ESP Eclipse II or Les Paul Studio

[Audioholic]

yeah

it was a sweet guitar, I literally went guitar shopping just a few days ago and spent a good amount of time on that very guitar. It is a nice looking fiddle, though the picture does it slightly more justice then in person imo, not that it looks bad in person, it certainly does'nt, but the guitar I played, the wood didn't have nearly as much grain and woodiness showing like in this picture you know, looked more plastic, but still, it was a nice guitar, and I would of left with this one, or the emg if I hadn't stumbled on an ibanez that just felt more like my PRS guitar.

go try it out!

 

[stratotone]

I say Gibson QC is very hit and miss... seen LP's with file marks on the frets, paint flaws, etc. Earlier this year I decided to treat myself to an SG standard. The three my local GC had were all plagued with neck issues - none were very straight. Best neck/fretwork I could find on an SG was on a lowly faded... so I bought it. Bought a really nice LP Standard in red flametop this year, after looking for months for one that was under $2k and didn't have issues. And no, I didn't even look at studios or the classics - no binding on an LP neck bugs me, and snot green inlays are even worse!

Tim, I'd probably look for a *used* ESP Eclipse, since you should be able to source one around the same price as a new LTD. You won't take a hit on resale if you flip it later, and it's going to be a better guitar. I have some ESP strats (a really old 400 series that is SN 010x) and two Esp MII deluxes. They are all higher quality IMHO than any LTDs I've seen. If you don't mind a small drive, There's an ESP dealer in the OKC area (Norman music) that had a ESP Eclipse with Duncans on a nice maple burst top a few months ago.

Pete

 

[nbarts]

Buy this

https://cgi.ebay.com/Early-ESP-Navigator ... dZViewItem

or give me 1400$ & I'll buy it.

 

[Jakem]

How about a full thickness Eclipse II?
Here are some pics of those:

 

[ke2]

How about a full thickness Eclipse II?
Here are some pics of those:

CRIKEY, those are sweet!!

 

[Jakem]

How about a full thickness Eclipse II?
Here are some pics of those:

CRIKEY, those are sweet!!

Those look very nice but I've never played one. I just thought they'd sound more LP-alike than the regular Eclipses. Too bad that ESP only offers the vintage black model in full thickness as a regular model. I think the other colors are special/custom orders...

 

[gravfed]

I own both--an LP VM (studio) and an Eclipse II. The Eclipse series doesn't sound quite as thick as a regular LP, due to the thinner body. IMO my Eclipse is a much "better" guitar than my LP, it plays better and you can just tell it is better built.

 

[mysticaxe]

I own both--an LP VM (studio) and an Eclipse II. The Eclipse series doesn't sound quite as thick as a regular LP, due to the thinner body. IMO my Eclipse is a much "better" guitar than my LP, it plays better and you can just tell it is better built.

I totally agree with the first half of that statement. I've played (fairly extensively) 3 LTD1000s and ~10-15 Les Pauls. Both are great guitars, and they share a shape and body woods. I've always found that the thicker the guitar, the thicker the tone. The Lesters have all been thicker than the LTDs. If you want a thick sound, a Les Paul is the way to go. I loved the neck on the LTD and would have no problem using it on a regular basis if not for the abalone inlay work. I have no experience with Japanese ESPs, so I can't comment about them.

OTOH, my PRS Singlecut (for sale, right here on Rig Talk) is up the same vein as the LTD's, but far better constructed. It better be for the price!

 

[Duolos]

I have a lot of fiddles and have liked the PRS singlecuts far more then the Les Pauls. I appreciate the ESP build and if it were me, I would get the ESP over the Gibson just for the fact that they are more consistent. A great Gibby is hard to beat and find IMO. I have yet to play a PRS or an ESP that was blah. I have played many a Gibson that was blah not to mention with ESP and PRS they are set up to be playable out of the box. I have never owned any Gibson that I could say that about. Just my experiences and thoughts

 

[ttosh]

How about a full thickness Eclipse II?
Here are some pics of those:

Yep I like those very much!!

 

[ke2]

How about a full thickness Eclipse II?
Here are some pics of those:

CRIKEY, those are sweet!!

Those look very nice but I've never played one. I just thought they'd sound more LP-alike than the regular Eclipses. Too bad that ESP only offers the vintage black model in full thickness as a regular model. I think the other colors are special/custom orders...

I have a regular Eclipse II, and it`s a damn nice guitar. It`s a lot thinner than an LP, maybe comparable to a PRS or something? The thickness is comparable to an SG, but the ESP has a maple top, and the characteristics will be different. It sounds great, but it`s not as beefy as an LP, hell my Strat feels heavier strapped on. (It`s a fairly heavy Strat, though)

 

[thiswaythatway]

go with the esp(preferably not ltd, but i'd even take a few ltds over the newer gibsons) . i hate to admit it. #1 10000000% more consistent than the gibson. #2 dual action truss rod. # 3 better pickups. imo ANYTHING is better than stock gibson....ANYTHING. #4 better fret work. gibson has NEVEr been known for stellar fretwork and in a lot of instances esp has, even in stock models.just my observations. go with what YOU like.i'm just a drunk....what do i know?

I've sounded like you in the past but i keep learning the same lesson over and over. You just can't beat a good Gibson Les Paul or similiar model for rock tones. I've tried the superstrat route and always wind up comparing whatever guitar i get to a Les Paul only to hear it get bitchslapped tonewise.

I just think it's the thick Mahagoney body with the fixed bridge, and the 24.75 scale. Of course, a guitar like that doesn't have to say Gibson on the headstock as some of my old PRS guitars were damm nice.

 

[badger71]

The LP Vintage Mahogs bring the fat tone.....they're relatively cheap and just about every GC will have 5 on the floor and a couple in the back....seriously, very nice guitar for the dough. I'm seriously considering selling my Dave Murray inspired Strat and getting another LPVM.

 

[BURNTHISCORPSE]

How about a full thickness Eclipse II?
Here are some pics of those:

Arent those lawsuit ones? with the four knob and full length bottom horn? or is that horn not full length? i tried to score one on e-bay but the timeing was bad.

 

[Les Zombie]

i own les pauls and esp eclipses and if you want a les paul tone do not buy a eclipse, they dont sound the same, i have a fullthickness eclipse and and regular thickness and neither give me the les paul tone. if its just the shape your after then get the eclipse because they are a good value and well made.