Members S540 Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I am considering ordering one, but since in my neck of the woods people buying them are rare, was wondering if any of you could offer some insights and some pics of the results. Just wondering what the general price range tends to be when the deal is done, how long did it take, how difficult was it to get what you wanted, how good did it turn out, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members C-4 Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I do not play ESP guitars, however I have seen some of the prices for the ESP line, and they are higher then the LTD line. The custom shop stuff will run you approximately $2000 and up, more up then closer to the 2K mark, and they can get very expensive. Are they worth it? ESP makes terrific quality gear, that to me, is better then Charvel or other american companies manufacturing similar guitars. The Japanese really can turn out world-class gear, equal to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zenbu Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 had a custom made ESP Les Paul type, it was a 719 model...came with the original order form and certificate and the thing cost the original owner...ready for this?... 719,000 yen. I got it used, kept it for a while but realized I am just not good enough to justify owning a guitar like that, I have another Navigator as well as a few Seymour Duncans that were made through ESP under his name, so I put it up for sale on line and sold it for the same amount I paid. The quality of the guitar was sick, all the best of everything possible, the Honduras mahogany had a lot of red in it under certain light...inlays, electronics, fit and finish...everything was outstanding, I read they used French polish for the finish...don`t know of thats true but it was beautiful. Honestly, I seen many Navigators in shops and the one I have is fabulous and can`t really see why anybody would pay $7000.00 for a guitar when my Navigator cost me about $1200.00 used and it is just as well made...guess some guys just gotta have a guitar that nobody else has, bragging rights maybe. Still, if you can afford it I doubt you`d be disappointed, they have top notch craftsmen and the materials they use are the best available...go for it if you are 100% certain thats what you want...you`ll lose your shirt if you ever decide to resell it, if that doesn`t matter to you...why not treat yourself, you only get one life to live eh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aclarke Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I went to the ESP custom shop in Sapporo about a year ago to have them cost out a build for me. Just to give you an idea - it was based on a jag, with a shadow peizo-midi equiped wrap around bridge. Electronics for the peizo in the upper control panel, and midi controls mounted on a metal plate similar to the Jag trem (the trem cavity was to be used to house the shadow system electronics). Quartersawn maple neck with a medium flame, swamp ash body. It came in a little over 500,000 yen. 50,000 of that was for the shadow system. Not a bad deal, but not a great one either. Cheaper than Fender, especially since Fender wouldn't do all of what I wanted them to do. Relatively cheap compared to some of the stuff on display in the shop - saw one customer's LP that was done from a solid billet of flamed maple (split, hollowed out and re-joined) with a brazillian rosewood neck and a set of vintage PAFs. Wasn't allowed to touch it, but it looked incredible. Of the customs that I have played there, I can't remember seeing event he slightest flaw. Prices are relatively high, but in return you get some of the highest quality in the business and a willingness to build you absolutely anything. Custom body shapes, custom wiring, custom pickups... they're the last of the true custom shops, at least as far as the big manufacturers go. Even Carvin makes you choose from a list of modifications to a couple of their bodies. ESP is wide open. As a rule of thumb, from what I've seen, if your idea of custom is limited to colour and pickup placement on one of their stock models, add about $500-800 on to the price of that model. Keep in mind that there isn't any real upcharge for ordering based on a model they no longer produce - because they still have the templates. If you want a unique body shape, or custom inlay - there's going to be a setup charge for that as well as materials and labour. I seem to recall that getting fretboard inlay of your own design was in the $400-500 and up range. Woods are a tough one, because the range they offer is quite substantial - over here, if you order through a shop they'll bring in billets of wood for you to pick from if you ask. Cost of wood tends to be in line with warmoth as far as upcharges for figure and so forth. It's worth getting a quote, in my opinion. Gives you something to start with if you decide to start soliciting other bids. But, as zenbu said, prepare to get killed on resale if you decide to part with it - at least in Japan. Case in point:http://www.digimart.net/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS00992770Solid flame maple body. 92,000 yen. Probably cost 5 times that to have made. Madness. (must...put...down...credit card....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I took a stroll through the Ochanomizu ESP custom shop when I was in Tokyo last month....just amazing works of art. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 ESP's are great guitars...even the LTD's are great...i had a LTD PB-401 that was absloutley beautiful...all top notch components and SD-p rail pu's...i have an LTD Snakebyte (the new Hetfield Explorer) on order.....EMG's TOM bridge, locking tuners...any custom build will be of the highest quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sonofabias Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I am considering ordering one, but since in my neck of the woods people buying them are rare, was wondering if any of you could offer some insights and some pics of the results. Just wondering what the general price range tends to be when the deal is done, how long did it take, how difficult was it to get what you wanted, how good did it turn out, etc... Yes it's worth it , they make anything for a price. You should also look around the used market . I see quite a few customs, prototypes and one offs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members peavey_impact Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 Case in point: http://www.digimart.net/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS00992770 Solid flame maple body. 92,000 yen. Probably cost 5 times that to have made. Madness. (must...put...down...credit card....) :love::love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members panther_king Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 They make awesome stuff; My local shop has this esquire sitting the the shop; if I had the money I would, but alas I don't have $2,000 sitting around. ANyone else interested though, it's pristine condition, and the shop is top class. Used ESP Esquire at Rainbow Guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -TJ- Posted March 6, 2011 Members Share Posted March 6, 2011 I've got a custom shop Vintage Plus (basically a strat), and everything on it is great. Fantastic build quality, fit and finish. Great feeling neck. The only downside is that its on the heavy end of the spectrum for a strat, but thats ok. I got it used, and it was a good deal. I wouldnt buy anything direct from the custom shop unless you have a lot of money to spend. You can usually find a used ESP custom shop, for around the price of a new ESP standard series, or even a little less. Used is definitely the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fireproof777 Posted March 6, 2011 Members Share Posted March 6, 2011 Totally worth it, but don't do it if you plan to sell it later for anywhere near what you'll pay up front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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