![LTD EC-400 [2004-2006]](https://img.audiofanzine.com/img/product/normal/2/1/21850.jpg?fm=pjpg&w=300&h=218&fit=max&s=272ed57cd542d64d3f367f93e1541579)
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Hatsubai « Not bad for the money »
Published on 05/27/11 at 19:40The ESP LTD EC400 is roughly the midline models of the LTD series that ESP offers. It's for people who are on a budget but want something that's a step up from the 50 or 100 series that they offer. The EC400 features a mahogany body, a three piece mahogany set neck with a rosewood fretboard, 24.75'' scale, 24 extra jumbo frets with flag inlays and the name on the 12th fret, a TOM bridge, EMG pickups and a special Earvana compensated nut.
UTILIZATION
These guitars can tend to be hit or miss. There are some real nice ones, but there are also some dogs. On paper, the guitar has good specs. The wood is the same as the higher line models, and it has the same features, including real EMGs. However, you really need to play these before you buy. The fretwork can be extremely hit or miss with sharp fret ends and unproperly leveled frets. The earvana compensated nut helps allow for more proper intonation, which is a huge plus, but the bodies themselves can be somewhat dead if you happen to pick up one made with dull woods.
SOUNDS
The sound really depends a lot on whether or not you lucked out with the wood choice. If you got a good sounding, resonant guitar, you'll get a great sound. The 81 in the bridge is extremely cutting and aggressive. It works awesome for a great metal tone, and it records even better. You can do brutally tight riffs with ease thanks to this pickup. The EMG 60 in the neck delivers an almost single coil tone at times, and it works awesome for clean tones. I'm not a huge fan of it under gain, but some people like it.
OVERALL OPINION
If you can afford one of these, you can afford a used EC1000. I highly recommend looking for one of those instead of the EC400 as it'll be more consistent tone wise and fit + finish wise. While the specs might appear to be similar on paper, the woods themselves tend to be much more inconsistent than the higher LTD line, and that's the biggest reason why I tend to recommend buying a higher model that's used instead of a lower model that's new.
UTILIZATION
These guitars can tend to be hit or miss. There are some real nice ones, but there are also some dogs. On paper, the guitar has good specs. The wood is the same as the higher line models, and it has the same features, including real EMGs. However, you really need to play these before you buy. The fretwork can be extremely hit or miss with sharp fret ends and unproperly leveled frets. The earvana compensated nut helps allow for more proper intonation, which is a huge plus, but the bodies themselves can be somewhat dead if you happen to pick up one made with dull woods.
SOUNDS
The sound really depends a lot on whether or not you lucked out with the wood choice. If you got a good sounding, resonant guitar, you'll get a great sound. The 81 in the bridge is extremely cutting and aggressive. It works awesome for a great metal tone, and it records even better. You can do brutally tight riffs with ease thanks to this pickup. The EMG 60 in the neck delivers an almost single coil tone at times, and it works awesome for clean tones. I'm not a huge fan of it under gain, but some people like it.
OVERALL OPINION
If you can afford one of these, you can afford a used EC1000. I highly recommend looking for one of those instead of the EC400 as it'll be more consistent tone wise and fit + finish wise. While the specs might appear to be similar on paper, the woods themselves tend to be much more inconsistent than the higher LTD line, and that's the biggest reason why I tend to recommend buying a higher model that's used instead of a lower model that's new.