Gotoh trem.

[Number Of The Priest]

Thanks everyone, and thanks again xeno

It's plausible that someone swapped the hardware to gold. Possibly within the last few years too. There is too little wear or tarnishing on any of the gold to suggest their original status, compared to some of my other guitars that are showing wear on the gold after several years. Plus, we know the Gotoh trem is not original to the guitar, so perhaps a previous owner decided to upgrade from the stock Synclair trem to the Gotoh, and simultaneously changed all hardware to gold to match the bridge.

Guitar is very playable as-is, but I do recognize its "retrofitted road warrior" vibe due to the minor issues, which potentially make it a restoration "work in progress":

1) The volume and tone knobs actually spin on a tilted axis, like a wobbling top or how the earth spins on an axis. I tried to loosen the set screws on the knobs, reposition the knobs to be straight, and then retighten, but I couldn't get them 100% straight. Oh well, it's minor.

2) I will likely order a truss rod cover from our very own Budman (http://www.fretsonthenet.com/ESP_Carvin_Peavey/esp.htm).

3) Maaaaaybe determine and find a wider locknut that offers the same string spacing. I hadn't noticed the locking nut not fitting properly before, but now that you identified it (thanks), I looked closer at the guitar and see that the nut width is very slightly narrower than the fretboard width. However, the string spacing, playability, and functionality are 100%, so this is very minor.

4) You are correct, the sustain block is too long, hence the "window" cutout on the trem cavity backplate. When I got the guitar, the block actually protruded out the "window", and this is evident in the extra photos below (which I hesitated sharing previously). After my setup and raising the bridge, it doesn't protrude as far, but is still too long. Hasn't yet affected playability, but we'll see after I find a way to remove that tremolo stopper bracket in the trem cavity and restore full Floyd pitch-bending range.

Last night I re-read xenophobe's Gotoh topic (http://www.jcfonline.com/threads/133...oh-vs-Schaller) which addresses the issue of the sustain block length. xenophobe's recommendation: Find a machinist to cut the block to appropriate length. Less likely: Locate a shorter compatible block.

Photos below of the Gotoh trem retrofitted into the Synclair route, pre-setup. It's perfectly functional, with no modifications required, but you can tell that the Gotoh was not meant for this guitar originally. You can also see how recessed a previous owner sunk the trem to try to achieve low action. This makes me think the Synclair was much lower profile if it can be raised higher than the Gotoh to achieve the same low action.

[Kisonen]

Very good closeup photos. Yes it looks like OFR nut on the guitar at the moment. Orginal was 43mm Gotoh part. Easy to get new replacement part with correct radius and the kit comes with string tree too. Synclair trem has lower saddles and can sit higher than Gotoh unit. Gotoh sells sustain blocks in different sizes. My ESP M-1 Custom with Orginal Synclair has 35mm block. Something close to that would be good fit.

Thats the locking nut. Ebay sellers have them listed.

http://g-gotoh.com/international/product/ghl2.html

[Number Of The Priest]

Interesting, thank you! Now I know what to find in case I ever need to replace the current nut.

I followed up with the ESP & LTD Guitars group on Facebook and they offered various suggestions about the bracket in the tremolo cavity in my quest to restore pull-up range. One user suggested rotating the bracket out of the way. I did so, using a pair of pliers. Here is the result:



Delighted, I inserted the tremolo arm and pulled up, only to encounter the same limited pull-up range. It turns out the tremolo arm sleeve/column (what is the technical name for this?) on the trem is hitting the inside of the trem cavity! Well, there goes the theory about the bracket limiting my pull-up range.

[Anders]

Awesome guitar! I love the reversed ESP headstock, and cool that you got a transitional one. The earlier ones with the Jackson headstock are great, so I can imagine that one being just as great.

I bought a shorter block for the Gotoh trem. Can't remember if it was from these guys, but I found this on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement-...zw1FzefJ4ycG6Q

[toejam]

Nice! I've always liked those reverse headstocks, don't care for them standard. I'm the opposite with Jackson, as I don't care for Jackson's reverse headstock.

[Number Of The Priest]

OK, I (or my source) might have been slightly off about the "transitional" story. I've now noticed ESP guitars with the Jackson/lawsuit headstock AND with M-1 written on the headstock. Then again, perhaps ESP had "loose rules" and less formal nomenclature/standards in that era.

I'm not sure what to believe, but either way, what a killer guitar.

Thanks Anders for the link to the various Gotoh-compatible brass blocks! I'll keep that link in mind if my current long block ever gives me any problems.

I've had 6-in-line standard headstocks and 3x3 headstocks, but this is my first reverse headstock in 16 years of guitar ownership. It's growing on me. The only difficulty is rapid tuning is more difficult since it feels like I have to "reach under" the headstock with my fingers, and it's not as easy to use a string winder crank upside-down.

I removed the Gotoh tremolo and shot these photos of the route, which clearly show an unmolested bass side of the route that follows the stock Synclair tremolo baseplate, while the straightened treble side of the route was widened to accept the straight baseplate of the Gotoh. The straight cut is clean, but did not truly hide the evidence of the outline of the Synclair. No matter; the Gotoh tremolo works fine without scraping against the route anywhere during massive divebombing.