LTD EC-500

I was a dummer in a punk band for 5 years before my taste in music evolved to an appreciation for metal. Now a diehard fan, likely to never look back, I've taken up guitar. 2 years in and 4 axes later I've come across this gem of a guitar. This axe is a metal shredding demon.

I actually bought this guitar off Ebay for $600 after taxes, customs and shipping. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $899. I bought it because I was looking for a solid intermediate guitar. As my skills evolve, so has my collection of guitars evolved to reflect that and to encourage continual skill development.

What's not to like? A low profile body, set neck, black hardware, an EMG81 in the bridge with an EMG60 in the neck. An Earvana compensated nut helps this baby stay intonated and finely tuned. The string-thru back and set neck help gives this guitar incredible sustain. The matte black finish is gorgeous to look at. The guitar hangs great and sits well. The neck feels so light, but it's definitely straight and durable. The guitar basically plays YOU as your fingers dance across the 24 fret, ebony fretboard.

The matte black body is very susceptible to scratching, it doesn't take much to put a fairly visible blemish. Even a light brush with some coarse fabric can leave its mark. I'm also not a huge fan of fretboard with no inlays. Granted, it does have dot inlays along the top of the neck binding, but having those extra markers on the fretboard is nice if your fingering is still coming along.

The construction is typical of ESP. Very very good. Crafted in Korea (Which would automatically deterr a lot of people) with a 1 piece mahogany body and a 3 piece neck, the guitar is very solid looking. Slightly heavier than some Les Pauls, slightly lighter than others, but way more balls than any stock Les Paul you can find that's even remotely close to the same price.

This is the first year of the ESP LTD EC-500 production. The first model was created in 2005 as an 30th anniversary edition, and production was supposed to end that same year. Due to popular demand the fine people at ESP incorporated the guitar into their regular LTD catalogue. This guitar is a prime piece of machinery at a very very reasonable price for the hardware included therein. If you're at the point where you're not quite ready to dump $2500 on an American Jackson or ESP guitar, this is an amazing stepping stone with similar features to those.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This is a Korean made, 24.74" scale guitar. Its a Les Paul style guitar. It has master tone and volume and a 3 position switch. The stock pickups are an EMG 81 in the bridge and an EMG 60 in the neck.

It features a mahogany body and neck with an Ebony fretboard.

The stock hardware is really nice. The tuners are actual Grovers which is a nice touch. The bridge is tune-o-matic with a string-thru setup.

This was a limited edition guitar, so there are no fret markers besides the model number at the twelfth fret. The finish is satin black, which is gorgeous.

The neck is the ESP thin u, which at this point is my favorite neck of all time. Its the perfect thickness and shape for me, and the neck feels a little wider than my friends EC1000, which I like. The satin finish feels amazing. It also has 24 jumbo frets.

UTILIZATION

There is a cut away on the back to allow for easier upper fret access, but when it comes down to it this has a traditional style Les Paul neck joint, so there are some limitations to the upper fret access. But if you play Les Pauls you know to expect this, and its not bad at all.

My EC500 has a really nice weight to it and resonates beautifully. Its awesome. It also is really balanced.

This guitar plays like a dream. The neck is really stable, I've only had to tweak the setup once in the 10 months I've owned it. My action is set silly low and there is no buzz across the entire neck.

SOUNDS

The stock pickups are EMGs, which personally I don't like, but a lot of people do. The sound great for pretty much anything, and really shine with high gain settings. The EMG60 is one of the 2 EMGs I actually really like. Great, liquid lead tone, and really nice cleans. Its great.

Since I mostly hate EMGs I pulled them out and dropped passive pickups in it. I've had the same set of pickups in 3 different guitars and they sound best in this one. I love it.

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar was well worth the money I paid for it and if you can find one I seriously recommend picking it up. My EC500 plays and sound better than most the high end guitars I've put it up against. Its an amazing instrument.

Since they're rare, my EC500 is the only one I've ever played, but I've owned LTDs from the same year as these and they've all been great instruments. Seems like it was a good year for LTDs.

So overall, this is an amazing guitar with a unique style and an amazing neck. Seriously, I don't a reason you shouldn't buy one.

* Construction / Scale: Set-Neck / 24.75"
* Body: Mahogany
* Neck / Fingerboard: 3-Pc. Mahogany / Rosewood
* Nut Type / Width: Earvana Compensated / 42mm
* Neck Shape: Thin U
* Inlays: Flags
* Frets: 24 XJ
* Binding: Triple Creme (B/N/H)
* Hardware: Black Nickel
* Tuners: Grover
* Bridge / Tailpiece: Tune-o-matic w/ Stop tailpiece
* Pickups: EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active
* Electronics: Vol / Vol / Toggle / Tone


Made in Korea. Where a lot of nice things are made these days!


UTILIZATION

Another great LP type guitar from ESP/LTD. With the appropriate contours for comfort and the awesome thin U neck profile that makes this an actually COMFORTABLE LP.

Upper fret access is no problem due to the thin u and the neck contour on the back.

Super simple controls to get an easy sound right from the start.

24 XJ frets so you can shred all the way up there if you wanted!



SOUNDS

What can I say about the sound? Every body and their mother has played EMG pickups so there isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said.

The 81 is the crushing bridge pickup with loads of gain. Plenty of harmonic content, pinch harmonics leap out of the fretboard on command and palm mutes and chugs are distinct, clear and tight.

The 60 is one of, it not the absolute cleanest pickup offered by EMG in the neck position, an almost single coil, woody clean that sounds super organic. The distortion on the 60 is smooth, clear and not muddy at all yet thick and powerful. No wonder why Hetfield always uses this pickup for his leads and his cleans.

OVERALL OPINION

Great guitar for the price. EMG equipped is good too for me, though I know there are some who prefer passive pickups, whatever floats your boat. I like both and can use both for different situations. The only thing I don't like about LTD guitars is the annoying 12th fret logo with the model name on it. I wish they would just put that somewhere else!

Otherwise, great guitar, well built, sounds great and looks even better! A shredworthy LP, comfortable, thin, light and still looks sexy as hell!

See the opinions prcdents

USE

Very good guitar, the neck is really much faster and ergonomic it seems this one is more varnish allowing to slide more easily and thus improve the rapidity and your neat sound.

Well it's a Les Paul ... so forcment pass the 20 th box he'll have to be flexible, but a few hours of training to get used enough and enter the 24 th no big box problems, it's not a good SG either.

In terms of weight, I can balance an other working pretty well and my shoulder supports it very well for hours without flinching.

For a sound that's easy, volume and tonality has thoroughly 8/10 it's plug & play!

SONORITS

The pickups have a reputation that is more to do, the emg60 (handle) has its very hot and serious enough clean sound and allows very beautiful arpeggios and a big sounds for the rhythm including distortion the EMG81 (bridge) is a powerhouse distortion which leans much more towards the treble, nothing can stop the armoniques ressortes no problem, really very typs hard rock and metal (James Hettfield singer and guitarist Metallica uses the same) the association of two micro some versatility gives this guitar, really good!

NOTICE GLOBAL

I use this guitar for 1 year, and apart from the problem of ergonomics of the type of guitar (Les Paul), there is not much to complain about, good microphones, a good look etc ...

I mostly use it when I actually should play a pretty piece preferring Mtal used my Stratocaster for the rest but this guitar can play with a very namoins raging distortion and very clean.

By against big disadvantages of this guitar as it is a given LTD and not a real ESP is its sttique finishes, varnish on the body is very bad bill and although the matte black model is very nice when we dbale his guitar, a week is enough to see him dgrader, heuresement after a few weeks the differences makes it most.

The price quality ratio is quite good when compared to a PSE but some amrque as IBANEZ can do better now for less (well it ets what I think).

with the experience and my new way I would opt for a real ESP overcharged or even a Gibson overcharged.