Your take on LTDs/ESPs

[pott]

I haven't played any LTDs I think, but one that felt a litte like a toy (EX250 I think) but I've played an ESP explorer (bolt on) and it was absolutly AMAZING. I see a lot of people saying their imports suck, but why do they say that? Are they really that bad? If so why do people seem to love the LTD 400 series? How about their Japanese models?

[neilli]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

I have 2 Japanese ESPs (and 2004 Eclipse and a late 80's Mirgage custom) and they're both really good guitars - I've also had 2 or 3 other Japanese ESPs over the years as well and they've given me nothing to complain about - I just prefer Jacksons / Charvels, GMW's etc! My main critism of ESP is that they seem very expensive for bolt-on neck guitars.

Some of the LTD stuff seems pretty good, but those tend to be the higher end guitars that have decent hardware (OFR, EMGs etc) - the cheaper stuff is just that - cheap stuff....

[AfterForever]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

My Japanese ESP is an amazing guitar, great sound and feel

The higer end LTDs are nice too, maybe a little pricey, but they're good instuments. Anything from the 300 series and up is good enough

The lower end LTDs suck.. but almost every lower end import sucks no matter what brand you're looking at.

[mrsung]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

ya, my LTD Ec1000 is probably the nicest Korean guitar i've played. not even sure what that means really.....thats like saying "sporty Geo" or something. but its ok.

[pagemalicious]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

I think they're pretty cool, but they are way over priced. I'm just not willing to pay more for an ESP when i could get a very nice and better quality Ibanez or Jackson with the same amount of money

[veliyasin]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

I think the quality jump between LTDs and real ESPs is unbelievable. Of course there are always dogs and guitars that are the shit, but LTDs I have played have been very consistently dogs, while ESPs were pretty impressive.

[Chrisb]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

Yea the high end ESP's that sell for 800 or so are nice guitars. But not near as nicely built as Schecters IMO. Its the LTD's that are horrible.

[toejam]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

I've got an LTD EC300-P that I think plays very nice. The Duncan Designed stacked P-90s are also very nice sounding. I don't play it as much as my other guitars, and I've been trying to sell it.

[AK47]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

I own a ton of ESPees and the neck thru and set neck custom shops are amazing and I will say they are nicer than Jackson custom shop guitars. The bolt ons are nice too but I would invest in a real neck thru or set neck. Also LTDs with EMGs or just nice pick ups make good road guitars because they set up nice sound good and you dont care if you drop it.

[Venomboy]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

I played some ESP's and LTD's at NAMM. They were pretty nice but I didn't care too much for the neck profiles. Not a quality thing, just a feel thing.

I played a used ESP Stephen Carpenter model that was incredible. The middle pickup got in the way of my picking hand but overall it was a very nice guitar.

[Chrisb]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

[ QUOTE ]
I own a ton of ESPees and the neck thru and set neck custom shops are amazing and I will say they are nicer than Jackson custom shop guitars. The bolt ons are nice too but I would invest in a real neck thru or set neck

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow I find that very hard to believe. I haven't played any guitars really that handled better than a Jackson custom shop. Not to mention the ESP customs are pretty pricey for japanese guitars, handmade or no. If you want a nice Japanese handmade guitar I'd say the Jackson STARS customs are the way to go. Or if your adventurous, Killer guitars make unbelievable customs (with pretty unique shapes). I'd love to try a ESP custom sometime but I don't see many these days.

[thebisch]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

I may get flamed for this, seeing this is a Jackson board, but...
I have a '86 Kramer Stagemaster (neck through) which is made by ESP in Japan. It plays as good as any Soloist I have had my hands on, and sounds better than any Soloist I have played. Don't have any experience with any new ESPs though.

[pro-fusion]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

I don't recall ever playing an LTD, new or used, that wasn't sorely in need of a fret dressing. Worst fret jobs of any of the Korean guitars, in my opinion--which is odd, considering that almost all of the various brands come out of the Samick factory.

Also, I find that the tone woods used in the LTDs I've played have been very poor--no resonance, to speak of. That's a BIG difference versus the real Japanese ESPs. Which makes it kind of silly to buy one of the high-end 1000 series LTDs, when for the same money, or even less, you can get a used real ESP that has a good fretjob and sounds good.

[Chrisb]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

Those Kramer Stagemasters are incredible guitars for the value, can be tough to find though because their reputation proceeds them (alot of people on this board love them). However I dunno that it plays as well as a custom shop jackson or even a USA select. Pretty minor thing considering your paying alot less for the stagemaster.

That was always my problem with LTD's horrible horrible fretwork. Rough ends, bad seating, you name it and I've seen it on LTD's. I just had really bad experiences with them. Though some have probably had similar experiences about import jacksons. Which is why the overall quality of Schecters and Dean's impress me.

[AK47]

Re: Your take on LTDs/ESPs

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I own a ton of ESPees and the neck thru and set neck custom shops are amazing and I will say they are nicer than Jackson custom shop guitars. The bolt ons are nice too but I would invest in a real neck thru or set neck

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow I find that very hard to believe. I haven't played any guitars really that handled better than a Jackson custom shop. Not to mention the ESP customs are pretty pricey for japanese guitars, handmade or no. If you want a nice Japanese handmade guitar I'd say the Jackson STARS customs are the way to go. Or if your adventurous, Killer guitars make unbelievable customs (with pretty unique shapes). I'd love to try a ESP custom sometime but I don't see many these days.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are in the bay area come over and you can try for yourself I wont try to convince you, the only thing better is my 84 RR custom.