old ESP ID help...

[Twisteramps]

Check this weird guitar out... it's an old ESP, but has a painted fingerboard. *!*





Other interesting fact is that it's serial # 010x... so it should be a fairly old ESP, at least after they switched to the ESP/strat headstock.

Can anyone shed any light on this mutant? BTW, body is one piece mahogany, neck looks to be quartersawn maple. I've started taking it apart and cleaning it... better pics to come.

Pete

[toejam]

Maybe some kind of a Mirage? I've never seen them with painted fingerboards, though.

[mr426]

Hey hey. What ya got there is an 1984 ESP Mirage Deluxe. I have the catalog this guitar is in. it came in trans cherry, black or blue. it says it has a Maple body and neck with a maple fret board. Strange that yours is Mahogany, but ESP did what ever they wanted. The S/N-well I can't tell ya much, but ESP never did have a very good way to document the guitars. I think they are all over the place. I can tell you that the bridge is not original. It should have the Flicker 2 trem-not the standard Strat bridge it has now. I'm also guessing that the pups are not original either. Whatever-it's a great guitar. Old ESP's are the best value around and are far supperior to almost anything else around at the time. Great find.
LATER!!!

[mr426]

By the way the did have the painted fretboards on several models.

[Twisteramps]

Better pic of the top and trem... I polished her up, may wetsand the body later. Still doing a setup, plays pretty well though. Whatever trem it has is stock though - it has no other holes in the body other than for the trem pictured.

Pete

[beachjammer]

I had an older ESP Hybrid from the same era that had that same exact trem so I'd say that you're correct in saying that it is the original trem. It's a standard strat style trem that fits into a slotted section in the part that is screwed into the body with 4 screws. Is this correct?

Great guitar!

[toddstaples]

I had one of these years ago...... great player, and yea, the trem is Stock.

[mr426]

Oh wait, I just saw the trem in the new pics. I thought it looked like a stock Strat trem. Yeah that is the one it came with. Sorry bout that. Looks great.

[Twisteramps]

It's cool, the other pic wasn't as clear. I'm probably going to wetsand the body and polish/buff it.... it's actually a one piece mahogany body, which is pretty spiffy.

Pete

[Sinistas]

Damn, that's nice. Love the uniform color.

[Twisteramps]

Update: Set up the guitar again, and it's a hell of a player. With no buzz I can hold a pick between the strings and 22nd fret... action is about .65 or so mm high. I think the fret guy who did the Jacksons in the early 90s worked at ESP first.

[Twisteramps]

Update II: I'm thinking about selling this... I wetsanded and buffed the top, so it looks better. Guitar plays like butter, pickups are not original, but everything else is.

Any ideas as to what something like this is worth? I have no idea... anyone seen one of these for sale lately?

Pete

[Extant]

That thing desperately needs a polish.

[Twisteramps]

That thing desperately needs a polish.

It was the angle of the light, actually... it looks great in person. Thanks for your timely and informative post. Setting your ignorant ass on fire in this thread will make a great beacon. I figure the more eyes that see this thread, the better chance of me getting an idea of the "thing's" value.

Pete

[buzzsaww]

Pete,

You can write to ESP and they can help date the guitar. They are slow to answer though, took about 3 or 4 weeks for mine. They did answer though, unlike Heritage :p You need to provide them with pics, SN if it has it, neck pocket, control caity, jack etc... ESP does make a lot of semi-custom one offs from parts. I have a bright pink H-H w/OFR strat head myself.