Esp versus Esp Ltd?

I don't know about ESP vs LTD. I've tried a lot of LTD's though. The difference I noticed on other high end lines vs the lower ends is, in my experience, the higher end models have a more solid feel to them maybe a little higher weight or something.

The best analogy is like buying a cheap couch vs a higher end couch. They just feel different. I dunno low and mid tier guitars tend to feel like toys to me.
 
Also, in my experience, I prefer 400 series over 1000 series LTD's any day of the week.

I don't feel any quality difference between the 400 and 1000 series, granted both are Korean, and I'm not a fan of the zinc Tonepros bridge they put on the 1000 series. I'd rather upgrade the cheapie bridge on the 400 series to Gotoh, Hipshot, or whatever bridge of my choosing. And I prefer the Grover non-lockers on the 400 series to the LTD-branded generic locking tuners on the 1000 series, personally.
 
Rex Rocker said:
I'm not a fan of the zinc Tonepros bridge they put on the 1000 series. I'd rather upgrade the cheapie bridge on the 400 series to Gotoh, Hipshot, or whatever bridge of my choosing. And I prefer the Grover non-lockers on the 400 series to the LTD-branded generic locking tuners on the 1000 series, personally.
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Try the 1000 Deluxe then. It's affordable but has high quality hardware, they don't put crap on the Deluxe. You don't really need to upgrade anything on there like you would on the 400.

I usually mod the hell out of all of my guitars, the 1000 Dekuxe has been on of the few that I've honestly never felt the need except the pickups (but I'm always changing out pickups). It's getting the Jo-Bo Blonde Dot pickups installed as we speak! :)
 
SteveGlitch said:
Try the 1000 Deluxe then. It's affordable but has high quality hardware, they don't put crap on the Deluxe. You don't really need to upgrade anything on there like you would on the 400.

I usually mod the hell out of all of my guitars, the 1000 Dekuxe has been on of the few that I've honestly never felt the need except the pickups (but I'm always changing out pickups). It's getting the Jo-Bo Blonde Dot pickups installed as we speak! :)
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What's the 1000 Deluxe? All of the 1000's are Deluxe, I think?
 
SteveGlitch said:
Mine is the EC1000 Deluxe, an Eclipse with the pearloid binding that pretty much outlines the whole body
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My EC-1000 was also Deluxe, but didn't have the abalone purfling.

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TBH, I didn't change the hardware because I thought it was bad, but because it was that black nickel hardware that wears off really easily if you don't wipe it down after every use, and it was a used guitar when I got it.

But all LTD 1000 series are "Deluxe".
 
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The LTD guitars I have, the Lynch Kami 4, the Lynch Desert Eagle, and the Lynch Burnt Tiger, are all fantastic guitars. I have zero complaints about them in comparison to my ESP Lynch Sunburst Tiger.
I have swapped out the anemic single coil neck pickup in the Kami 4, and put in a Duncan 1/4 Pounder. Probably will do the same with the Desert Eagle.
 
One thing to consider is that the ESP and the E-II guitars will have a maple cap on the mahogany body. The E-II (formerly ESP Standard Series) with fancy wood tops are a veneer over maple top. The LTD guitars are just a veneer over the mahogany. That may have changed, but my 2003 LTD did not have a maple cap, just the veneer.
 
rydia is hot said:
This. So crappy looking.
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I don't really like anything with numbers, numerals, etc in the headstock. Kinda looks weird but also, once something new or better comes out and everyone knows about it, it makes you feel inferior or less than. So imagine just gathering enough for an E-ii and the E-iii comes out lol
 
Rex Rocker said:
My EC-1000 was also Deluxe, but didn't have the abalone purfling.

196655697_10159642365825746_557123593470697519_n.jpg


TBH, I didn't change the hardware because I thought it was bad, but because it was that black nickel hardware that wears off really easily if you don't wipe it down after every use, and it was a used guitar when I got it.

But all LTD 1000 series are "Deluxe".
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That's a really clean looking axe! Silver-burst?
 
SteveGlitch said:
That's a really clean looking axe! Silver-burst?
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Yeah! I think they called it "Silver Sun Burst"... but yeah, LOL. Pretty much.

TBH, I never bonded with that guitar as much as I did with my other LTD's. It wasn't bad, but I never really liked the sides and back being silver or the burst being a perimeter burst.

Other than that, it was kinda heavy, which I'm usually OK with, but for some reason, it didn't sound as lively as my old 401 even if I swapped the hardware on both to have the same. I do think I tend to prefer the sound of Rosewood fretboards over Ebony, so maybe that was it.

This was my old 401.

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So after reading thru everyone's comments, I don't think I'd regret getting an EC-1000 Deluxe or a 90s 400, 401, etc. If I just went Ltd.

I'm not sure if I want a full ESP right now or just get an Ltd to hold me over and save up for a really nice ESP down the line.
 
I recognize that it's not exactly relevant to the question you asked in the OP, but I have an ESP LTD TE-1000 that I absolutely love. It's one of the best playing / feeling guitars I've ever owned. Loaded with Fishman Fluence' pups and it rips!
 
MontiCristo said:
I recognize that it's not exactly relevant to the question you asked in the OP, but I have an ESP LTD TE-1000 that I absolutely love. It's one of the best playing / feeling guitars I've ever owned. Loaded with Fishman Fluence' pups and it rips!
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I was wondering about those Fishman Fluence pickups 👍
 
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