Anybody got a ESP/LTD Viper?

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VonBonfire

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I been looking hard at these and Yamaha SG's. @MetalHeart gave me some insights yesterday but I thought I'd ask the rest of the forum. I only own two electrics right now, both Edwards which are pretty sweet.

The LTD 1000 deluxe seems like a lot of guitar for the dough. Just over a grand new. 3 piece neck, maccassar Ebony fretboard. Not crazy about the factory pickups but I have other pickups on hand. Just looking for something with a nice, low, buzz free action, LP levels of sustain, and maybe not quite LP levels of dark. Sounds like they got stainless jescar monster jumbo frets but I could probably live with them. I might hit GC next week and have an in person look. Any info you got would be great, thanks.
 
I owned 2 vipers previously, they were too neck heavy for my liking, but otherwise really nice guitars.

I found the eclipse with nearly identical specs worked much better, but they won't scratch the SG itch. I've owned a few 1000 series, and they were all great.
 
I've been wanting to grab a Viper too. I've played one in GC, but only briefly. Probably neck heavy, but I would assume that's "nature of the beast" with the SG body style.

I don't own a Viper, but I'm a Gibson LP fan, and I really like the ESP/LTD as a modern take. I have a couple 1000 and EII Eclipse, and the 1000 are very well made guitars IME. The EII have better cosmetics, and come factory setup better, but the 1000 can be just as nice a playing guitar IMO.
 
I've had a few over the years and they're pretty nice, I have a MFA-600 and Viper Standard at the moment and the ESP/E-II models have thinner necks, deeper cuts on the bevels not that it makes a huge difference and the neck through heel is nicer otherwise they're both solid.

I also picked up an F black metal series the other day and it is pretty nice as well, no issues with it at all so I think those and 1000 series are still great guitars, don't think you can really go wrong with them. (same deal with the F with the shape, it's actually quite different than my custom JP artist model F lol)
 
My main guitar is an ESP E-II Viper baritone. I moved the strap button to the tip of the horn and it balances perfectly. It's exceptionally comfortable to play and has super low action for any guitar, but especially for a baritone. I always say that my old LP and Telecaster are station wagons, and my ESP is a Ferrari. At least that how it feels when you jump from one to the other.
 
I've had 3 over the years, a couple Viper 1000's and my current Viper 400 which I've had since about 2005 or 2006. That's actually one of my better playing and sounding guitars and it was cheap. For some reason the 1000's sounded a little dead to me which is why I sold them??
 
anomaly said:
I've had 3 over the years, a couple Viper 1000's and my current Viper 400 which I've had since about 2005 or 2006. That's actually one of my better playing and sounding guitars and it was cheap. For some reason the 1000's sounded a little dead to me which is why I sold them??
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Was it the pickups or just the wood lacking resonance acoustically? I would probably pull the pickups out anyways unless the sentient/pegasus set is really good. I haven't had great luck with Seymour Duncan stuff in other guitars.
 
I recently got a new Gibson '61 SG Standard in white, 15% off at MF. They'll probably have another sale for Thanksgiving / Black Friday. The Burstbucker '61 are legit.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-sg-standard-61-electric-guitar/l54585000007000?rNtt=gibson 61 sg standard&index=1

I really wanted the Gibson 1963 SG LP Custom, but not for the $6,699 list price even with 15% off, so I got the Epi version (with 15% off), with three custombuckers...also legit pickups.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/epiphone-1963-les-paul-sg-custom-w-maestro-vibrola-electric-guitar/m08937000001000?rNtt=Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Les Paul SG&index=1

Been playing the Epi more than the Gibson FWIW
 
rsm said:
I recently got a new Gibson '61 SG Standard in white, 15% off at MF. They'll probably have another sale for Thanksgiving / Black Friday. The Burstbucker '61 are legit.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-sg-standard-61-electric-guitar/l54585000007000?rNtt=gibson 61 sg standard&index=1

I really wanted the Gibson 1963 SG LP Custom, but not for the $6,699 list price even with 15% off, so I got the Epi version (with 15% off), with three custombuckers...also legit pickups.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/epiphone-1963-les-paul-sg-custom-w-maestro-vibrola-electric-guitar/m08937000001000?rNtt=Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Les Paul SG&index=1

Been playing the Epi more than the Gibson FWIW
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I like your guitar but I am looking at SG shapes with Les Paul-esque thickness for that sustain. The ESP/LTD viper, the Yamaha SG, and a Robin Artisan, which are tough to find but I have a friend that might let me try his. Check out the Robin below. I own two Edwards guitars already, which are an ESP product, so I have a lot of interest in another ESP. Some amazing guitars.

1731965825009.png
 
VonBonfire said:
I like your guitar but I am looking at SG shapes with Les Paul-esque thickness for that sustain. The ESP/LTD viper, the Yamaha SG, and a Robin Artisan, which are tough to find but I have a friend that might let me try his. Check out the Robin below. I own two Edwards guitars already, which are an ESP product, so I have a lot of interest in another ESP. Some amazing guitars.

View attachment 364748
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Reminds me, I had a VB-200 27" scale before which sounded awesome in D standard. I hated the HZ H4 pickups so put in a set of JB/59 I pulled out of another guitar into it.
 
Techdeth said:
Just get an SG and be done with it .
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Yep. I have a '61 Reissue, and it's the bomb. Never considered changing the pickups either. It'll get downright nasty and does everything a good Gibson should. It was perfect out of the box, (aside from setting up to my taste). Can't go wrong with the real deal.
 
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VonBonfire said:
Thanks for the input but I'm all done with ripoff Gibson.
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I got my '61 Reissue for $1699 brand new, sealed, and had $150 in rewards cash. I know their "gear advisors" at MF can be annoying, but I have a girl that works major deals for me, and she can always tell me if they're in the warehouse sealed. If they're hanging on walls, she'll tell me, and I pass. She's great, and does alot of legwork to get deals done. She even gets me Next Day shipping for free. All things considered, you can get a deal if you put in the work.
 
napalmdeath said:
I got my '61 Reissue for $1699 brand new, sealed, and had $150 in rewards cash. I know their "gear advisors" at MF can be annoying, but I have a girl that works major deals for me, and she can always tell me if they're in the warehouse sealed. If they're hanging on walls, she'll tell me, and I pass. She's great, and does alot of legwork to get deals done. She even gets me Next Day shipping for free. All things considered, you can get a deal if you put in the work.
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I'm looking at ESP/LTD or maybe a Robin if one pops up. If I'm looking at 1700 SG's then I'm gonna be shopping mid tier ESP/LTD's in the 2k range. No offense intended I just want something a little bit different than the usual "gotta be a Gibson" bluesman's axe.

I need some input on that finish crack I posted above.
 
VonBonfire said:
Hey fellas, anyone got opinions on the finish crack on this axe? I really don't care about small cosmetic blems but do you think there is any potential it may run deeper than the poly? Never had a crack like that on a poly painted guitar so no experience. Any opinions would be great. Considering making an offer.....

https://reverb.com/item/85743384-esp-ltd-model-viper-1000-electric-guitar-with-esp-hardshell-case

View attachment 365096
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Looks like a paint crack to me. I had one develop on an old EX-401 like that too, but it held up for the time that I had the guitar with no issues.

But if you bought it new, I would just get it replaced, honestly.
 
Rex Rocker said:
Looks like a paint crack to me. I had one develop on an old EX-401 like that too, but it held up for the time that I had the guitar with no issues.

But if you bought it new, I would just get it replaced, honestly.
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Thanks Rex. I started another thread in the hopes to get a few more opinions before bidding. I don't care about cosmetics, I'm going to play the guitar and ding it all up. I just don't want a crack in the wood at the heel to deal with.
 
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