ESP vs LTD Guitars: Does the price really matter?
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- Опубликовано: 20 ноя 2021
- In this video I'm comparing my ESP EX vs my LTD EX400 Guitar, to find out if the price really matters between ESP and LTD Guitars.
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Where you can find the real difference is with ESP Japan guitars. Their Japan manufactures can do things that they cannot do other places due to copyright issues and such. For example, the Alexi Laiho guitars are significantly different in the Japan versions of the models, the entire body shape is actually different. I’ve had a Japanese esp custom shop Alexi, as well as an ltd production model. The esp was BY FAR superior in every possible way. However that being said…. You pay supreme pricing for that supreme quality. Ltd is still very very high quality but at a much lower price. I wouldn’t say esp is necessarily better than ltd over all, that’s a subjective opinion for sure. But esp and ltd are absolutely two different guitar manufacturers so they really can’t be compared to each other.
man ltd is shit just FEEL the guitar and compare it for sound you would focus on the amp not on the guitar
I agree the fact is no matter what guitar brand is out there if it is made In Japan it will always be only the best I had a jackson solo made in Japan back around 2012 and it is totally awesome. Japanese make guitars like a master sword maker makes a samurai sword.
Walked into my local music shop last night, with the intention to spend $3500 au on an esp, walked out with a $2000 au Ltd, just played better, some of my Ltds feel better than my esps for playability 👍🏻
RIP
I owned an Indonesian Arrow401 that I preferred over a Japanese E2 Arrow
There’s something to be said about LTD. Every one I’ve ever played, save the beginner priced ones, have been extremely solid. There’s something about them that just feels good every time
I have a Ltd Kirk hammett kh202 and a kh602 and they are very nice and feels just as good as my Jackson Dinky XMG With EMG active pickups..
My ec200qm is my favourite guitar and it's got nicer fret ends and feels better than a £1000 ibanez I played in a shop.
Got a Ltd phoenix 200. Bought it in 2011 and it´s been used very much and hard ever since. Hit the studio a few weeks back and the producer was stunned by the quality for that so called low-budget guitar. He also liked it more than the other guitarist gibson SG. Better sound over all he said, and I have the original pickups... I think Ive found my brand...
I have a Korean made LTD MH 1007 and it is the most comfortable guitar I’ve ever played and the quality/setup are just insane. I could not believe it wasn’t USA/Japan made or a custom shop.
Agreed. Every single one I’ve owned was built really well.
Generally speaking, everything made by WMI in S. Korea is excellent quality.
They used to build the PRS SE series for almost 2 decades, before PRS went to Indonesia, because it's cheaper to build guitars there. And if you know anything about PRS' owner Paul Reed Smith, the guy is obsessed with quality control.
They also build the more expensive Schecter models, which are some of the best value for money instruments on the market.
Yes, the MIJ ESP models are usually of higher quality, but their prices have gone so much up over the last 10 years, it's ridiculous. You pay for MIJ guitars almost prices of Made in USA models nowadays. Ten years ago, you could get a new MIJ ESP Standard Series model, with brand name pickups like EMG's or Duncans for around 1,500-1,700 Euros, nowadays Made in Indonesia guitars sell for this price. If you want a custom shop ESP, oh boy.... you have to sell a kidney.
And don't get me started on the whole renaming the Standard Series into ''E-II'' BS. The guitar says ''E-II'' on the headstock and on the back it says ''Made in Japan by ESP'', it's the dumbest sh*t ever! Imagine Fender rebranding their USA production models as ''F-I'' or something. 🤦♂
Anyways, you can't go wrong with a LTD Deluxe 1000 or 400 Series, these are usually extremely well build guitars and even pros use them.
spot on with Bringing up the detail about WMI in Korea, they're awesome shop of builders, I can trace my Schecter C-1 Custom there and for the price I got it it plays so smooth. and yes!!! ESP prices these days are insanely ridiculous. I wanted to own one when I was in high school (2009-2012), and now it's like having to save up for a car just to buy one and usually there's a wait time or a hassle to have to go through dealers. my LTD's have been solid, but to go from and LTD Deluxe to a ESP standard (in this case E-II) is easily a $1000 difference it's crazy.
I’ve felt a couple that just felt dead. A friend got a jaguar-looking LTD which I tried without knowing the brand. It felt like an empty piece of plastic and terrible to play even with a “good setup”. I also had a Korean LTV viper 401 which felt amazing.
I just bought an LTD MH1000 with Evertune. It's on-pair with the PRS SE Custom 24 I have, both made in Korea with flawless craftsmanship. This guitar is amazing, especially for the price point, around 1K, perfect finish, arrived with a proper setup, impeccable fretwork and the Evertune bridge was set very precisely. Selling my Jackson soloist now...
Did the evertune come set up able to bend the strings? I cant imagine not being able to bend, be so weird and definitely would not like it.
Nice to read! Never tried an Evertune before, but I'm going to as soon as I have the opportunity!
@@Nasty_Riffs you can bend the strings on the evertune. You just have to set it that way. The evertune is awesome.
I've owned an LTD EC-1000 since 2006 (I think) and loved it so much I eventually bought the ESP Eclipse. It didn't take me long to realize that the Eclipse wasn't any better, so I ended up selling it, and still own the EC-1000
How much did you pay for the ESP eclipse? I've been wanting to get one literally just because I want that classic ESP logo and because people say the Japanese ones are made really well. They're just so much money now.
@@manicmurph I paid $750ish for the EC1000 in 2006, and I belt the Eclipse was around $1500-1600 in 08/09
@@shanewright9735 so you don't think they're worth the extra money?
@@manicmurph No, I didn't really see much of a difference in them. At least from the models in the time period I had bought them. It may be different now. I still have that EC though, and it's still plays great
I thought you meant the 5k ESP Eclipse which is an incredible guitar
I also have a LTD EX-400 from 2007 and it went trough a lot, a few years ago i replaced the electronics and the new pots, pickup switch and output jack are much better, now frets and saddle are worn down so they should be replaced, also i feel like the neck is more sensitive than on my other guitars because it easily goes out of tune depending on how i'm holding the guitar. But still i had a lot of fun and played it a lot in all kind of situations, never failed on me, well worth the money.
thank you for this video, ive been looking for a good comparison between these two guitars. 👍
You're welcome, dude! Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions! Rock on!
My Korean LTD EC1000 FR deluxe is amazing plus just been lucky enough to get the LTD KH602 Purple Sparkle. never been a person who jumps on a signature guitar but I was told to try it when checking out guitars, it did everything I needed and was excellent quality. totally recommend the LTD range especially the made in Korea ones.
I’ve just got a Purple Sparkle KH602. Absolutely flawless guitar.
Mine's a 10 year old Korean LTD Deluxe M-1000. Apart from the Floyd Rose which is not the genuine article the guitar is basically flawless.
Keep loving this vid man!
Thanks a lot, buddy!
Love the EX. The body shape is cool and also very convenient for playing. Wouldn't change a thing on my 08 Korean 400. Same with my 2019 Korean EC407.
Yeah, the Korean Factory makes absolute great guitars! It's one of the features I look for when I want to buy an LTD.
I'm about ready to buy. Perfect timing. Thank you
Thanks for the comment! Let me know what you bought and how you like it! Rock on!🤘
Can't go wrong with Korean Esp ltds.
I can't speak for the Indonesians, but the Koreans are great guitars.
I had an ESP and LTD Kamikaze. The ESP had an original Floyd, and a Seymour Duncan pickup. All Maple construction. Weighed 278 pounds. Loved it.
The LTD was Maple neck and Basswood body. Floyd 1000 and a Duncan designed pickup. The ESP was $1800.00, the LTD was $599.00. The LTD was a killer. The weight was really the only difference. I had the LTD set up perfectly and it was a player. I would NOT spend 4x the amount to have an ESP logo. ESP has always been overpriced, just like Gibson. If you bought all of the components to build the guitar separately, including the body and neck, it would not be 2k. I have a Chibson that looks INCREDIBLE. After upgrading all of the pots, pickups, bridge, etc., I have about $550.00 in it. It's a 59 clone R9 that Gibson charges 2.5 million dollars for. Not quite that much, but close. These overpriced companies make a killing.
I own an ESP LTD EX-360 ( the one made in china ) and it has been my workhorse for years still kicking and still love to play it.
Subbed. Both guitars sound the same. It all comes down to the feel in the hands and the hardware. Really cool content dude. Thanks!
Thank you Charles, and welcome 🙏. Thank you for the support, rock on!🤘🤘🤘
They dont sound the same. On ESP you can hear definately fuller sound than on LTD.
you're joking right?@@healer80
I have an LTD Explorer "two dot" which was supposed made in the ESP Japan factory before they moved the rest to Korea and it's absolutely incredible
I noticed when you were doing the clean noodle at the beginning you were tapping the LTD pickup selector a few times when switching.
Is it a poor switch in the LTD compared to the ESP?
When switching the ESP you engaged it with just one click and with much confidence.
I've been playing an LTD EX 401 DX for over a decade and I love it
I love my MH-1000!! I've had it for 7 years and it's still probably one of my best sounding guitars! Absolutely solid workhorse guitar. I'm using it in my thrash band now :D
Thanks for the comment! What band is that you play in?
@@TheMetalFoundry A thrash band. We just started up not long ago so dont have any released material or socials yet. Soon though!!
I have a LTD EC-1000 since 4 years and it's simply PERFECT! I bought a tried some other guitars like prs, Fender etc but the I sold it and for now my one and only electric guitar still is ec-1000, I repeat perfect in everything!
I also have an EC1000 (you can see it in my other videos) and indeed, that guitar is also one of my favourites. Rock on! 🤘
Love mine
Just bought my 1st ESP. Great vid, thanks!
Good luck with it! Rock on!
I have an ESP LTD Phoenix Black Metal Black Satin that is phenomenally well crafted. If you're familiar with it, would you agree that it is an exception to this rule? The rule being that ESP's exhibit closer attention to detail and paint work than the LTD. I just have a hard time imagining a more perfectly crafted guitar, honestly. Thanks a lot!
I have the same EX STD. When I first got it I really didn't expect much from it, but as soon as I plugged it in I was blown away how well it played and sounded. The feel of the neck was really comfortable. Cheers man!
STD? lmao
@@thebigmoist6937 lol 🤣
That’s such an unfortunate acronym for a guitar
I ordered the ltd kami-4 (George lynch signature) around 1400€ but with customs I ll pay 1800 €. Do you think it's worth it for that guitar?
I’d have to agree and disagree. I agree that for the money the LTD’s are absolutely SOLID guitars. Very nice. It pisses me off that ESP has made the water so needlessly muddy with their odd branding. ESP, Navigator, Edwards, E-II, LTD, Grassroots etc…etc…it just makes everything surrounding the brand “ESP” so difficult to explain to folks. I currently have 43 guitars. Of those guitars I have a number of ESP/LTD guitars (and one Edwards E-LP-130CD). I have a ESP (actual ESP branding before the switch to E-II) M1 NTB, a E-II DBVB Eclipse, a E-II M-II NTB, a LTD M1000M, LTD KH-3, LTD Black Metal EX, LTD Hetfield Vulture and of course the ESP built Edwards LP mentioned earlier. So, suffice to say I have a bit of hands on experience with various examples of models and price points within the ESP brand.
If ESP would have just kept the “ESP” brand and utilized model numbers to differentiate between levels (example, Ibanez Prestige vs Ibanez Premium) then it would be easier to explain ESP to folks that have never had one. This is why questions such as “What’s the difference between an ESP and an LTD?” exist. We could entirely eliminate the ESP vs LTD thing if say my LTD M1000M was instead an ESP M1000M. So in that case the question would instead be “How’s the quality of an ESP M-II vs an ESP M1000?”. The answer would of course be about the guitars versus trying to explain branding and the obvious fact that the LTD is an ESP just like an Ibanez RG370 is still an Ibanez even though it isn’t MIJ and it isn’t an RG570. 😂
So, what’s the difference? Cost and obviously a bit more attention to detail. Obviously MIJ ESP’s tend to REALLY utilize incredible pieces of ebony for fretboards vs the cuts used for their LTD counterparts…..but as far as hardware goes it’s basically neck and neck. I mean, Gotoh tuners aren’t “better” than Grover tuners. They are both really great quality. Gibson uses Grovers for many of their models…..they came stock on both my 2013 Gibson Les Paul Signature T and my 2021 Gibson Explorer just as examples.
My old (2007) ESP M1 came from the factory with locking Sperzel tuners and I’d have to say those are actually much more “built” compared to a Gotoh tuner. My M-II came with locking Gotohs and those as well are nice, meanwhile my M1000M came with Grovers. All very nice tuners. TonePros hardware is just Gotoh, so that’s quality…..which is what my LTD Vulture came with.
The main difference is really feel (again, in addition to cost). My ESP/E-II stuff feels MUCH different than my LTD stuff. I’d say quality between “brands” is the same it just boils down to feel and again cost for that Japanese brand on the headstock versus the non MIJ branding.
I have an Ibanez S521L (I’m a lefty) that is an Indonesian model. It’s a super badass guitar, and since it’s a 24 fret S series I decided to see if a spare Prestige RG1570L neck I had laying around would feel good on it so I switched its neck. Guess what? All the “quality” as far as feel was like 90 percent in the neck! That guitar feels and plays as if the entire thing came from Japan. Easily in my top 3 favorite guitars to play.
So, to end such a long post…..the difference is the cost of the branding as well as the little bit of extra craftsmanship that the Japanese are willing to pour into their guitars. The other Asian companies outside of Japan are also doing great work (for the most part) but the Japanese are making legendary guitars…..IMO the best on the planet.
I currently have 26 ESP and LTD models. Of them, 12 are factory ESP's, 4 are LTD's, and 10 are parts build ESP.
All are killer!
That's an impressive collection, Keith! Damn! It's indeed a great brand, just love it!
You wanna sell any of them? And what's a parts build ESP?
@@manicmurph A parts build is an ESP guitar that the factory does not build, instead, I search for ESP necks(must have first),and bodies, and hardware. I then assemble my own custom built ESP.
I will refinish what's needed on the bodies and necks. Typically will use either Seymour Duncan or EMG pickups and electronics. Sometimes, if I find a nice set of vintage ESP pickups, I'll use them.
Wish I could upload pictures.
Great Video!
did you write the riff at 7:20? if not please let me know what band thats from so i can check them out, nice video, great guitar and very nice playing
I did not write the riff personally, this one was written before I joined the band. It is from the song "Kriegswaisen" by my band Hope Erodes. You can find the link to the band in the description of my video. Thanks and rock on!
I've owned a couple ESP eclipses and I've owned 5 or 6 LTD ec 1000s. The ESP s were really nice. The LTDs were good too, out of the 5 LTDs one of them was just epic good! It was the best I've owned from ESP LTD
Hi can you do a comparation and surgery those electrical or wiring?
You should look into upgrading one of your guitars with the Evertune bridge. Just got one for my high end Ibanez JBM model and I’m hooked, every guitarist should have one.
Thanks for the suggestion! I was indeed looking at Evertune bridges, but I haven't tried them yet. In all fairness, I'd rather get a new guitar with an Evertune pre-installed instead of having one of my babies chopped up for an aftermarket install 😂 I read in multiple places how many things can go wrong with such an install.
I own both Ltds and ESPs, a 2010 Horizon FRII, a 94 MII, a 2015 Ec1000 and a 2019 M Black Metal. I'll say the upper level Ltds are very good but the ESPs are still superior in sound and playability. Having owned around 60 guitars the Horizon is the best sounding guitar I've ever played and the MII has my favourite neck profile, and they can be set with a very low action. They're also more stable with temperature changes etc when touring and having recorded 3 albums with my band, they're always the ones that get picked up to record. Never selling mine for sure!
do you recommend the esp e-ii horizon iii?
@@msjackson1611 absolutely!
i can say that the both are amazing, i’ll definitely buy ESP LTD EC-1000QM STBC for a 1.179€ but if i could afford one of ESP Eclipse i would’ve buy it. Nice video btw
I’ve got a LTD H-1001 from around 2008. It’s still a sick guitar and plays great. Tempted to grab a SN-1000 from the phase they just showed.
Yeah, those new Snappers look killer!
Nice guitar review man!
I played for years in a LTD Guitars
Last year i bought an LTD Alexi-200
and some two months ago i get a DEAN RazorDime USA
Thanks! Nice collection you have!
I just bought the LTD GH-600FR and its an insane beast! 🤘🇨🇦
I have a ESP custom shop Eclipse for almost 20 years now. It's Pretty battel scared meanwhile but still an awesome guitar.
For the clean tone I feel that the LTD one even sounds better. Moreover, the LTD one ‘s intonation is better than the ESP one but it may the the guitar setup issues.
It really show on the tone with the esp as mentioned is darker and the ltd is brighter but that’s pretty much it while bot considering the hight quality materials that is in the esp… to me the ltd is quite decent for the money. I bought the ltd ex-400 yesterday and im in to old school death metal and this thing rips man 🤘🏻! Thanks for the video
Thank you for watching my video and for your comment. The EX es are absolute beasts. Enjoy the guitar, you won't regret it! 🤘
You got a really good seldom found guitar brother... Have had my Ex400 for over 10 years.. don't see many of them and people usually want way too much money.
I just bought a used Ltd mh203qm in top condition. I tried a lot of guitars priced a lot higher before I bought this one. It just felt and sounded amazing. So versatile to with coil split.
Awesome! Enjoy your new guitar, dude!
I have several Korean made guitars , a few Japanese made and a couple USA made. I just received my Korean LTD EC1000ET and it is unbelievable !!!
What LTD is doing for around $1000 is incredible 🎸🤟🍻
It's pretty hard to justify paying three times the amount when the Ltd's are so well made. Really all I would want is the ESP logo..lol.
@@manicmurph yeah man I agree except it seems that people don't look down on an LTD like they do Squier or Epiphone.
It doesn't matter to me, I don't care what anyone thinks. I have several Squiers and a couple Epiphones and they are great , especially the higher end ones. I paid $1200 for my EC-1000ET and I'm thinking that's the sweet spot price wise. I paid the same for my Schecter V1 Apocalypse and although it is a high quality, killer guitar the LTD is just better. I bought the 1000 in lieu of a Gibson Les Paul and totally glad that I did.... if I don't buy an E ll next , I'm thinking of getting the Viper 1000 because.....🎸🤟🍻
that's a good point! ESP first released LTD for cheaper prices meaning beginners and ESP was for professionals with higher prices and quality. Today it seems like they are the same...
That is indeed the idea behind this video! Thanks for the follow and the comment!
They realized that selling only to the elite is jot good business so they decided to go in the accesible and value market for profit. Its what i assume.
Because the jump from an LTD to an ESP is way too much.
Kinda like the Jackson Pro series and the USA series. The gap is too wide.
I have an Ltd mh207 7string and its just beautiful and really really fun to play
I have an LTD MH400 with neckthrough design, Seymour Duncans and it plays and sounds awesome, absolutely stunning stuff. I would prefer an LTD over an Ibanez or Jackson in the same price category. I do not really know the difference between the 400 and the 1000 series, I guess it’s only about the hardware. My only problem with my MH400 is the Floyd Rose special, which is garbage. I am planning to upgrade it by buying a Schaller Lockmeister (which is basically an Original Floyd with a Schaller stamp on it). Then it would be a perfect guitar.
Yeah, the biggest difference is indeed the hardware. Ltd is a great brand and I'm sure your guitar will be indeed much better with the Schaller Lockmeister. I heard great things of those.
" I would prefer an LTD over an Ibanez or Jackson in the same price category"
There wont be any difference in term of quality, it's all made by the same people at the same factory, only difference is gonna be the specs so it's just about preference
I had MH1000FR but I realized EMG active pickups very bad for soloing and overall guitar sounded too dark to me. Then I sold it and bought an ESP Horizon and Eclipse both with Seymour Duncan JB 59 pickups. They both are excellent guitars.
@@chopholtz4950 I am not saying EMG is bad for soloing but EMG 81 - 85 were bad for me. Later on I got an Epiphone Zakk Wylde with passive EMGs and it was surprisingly very good for everything I played.
I think it is a very personal subject. I am more in love with s.duncan`s creamy sound when soloing.
I love my LTD EX401FR and I hope to get an ESP EX eventually. It was great to be able to hear a comparison. Just about all guitars (rhythm and lead) on the EP we just released were recorded on my LTD EX. I will check out the part 2 next!
-MM
I was never a fan of FR Equipped guitars until I got my BS-7, now I'd also like an EX401FR XD. Great Guitars indeed. Do you have a link to your EP? I'm curious!
@@TheMetalFoundry It's my first and only floyd! I love it. The only negative I have is the weight and the angle of the neck when I stand. That is part of why I am very curious about the ESP models. I love explorers so I know I need to get used to heavy guitars! This is the link to our EP: ruclips.net/p/PLm-Hhof_tL8WThTGCzD0YQ_5OMOFPRZRY. Thanks for checking it out!
@@TheMetalFoundry THe BS-7 look awesome too!
@@meteor09 I checked your EP. I like it! It has a bit of a Witchery vibe. Keep it up, dude!
@@TheMetalFoundry Oh, that's a cool reference! I think he played an LTD EX and some point (and now Solar explorer models). I'm glad you like the EP!
Good vid.I have an LTD DV8r(Dave Mustaine),and an LTD Snakebite.Both great guitars and well worth the price.Got them both used,but new,both still had the plastic film on pickups and plates.
Now about the price thing;I'm a Jackson guy.Have several KV's,all neck-thru,the USA's break the bank.I have a RR1 and KV2,and really dont play them.KV2 is too nice and my RR1 I had to retire before it fell apart.It is a '92 USA I bought new and had to wait 1yr for,so its 30yrs old this yr..I mostly play my X series King V's,I dont feel so bad when I ding them.
Do you have any vids of your band?I'd like to check them out.
Thanks for the comment! There's something to be said about using expensive guitars. I bought the ESP EX second hand and it was quite dinged up already, which makes me a lot less scared to use it live.
There are some video's online of the band I'm with, but I only joined them in 2020 and we have a new singer since 2021. We're currently working on new material. Here's a link to a video of one of the singer and my first shows ruclips.net/video/ns0UKSSpWFQ/видео.html
@@TheMetalFoundry Awsome!thanks for the repy.I checked out your band and its nice and heavy!Just like I like it!Metal On Dude!!!
I have a LTD guitar with ESP microphones. Is it ESP or LTD in your opinion?
I've never owned an LTD, but I can definitely vouch for Original series and Customs. I have an M-III Deluxe from 2001, no problems whatsoever in terms of craftsmanship apart from the neck being a little too thick for my liking, but thats subjective. I also have a '89 Mirage Custom and that's butter in guitar form, my absolute favourite axe ever. ESP will always be the best in my eyes.
That's truely a sweet collection you have there! Damn!
Got the LTD V-50 (that i ended up making an ESP by putting some cream painters tap with esp written on it) with a deathbucker in the bridge that I bought in like 2012-13 and its honestly one of the best things I've ever played. Even rhe regular ESPs play about the same. The quality from both is unmatched, but it explains why most LTDs are like 700 dollars haha
Holy shit thank you for the vw to Audi playlist from an American who loves German cars
I have a kirk, hammet demonology Lt d version it plays incredible and the workmanship is ten out of ten
Great vid
Thanks! Rock on! 🤘
Great man
Thanks!
@@TheMetalFoundry Your welcome. I support you. it's Great man
I have an ESP Hanneman and an LTD Hanneman and they are virtually indistinguishable from on another.
I have a few ESPs and LTDs but all of my LTDs are either 1000s or 600s and are great. My LTD KH602 and JH600 are literally just as great as any of my ESP Customs. Great video.
Thanks, Louis! You have indeed an awesome ESP collection. Rock on, dude 🤘
3:30 ESP didn't pay enough attention to put the front strap lock in the correct place tho. It belongs to behind the neck, like in an SG.
Fixed the horrible neck dive myself that way on mine.
I have 2 LTD guitars. I would love to get an ESP but I'm married and we're not made of money. I absolutely love my LTDs though. I got one at a Pawn shop for $120. A V-50. And have an EC-401QM Dark Burgundy. I used to have a PRS custom 24 and I like both LTDs better than the PRS.
I own a over 20 year old LTD a newer LTD,an E=II and a USA Made ESP and of course The ESPs are better quality but everyone is awesome and sounds great.Hands down my favorite guitar company and I own quite a few guitars including from the big two.
The EMGs make a huge difference when overdriven. But as far as clean tones, fairly on par to me.
I went from a shecter lady luck (main guitar for 13 years) to an LTD EC1000 w/ sentient/Pegasus. The difference in quality and craftsmanship is astonishing. Literally makes the schecter seem like a toy, and it's not a bad guitar by any means.
Hello fellow ESP group member. The esp is darker than LTD.
About the neck, can you elaborate. why those two guitars has very different neck ?
Hi! The feel is different. I'm really nitpicking here. The ESP has a width at the nut of 45mm, while the LTD has 42mm. Both are thin U shapes, but the LTD is at least 4mm thinner. They just have used a bit more wood to make the ESP, which makes for a stronger neck.
How comfortable are these EX guitars when you are sitting down in classical position, guitar on your left leg? Is V-shape more comfortable in that position? ESP EX body shape smaller than Gibson Explorer?
They're actually very comfortable that way. ESP EX is a bit smaller than a Gibson Explorer indeed, but it doesn't bother me at all. I like this shape better than the V-shape, it feels more stable for me.
@@TheMetalFoundry Thanks for answer. Ergonomics are really important. I've had some back issues over the years.
What about the ESP USA? I believe they’re handcrafted in California
The most notable thing I found was the necks on LTD's are thinner and faster. The EII's have more chunky profiles.
I haven't tried the new EII's yet, but indeed, the neck on my ESP is a bit chunkier than the LTD
Nissssssssssssssssssce 🍻
I have Ltd EX100 it plays way over it's price!
I did begin with LTD mh 400 and now I play ESP m ll ctm custom original series , many asking where you can find a real difference ,answer is how does it feel . ESP original series are unbeatable
Sorry but I hope you don’t mind. I like that clean tone riff you were playing and I think I might borrow that.
As long as you give me credits, go ahead! Rock on!🤘
I really like my ltd v 401, hope someday I’ll get the Esp one … but the shape is discontinued unfortunately..
Yeah, that's indeed unfortunate. Perhaps you might still encounter some on reverb for example.
LTD 1000 level is almost equivalent to EII. Any guitar can have fretboard/neck defects, so buying an EC-1000 means your search for the right guitar became more cost-effective if the LTD 1000s have the color/style you want. I have had two E-IIs that I would call duds and more than two LTD 1000s that have better fretboards than either of those E-IIs. Go for the Korean-made LTD 1000s.
I owned an ESP LTD EC-1000 made in Korea 2021 model, bought it brand new for 840 euro, there was too much buzzing noise and after 2 attempts from the luthier to fix it we werent able to achieve a good result so i end up selling it. I bought an ESP Horizon E-II 2018 model second hand for 1200 euro, i didint find any build quality differences as it comes to the ltd ec-1000 but the playbiility was worst in terms of the ec-1000. I end up trading it with an ESP Eclipse I CTM paul landers (2008) the playability was amazing 0 buzzing easiest neck i ever played got it for 3 months and i ended up selling it for 1800 euro. For me the result is to first play the guitar for a while and then deciding, build quality doesnt change at least for the models i had it only comes to the mindset you have (like having an adroid versus an iphone) its just the status, same applies to the E-II, people are selling them because they are not ESP Originals on the headstock even though they are build in the same factory.
I love ESPs and now i am saving money to buy a custom build one.
As it comes to other brands i believe they are top of the line, i played with schecters, gibsons, fenders, musicman, solars etc, for the money they are selling them its the best choice for me.
Acabo de comprar una LTD KH-602 de kirk hammett, veré que tal.
I own 2 ESP's and 3 LTD's. The most recent LTD I got was an MH1000 Evertune (made in early 2020 so no lockdown excuses can be put on it) while it is well put together the finish was B-stock worthy, several paint drips were cleared over on the back of the neck and one on the body. Not what i expect from LTD but its possible and ive had several people comment on a vid about it that they too had gotten crappy ltd Deluxes. The tone and stability on the ESP's is superior to just about any guitar Ive ever played, maybe its the genuine Floyds on them. My E-II M-II has a much thicker neck then my KH-2 custom shop and id say it sound better, both have the same EMG's but of way different production yrs.
I do have to mention that the position of the volume knob on ESP's sucks as its to close for me, its baffling tho that LTD places the volume knobs further away. Looks like thats not an issue son the EX models but anything S type from ESP has the issue.
Sorry to hear that the quality of your latest purchase was below your expectations! Was this one made in Indonesia or in Korea? And oh yeah. I'm totally with you on that volume knob thing, but with LTD. Especially my EC1000. The volume knob is so close to the strings that I accidentally turn it down every once in a while when I'm playing.
@@TheMetalFoundry It is Korea which I still hold above Indo
@@TheMetalFoundry Its Korea, it has 11th week of 2020 manufacture date on it so it was right before the lockdown so cant use that as an excuse. IT plays great and has no performance issues just the finish. I actually put a ratchet knob (the knob has a spring in the center and it has detents that lock it in position) on my E-II M-II to keep the volume from being turned, I do not use the volume knob while playing so It fine that I can click it into place.
Custom shop dos sounding great
Bottom line for me is that ltds are great guitars, cheap, reliable, well made, good for gigs or for everyday playing if you don’t want to take care of your guitar that much.
Esp on the other hand especially the custom shop or kiso models are something different, the attention to details is immaculate, I couldn’t find one flaw on my esp custom models. They sound way better, they re made better, better hardware too. However if you’re one of those people that don’t care about guitars if they re damaged, just get an esp, if you care so much about scratches or dings, get the ltd and f with it. The esp just feels and sounds way better than the ltd however there are some SOLID ltds out there like the grinch.
I have some esps and some cheaper guitars. I always learn on the cheap stuff and when I want to really hear the music I use the esp and have a really long guitar sesh. I don’t think that we should compare these guitars at this point, they’re clearly different, both good for their own purposes and
It does if you’re a 9th grader getting paid 4.25 an hour.
I’m a huge fan of the EMG 81/60 combo. Good balance between those two pickups.
I’ve had a M100, V100, MH350NT and a MH1000NT. My 350 was stolen and then replaced with the 1000. I have to say both of those guitars are solid and the 1000 is amazing. Can’t wait for the frets to wear out so I can replace them with some stainless steels. LTDs for me are only second to an Ibanez RG with a super wizard neck.
The 1000's in the ltd brand are damn amazing. Especially for the money. Love em.
Damn, that sucks that your guitar was stolen! The 1000 series are indeed top notch. Never had any experience with stainless steel frets, though, let me know how it works for you!
@@TheMetalFoundry I put some on my Ibanez RG. So worth it, from the smooth feeling, polished mirror finish and basically lasting forever without much upkeep if at all makes stainless steel a no brainer. However the one negative is the price to get them done. Thankfully I learned how to install them myself and eventually all of my guitars will have them fitted.
1 x ESP vs 3 x LTD for the same kind of money?
LTD prices are RIDICULOUS right now! And the quality control is hit or miss. In todays market, Schecter is where its at. Hands down.
He said that ltd and schecter are both made in the same factory so how can there be such a huge difference in quality?
@@bigmike9527 Schecter is known for being ridiculously picky on QC. Being from the same factory has nothing to do with it. LTD and Schecter have different standards for what hits the shelves, and what’s B stock, or doesn’t sell. Not to mention, if you are buying low end, Schecter has way better low end guitars for cheap.
You are correct..3 months ago I finally got my ESP LTD EC 1001 in the Tiger eye finish..beautiful guitar but the nut was all screwed up..I could never get the string action low enough to play without buzzing...I tried 2 different Tusq XL nuts for the EC1000 lineup,supposed to be the same for the 1001..and I even took it somewhere to have it worked on and I did a better job that he did..it really ruined it for me..I have 4 LTD's from earlier years and they blow this new to 2021 away..I really wanted that guitar and I sold that POS really quick. yes it could have been just that one but for me one and done,especially when I pay $1200 for it...ESP should put Tusq XL nuts on their guitars instead of the molded plastic they use,that I had verified by ESP over the telephone. my 12-13 year old Schecter Blackjack that came stock with the Seymour Duncan JB and 59' in the neck is still rocking to this day !
@@rosskrause3926 A $1,200 guitar, should not pass inspection, with a messed up nut.
I don't have experience with any recent LTD, so I cannot say anything about my experience with their QC as of right now, but I understand that QC is one of the, if not THE most important processes in selling any equipment. If I read certain comments about QC, I start to wonder if some companies become more lenient towards quality issues, because there is such a high demand and such pressure on the supply chain. More pressure can make for sloppier performance, unfortunately.
Esp is more consistent quality wise. All have been good. Ltd is sometimes good, sometimes great and sometimes just dead wood. I’ve only tested the Korean versions. I’ve had some great ones but sold all. Only esp left.
I have LTD, and have owned jackson, dean, fender, ibanez and others.
What i can very clearly admit by experience is that, LTD are above all other brands mid range point.
For example; my LTD KH2 is a $1200 AUD, and it is better in playability than my ibanez S6 and Ibanez Jem and far better than my Dean vendettas and Gibson, all of which actually cost more.
To those that look at LTD to mean 'limited' is subjective, because LTD may not be the quality of ESP, but it is better than most other brands mid range quality for being thw apparent low end of ESP...
Make sense?
It's unfortunate that ltd have that stigma but it really is a mid - high range guitar for such a cheap price.
Ltd are fkn awesome, they're like porsches.. smashing everything, but an ESP is a bugatti veyron.. 😅
I can't say a bad thing about ESP or the LTD guitar just feels great to play.
I have a new LTD Eclipse 1987, the Tele shaped one, and it's abt the best playing guitar i own. And i have Les Pauls, Strats, Teles, an SG, many kick ass guitars and this made in Indonesia thing is my favorite. Its as if they built it for me, perfection. The neck is the most comfortable one i own. Maybe its a miracle, or i got lucky, idk- perfection. Plus the pu's are SD 59 neck, JB bridge! For $800, I think. Yes please...
You have clearly found your dream guitar. Those 80's Eclipses have a lot of mojo. It's one of the only Teles that I would consider buying.
LTD V 50 FLIYING V ???? what is your opinion, friend .. Greetings from Argentina
I have not tried that guitar yet, but the 50 series offer a great starting point to upgrade afterwards. If your budget allows it, I'd check one model range higher, but in the end, what I find more important is the tone you can get, the fun you can have and the music you play, regardless of the money you put in your instrument. Saludos de Belgica!🤘
It really depends on the player and what you want/expect from your instrument.
For some an mid tier guitar suits their needs.
I agree that it comes down to QC, however thats super critical when in comes to the art of guitar building. Some factories are more skilled than others.
I've had issues with every MIM Charvel I've owned and these are $1k guitars. Its more "hit and miss" with lower priced instruments.
And components DO matter as well.
Tone woods, etc.
My Korean LTds @ $1.2k were fine instruments... but they can't compare to my
$2.5k. E-II Eclipse. Superior on every level.
I have a Chinese Jackson Pro Gus G... awesome guitar...build quality is excellent..
But... my new MJ Dinky Soloist is a far better instrument... tone, feel, playability., frets ,
Sustain, dynamics...
Thanks for the comment! That is an interesting observation. It indeed depends on the player an what they want. I've seen international bands play with entry level gear, greatest example is Anaal Nathrakh, who were using an LTD EC-10.
It comes indeed down to components, but my experience with tone woods is far too limited, if not existing, to give a well constructed opinion about it.
My LTD EC1000 vs my ESP eclipse standard were night and day difference.
However, I’m happy with just playing whatever. I sold both my LTDs and both my ESPs and now just play a Gibson studio and I’m happy with that. It’s more about the pickups anyway.
I own a LTD MIK KH 202. Best guitar I've ever owned. Koreans take pride in building quality guitars.
LTD are great guitars but once you play a ESP you understand why it cost more. Upgraded hardware and hand built feel and play.
Matt guitars are not you know Epiphone's a brand MS epiphone but they're really USA custom shop Gibson
I play a Black Metal LTD. Its just fine I don't need an ESP USA guitar. For the price of the USA I can buy 3 LTDs. A nice set up on an LTD and you're good to go. ESP USA is like buying a ferrari to go to work everyday. Nice but not needed especially if you're just jamming in your bedroom or in a garage.
Like fender and squire,
Great video but one thing: I find it useless trying a heavy guitar on a massive amp (Dual Rectifier) and then using plug ins to "enhance" the sound. That's like buying a Porche just to drive around your local Walmart parking lot. Plug the guitar STRAIGHT into the amp! At least we'll hear a REAL tone, not an over processed, studio-like guitar tone. In my experience, I find the difference between ESPs and high end LTDs virtually non existence (Like with Epiphones, which DO have a quality dip compared to actual Gibson guitars). Sure, it all boils down to what suits you best, but ESP LTDs are easily the best guitars for the buck and do not differ greatly from the overpriced and overrated ESPs. That's my opinion.
I truely believe expnesive guitars a scam, I mean it's nice to buy expensive things, but the more expensive a guitar gets the less difference there is between it and "lower grade" models.
Any Mexican fender / ltd ec401 - ec1000 with no QC issues will sound and feel as good as an expensive counterpart, the true downfall of lower grade models is simply QC, make sure you pick a good piece when buying and take good care of it and you'll feel / hear no difference, the amp does the heavy lifting anyway.
It really depends on the player and what you want/expect from your instrument.
For some an mid tier guitar suits their needs.
I agree that it comes down to QC, however thats super critical when in comes to the art of guitar building. Some factories are more skilled than others.
I've had issues with every MIM Charvel I've owned and these are $1k guitars. Its more "hit and miss" with lower priced instruments.
And components DO matter as well.
Tone woods, etc.
My Korean LTds @ $1.2k were fine instruments... but they can't compare to my
$2.5k. E-II Eclipse. Superior on every level.
I have a Chinese Jackson Pro Gus G... awesome guitar...build quality is excellent..
But... my new MJ Dinky Soloist is a far better instrument... tone, feel, playability., frets ,
Sustain, dynamics...
Just my opinion but,... yes. It matters. In my personal experiences,....I've owned all kinds of guitars from many price points. The most expensive being a 1998 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul special order Koa top ($4500) and the cheapest was a GFS Slick strat ($287). My research and understanding has yielded some interesting conclusions. For instance,....the real difference in quality falls firstly on the wood selection. When you get a true ESP,....there was a person who carefully chose a very choice piece of wood. Then it's all about the hands that touch it. On a production assembly line guitar,....alot of fine details go unaddressed. Such as fret dressing, wiring cleanliness, finish thickness. All very important. But the biggest one for me,....is the last person to touch the guitar before it goes out the door. Typically the Custom Shop, or ESP divisions have a very very picky individual who does final inspection. Where as at Fender Mexico,....not so much. Now I will admit that I've owned some $800 guitars that were on par with $3000 guitars. But were talking about an anomaly. A blip in the matrix if your will. In other words,....its not likely to happen again anytime soon. So yes. I believe in some case the premium paid is worth it. It's all about how many hours go into it. And how rare or expensive the materials are. Go look at at a PRS wood library body blank and neck blank for sell on Reverb. If you've never seen it?? Your jaw will go through the floor. Unbelievable how expensive just those 2 pieces of wood are.
Thank you for the enlighting comment! I have never had the opportunity to play an instrument in the price range that you stated, but I can imagine the level of perfectionism must be wonderful.
Whereas for playing live, I'd prefer a more "normal" priced guitar, since I would be afraid to damage or loose it. but then again, I'm not a fulltime playing paid musician.
@@TheMetalFoundry No,...your correct. I wouldn't play a guitar priced that high live either. Lol. Thanks for responding MF. Have a great day.
I've had the LTD KH603 guital for several years and never wanted to play anything else. LTD is awesome for the money for most players. I'd rather spend leftover cash for equipment.
esp eclipse owner, more than 10 years ... one of the best guitar ever
It's like a The cranberries Riff 😂😂😂 the animal instinct song
The ESP really outshined the LTD on the distorted guitar.
I know it sounds crazy but I’ve had $1500 guitars and honestly if you set it up real well do a little fret work some cheap musiclily locking tuners and a decent set of pickups you can get a 150 dollar harley benton sounding and feeling like an LTD. Maybe I’m just a cheap fuck.
There's something to be said about that indeed. If the base is good enough, and with that I mean the quality of the woodwork and the wood itself, you can get indeed a decent instrument. Especially when everying is cnc'ed anyway. The only thing you have to bear in mind though, labour can be quite expensive, and the higher the skill, the higher the price. If you don't count your own hours and by adding a good 500 dollars worth of hardware on a guitar, you can come close indeed.
Sound isn’t the thing here. You can get good sound with any guitar with good pickups and amp.
It’s all about how it feels to play the guitar.