ESP STEF-B7 Stephen Carpenter

Neck-Thru-Body Construction
27" Baritone Scale
Alder Body
Maple Neck
Ebony Fingerboard
47mm Graphite Nut
Thin U Neck Contour
24 XJ Frets
Chrome Hardware
Sperzel Locking Tuners
Tonepros Locking TOM Bridge
EMG 81-7 (B & N) Active p.u.
Finish: BLK

UTILIZATION

As with most ESP products, this guitar is very well made. It has a bit larger neck carve than I'm used to - not terribly great for shred, at least not to my hands. I like to be able to get around the guitar with absolute precision and ease, and this guitar feels a touch too chunky to do that. But the extra scale length and the neck through body helps the sound definition - the strings sound more piano-like in general. This guitar sounds better than my RG7621 that I raved about, but only unplugged.

SOUNDS

The definition is great on this unplugged, but the pickups are a bit too sterile for me. I know, that's a common theme among EMGs, but I feel like some nice passives, or even the new 707X pickups would help this guitar's tone out. The problem with most EMGs is that the guitar sounds like every single other guitar out there that has the same pickups - it's like you hear the tone of the pickup far more than the tone of the wood or the guitar as a whole. That annoys me - I think one should be able to hear the guitar's character inherent, but still have the pickup color the output in its own way, but not dominate the sound.
I will say that I'm impressed with the middle pickup tone - it sounds like a neck pickup in depth. It is definitely a unique feature to have no neck pickup and have a middle pickup instead.

OVERALL OPINION

This is a great guitar in the right hands. Steph makes it sound otherworldly huge and agressive. I just play with too delicate a touch to really appreciate it fully. Bottom line - great guitar, just not for me. I'd probably get one if they had a thinner neck profile and different pickups.

Made by the ESP custom shop in Japan in Kyoto.
Pro Tone fixed bridge with strings through body.
Maple neck through 3 rooms. Alder body. Ebony buttons.
24 frets xjumbo. 2 EMG 81-7 in the middle and bridge position. No microphone in the neck position.
1 volume knob, 1 tone knob, a 3-position selector.
A finish to die for.

UTILIZATION

The handle is a highway and the junction with the body is perfect. Access to the treble is very good. The handle is U-shaped end. It is not flat like the Ibanez but it is very enjoyable. It takes 3 minutes of adaptation when you come from a 6-string, no more. Since 1000 despite the layers of varnish remains fine even for small hands.

SOUNDS

It is perfect for metal, of course. but it is very versatile. The quality of the wood allows it to tackle almost any style. She is able to send a sound enormissime and accurate with a good distortion. Yes saturations are his specialty. In his clear, it is also very accurate and can both tease the lens of a good Fender and the warmth of a vintage Gibson pickups depending on the settings and the amp.
It can easily do a little funk, blues and all types of rock up to metal most argneux.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 1 1 / 2 years and I do not regret any of my investment, because it is. It is quite difficult to find since it is a custom shop model, so rare (few copies produced each year). It is also quite expensive (between 2400 and 3200 euros depending on good or not combined). But if you are looking for a good scratch, and you find it, try it there because it is worth the detour.
Of all the guitars that I played the ESP signature Carpenter (6 and 7 strings) are my favorites.
I tried my first ESP Carpenter in 2002 and since I had 3 and I can not get enough.