ESP Custom Shops: differences in quality?

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cardinal

cardinal

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Hi ESP experts.

So I get the different prefixes (K = Kiso, T = Takada, S = Sado, etc) and that some make mostly bolt ons (Sado).

Are some supposed to be “better” than others?

I’ve had SS and Sado guitars recently. The SS was a completely acceptable guitar and nicely made. The Sado was immaculate and right up there with the best guitars I’ve played.

I’m considering a neck through and am wonder if there’s any perceived difference between Kiso and Takada.

Thanks!
 
We went over this on the ESP forums but yes huge difference in quality from K serial vs. SS serial especially from 08 to 2013. SS serial were made from body blanks from the ESP China Jixi factory, you can tell by comparing a SS serial M series body to a Kseries body. No recessed trem route, neck shape different and the bevel cut is also different. Wood is usually heavier on a SS serial since it comes from Russian stocks of wood ESP grows, K serial is good wood from the rest of the world.

Also in Japan they dont consider SS serial guitars true ESPs and wont honor warranties for them in Japan. They even posted a warning about this on their own website for people who think I am full of shit. Link below:

http://www.espguitars.co.jp/whatsnew/ex ... tion2.html

T serial is the best, all artist like Slayer and Metallica get T serial guitars.
 
Thanks! I was hoping you’d reply.

Interesting about the warranty stuff. That helps put the E-II name change into perspective.
 
I don't think there's any constant and measurable difference b/w the custom shops.
From what I remember each had a sub-specialty, so I guess the one that produces the artist guitars may be the best of the bunch but I've had guitars from almost each custom shop and they were all top notch and honestly I couldn't tell the difference.
In any case, now there is only 1 now I believe (heard this straight from the custom shop in Osaka).

SS (Standard Series) to custom shop is another matter.
E-II to SS is still up in the air, but supposedly this was just a label change.
LTD-1000 to LTD elite to the higher-end Edwards....Supposedly around the same, but the only person I know that ever had an Edwards was super disappointed, but that was a tiny sample size so I still don't put any weight there. The 1000-series LTDs I had were amazing guitars for the price. Don't recall what the consensus on the LTD elites is.
 
My custom shop from the 90s has a T- serial number. Why are they better? Does it make them more valuable?
 
It indicates it’s from the Takada shop rather than the Kiso or one of the others. I’ve seen a number of Kirk’s and Hanneman’s guitars with the T serial, which maybe implies that’s the ESP A-list shop, but I really don’t know.

Presumably each shop has more than one builder, and even then of course the same builder can dedicate different wood and attention to detail depending on the guitar. So I’m just not sure if there’s any real difference between the shops.
 
I've had multiple from all of them, never noticed any real difference between the custom shops. Between K and SS? BIG differences. Not taking anything from SS, as some of my favorite guitars have been SS, one still is, but Kiso/CS is a really obvious difference when you hold them both and play.

The USA CS is KILLING it now.
 
^ yeah I’m interested in a USA too. They are offering a lot more variations this year.

Just seems odd to get an ESP “West”. ESPs seem like a made-in-Japan thing for me. Obviously the company employ several different builders and I suppose it doesn’t really matter where that builder happens to be.
 
Yeah man, I actually have a buddy that is an ESP USA dealer, and when I was that way last I played several. THose guys are killing it. I heard rumor the head luthier is from ESP Japan CS, but don't quote me on that, I could be dead wrong.

ESP USA is a killer deal for what you get in my opinion. I adore ESP Japan CS, but that stuff is getting so expensive!
 
While I've never played a T serial, I have a Kiso Hanneman. Definitely the best attention to detail of any guitar I've owned, maybe even best of any I've played. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

I have a couple ESP SS Horizons & the fit & finish is really good. Not K good, but to me they play 90% as good for 33% the cost. One of them is my favorite go-to guitar.

I've played a few E-IIs and I like my ESP SS guitars a lot better.

Just today I bought a nice late 90s ESP USA custom Horizon from when John Gaudesi was making them. Can't wait to get it!
https://youtu.be/Gkzw-oUpjVU
 
Have had one K-serial - KH2 Vintage CS.

And 4 SS. 3 Eclipses and one NTB KH2.

Now I have a Original Series.

The Original Series is much like the CS K-serial- but prefers the OS. Out of the SS I had, 2 were not so good and two okay. Nothing like the CS's.
 
I was wondering: isn’t there a difference between Standard Series (SS) and Signature Series (SS)? A bit confusing.
 
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