LTD has basically forfeited their value proposition. Last year was already getting pricy but I genuinely would never consider buying any of these at their current prices.
@@jaguardog I did actually! I preordered through Sweetwater and it arrived by October. Had it get the plek treatment too. I almost wish I waited a year because the silverburst Shiva looks so killer lol
I had an ESP RL-600 (Roope Latvala Signature) when I was young that I loved, and everything about the new M-I is like a superstrat fixed bridge version of that guitar, with SS frets. Love it.
The RL-600 is one of my grail guitars but I've only seen very few on the used market in the past 4 years or so and those were listed for ridiculous prices.
The LTD signature guitar prices are wild! Gary Holt, Javier Reyes and Nergal all have sigs made in Indonesia for over $2,200. Meanwhile, the E-II guitars made in Japan are better spec’d and start at $1,899 or $1,999. I love ESP, but I not longer own any as the prices have increased, and other companies have caught my attention with better prices and decent specs.
Back in 2018 we finally got different colors for Stef Carpenters sig models besides black. Now ESP is like "Yeah let's just go back to boring black, Oh and btw give us more money." 😤
Man, that E-II M-II NT in Mercury Blue Burst is honestly one that my heart is telling me that I have to have it. I played one in black natural burst and it was the best feeling guitar I've ever played in my 26 almost 27 years of living. Even felt better than the USA made Jackson's I tried out...
Agreed. The Mercury Blue Burst is simply beautiful. I'm not a fan of gold hardware but I'm definitely ordering the E-II M-II Black Natural Burst. That thing is ultimate beast mode. I have to have one.
2500$!?!? I 100% expect Japanese craftsmanship MINIMUM for that price. I been looking into the LTD M1000HT, but 1400$ for those specs from Korea/Indonesia is quite ridiculous
Newer LTDs have been absolutely insane quality. My M7HT and Alex Wade 7B play and feel just as good as my old E-II NT-7B, and the newer NT-7Bs feel even better than my old one.
Finally, stainless steel frets on the E-II models! However, disappointed to see all the Fluence pickups. There aren't many pickups I can't stand, but I can't stand any of the Fluence models I have tried or heard. That silverburst Eclipse is tempting as hell though.
Joe Duplantier is not leaving Charvel. On that same post a person asked if he is moving to ESP and got a reply from the official Gojira account saying that it was just a gift and that he will not be leaving Charvel
First time I feel about meh this year from ESP. But as you said, last year's models are in reality this year's. 😂 Prices of the newest ones are just mindblowing, even taking inflation into consideration. Just glad I have my Standard Series Eclipse CTM.
I'm also very happy I got my 2004 ESP Eclipse I a couple of years ago before the prices started catching up with the rest of the world here in Denmark 😅
Yeah, we’ve been really spoiled the last few years by ESP/LTDs releases and pricing. Really bummed by this new lineup and how much they’re jacking prices up.
@@the_hippykiller22 I already have a couple Ltds with stainless frets and I like them a lot, so it’s not about believing the hype since I know first hand. Might be overrated/not a deal breaker in general, but it’s just harder for me to personally pay the premium they were already charging for the artist guitars ($1500 on the green sparkle compared to 1-1.2k for their other 7s) when the lower priced guitars come with stainless frets (which are a premium feature either way) and because like I said I’d end up modding the guitar straight away because I don’t like stefs pickups or their layout. They’re still out there for now new and will be on the used market for the foreseeable future so I have time to really think about it, but for as cool of guitar as it is looks wise, I don’t know if the value proposition is there for me.
I like that ESP has finally adopted to announce new models close to when they are available for delivery, like some other companies do. And something else went under the radar with the ESP announcements. Richard Z. Kruspe, from Rammstein, his signature guitars are now fitted with his signature Fishman Fluence pickups. But Fishamn has not released anything about it, just that he is a Fishman Fluence artist. I hope they will release those pickups as a standalone. Have an E-II RZK-I waiting for those pickups, since I have noticed that he has been playing them live.
Man, them discontinuing the green sparkle SC and replacing it with the black is lame as fuck, especially with the $300 jump in price with no sign of stainless steel frets and no other justification of that price jump. I’ve wanted a green sparkle for awhile, but wanted stainless frets to make up for the fact that I’d be pulling the pickups out and swapping the pick guard to delete the middle. Looks like I won’t be doing that unless I find a killer deal used, but with them being discontinued they might go up in price rather than down. Bummer. Kind of disappointed in the releases this year tbh. Gotta just act like the 22s that are just now hitting the market are the real 2023 lineup I guess.
@@lorenzodinatale4690 I'm not sure what that is, I'm a fan of symmetrical Vs. Headstocks are my only complaint. Dean's Vengeance V probably is my favorite overall appearance of a V. Gibson might be better off with a firebird like headstock. Fender's tele's headstock might look good, but probably not.
I checked out the pics of the Hex 7 and yeah, I agree the design on the body is pretty cool. I would kind of like to see a V with the Lemmy Rick treatment. That carved body esthetic would be cool as hell in my opinion.
It's hard to get excited about a new line up, when they still can't get their older models out the door. I am still waiting on my LTD MC-1000 Baritone, it's back ordered with no ETA. Hopefully they will still make some models with EMGs in them and not totally phase them out. Seeing some Bareknuckle pickups being used is interesting; any thoughts on Railhammer pick ups? I think Reverent guitars are the only company that really use them on mass.
Totally unrelated, but have you seen the new Seymour Duncan 5-way bluetooth switch? I think your mod projects might have a new contender entering the ring!
That emerald green Alex Skolnick ESP is the sickest colour single cut I have ever seen. There was only a glimse of it on any of the namm stuff I seen, I think Ola had it on his short vid.
I like fishmans. I’ve got moderns, classics, will adlers, and Greg koch sets. But I don’t need EVERY guitar announced to be fishman moderns or classics - I’d love more variety from LTD - I’m less likely to buy guitars that have identical pickups to those I own.
as a camo fan, i like the ec1000 but i wish they did an all over finish like the older urban camo e-II. i would have pulled the trigger if it was front and back. i just wish last years phoenix models would hurry up and come in stock already tho. ive had my eye on that silver sunburst for months now.
@@the_hippykiller22 When you see an LTD at $2500 I would call paying about double a little extra for all the bells and whistles tbh.. At least Korean guitars have gotten to a level where they will compete with guitars at that price, although they used to do it at a much lower price.. And I personally can't see myself spending that much on a ''budget'' brand guitar, although it isn't easy to get myself to spend over $5k on a guitar either, but it will most def be easier as I know I get something from the absolute top shelf.
Yeah man! LTD prices are killer, especially here in Australia with the exchange rate, literally E-II models are only a few hundred dollars more. Maybe not a bad thing
@@poison7512 I can only imagine. My regular EII Eclipse was back breaking heavy and I consider those to be slender. I eventually sold it because my back was just aching after a jam night.
Pricing is pretty disappointing. I get there’s inflation and stuff.. but 2500 for LTD’s and 3k for E-II? I make a decent living admittedly and they’re even pricing me out too. 🤷🏼♂️
I’m kinda thinking Hetfield wants nothing to do with Gibson. If they made him one I’m assuming the price would be insanely high? That Holt V looks gorgeous 😍😍. How D leaving Charvel would be kinda shocking, seeing as that band plays a lot of Fender products. Well Jean (bass) has played a Dingwall in the Born for one thing video, and Joe playing a LTD tele only makes me want it more. This is the content I’m looking for!
I'm always excited for a lot of the LTD models, but then I browse through the pictures and they always have a gloss neck... The ones that don't just look like typical prog-metal guitars.
I like satin or natural necks too, but my ec1000 has the best gloss neck I’ve ever played. Not sticky at all when I get sweaty, just fast as hell. Good enough that I haven’t considered for a second using an SOS pad on it like I’ve done with my other gloss necked guitars, but that’s always an option too.
The LTD gloss necks are actually good though . I have a KH Nosferatu and it has a gloss body and neck . Thing still plays fast and you don't get stuck on it of you're sweaty like a lot of other finishes on different guitars . I'm not even an ESP superfan but don't let the gloss throw you off too much . They play nice .
@@ellocalcrew613 The ESP/LTD have the worst feeling gloss necks after Guerilla Guitars. This is all just preference and my preference tells me to stay away from these lol
Could i ever play anything Animals as Leaders or Javier plays, no. But I really want that strat style 8 string. Ever since i first saw him play it I've wanted one
Great overview of the new for '23 ESP's and LTD's! I'm not even butthurt you didn't spend any time on my latest fetish, the E-II M-II Black Natural Burst. I will own one. I also loled that you deadpanned the Woodland Camo EC-1000. That thing is badass! If you were looking for nice things to say about it try 24XJ SS frets and dual Fishman Fluence pickups lol...
Ive always loved esp/ltd styles. I know the brand is geared toward metal players, I sure wish they made these same awesome looking guitars but with vintage voices/single coils
Now that I’ve finally bought one of each Gibson electric guitar, I may start looking at ESP. They seem to be very forward thinking in specs while maintaining respect for the classics.
Love the lineup so far!! I'm super into getting a BK-600 this year, i might have to once they drop :) Also E-II looks amazing, kinda so so on th estainless frets since it never bothered me much? but the fishman across the whole line is WILD. I'm wishing I saw more variation in pickups across though, like even if we got more BKP models or something - I just dont vibe with fishmans sadly
If the Gary Holt model could come as a T.O.M it would be absolutely deadly! Maybe play around with some colours and move the knobs further away from the bridge.
I know prices are going up everywhere on everything but these ESP prices are just getting stupid. That being said there are 2 models announced that I wouldn't mind. The E-ii M-I in white (but I still like the red one better) and the Camo LTD Eclipse.
Ltd has lost their mind with the pricing. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great guitars. I have 2 LTD’s and 2 ESP’s . But for the price of the new LTD’s I’d buy a used ESP first.
I just bought an ltd ec violet Andromeda with Fishman active pickups and this shit is the real deal for the price. Really good pickups for digital work, that may be why Fishmans are taking off so hard.... really good for desktop metal lol.
Esp over all has the best quality and bang for buck factory but theyre about two years away from “Gibson”-ing themselves into almost bankruptcy/falling off status due too lack of sales numbers these prices are getting ridiculous and avarice has become the biggest sin in the world…. its just kinda sad
Oh Gibson is going to do a "Kill Em All" Papa Hett V. They just need to hammer down the dates and particulars for the dinner and hotel reservations needed. As well as find enough blocks of wood to do the wood block C.O.A. and charge $75,000 per instrument/"experience". Not to mention having the original flying V scanned and picked over relentlessly and obsessively to replicate every nook and or cranny.......you can think I'm being sarcastic if you want (I may be a LITTLE sarcastic about the wood block C.O.A.)...I am serious about most of this though.
that bill kelliher. i already have a set of divinators and dissonant aggressors in prs se fredrik akesson and mikael akerfeldt. you know, mastopeth tone.
I've been eying the E-II Eclipse full-thickness in black natural burst for a while now. Really hoping ESP upgrades this model to stainless steel frets because I'd be all over it.
What….the Snow White EM2 looked good until the 2k$ price tag. Looks more like a 1k$ guitar to me, one pickup, no tremolo, yeah shouldn’t be to costly to build that…why 2 grand$?
Coming back after about 2 years since breaking my arm and I know the world is insane but LTD 600’s for E-II Japanese Prices. Insane. Having bought a few 200 level LTD’s, I would slap a GC employee if they told me yeah it’s $600-$650.
It's strange that none of the guitars have Seymour Duncan options (as announced so far). I have an LTD EC-1000 Evertune with Dunan passive pickups and it's the best sounding guitar I've played. I'll have to check out the Fishmans, I have yet to play a set, but it seems like everyone is switching to them
I LOVE ESP/EII/LTD guitars.... but these prices are out of control. When did it become normal for Korean and Indonesian guitars to eclipse the $1500 mark? Just a few years ago you could get a new 1000 series for $800-$900. Crazy. I'm stoked about Eii finally having stainless frets, but most of them are pushing $3000 now. I don't see how the Eii's justify being considerably more money than Ibanez Prestige. I think they are comparable in materials, quality, and finish.... yet there's about $800 difference. To further put it into perspective, If you stick to base options on a Kiesel you can get very close feature wise to the Eii's but Kiesels are built to order in America and start at about $1600 depending on the model. Some of these production model Eii's are twice the price of a custom Kiesel.
I'm sure you know, but I don't think it's on Gibson (well, it partly is) that they're not putting out a Hetfield V. Hetfield worked with Gibson on an Iron Cross, but Gibson at the time was too difficult to work with, so James sacked it. Hopefully they'll brew something together in the near future. Also, I've read that the '84 Explorer Reissue should drop for the general public on the 2nd of May, and if it's true, it's going to be $2499
One thing I'm still malding about is the EC-256 having the fucking awful brown fretboard, while it looks infinitely better with a black one. The black satin would look gorgeous with a darker fretboard.
With the budget guitar companies throwing stainless frets onto $400 guitars these days, you have to think that soon, the nickel stuff will be gone forever.
I've read that Gary Holt doesn't want stainless steel frets on his V - as on his EC - and the price sounds higher than it should be, still potentially according to Gary Holt. Do you know anything about this ? $23k is a lot for a LTD, even if it's a signature.
