Esp 7 String Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

ive wanted to try a 7 string for a few years and this is great for a first! the pickups are clear, the feel of the guitar is smooth, and the paint finish is v pretty, all for a great price! just change the thin stock strings out for ernie ball slinky 11-58 strings and it plays vvv well 🙂lonemat86

I picked this up the day it arrived, before it was put on display at a local GC. I carefully tested every aspect of this guitar and was shocked by its quality as others have noted. The bridge set up is the first string- thru TOM for me and the sustain is remarkable. The machines hold tune and tune with precision. I find the pickup set captures a tight lower register rather well. The action, fit, jumbo frets and finish are what anybody would expect from a FAR more expensive instrument. After a year of research, I'm convinced that this is by far the best 7-string in its class and I cannot find a single negative feature with this model. WOW!Snail

I was very impressed, especially for the price. quality of the product, other than a very small flaw in the finish (dip in the paint, not a scratch) next to the bridge pickup. The instrument plays well, has a good action, and sounds every bit as good as my other guitars which cost considerably more. Great buy for the money.Doug

I've had this guitar for about 10 months, and it's great! It's everything you'd come to expect from the ESP LTD line. But the big question is, "How's that bridge?" My motivation for buying this specific guitar was my unending frustration with the floating tremolo on my previous guitar. We started jumping back and forth between standard and dropped D in our set, and making that work with a FR was a nightmare. With that, I had set out on finding a non-FR or fixed bridge, since I rarely used the trem' anyway. I had always wanted an ESP and the idea of each saddle being independent of one another was compelling. It can take a little to get used to, though. Tuning is done at the bridge, and the tension on the strings is adjusted by the tuning pegs. Once the string has the right amount of tension, that saddle will be "activated" in what is referred to as "zone 2". Here, the springs will counter any additional tension applied to that string up to a given point. This means that you cannot do bends or change the pitch in any real or easy way. Some people may like this, but it feels very odd, and the people at Evertune know that most people don't play like this. So, to get the best of both worlds, you will need to apply enough tension on the saddle to bring it right up to the edge of zone 2 by turning the tuning pegs. What I found to be helpful here is to not just listen for the note to change, but to pull on the string and visually inspect movement in the saddle. Once this is set, it feels like a normal guitar with just a tad more tension on the strings. The guitar will come with 10-gauge strings. I gave that a shot for a while. Only recently did I switch them out for some 9s. I think it feels a lot better with a lighter gauge string, especially considering that tad bit of tension. A tip I learned regarding Dropped D was to tune the guitar down by default. Then tune up the low E, which puts that saddle into "zone 3". This is far easier than the reverse and stiJohn Q. GuitarPlayer

This guitar is lightweight very well balanced, it seems to almost float when wearing it with a strap, As I heard in another rating, it feels like every single note on every single fret is available and reachable at any moment. It takes me back to the early 90's when I played a early 70's Gibson Explorer. What an easy guitar to play! It just seemed to fall off the frets into your hands, and this ESP SnakeByte is no different. I've heard James Hetfield talk about his love for his Gibson Explorers, so it's not a surprise that his signature series SnakeByte has that feel and tone! I really like the locking tuners, what a great invention! It makes the horrible business of replacing strings easy and painless! The locking bridge is also a delight, keeps intonation intact when changing strings. I like the tone of the JH HET SET pups, they scream when needed, and purr when needed. This guitar matches up particularly well with a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, or most any amp from Mesa Boogie or Marshall.mkcr33l

I was so excited to get this guitar and I hooked it up out of the box a played it for about 5 minutes. Unplugged it put it back in the case. The next day I hooked it up again and got a terrible flanger like sound out of the guitar so I switched guitars and my other one was fine. Before I sent it back I wanted to check the 9v battery in the back compartment for the pickups and discovered only 1.2 v of power coming out of the battery. I swapped the battery and now it's good. I just thought it was kind of annoying that esp would sell guitars with off brand dead batteries. I know it's not musiciansfriends fault but still.Chris

First at the foremost, you're gonna buy it for how it looks. And let me say that the pictures of it doesn't do it justice. It looks so much better in real life! After cosmetics, it feels great to hold and play. The neck is fun to play on. The EMG 81-7 sounds beefy and aggressive, but still warm. Once set up, the Floyd works great. I play in B standard, so the strings are perfect for big chords and my very modest shredding right out of the box. In short, it feels like a guitar over a grand. Worth every bit! Just a few minor complaints. Like a little spot of the binding is a little messed up. And one of the screws on the battery compartment was stripped out in the body. But overall, nothing I would send it back for. It is a beast! Owned quite a few LTD's and own a ESP Horizon 7. It hasn't disappointed.Matt H.

Great construction and sound. I like the jumbo frets, they allow me to riff comfortably and hard. Evertune bridge is awesome however if you play it in zone 3 will act as a regular bridge and you will have to tune again after a couple of songs. If you play in zone 2 it will preserve tuning but no bendings will be allowed frp the bridge for you to perform.Jay

This guitar blew me away. (However I cant really back up the factory pickups because I already had a set I really like. Very smooth, well set up and my favorite part, comfortableBrad

I recently bought this guitar and love playing it. It feels and sounds terrific just like an ESP should! I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants an 8 string baritone and doesn't have 2000 dollars to spend on a higher level ESP.Just Jeff

Worth every single penny. Ready to play out of the box. Plays fast and easy for an 8 string . If you are just getting started with an 8 string or need another this is the way to go.Just plug in and go.Lando

I've had this guitar for about 10 months, and it's great! It's everything you'd come to expect from the ESP LTD line. But the big question is, "How's that bridge?" My motivation for buying this specific guitar was my unending frustration with the floating tremolo on my previous guitar. We started jumping back and forth between standard and dropped D in our set, and making that work with a FR was a nightmare. With that, I had set out on finding a non-FR or fixed bridge, since I rarely used the trem' anyway. I had always wanted an ESP and the idea of each saddle being independent of one another was compelling. It can take a little to get used to, though. Tuning is done at the bridge, and the tension on the strings is adjusted by the tuning pegs. Once the string has the right amount of tension, that saddle will be "activated" in what is referred to as "zone 2". Here, the springs will counter any additional tension applied to that string up to a given point. This means that you cannot do bends or change the pitch in any real or easy way. Some people may like this, but it feels very odd, and the people at Evertune know that most people don't play like this. So, to get the best of both worlds, you will need to apply enough tension on the saddle to bring it right up to the edge of zone 2 by turning the tuning pegs. What I found to be helpful here is to not just listen for the note to change, but to pull on the string and visually inspect movement in the saddle. Once this is set, it feels like a normal guitar with just a tad more tension on the strings. The guitar will come with 10-gauge strings. I gave that a shot for a while. Only recently did I switch them out for some 9s. I think it feels a lot better with a lighter gauge string, especially considering that tad bit of tension. A tip I learned regarding Dropped D was to tune the guitar down by default. Then tune up the low E, which puts that saddle into "zone 3". This is far easier than the reverse and stiJohn Q. GuitarPlayer

Overall: This guitar sounded very clean when plugged in directly w/o effects applied. Wonderful sound when applying effects as well. neck action is nice. 2 things I would consider if you haven't played this guitar and are going to purchase by internet:: 1. The pickups are located next to each other so a slight modification in your strumming hand position will be needed. 2. The neck is very wide and not friendly to shorter fingers. You may need to find a different position on the neck to play certain things. Otherwise it is a fine guitar with an absolutely beautiful finish that shines even in a dimly lit room. the pickguard and pinstripe around the body have a matching shell like pattern that I thought was a nice touch. My first ESP and I am very impressed. Made in the USA too very nice.Angelica

I have owned a custom shop Jackson SL and an American made Jackson SL2 in my life. I have also owned a Carvin 727. I have to admit the fit and finish of my 607B is on par with those. I am using it for recording primarily, but it sounds incredible. It cuts right through a dense mix of keys, brass, strings and percussion. I compose symphonic metal and this guitar suits me perfectly. The is jaw dropping in person. It stays in tune extremely well and the intonation appears dead on and the strings are ver, very close to the fretboard. This guitar easily rivals my previous guitars and cost less than half or a third of the others. I may eventually decide the buy the purple 607 because the quality of this has sold me on these. The pickups are the first actives I have ever used and are very aggressive. They sound dark, but powerful. Thank you ESP and AMS for such a great axe and a payment plan that made it possible.Lonzenator

First off…the paint job on this is AMAZING. There is no way for this to NOT look good on stage or in the practice room. It is surprisingly pretty hefty for a telecaster style body in terms of weight, but not to the point that it is uncomfortable to play. The ebony fretboard and neck radius makes this guitar VERY easy to play. Doesn't matter if I am chugging away or doing shred style solos, the easy of fretboard navigation and feel is beyond comparison. The Fishman Fluence Customs it sound great through an overdriven 5150's and a Kemper. Surprisingly the cleans are very nice as well. The Longer baritone length gives it a lot pf crispness and clarity while maintaining that gnarly bite even under high gain. The only thing I wish was a little different is the pickup placement. For solos, I love to use neck pickups. The pickup being in the middle is not as usable as I would like it to be, and I had to lower it a great deal so that I was not hitting it with picks constantly. But…I knew what I was getting when I got it. The neck meeting the body where it does makes it a little harder to access the upper frets for that 23rd and 24th fret. The switching between voices is a little different on these when compared to the normal Fishman Fluence Moderns…but not a deal breaker. My only regret overall is that I did not buy this guitar years ago. I am thinking about getting another simply for touring so I can have different tunings on one and then switch to the other.Casey L.

I have been playing 7 strings for almost 20 years and this is quite possibly the best 7 string I have ever owned, or even played. From the very first feel of the next I knew I was in for something special and I was not disappointed. I've seen several reviews stating "best 7 string", etc. but it is not until you play this that you can fully understand just how incredible this instrument is. Buy it, you will not want to play another 7 string.J3

This guitar is truly amazing. ESP has made me a believer in them. The craftsmanship is as solid as it gets. The deep shaven cut lets the higher frets so much more accessible. The neck is smooth, comfortable and fast. This is the first time using an ever tune bridge and i love it. The only issue i have with it, is a slight buzz from the bridge, but to my understanding, thats just a minor price to pay for the amazing technology that ever tune is. Both voicing for the fishman fluence pickups are nothing short of incredible. Aggressive, tight, warm and expressive. Its one beast of an instrument. The pictures online do not do it justice. The see through purple is absolutely beautiful.Cal

It sounds so good. Couple it with a maxon 808 an Isp decimator and a 5150 combo and it just kills. Great action great tone. Can't say enough. Esp always deliversmouth_for_war_nerve_ftw

I love this guitar! It came perfectly set up The action is nice and low. Great for sweep picking The sound of the pickups are awesome ! This is my main guitar.Evil

Feels great, sounds amazing. My favorite guitar ever since it arrived. I love the design and the finish. Craftsmanship is flawless.hauntedempire

Pulled the trigger on a customer returned SC 607. Instrument arrived late so I will blame Fed Ex for that. Highlights include an absolutely gorgeous matte purple finish, Fishman pick ups, and a standard ESP case. Low points, poorly set up, lots of fret buzz, but I think after getting it professionally set up I won’t have those issues. First time buying a guitar in the ESP Ltd series, I’m an E-2 player and am used to Japanese luthier made instruments, (This particular model was made in Korea). All in all, I’m enjoying the 7 string baritone and am looking forward to a proper set up. AMS gave me a killer deal on this guitar and would strongly recommend them.Chris C.

Excellent guitar for the money, but there are some slight flaws. First off the setup could be a bit better, with fret buzz being a problem, especially on the lower frets. There's also a minor finish issue by the nut, where the paint hasn't covered properly, and the truss rod cover is only held on by one screw, which has been drilled in too high, causing the cover to move and rattle.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Shipped fast and arrived unscathed. The guitar looks amazing and the EMGs sound great. It's lighter than I expected with it being a 7 string. The neck is smooth and feels nice to play. If you're really interested in a 7 string, this one won't disappoint. This is my second guitar from AMS and they've been fast and sent great guitars both times.Jonathan

The active emgs and the fast fretboard make this guitar a blast to play. This is my 3rd 7 string guitar (Halo Morbis and a schecter blackjack) all are great sounding instruments…to my ear this sounds better..very meaty…great sustain and aesthetically looks better…very satisfied with this guitarbbruno123

I bought this as a gift. It's a very beautiful color and I love the pearl in the neck. I'm very excited to see it in the hands of the player!Tasha

Sound: The 'Blackened' Black Winter pickup is very bright. Not shrill, but definitely will cut through a mix. It's incredibly clear, and touch sensitive. Very high output, which is appropriate for a guitar called the Black Metal! Features: This guitar has an alder body, which is amazing for almost all tonal aims. The raised LTD logo on the headstock is an incredibly nice touch! The Grovers are smooth, and stable, and the OFR is also stable and reliable. Ease of Use: This is where this, and just about every other LTD I've purchased shines. The fretwork is immaculate. I have the action at .75mm, and it doesn't buzz, for those who aren't familiarwith action measurements, this is incredibly low. The pickup height was perfect right out of the box. The only thing I needed to adjust was the truss rod, it had a bit too much relief. But once that was done, it plays like butter and sounds brutal! Quality: This guitar has absolutely no quality control issues, and feels extremely well made. As stated above, it has all high end appointments, such as a Seymour Duncan pickup, OFR, and grover tuners. It functions amazingly. Value: Absolutely. I'm a Jackson fanboy 90% of the time, but I can say (and zZounds can verify) I've had to return multiple Jackson products and never a single LTD. The Jacksons cost more, and have less. Manufacturer Support: I haven't needed to deal with ESP, as I've never had an issue with their products. The Wow Factor: When you're playing this guitar, if feels metal. The guitar is so easy to play, and sounds so brutal. I can't recommend it enough if you like to play extreme genres of music. Overall: LTD never disappoints. This guitar is metal as it gets, and plays fantastically.Matheau

This guitar is simply incredible. It looks gorgeous (loved the finish ever since I first saw it) and plays like an absolute dream. The satin neck feels smooth and allows me to play speedy runs effortlessly. The profile isn't razor thin or too fat. It feels very comfortable. The Bareknuckle Warpigs sound full and aggressive through my Revv Generator 100p. The 2.5 scale turns some off but I find it to be very comfortable. I play in Eb and it handles my needs perfectly. Like most, I did extensive research before purchasing. The main negative I could find is that the tuning can sometimes slip. This can easily be solved with a proper setup though. I have yet to experience this. Right out of the box this guitar was set up and ready to go. The only real con is the price. It's a lot of money (at least for someone like me) to spend on a guitar but after spending so much time with it, I can say that I have no regrets. In this price range you have a lot of options but if you choose this guitar you will not regret it. I play primarily extreme metal and jazz fusion and I have loved both the clean and high gain tones I've been able to get. This is my second E-II (my first being a black FRX) and surely not to be my last.This guitar is absolutely perfect for me. It looks incredible, plays incredible and sounds amazing. I couldn't be more satisfied. And bonus! There are luminlay dots on the binding! I didn't catch those being listed as part of the package in the few overviews I'd read.TJ Calavera

I've owned this guitar for around 2 months now. There is not one flaw nor do I have a single complaint about the instrument. It has the greatest neck, frets, and fretboard I've ever felt. The action is perfect and this instrument inspires confidence which allows me to play in ways I couldn't before. The pickups are in a league of their own. I didnt believe the hype of BKPs before but I definitely do now. The neck pickup still has a bit of a smoothness to it, however it's much hotter than anything I've ever experienced which really creates an interesting dynamic and articulate tone for leads. Hands down my favorite instrument I've ever picked up. Just be sure to ask for pictures of the specific instrument you are buying if ordering online. The natural fade can vary wildly from guitar to guitar. Customer service was also immaculate! They made sure I got exactly what I wanted, sent photos between 2 different guitars in 2 different stores to let me pick, worked with synchrony bank to make sure I got financed, and next day air expedited the shipping to get it to me asap. If this guitar is even an option stop thinking about it and pull the trigger. It's worth every penny and more. I would gladly pit this against any Gibson or PRS that's TWICE its price any day of the week.Chris

So I originally wanted to buy a Taylor T5 because they feel so good and sound so awesome. This guitar sounds just as good as a Taylor T5 and about the third of the price. And its appearance is just absolutely beautiful. I was all set to upgrade the strings and set it up to my own preferences but once I started playing it it was just perfect. Vendor was excellent to work with. Very professional. Very efficient. The guitar was delivered a day earlier740*gn

This is my first classic style guitar. Its heavy, really heavy, I thought it would be light to pick up. Its really well made. The pick up are great and very bright. Shipping strings are good. No case or cover, box was well done, awesome even. Has a nubone nut, had to lube quite a bit for tuning. I feel like its a bit over priced, but that might just be me. Again, its solid, like you can smack someone with it and it won't care. I love the head stock. I got this because my hands are falling into ruin from diabetes. I'm trying really hard to find a falt for it, its just a beefy hard core classic style guitar. Volume is pretty low. If your getting into nylon strings i'd recommend it. I honestly can't find any faults for it. Heavy, beefy, Rawr.Meatpopsicle

So after about 40 years of playing music and traveling everywhere I had never actually owned and played a hybrid acoustic guitar. I wanted a Taylor T5, so sweet. $2000 was more than I wanted to give to add to my collection of 30 guitars already. My I caught this gorgeous ESP Telluride acoustic electric guitar. Playing it acoustically was nice but running it through an amp I was extremely impressed with the overall sound quality specially wearing a suit of quality headphones such as you would use in a recording session. I had about a third of the price of the T5 the quality is exceptional, not as good as a T5 before the price it is well worth it. I love this guitar and since I've bought it I rarely play anything else. Awesome guitarGary

Sound: A sign of a good electric guitar is how well it sounds unplugged. This 1000BV is loud, full, and sustains very well before it's even plugged in. I bought the 1000BV with EMG pickups. Most people associate EMG with metal, and yes it goes a long way in that genre but they are equally adept and great sounding for blues, jazz, rock, and clean tones. I am very happy with the tonal versatility of this guitar. Cleans are clear and full, heavy drive has the chunk you want, and in between they just growl like they should. Features: I appreciate the locking tuners and Tone Pros bridge. The tuners are ESP branded but are smooth and seem to stay in tune quite well. The TOM bridge was easy to adjust and lock back into place.Active pickups are a matter of taste. I chose EMG because I like the sound they give, and I already have another guitar with the Duncan JB's. Ease of Use: The guitar came out of the box set up perfectly to ESP specs. Having said that, ESP thinks low action is 2mm at the 12th fret for low E, and 1.5mm on the high. This is way too high for my tastes. Adjusting the truss rod, string height, and intonation was a breeze. In a world filled with Floyd Rose, you lose appreciation for how easy a TOM bridge is to work with!The neck is definitely thinner than a Les Paul, but not super thin like a Jackson or Ibanez neck. It is similar to the PRS Wide Thin carve. Very playable if shredding or legato is your thing, and equally comfortable with the thumb over style. The neck finish is matte and feels as smooth as an unpainted neck. Moving up and down the fretboard is comfortable and easy. Quality: The quality of this instrument is superb. I have gone over it with a fine tooth comb and cannot find even the slightest imperfection in fit and finish. If you were to hand this to me blindfolded, I would easily believe it to be a guitar costing twice the price. It was that good. Fret work was spectacular and on par with my American PRS CE-24. Rolled off edges, no burrs or sprouts, smooth all the way up and down the neck. Value: This guitar is a tremendous value. For a list price of $899 you get every penny worth and more. I would put this up against any American made instrument costing 2 or 3 times more. High quality name brand components installed on a beautifully constructed instrument are what this guitar is about. Manufacturer Support: I have not had to deal with ESP directly yet, but they did suspend my account from their support forum for no known reason lol That's why everyone has more than one email right 🙂 The Wow Factor: It's an unassuming looking guitar that would fit on stage playing metal or smooth jazz. It sounds amazing clean or dirty and is a great alternative for someone who loves the traditional look of a single cutaway guitar but desires a more playable neck and less heft. Overall: I had been eyeing this guitar for quite awhile. I admit that when I found out production of the 1000 series moved from Korea to Indonesia I was very disappointed. The internet is full of horror stories about instrument quality dropping after models start getting produced in different countries, especially after having a great reputation for quality at the previous factory. I wavered back and forth and had second thoughts even after ordering. Thankfully zZounds has a great return policy so I took a chance.I AM SO GLAD I DID!!!!!!!If you are looking for a solid body single cut guitar you HAVE to give the EC-1000 a look. For half the money of most other domestic single cutaways you get a great playing and great looking guitar that is just a joy to play. Build quality is absolutely top notch and on par with or better than some of the best domestic instruments I've owned over 4 decades of playing.Allan

Where do I start? I love everything about this guitar and it is my favorite that I own. If you’re looking for something that sounds very sweet and beautiful clean, this is not the guitar for you. That’s not to say that you can clean it up a bit with maybe some stereo chorus reverb or delay but as this guitar stands on its own, it truly suits one purpose for me , it is true metal madness euphoria. Not only do the pick up scream but this guitar is not only beautiful but constructed perfectly. It is the best most comfortable neck I’ve ever played and it is rocksolid!!! The satin finish on the back of the neck makes it effortless to slide up and down. I’m typically not a fan of gold on guitars but with the black matte finish it actually is pretty sharp and not too Goddy in my opinion. I am mediately replace the strings on this guitar with some nice thick ones for drop C tuning. Even with the 24.75 scale it Plays drop tuning nicely without string floppige. As long as you have the right strings on this exit is no problem. This current model has the EMG pick ups. I am seriously considering getting another EC 1000 with the Pegasus sentiment pick up combo. It’s a little heavier than I thought it would be but in a good way. This guitar is perfectly balanced and the body is definitely thinner than a Les Paul. That’s one thing I didn’t like about Les Pauls is it was thick bulky heavy and a baseball bat neck. I honestly couldn’t be more pleased with this guitar. Love the EC 1000 and the great service I always get at American musical supply. I’ll be honest, i’ve went through about half a dozen brand new guitars and returned every single one of them except for this one. I believe I am pickier than most, if I spend $1000 on a guitar I want to fall in love with it and not settle. If you like playing James Taylor and Crosby stills and Nash I suggest you look elsewhere. If you want to rip some faces off get this guitar!!!!Brett m

I bought this LTD EC-1000 after playing it at the shop for over an hour. This guitar delivers in spades the metal tone I was looking for. (I tried against Duncan Seymour version) With the right setup, it will CHUG! The chugs that is produced is so satisfying and inspirational to downstroke riffs like Papa Het for hours. Action is set at 2mm low E and 1.5mm at high E. A bit higher than I am used to but easy to get used to. This guitar is a beauty and plays and sounds great! You can't go wrong!Kalyan R.

Overall: In a YouTube review of this guitar, there was one guy that said he didn't understand why any experienced and knowledgable guitar player would want THIS guitar over something more high-end (i.e., a "real" Eclipse), because of the differing body design features. I, myself, am not anything of a virtuoso player, nor do I have the fattest wallet at the moment, which is why I settled on something more in the midrange for my first relatively decent guitar. I've been playing for years, writing songs on "piece of crap" guitars, and it didn't matter to me that my instrument was nothing to show off when that's all that I was using it for (i.e., to write songs). Before I am an instrumentalist, I am a vocalist and songwriter… but I digress. Anyhow, coming from someone that has a limited span of what truly "decent" is in this department, I, personally, found this guitar to be worth the price. I am not the most knowledgable about guitars, no, but I know what feels right to me as a player. This one is pretty nice. The body is lightweight and thin without feeling or looking cheap or flimsy, and the playability is fantastic. There is little strain on your fingering hand due to how easy it is to press the strings down, unlike on cheaper guitars. Had I learned to play on this one, I would have been totally spoiled! Maybe like that guy with the YouTube review. Haha. The sound is nice and crisp… and the color is beautiful. I went with the Cobalt Blue, because it matches with my room. I have no complaints about it, under the circumstances. It is everything that I needed it to be. The available payment plan was the cherry on top. Just two more payments! Thanks, zZounds!Note: I was required to rate "Manufacturer Support" when I submitted this review, even though I never made any direct contact with the manufacturer. I couldn't give it less than 5 stars when there was never a problem with it. *shrug*Emha

IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! It was on backorder. It took round-a-bout 5 months to get it in my eager hands. I bought the Purple Burst version. What their online photos do not properly convey is that the back and the neck are purple as well (how purple depends on each guitar-having seen two in person). The 1st appeared almost black in most lighting. The 2nd is defiantly purple but when photographed there is a color mismatch between the back and front that is NOT noticeable in person (see photos) This is my first Les Paul body style and my first guitar with split coil capability. The jumbo frets are awesome. I haven't been playing long (2-ish years). They cut down on my mis-fretting. The ease & sound of bending the strings + the sound of the pick-ups are more than I was expecting. The neck is super slim. I have size S/M woman hands. I love the size. There is not a lot of stretching to reach around for the low end strings. The neck also has a lovely coating that allows me to slide up and down easy without sticking- if you have played a matte coated neck, you know what I mean. The fret board and the inlays are leveled out very well but the fret board was a bit thirsty when I got it. A fret board oil & cloth buff were all it needed. The frets are very well placed & filed (no snags or fret spouts). The "Set-Up" was really good straight out of the box. The string height was set really well. Low enough (esp. at the nut) that It was not a finger killer to fret but there was no fret buzz at any frets when playing. The intonation was pretty spot on as well. Took slight adjustment when it got new strings (mostly at the Low E and A). The top pick-up was a touch high for my taste but if that is the worst I can say… The neck was straight and ready to play. The tuners work well and I love the keystone buttons on them that match the headstock style. It is heavier than I expected 7.5lbs- 8.4lbs. To sum things up, I cannot believe I got this beauty for this price point.Elaine, K

Sound: I haven't even got far enough to plug it in the action is so buzzy that is why i do not recommend this guitar. If it was set up to playable i would probably like it. You can feel a feel a few fret edges, but nothing horrible. That i would expect for a guitar in this price range, but for it to show up completely unplayable is unacceptable. Value: The way it arrived no. Overall: I have always liked ESP products, but today i am disappointed. This guitar arrived today and is unplayable. The neck has got a back bow and all the strings buzz horribly. The strings are hitting on the back of the bridge after the saddle because the tail piece was screwed all the way down to the body. If ESP did this they should be ashamed, if zZounds did this they should be ashamed. Not sure who set this guitar up? I'm going to try to fix it tomorrow wish me luck. If i can get to stop buzzing and to play decent i may keep it, if not it's going back. It is a pretty guitar and aside from the atrocious setup seems to be of decent quality.Shawn

Excelente guitar. I´m very dissapointed about the factory setup. For the price, I was expecting at least a playable factory setup. Instead it was with a really high strings action, pickups height totally out of pattern. And the finish wasn´t flawless. I has a little detail by the end of the scale. Besides that, Tumbstone Hard case is amazing! I was expecting more of the ESP inspections before it left the factory. By the way, the guitar was packed in the original box yet.Rodrigo

Overall: I was thinking about buying an ESP LTD for a while, and when I saw this guitar I was just blown away by how it looked, and the features it has. I'm happy to report that when it arrived at my home( which only took one day, thank you zZounds and fedex) I was even more blown away. The action is perfect out of the box, it's super lite, it plays faster than almost any guitar I've ever played, the Floyd Rose is top notch, and since I've stretched the strings and locked it, I hasn't gone out of tune once, and the sound is just mind blowing. I was a little nervous when I saw the body wood type was alder, being most of my guitars are mahogany, I thought the low end response would be affected. But I'm happy to tell everyone, it sounds like a beast. And of course the emg pickups are always incredible in my opinion. Plus it comes with the coolest case ever. It's got a tombstone motif on it. There's not enough good things I could say about this wonderful guitar. I was wailing sweep arpeggios all day on this bad boy, and every note was clear as a bell, no matter how fast I was playing. I highly recommend this guitar to anyone who's a metal aficionado. You won't be disappointed.Rob

You could get something else that is better for the price, but as far as a V-shaped guitar with a floyd rose, I believe this is the best thing you can get new for this price on the market. Having said that, the body materials are decent, the pickup is decent, and the floyd rose works fine but the fine tuners are stubborn sometimes. The sound is very crisp and clear but somewhat lacking tone. It can do the job. Now keeping that in mind, if you're anything more than a beginner rock guitarist, you should get a Jackson RR3 Rhoads Pro Series. It has similar shape and is also bolt on, but every part about it is better– the body wood, electronics (2 duncan pickups) and a licensed quality floyd rose. I'd HIGHLY recommend that guitar over this one, and you get to support America by buying it!JCP

Just an excellent, well crafted multiscale ESP/LTD. Seymour Duncan Nazgul/Sentient combo pups get it done! Clean or metal very versatile pickup set.johnarcher123

Plays like a dream. Fishmans off the chain. Neck feels awesome, stable tuning, ultimate shred machine. Highly recommended if you can find one.Nexus Six