In 1985 I had a series 400 telecaster built for me by Paul Skelton. ESP’s first vice president in the US. He happened to be an old band mate of mine, and he built it for as a Xmas present from my wife to me. I still own it. To this day it’s the best guitar I’ve ever had.
I still have a Series 400 Tele natural finish. It's on long-term loan to a friend of mine but it's a great Tele. He jokes that I won't be getting it back. At least, I hope he's joking.
The spinning battery compartment is very similar to some ashtrays I have seen in old cars. I would imagine that is where they got the idea from. It is pretty slick, and if you have to have a battery in your guitar, it is definitely a nice way to do it.
Yes it's why they're colloquially called ashtray covers. If you order a Japanese Custom Shop ESP, if you specify that you want an ashtray then you'll get one of those. Hugely useful for batteries or emergency picks.
James has quite a library of signatures. ESP JH-1 - V ESP JH-2 - Explorer ESP JH-3 - Eclipse LTD Grynch - Viper ESP & LTD Truckster in both Primer Grey and Black, multi layered paint on both - Eclipse ESP Black Iron Cross (ESP Custom Shop only, Limited to 100 units) - Eclipse ESP & LTD White Iron Cross - Eclipse ESP & LTD Snakebyte in White and gloss Black, now matte Black, Limited Edition LTD and even more Limited ESP Custom Shop Baritones with a quilted Maple top/veneer in dark Purple with Black burst, side and back and now we got the camo ones - Explorer ESP <D Vulture in Satin black, now also in Olympic White - V
Seeing tooling marks on expensive Gibsons is pretty much what you expect, this fretboard was pristine, not unintentionally aged to increase its price. The fret ends looked like nice round balls.
The battery door looks like an ashtray door in an older car which is most likely what inspired its design. In my opinion a very good idea and it will be around far longer than those cheap plastic ones will be.
I own 3 ESP custom shops and 3 gibson custom shops. Both badass. ESP are definitely a better build quality. But they are different weapons. ESP are precision instruments like a scalpel. My custom shop Gibson’s are more like sledgehammers. I also own Schecter, Ibanez, a few LTD’s and even a Squier. I’m an equal opportunity guitarist 😎. But ESP’s are definitely badass 🤘🏻
So you feel like the Gibsons are still worth it? Would you pick a Navigator instead of a LP Custom or do you feel like they're great feel wise, fretwork wise and general playability and sound even if they might have some imperfections?
That's one crazy nice guitar!! The battery door reminds me of the ashtrays we used to have on airplanes, same brushed aluminum, same rounded-off rectangle shape, same size as well!
I had a question, I got the chance to play one but, to me, it didn't fit my sound or tone... just didn't play to my hopes and thoughts. Is there a tip you could provide to get the best sound out of maybe something other than a MESA Boogie??
@@westoncwhited Those pick-ups are extremely hot and use of the Volume knob makes a massive difference in tone. I dropped my tuning to Eb and put on heavier strings 11-48. Things can get fizzy quick with the guitar volume turned all the way up. I like my volume set between 6-8. I run mine thru a 100w Marshall DSL into a 4x12 loaded with 1986 CV-30s. I use a 10band EQ in the FX loop, and I use a Tube Screamer pedal in front. TS tone rolled way back, no gain, and Vol at 2 o'clock. I just want to lift the low end of the tone, not push the amp. Most of your distortion is gong to come from brute force Volume from the guitar, and not a distortion circuit. Im running into the Green Ultra gain channel, but with very little gain from my amp. I would think that things can get real fizzy and hairy with a MESA...but I dont have much experience with those amps. Im able to get great Kill'em All and RTL tones. This guitar is designed to push out a crap ton of "power", its up to us to figure out how to dial it in. Thats been my experience with it for the 1st 10 days or so.
Agreed, finally...Gibson videos are lame. Oh look another Les Paul with slightly different specs but still as poorly made and still stupidly expensive for some wood and wires.
@@joemomma9177FACTS! I mean it is a Gibson guitars channel, but It’s ALWAYS the same thing!! The SMALLEST differences throughout the years for a SUPER LAME building quality ALWAYS! 🤦🏽♂️
It’s cool how much you can shape the tone with those volume knobs. It has a great clean tone when you roll back the bridge pickup a bit. It makes a huge difference.
I see what you mean. Looks like they visited a junk yard and redesigned them ashtrays to fit the guitar. They even open like some of them old ashtrays from the 60s and 70s.
Thank you David for giving us the opportunity to see and hear this and other guitars .The camo is better than the military's camo. Would love to see one in dessert sand camo. Well as much as i could. Those pickups being active have a power source in them so using an ohmmeter is not wise. Its not so much the voltage as it is the current. I dont know how much current runs through the pickups though. Im guessing its not more than 1/2 amp since you can still get a little jolt but all it takes is one amp to kill a person. I try to keep any of the packing i get from a new guitar especially the foam ring that is typically around the toggle switch from a new guitar. If I'm moving guitars around ill put on the ring to help protect the tip. It doesn't matter who builds the explorer I'd still prefer the smaller body on one to that massive real estate on most. I suppose that short screw waa in place so it didn't short out the jack.
The LTD version does indeed have a raised logo. However the camo does not extend to the back like it does on the ESP model. That's the major trade-off, appearance-wise.
Always love when trogly goes metal. I mostly listen to the heavy tunes. Not huge into metal but more close to my listening styles just listen to a little here and there. Always like to see what you play when such happens.
Dots on ebony, probably just parts of the wood that absorbed more of the black dye to even out the color (I love undyed streaky ebony, it’s beautiful, but that’s not “traditional.”)
I used to have the LTD version of the white Snakebyte. Loved it but had to sell since at the time I didn't play as much + needed some money. Kinda regret having to be apart from it.
I'd definitely ROCK this axe! I have the ESP LTD White Zombie and the battery compartment lid is held on by 2 screws. So, I love this rotating battery compartment. Nice job, ESP!...Great demo, Austin!
I like Explorers as far as how they look. And I generally don’t like when a company makes a guitar that is somewhat like the original guitar design, but not quite how the original looks exactly. But I like this shape and the differences it has from a Gibson Explorer. It’s not way overboard or weird looking at all. But it still is really distinctive. Nice review!
Spector bass guitars use the Gotoh version of the flipping battery door. It is awesome, as long as you don't put the battery in backwards and break it.
I hate to break it to you, but ESP, does have better quality guitars than Gibson. Maybe Gibson will stup up, but right now ESP is a much better guitar.
Absolutely love ESP's guitars, one of my fave brands,especially for basses and I own many of both. My Les Paul studio is still one of my fave axes though. Both different, both worthy.
If you want to remove sticker/tape gunk like is left on the truss rod cover, you should give eucalyptus oil a try. Just moisten some paper towel with it and it will clean that right off. I don't know how it would react with a nitro finish but on plastic or a poly finish it's perfectly safe and removes sticky gunk like that with ease. Plus it smells pretty damn good too
something refreshing content by Austin. yes we know Austin is a Gibson guy but once a while with ESP is a good thing to wider the audience and Austin Fender Japan review is always gonna be lit.
Regarding the "Made in Japan" sticker, I've imported a couple of E-II guitars. From what I've seen, the ones they sell domestically don't say "Made in Japan". Those just have the serial number. And the fretboard on one of mine was also... unusual. At first I thought it had some kind of clearcoat on it! Apparently ESP actually polishes (some?) of their fretboards so they look/feel different from what I was used to.
I had the same guitar, in a glossy black finish, simply the best guitar for riffing that has ever passed through my hands, simply on another level, highlighting that both the body and the neck are built with a single piece of mahogany, added to the EMG JH resulting in spectacular sound
As with all EMG's, you can run the pickups on 9, 18 or 27 volts. For me, the 18V setting (two batteries) increases the punch without getting too muddy.
My ESP horizon E-II also has flawless finish. My Gibson flying V on the other hand has appalling fingerboard finish. I originally thought it was just dry at the shop, but it didn’t improve within one year and some conditioning. I contacted gibson and they blamed me for it. A local guitar tech told me that it is just extremely poorly sanded. Thanks for that Gibson and for the customer service as well 😁
I'm not sure how well versed you are in the in-workings of pickups, but those are indeed actual pole pieces. Them being active doesn't change that. The thing that makes them active is the on-board preamp. Pickups still require the use of magnets or pole pieces regardless of whether they are active or passive.
Firefly guitars doesn't iron cross. Don't know how they did it but they're doing it. They may have taken it down by now. Sold back in my music door days. Two snake bites a ton of the white James hetfield eclipse. A lot of Kurtz signature models. But the weird thing is the George Lynch LTD/ESPs sold the most
Not usually a camo guy, but I have to admit over the course of this video the finish really grew on me. It's a guitar way out of my price range, but it's another one for my "guitars to buy when I win the lottery" list.
Man, how I love ESP guitars, especially James Hetfield's. I hope to buy one of these one day, but I'd like it to be all black with a very shiny varnish. Also I'd like to know if a guitar like this comes from the factory fully tuned and with the strings very low, ready to play, or does it still need some adjustment by a luthier?
I think I am a LesPaul style guitar guy buy they don’t have to be Gibson but out of all the high end LesPaul style guitars Gibson tends to have the most affordable ones (if that makes sense) PRS, Music Man, ESP, Jackson, Heritage, Harrington, and McKey all more expensive then a Gibson LesPaul Standard. I really enjoy my Gibsons that I have but I really want to try a HardLuck Bomber guitar those look just awesome.
Definitely need to get the LTD or ESP. Iron cross & give a full review & see how close of feel & sound of a Gibson thinking about getting the White Iron cross
Excellent review as always Trogly and thank you David! I have the ESP Custom Shop White Iron Cross and that guitar is one of the best I have ever played! You should give that a go one day!
I went to the main esp store in in Tokyo and they call that flip battery compartment an " ashtray" cause that's what how they used to look and work in old cars from the 70s and 80s
While not I'm not the biggest fan of camo finishes on a guitar, I really do like both of James's signature ESP shapes. (I like Snakebyte a bit more than Vulture I think) I have no doubt that both Snakebyte and Vulture are one of most popular signature guitars. Every time I consider buying one they are almost always out of stock.
TROGLEY. The quality is outstanding on ESP Japan. The workmanship is incredible I have some 1987 custom shop Mirage Custom and M1 Custom Out of this world Gibson doesn’t have a chance with quality
Gibson’s are great guitars too. Just depends on what you like. I own both and love them both. But yeah, for Craftsmanship, ESP builds a more precision instrument.
Pulled for you.... nice. What a beast of a guitar. Standing at 5'5 not sure if I could handle it. Might look like a garden gnome playing a tree. Lol. Hope to be in the market for the Olympic White Ltd Vulture this year. Also i love your channel and I forgive you for Sanitarium lol. Keep it up and maybe a vulture ltd review. Your tones seem to come out clearer and closer to truth via social media than most. Thanks and never stop noodling my friend.
I guess his ESP contract is why we haven't gotten an official hetfield white Explorer. I would love to see Gibson eventually make clones of his Explorer and iron cross Less Paul like they did for Hammett's Greeny.
In 1988 my dad (a player & collector) brought home an ESP Telecaster copy. It was black with a white pick-guard - it played and sounded like nothing else. He only had it for a few months & I played-it for a show at my local theater. I loved that guitar … nobody my age played a Telecaster in 1988, and it was a rock machine. Anyway, dad traded it for a black Les Paul shortly after that. I didn’t like the Les Paul … couldn’t hold tune.
i live in poor country so this guitar is out of my range but i tested ec-256 this year doing your job for a friend and i was impressed by quality of this beaten entry level guitar
Man, I have LUSTED after a Papa Het guitar forever. I have had Kirk's LTD KH602 and the KH202....actually liked the 202 better tbh....oiled natural neck as opposed to a gloss finished neck on the 602...not about Kirk's though (I could DRONE about ESP Metallica models). Not a big fan of the camo finish but the Snakebyte is a hell of a BEAST.
I tried this guitar (black finish, though) and the Explorerbird back to back a year or so ago. The Snakebyte is a much better guitar, but way more expensive.
It's really fun hearing your thoughts on tees guitars. I hope that some one will get a JH vulture to so we can here your thoughts on James take on the V shape
![NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nulvWqYUM8k/mqdefault.jpg)
![BabyChiefDoit - Too Slow (feat. STAR BANDZ) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zayaxws7RPg/mqdefault.jpg)
In 1985 I had a series 400 telecaster built for me by Paul Skelton. ESP’s first vice president in the US. He happened to be an old band mate of mine, and he built it for as a Xmas present from my wife to me. I still own it. To this day it’s the best guitar I’ve ever had.
I still have a Series 400 Tele natural finish. It's on long-term loan to a friend of mine but it's a great Tele. He jokes that I won't be getting it back. At least, I hope he's joking.
You have a treasure right there.
The spinning battery compartment is very similar to some ashtrays I have seen in old cars. I would imagine that is where they got the idea from. It is pretty slick, and if you have to have a battery in your guitar, it is definitely a nice way to do it.
I remember as a kid the long family road trips, those ashtrays in the back door arm rests, really came in handy.🚬
Yes it's why they're colloquially called ashtray covers. If you order a Japanese Custom Shop ESP, if you specify that you want an ashtray then you'll get one of those. Hugely useful for batteries or emergency picks.
It actually reminded me of the ashtrays which were on airplanes way back lol
I thought the same thing.
jeez I hadn't thought of one of those car door ashtrays in like 40 years....
James has quite a library of signatures.
ESP JH-1 - V
ESP JH-2 - Explorer
ESP JH-3 - Eclipse
LTD Grynch - Viper
ESP & LTD Truckster in both Primer Grey and Black, multi layered paint on both - Eclipse
ESP Black Iron Cross (ESP Custom Shop only, Limited to 100 units) - Eclipse
ESP & LTD White Iron Cross - Eclipse
ESP & LTD Snakebyte in White and gloss Black, now matte Black, Limited Edition LTD and even more Limited ESP Custom Shop Baritones with a quilted Maple top/veneer in dark Purple with Black burst, side
and back and now we got the camo ones - Explorer
ESP <D Vulture in Satin black, now also in Olympic White - V
Thanks Dave!! That was very informative indeed!!
@@luthravin4774 Dave?
Short cover screw is to eliminate contact with output jack 😉
Yup sort of my thought
to me, the screw looks like it's broken off.
Loved every ESP I’ve owned over the last 35 years and they are amazing instruments.
Seeing tooling marks on expensive Gibsons is pretty much what you expect, this fretboard was pristine, not unintentionally aged to increase its price. The fret ends looked like nice round balls.
I chuckled at the last line 😂
They're supposed to, they're called semi hemispherical fret ends :o)
Even their LTD line has great fret work.
Me too.@@TylerJohnstonGuitar
as long as they're not chocolate and salty
In terms of "legally distinct" designs, the Snakebyte is one of the best looking ones.
Agreed. It's quite a cool take on an Explorer. I actually prefer the headstock on this over the Gibson.
I do like it better than the explorer. but i'm more a fan of the Eclipse TBH
@@cockatoo010 I love the Eclipse, especially with how easy they are to play. I just wish they were a bit bigger.
The battery door looks like an ashtray door in an older car which is most likely what inspired its design. In my opinion a very good idea and it will be around far longer than those cheap plastic ones will be.
my thought exactly!
It is an ashtray for planes, they bought company after smoking ban
@@kaivalentine9664 definitely looked very familiar.
The outside shot showing off the camo was great lol
I own 3 ESP custom shops and 3 gibson custom shops. Both badass. ESP are definitely a better build quality. But they are different weapons. ESP are precision instruments like a scalpel. My custom shop Gibson’s are more like sledgehammers. I also own Schecter, Ibanez, a few LTD’s and even a Squier. I’m an equal opportunity guitarist 😎. But ESP’s are definitely badass 🤘🏻
are your Gibson sledgehammer like have their head fly of after a while when you swing them around...🤣
@@whatsup9260 never had a broken headstock on any guitar. Gibson or otherwise. I’ve owned hundreds since the 80’s 🤘🏻
i use the car metaphors lol . my strat is a camry then the charvel is like a wrx, the les paul is like a 60s muscle car
@@kilsoo well, depending on what model Strat you have, it could be an Avalon 😂
So you feel like the Gibsons are still worth it? Would you pick a Navigator instead of a LP Custom or do you feel like they're great feel wise, fretwork wise and general playability and sound even if they might have some imperfections?
Pretty sweet. Crazy shaped guitars are growing on me lately🤘 (love the random "camo working too well" clip tucked in the middle of the tone sample)
I have the white LTD, and purple quilt baritone. His guitars are spec’d VERY well.
Purple kush
I need that baritone.
That's one crazy nice guitar!! The battery door reminds me of the ashtrays we used to have on airplanes, same brushed aluminum, same rounded-off rectangle shape, same size as well!
I got mine yesterday too. Waited a LOOOONG time to get it. I was not disappointed. Incredible build quality and it sounds amazing.
I had a question, I got the chance to play one but, to me, it didn't fit my sound or tone... just didn't play to my hopes and thoughts. Is there a tip you could provide to get the best sound out of maybe something other than a MESA Boogie??
@@westoncwhited Those pick-ups are extremely hot and use of the Volume knob makes a massive difference in tone. I dropped my tuning to Eb and put on heavier strings 11-48. Things can get fizzy quick with the guitar volume turned all the way up. I like my volume set between 6-8.
I run mine thru a 100w Marshall DSL into a 4x12 loaded with 1986 CV-30s. I use a 10band EQ in the FX loop, and I use a Tube Screamer pedal in front. TS tone rolled way back, no gain, and Vol at 2 o'clock. I just want to lift the low end of the tone, not push the amp. Most of your distortion is gong to come from brute force Volume from the guitar, and not a distortion circuit. Im running into the Green Ultra gain channel, but with very little gain from my amp.
I would think that things can get real fizzy and hairy with a MESA...but I dont have much experience with those amps. Im able to get great Kill'em All and RTL tones. This guitar is designed to push out a crap ton of "power", its up to us to figure out how to dial it in. Thats been my experience with it for the 1st 10 days or so.
That outdoor camo shot was great 😅
FiNALLY NOT A GIBSON VIDEO!
What is wrong with Gibson videos?
Agreed, finally...Gibson videos are lame. Oh look another Les Paul with slightly different specs but still as poorly made and still stupidly expensive for some wood and wires.
@@joemomma9177FACTS! I mean it is a Gibson guitars channel, but It’s ALWAYS the same thing!! The SMALLEST differences throughout the years for a SUPER LAME building quality ALWAYS! 🤦🏽♂️
😂😂😂😂, trogly's is always on point tho
he specializes in Gibson
It’s cool how much you can shape the tone with those volume knobs. It has a great clean tone when you roll back the bridge pickup a bit. It makes a huge difference.
I'd call that battery door the ashtray. Has the look of a 70's/80's GM door ashtray.
Got there before me!! 😆
I see what you mean. Looks like they visited a junk yard and redesigned them ashtrays to fit the guitar. They even open like some of them old ashtrays from the 60s and 70s.
That’s actually exactly what esp calls them. Ashtrays.
Thank you David for giving us the opportunity to see and hear this and other guitars .The camo is better than the military's camo. Would love to see one in dessert sand camo. Well as much as i could. Those pickups being active have a power source in them so using an ohmmeter is not wise. Its not so much the voltage as it is the current. I dont know how much current runs through the pickups though. Im guessing its not more than 1/2 amp since you can still get a little jolt but all it takes is one amp to kill a person. I try to keep any of the packing i get from a new guitar especially the foam ring that is typically around the toggle switch from a new guitar. If I'm moving guitars around ill put on the ring to help protect the tip. It doesn't matter who builds the explorer I'd still prefer the smaller body on one to that massive real estate on most. I suppose that short screw waa in place so it didn't short out the jack.
"Well as much as I could". That made me chuckle.
The LTD version does indeed have a raised logo. However the camo does not extend to the back like it does on the ESP model. That's the major trade-off, appearance-wise.
The battery compartment is like those old ashtrays in planes.
Always love when trogly goes metal. I mostly listen to the heavy tunes. Not huge into metal but more close to my listening styles just listen to a little here and there. Always like to see what you play when such happens.
Dots on ebony, probably just parts of the wood that absorbed more of the black dye to even out the color (I love undyed streaky ebony, it’s beautiful, but that’s not “traditional.”)
Classic back yard shot there. the sun light really emphasizes the camo
I used to have the LTD version of the white Snakebyte. Loved it but had to sell since at the time I didn't play as much + needed some money. Kinda regret having to be apart from it.
I'd definitely ROCK this axe! I have the ESP LTD White Zombie and the battery compartment lid is held on by 2 screws. So, I love this rotating battery compartment. Nice job, ESP!...Great demo, Austin!
The trap door for the battery I believe is an ash tray from older model cars that have been repurposed just for that use
at least that's what they are called! have one on my e-II and works well even when respecced to using two 12V batteries
I like Explorers as far as how they look. And I generally don’t like when a company makes a guitar that is somewhat like the original guitar design, but not quite how the original looks exactly.
But I like this shape and the differences it has from a Gibson Explorer. It’s not way overboard or weird looking at all. But it still is really distinctive.
Nice review!
9:22 Reminds me of the cigarette ash trays that used to be in cars! 😂
finally not a gibson,thank you trogly
Thanks David. Appreciate you letting us have a look at this guitar.🎸🤘🏻
Spector bass guitars use the Gotoh version of the flipping battery door. It is awesome, as long as you don't put the battery in backwards and break it.
9:48 lol nice one 😉
The Shortest Straw !
1:45 😂😂😂😂😂 it took me a minute (coffee incoming) but OMG HAHAAAA. great showcasing. really blends in. (animal bites on the handle got me, too)
I hate to break it to you, but ESP, does have better quality guitars than Gibson. Maybe Gibson will stup up, but right now ESP is a much better guitar.
Gibson will have a whole lotta steppin' up to do to get to ESP quality.
Personally, I don't see it happening (and no, I don't hate Gibson guitars).
@@raytorvalds3699no I agree, I love Epiphone, Gibson, and Kramer. Esp is just on another level with their guitars.
@@Eldestthorin100% agreed on all accounts.
It's funny that Trogley says Elixirs are expensive when he buys guitars that cost thousands of dollars.
This actually looks like a reallly nice and well built guitar. Enjoyed this!
well, i am using a ESP Kirk Hammett for over 30 years now, and i can report , these Guitars are ROCKSOLID, worth the money
My first guitar was a LTD KH-202. For the price range those guitars are great too.
You should do more non-Gibson/Fender guitars!!
Absolutely love ESP's guitars, one of my fave brands,especially for basses and I own many of both. My Les Paul studio is still one of my fave axes though. Both different, both worthy.
Wow that really didn’t sound bad with your amp! I’m not a fan of that shape or color scheme but it sounded nice!
The short screw looks like it was cut so as to not cause a short on the output jack.
If you want to remove sticker/tape gunk like is left on the truss rod cover, you should give eucalyptus oil a try. Just moisten some paper towel with it and it will clean that right off. I don't know how it would react with a nitro finish but on plastic or a poly finish it's perfectly safe and removes sticky gunk like that with ease. Plus it smells pretty damn good too
Thanks David! Excellent and interesting guitar. Thanks for sharing Trogly. 🤘
Elixir strings are pricier, but sound great and last a looooong time.
something refreshing content by Austin. yes we know Austin is a Gibson guy but once a while with ESP is a good thing to wider the audience and Austin Fender Japan review is always gonna be lit.
It is nice to see a flawless guitar once in a while, it make us think about Gibson prices and compare to the quality control we get for that.
Regarding the "Made in Japan" sticker, I've imported a couple of E-II guitars. From what I've seen, the ones they sell domestically don't say "Made in Japan". Those just have the serial number.
And the fretboard on one of mine was also... unusual. At first I thought it had some kind of clearcoat on it! Apparently ESP actually polishes (some?) of their fretboards so they look/feel different from what I was used to.
The invisible guitar shots out in the sun was hilarious
I had the same guitar, in a glossy black finish, simply the best guitar for riffing that has ever passed through my hands, simply on another level, highlighting that both the body and the neck are built with a single piece of mahogany, added to the EMG JH resulting in spectacular sound
As with all EMG's, you can run the pickups on 9, 18 or 27 volts. For me, the 18V setting (two batteries) increases the punch without getting too muddy.
My ESP horizon E-II also has flawless finish. My Gibson flying V on the other hand has appalling fingerboard finish. I originally thought it was just dry at the shop, but it didn’t improve within one year and some conditioning. I contacted gibson and they blamed me for it. A local guitar tech told me that it is just extremely poorly sanded. Thanks for that Gibson and for the customer service as well 😁
I'm not sure how well versed you are in the in-workings of pickups, but those are indeed actual pole pieces. Them being active doesn't change that. The thing that makes them active is the on-board preamp. Pickups still require the use of magnets or pole pieces regardless of whether they are active or passive.
1:45 😂😂 best joke of troglys so far
FINALLY!!!!! 🤗 You should try a custom shop ESP Eclipse… warning, you’ll stop loving your Gibsons LP 😜😬
Firefly guitars doesn't iron cross. Don't know how they did it but they're doing it. They may have taken it down by now. Sold back in my music door days. Two snake bites a ton of the white James hetfield eclipse. A lot of Kurtz signature models. But the weird thing is the George Lynch LTD/ESPs sold the most
put a big smile on my face when you started rippin through metallica riffs
Not usually a camo guy, but I have to admit over the course of this video the finish really grew on me. It's a guitar way out of my price range, but it's another one for my "guitars to buy when I win the lottery" list.
Man, how I love ESP guitars, especially James Hetfield's. I hope to buy one of these one day, but I'd like it to be all black with a very shiny varnish.
Also I'd like to know if a guitar like this comes from the factory fully tuned and with the strings very low, ready to play, or does it still need some adjustment by a luthier?
The shape of the headstock and lower bout is modeled after the Metallica logo. Fun fact
I think I am a LesPaul style guitar guy buy they don’t have to be Gibson but out of all the high end LesPaul style guitars Gibson tends to have the most affordable ones (if that makes sense) PRS, Music Man, ESP, Jackson, Heritage, Harrington, and McKey all more expensive then a Gibson LesPaul Standard. I really enjoy my Gibsons that I have but I really want to try a HardLuck Bomber guitar those look just awesome.
I have a USA/ESP Eclipse that is incredible. EMG 57/66 pickups are great. Build quality and finish work also top notch.
Thanks David . You surely have a beautiful collection. Thanks Austin
I know you talk about wanting to try the iron cross guitar. ESP did release the James Hetfield signature Iron Cross model years ago.
The battery compartment reminds me of an old arm rest ashtray, cool
Definitely need to get the LTD or ESP. Iron cross & give a full review & see how close of feel & sound of a Gibson thinking about getting the White Iron cross
Excellent review as always Trogly and thank you David! I have the ESP Custom Shop White Iron Cross and that guitar is one of the best I have ever played! You should give that a go one day!
I went to the main esp store in in Tokyo and they call that flip battery compartment an " ashtray" cause that's what how they used to look and work in old cars from the 70s and 80s
While not I'm not the biggest fan of camo finishes on a guitar, I really do like both of James's signature ESP shapes. (I like Snakebyte a bit more than Vulture I think)
I have no doubt that both Snakebyte and Vulture are one of most popular signature guitars. Every time I consider buying one they are almost always out of stock.
Holy crap, the camo "you can't see it" troll was epic. Well done sir, well done.
TROGLEY. The quality is outstanding on ESP Japan. The workmanship is incredible
I have some 1987 custom shop Mirage Custom and M1 Custom
Out of this world
Gibson doesn’t have a chance with quality
Gibson’s are great guitars too. Just depends on what you like. I own both and love them both. But yeah, for Craftsmanship, ESP builds a more precision instrument.
No matter the quality, they covered it in camo.
It's like finishing an Abrams battle tank in sunburst.
@@pepmasters-999 probably would’ve worked great in Desert Storm 😂
Pulled for you.... nice. What a beast of a guitar. Standing at 5'5 not sure if I could handle it. Might look like a garden gnome playing a tree. Lol. Hope to be in the market for the Olympic White Ltd Vulture this year. Also i love your channel and I forgive you for Sanitarium lol. Keep it up and maybe a vulture ltd review. Your tones seem to come out clearer and closer to truth via social media than most. Thanks and never stop noodling my friend.
I own this guitar in the LTD version and I love it! probably my favorite guitar I own now. and the camo is just the icing on the cake!
I guess his ESP contract is why we haven't gotten an official hetfield white Explorer. I would love to see Gibson eventually make clones of his Explorer and iron cross Less Paul like they did for Hammett's Greeny.
Finally a snakebyte review
In 1988 my dad (a player & collector) brought home an ESP Telecaster copy. It was black with a white pick-guard - it played and sounded like nothing else.
He only had it for a few months & I played-it for a show at my local theater. I loved that guitar … nobody my age played a Telecaster in 1988, and it was a rock machine.
Anyway, dad traded it for a black Les Paul shortly after that. I didn’t like the Les Paul … couldn’t hold tune.
i live in poor country so this guitar is out of my range but i tested ec-256 this year doing your job for a friend and i was impressed by quality of this beaten entry level guitar
Confession: I’ve hated Gibson for decades. Hands down you have helped changed my view. Headed to Philly Guitar expo in a few weeks. Thank you🤘
The invisible guitar segments had me 💀
I really like the shortest straw reference here when he talked about the screw. 😄
Man, I have LUSTED after a Papa Het guitar forever. I have had Kirk's LTD KH602 and the KH202....actually liked the 202 better tbh....oiled natural neck as opposed to a gloss finished neck on the 602...not about Kirk's though (I could DRONE about ESP Metallica models). Not a big fan of the camo finish but the Snakebyte is a hell of a BEAST.
That battery compartment reminds me of a old car’s backseat ashtray 😝
I love the way this guy talks. Makes me happy for some reason.
Just got my first Japanese Ibanez always wanted an ESP. I never will be able to justify an ESP price. Thankfully E-II’s exist.
Love the 70s ash tray battery compartment .... Love it
The video outside where you couldn't see the guitar was pretty damn clever. LOL
I tried this guitar (black finish, though) and the Explorerbird back to back a year or so ago. The Snakebyte is a much better guitar, but way more expensive.
just wanted to say ur chops have improved so much since i started watching! you go man!
I wish I could afford that guitar. I have wanted a James Hetfield ESP since I first saw the "One" video when I was a kid stuck at piano lessons.
9:49 i chuckled
There were a few seconds during the playing section where the camo blended in so well that I actually couldn’t see the guitar at all
I might be late on this, but EMGs actually have pole pieces and/or bar magnets. Just because they're active doesnt mean they dont have em!
"pulled for you " very good
Holy shit you really ripped that high gain playrhrough. Did it absolute justice...... we need some more of that pls. 👏👏👍👍
It's really fun hearing your thoughts on tees guitars. I hope that some one will get a JH vulture to so we can here your thoughts on James take on the V shape
9:50 the shortest screw PULLED FOR YOU
you said 1 piece neck , i really have my doubts that it would be one with that headstock, something was likely glued there
Headstock doesn't count.
@@cataclysmicconverter except . gibson doesnt call their necks one piece because of the wings used , so guess you didnt really have a point
@@cataclysmicconverter no if a company can list it as 1 piece , they will
Oh, that wasn’t a knock on today’s episode, love the variety. I find it funny I don’t play Gibson but watch these every single day.
1:45 camo is super effective
I’m curious to see how the cheaper version compares. Killer sounding guitar.
It’s actually great , very “tight” and solid sounding.