Members Chrisjd Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I have been wanting one of these guitars for some time now. I could go ahead and get a new EC-1000 for $800.00, or I could pay $200.00 more and get a used ESP Eclipse. they have the same materials for the most part. Only difference that I can see is that the ESP is made in Japan and the LTD is made in Korea. Would I notice a difference in tone and playability you think? why spend more for the ESP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members peavey_impact Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 Not really much difference, to be completely honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cobrahead1030 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 they're damn close...i love my ec1k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blargh Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I've never found a real ESP in my area, but my EC1000 plays real nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sandman31774 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 i think the ec1000 deluxes look better than the esp eclipse II...with finish and inlay upgrades...i'm on the fence about this myself. also the ltd has 24 frets instead of 22 right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Digital Jams Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 So a n00b reading this would come out thinking that either....... The name ESP is a sham that shares the same quality wood with the Korean stuff or.........................hense the wood is not the best they could get for their high end guitars........or...... There is no way in hell that anyone should dump the extra $$$$ at ESP because you are getting the same guitar by buying an LTD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YK13 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I have seen/played both! the LTD does NOT have the quality of the ESP! on some EC1000 you can see finish problems sometimes bad frets. plus the ESP "must have" a lot better woods! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members peavey_impact Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I have seen/played both! the LTD does NOT have the quality of the ESP! on some EC1000 you can see finish problems sometimes bad frets. plus the ESP "must have" a lot better woods! I've played both myself. I won't deny that ESP is probably generally the better quality guitar, but it is not IMO worth the extra $600 or whatever it is. The ESP has a thinner finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Digital Jams Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 So a n00b reading this would come out thinking that either.......The name ESP is a sham that shares the same quality wood with the Korean stuff or.........................hense the wood is not the best they could get for their high end guitars........or......There is no way in hell that anyone should dump the extra $$$$ at ESP because you are getting the same guitar by buying an LTD. BTW the action is in the hands of the setup guy, I could see an LTD playing as good or better with the right guy tweaking it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kinggeoff Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 BTW the action is in the hands of the setup guy, I could see an LTD playing as good or better with the right guy tweaking it. truth if youre going to look at how a guitar plays, worry about the neck and fretwork, (not the action/pickup height etc) if those feel good, then there's no problem. I think perfect finishes are way overrated too. There's something to be said about having a $1k beater guitar and not have to worry about scratches etc...no one in the crowd will notice. When you hit the 2k+ range..yeah you want to keep them pristine (but i wouldnt want to gig/tour with a few 2-3k guitars...they wouldnt make it out alive haha) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YK13 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 The ESP has a thinner finish. And for a reason! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chrisjd Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 And for a reason! what is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mhenson42 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 ESP > LTD in every way. The horrific amount of abalone on the LTDs should be enough to get you to step up to the ESP. Plus 24 frets on a guitar that has a 24.75 inch scale is, to put it in HCAF terminology, "Teh SuXoRz". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Les-Zombie Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I'm a big fan of ltd and esp, I've owned and played both, if the ltd is 800 and a used esp is 1000 I would play them both and see what sounds, plays and feels the best.From my personal experiances the ltd stuff was a great value but I always found things I didn't like as much as the esp, most of the time the esp fretwork is better, the selection of woods are more tonefull, the binding and paintwork was better, and they just felt better to me, most of the time the esp will have a thicker and clearer tone and a more solid feel. I've compared the ltd stuff with the esp many many times and the esp came out on top. So for a xtra 200 bucks I could justifiy having a esp if it was me. That just my thoughts and I'm sure somebody will disagree with some of that but that's my honest opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chrisjd Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I'm a big fan of ltd and esp, I've owned and played both, if the ltd is 800 and a used esp is 1000 I would play them both and see what sounds, plays and feels the best.From my personal experiances the ltd stuff was a great value but I always found things I didn't like as much as the esp, most of the time the esp fretwork is better, the selection of woods are more tonefull, the binding and paintwork was better, and they just felt better to me, most of the time the esp will have a thicker and clearer tone and a more solid feel. I've compared the ltd stuff with the esp many many times and the esp came out on top. So for a xtra 200 bucks I could justifiy having a esp if it was me. That just my thoughts and I'm sure somebody will disagree with some of that but that's my honest opinion. very helpful, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members code_blue Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 The abalone inlays are actually a picture of abalone glued to a piece of clear plastic... And its ALL over the guitar. I would take the ESP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zack Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I thinks its obvious. The question reads to me like this, "Should I spend 800 dollars on something that will be worth 500 dollars when I get it, or should I spend 1000 dollars on something that will be worth 1000 dollars (or more) if I ever get rid of it." Even if they are the same quality, buy used. I could understand if you were wondering should I buy a used LTD for 500 or a used ESP for 1000, but otherwise it's open and shut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fistacuffs Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I've played them both and they were not alike at all. LTD 24 frets, flatter radius fingerboard, thin neck ESP 22 frets, round gibson sg radius fingerboard, meatier lespaulish neck width. the LTD 24 frets on the short scale lenght feels really good. frets feel close toghether. just awesome what an sg should have been. ESP - thicker body = heavier , with EMG's= chunk heavenLTD - thin body = very comfortable but does lose some low end. these guitars could not be more different if they tried. get a used ltd 1000 then save back up for a better esp model like the maple m2, or the horizon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cobrahead1030 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 So a n00b reading this would come out thinking that either.......The name ESP is a sham that shares the same quality wood with the Korean stuff or.........................hense the wood is not the best they could get for their high end guitars........or......There is no way in hell that anyone should dump the extra $$$$ at ESP because you are getting the same guitar by buying an LTD. so far everyone here said they're close, which i think is pretty accurate...when you look at the ec1k going for around $800 new, and the eclipse II going for around $1400 new you're paying nearly double for the esp...i don't think it's twice the guitar the ltd couterpart is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members darkestdays Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 The EC1000 is a solid guitar. I bought one a while ago and have not regretted it since. You could always get a used ec1000 and sell it for around the same price if you don't like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members angry again2 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 How about the Edwards guitar? That could be another option for you to think about. Seems like the price is about the same as the LTD EC-1000 and although I've never played one, most people say they are top notch guitars for the money. Only downside is having to order from Japan and not being able to actually see or play one before purchasing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jlb32 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 Both are good but the ESP is by far better overall. Better wood, better tone, better overall craftsmanship. It will also hold it's value much better. The Ltd.s aren't bad guitars but everyone I have owned has felt somewhat cheap and toyish feeling. The ESPs have more weight, seem to be more balanced and have more chunk and tone. If you buy a used ESP the cost over a new Ltd. will be well worth it IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PurityS.L.G. Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 The ESP is better quality overall in every department but LTD's are no chumps either. It does bug a little that the spacing of the pups is closer on an LTD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YK13 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I'm a big fan of ltd and esp, I've owned and played both, if the ltd is 800 and a used esp is 1000 I would play them both and see what sounds, plays and feels the best.From my personal experiances the ltd stuff was a great value but I always found things I didn't like as much as the esp, most of the time the esp fretwork is better, the selection of woods are more tonefull, the binding and paintwork was better, and they just felt better to me, most of the time the esp will have a thicker and clearer tone and a more solid feel. I've compared the ltd stuff with the esp many many times and the esp came out on top. So for a xtra 200 bucks I could justifiy having a esp if it was me. That just my thoughts and I'm sure somebody will disagree with some of that but that's my honest opinion. exactly what I meant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YK13 Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 what is that? I can assume it is more work and a reason it appears on the expensive model! thinner finish usually better tone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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