SeriesLTD Standard F

Being into a variety of music styles from Jazz to Hard Rock I wanted an amplifier that is versatile. I have always relied upon digital processors, until my ears began hearing the huge difference between emulation and the real deal. Despite being a fan of the Mesa Boogie sound I remained open-minded. After all Boogies are expensive, so if I could purchase something a little cheaper I could get more gear - right! So I travelled around a number of music shops, trying out the Marshalls, Fenders, Mesas etc. With budget, tone and versatility as my driving factors. I purchased the F-50, because to my ears it had everything I was looking for in an amp. I am one of these annoying shoppers that will make a nuisance of himself in all the guitar shops in order to get the right information. Then go somewhere else in order to get the best deal e.g. the internet. This amp was purchased in Peter Cooks Guitar World, Hanwell London. Simply because they offered the best deal - by far! The cost was £1050 (UK pounds). No one else who claimed price matching ability would even go near this price. They offered some poor excuse about not being allowed to work outside a fixed price bracket. Two words - versatility and tone. I believe this amp sounds fantastic. When I first opened up the box, I was amazed at the attention to detail. Looking behind the amp, all the cables are neatly tied and contained in a soft pouch. Its as solid as a rock and weighs a ton. The documentation is well written and informative, neatly contained in a plastic wallet. A slip cover is provided, which may be handy for transporting the amp or keeping the dust away when you're not playing. Features: Rhythm Channel (Clean), Lead Channel (Drive), Lead w/Contour & Reverb. All fairly basic. Oh, and not to forget the hard bias. Clean Channel: Wow! Comparible to the Fender amps. Has the sweetest break-up as you crank the drive up. This is a great channel for jazz & mellow stuff. Works well with my piezo pick-ups and sounds great with my out-of-phase in-between two humbuckers guitar setting. You have to hear it to believe it. No other amp I tried even came close when comparing the available clean sounds. Shimmering and punchy might be two descriptive words, but seriously you have to try it out for yourself. Drive Channel: Ok this comes in two flavours - classic and contour, which is a modern sound. The classic without contour mode is typical of a Santana sound. Sounds great playing the blues and has been compared to the Mark I on steroids. Great sound / tone - just bend one of the higher strings, add a little vibrato and you'll see what I mean. Contour mode approaches the rectifier sound. There is more drive then you're likely to need. Once again, you get great tone that doesnt take over the sound of your guitar but really compliments it well. I personally enjoy playing the heavy palm muted riffs on this channel ala. Metallica. On both channels the drive sounds natural. Not over-compressed or wish-washy like a number of other amps on the market. Please note, as this is a tube amp the best sounds come when the volume is turned up. Believe me this thing is loud though. It does sound pretty good at low volumes, unlike many other amps but it does get smoother as the volume increases. Reverb: Sounds fine to my ears. In all honesty though, I am more likely to use the reverb as part of an effects chain. Summary: I am pleasantly suprised in that the longer I have this amp and more I get used to it, the better it sounds. It's difficult trying to think about what I don't like simply because this amp is marketed as a basic amp with no bells and whistles, but just tone. It doesnt pretend to be anything it isnt. Regardless of what it's marketed as if I were to compare it to other amps including Mesa Boogies, my criticisms/feature wish list would be as follows: 1) A solo button for pre-defined volume boosts. 2) Clearer foot controls. The layout is fine, but when I am on the clean channel no status LEDs display to tell me what drive setting I'll be on when I change the channel. 3) Options to use either EL34 or 6L6 valves. 4) Better stock valves. Points 1 and 3 are mute points really as these features are found in the Nomad range at a slightly higher cost. Anyway, for a volume boost I just need to get a booster pedal and problem solved. Point 2 is what I feel most strongly about. Apart from these points it is a real struggle to come up with criticisms on such a great amp. As mentioned earlier, it's built like a rock and weighs like one to. Mesa is well renound for it's top quality construction and attention to detail. Every detail has been taken care of even down to keeping the cables tidy. Before I even switched the amp on after first unpacking it, I couldnt help but notice the care that has gone into this product. This is my first Mesa Boogie product and I can honstly say that I am sold for life. I have read reviews from people trusting Boogie products to the extent where they dont have to hear/test them before they make a purchase. I am not quite up there and will always try before I buy, probably more as a matter of course - the products aren't cheap after all. But from my experience I can understand where this confidence comes from. Clearly the Mesa Boogie sound isn't for everyone. Our ears and tastes are different and we have to go along with what sounds good to us. If you appreciate the Boogie sound or are at least curious. Check out some artists e.g. Santana, Dream Theater etc. that use Boogies and see what you think. Give them a demo at a local music shop. Compare them to other amps and see what delivers the sound you are looking for. If possible, turn the amp up loud to get an idea of its potential (not just for the volume but tone). From my experience, Mesa Boogie deliver top quality products that far surpass other manufacturers in tone, quality and detail. If my amp was lost or stolen. I would definitely stay with Mesa Boogie. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I always thought the F shape was cool, and I always wanted to own a 7-string so I could pull off alot of the music I like (some of Morbid Angel's songs in particular). Other than the styling - nothing. Other than the styling - everything. The guitar sounds loud and fat unplugged, but the stock pickups are junk, pure and simple. I was under the impression that EMG made great pickups, but the HZ's should have never been released. They sound like mud, the neck pickup has almost no output at all. Good luck getting any harmonics out of this guitar, either. Appartently the pickups aren't the only thing that are sonically dead about this guitar. I swapped out the bridge pickup with a DiMarzio Evolution - which had to be modified to fit the deep, rectangular cavity left by the HZ. This didn't even help as much as it should have. It still sounds like mud, all mids, no highs. This guitar is the reason why I'll never buy anything music related on blind faith ever again.This guitar is a novelty, and should be considered as such, nothing more. Save your money and buy an Ibanez or a Carvin. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The purchase of my fabulous ESP-LTD F-200 Gun Metal Blue was an online purchase from Musicians Friend. I paid $449 for the guitar and $89.99 for the universal F-Series hardshell case. I'm a Speed metal player, and I gotta admit that the look of this beast is what really pulled me in. After scoping out the outrageous body shape, I was suprised to find out it was only $449. For an ESP! Then I read The specs. I fell in love. 24 EX Jumbo frets-Shark Fin Inlays-Floyd Rose Liscensed Double Locking Floating Tremelo-ESP Tuning Machines to die for(They are so Precise!)-EMG HZ Pickups and once again, the body shape is sooooo cooool! What I didnt like and what came as a total surprise was the fact that It comes with very limited tonal control. While it does have a three way toggle switch for tone control, The other two knobs are for volume and-surprise, not tone control- but a 20db gain boost. I guess it was designed to apply more output, so your guitar sounds louder if you want it to, when you pull on the knob. I find it clumsy to use and have sufficcient gain from my amplifier and would rather have more tonal control rather than extra gain. However thats not to say that the instrument is without tone! Through the right amp (mine is an Randall RG100SC), It is a beast with full range of tone. I used to be an Ibanez player and enjoyed the fact that the instrument was so light , unlike a B.C. Rich or Gibson. Let me say that this ESP is not too light nor too heavy, It is a very comfortable and well balanced machine which helped make the transition to ESP a smooth one. The neck may be a bolt on -BUT- the heel(where the neck is bolted on to the insrument)is rounded so it makes shredding at the higher frets a breeze. The overall quality compared to price is acceptable. While the radical design of the ESP LTD F-200 may not be for everyone, if every guitar were made with such quality for the money there would be no bad buys and every guitar purchaser would be happy. I beleive that I got what I paid for: A well balanced, great looking machine with the "x-tras" that make shredding so enjoyeable. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this guitar on musicians friend for $200 with a 60% discount from retail. I love my guitar sooo much. its a good break away from fender which is necessary and a great value. My friends dad has a LP and my rosewood fretboard plays almost exactly the same. Alot of small things were plastic like the strap hooks which accounts for some of the low cost. these can be upgraded to make your guitar even better. i put my chrome ones from my old peavey the day i got my new guitar. Dual Duncan humbuckers give it great gain for awesome punk/hard core music and jumbo frets give it good action on the neck. The sparkle finish is exellent and the headstock painting is impeccable. well my strap slipped one day and its got a crack in the back but that's my own doing. theres no pickguard but the strings are set high so it's not much of a problem. i don't mind but i figure one of you might. besides it'd look crappy with a pickguard anyway. if you buy this guitar and want one try a LP pickguard that would look pretty good. i have had 0 problems so far with my guitar construction wise. i've only had it for six months though so...i haven't had to make any truss rod adjustments and some day when i'm bored i may screw around with pickup hight but i haven't yet. the nut on the input comes loose every now and then so thats probably the only problem that i've found. ESP discontinued the guitar put if you can pick it up used it's an amazing guitar for the price. check out the F-200 and 300 they've got different pickups available and cool arrowhead inlays. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I was just checking out sites of different guitar brands. One day, I wandered into (thank heavens) ESP's website. I went into their LTD section and then clicked on this model. I was instantly awed by this beutiful bass. It was as if the screen was glowing. I then commenced my frantic quest for this bass. Unfortunately, this is a rather rare bass. I finally found it at www.marsmusic.com, and immediately bought it for $499, w/o tax. I suggest, however, www.music123.com, because they have better prices and more color options. THIS BASS IS SEXY!! It is impossible for one to understand how it looks like before actually seeing it. It looks as if it had been carved in a madman's basement! It's jagged, and has awesome curves. It has a beutifully carved head, and is painted to match the body finish. The finish is also a marvel, perfect in every way. The black finish I have has a glassy quality to it and it highlights the many grooves in the bass. All my friends envy this piece of heaven. (or hell?^^) This is not only a showcase bass though, and it was built to last. It comes with 2 EMG humbucking pickups, bridge and neck. Add two volume controls, and an active 3-band EQ, you got a tone monster that can go from sweet ringing sound to earth shaking thumps. It also has 24 frets, the most in any guitar or bass, and has steep cutaways to make the access easier. The fingerboard is rosewood, and the inlays are mother of pearl, not the plastic on many basses. It also has the model name inscribed in the twelvth. What is particularly appealing is that the neck is an extended 35", which is VERY useful for the following reasons. 1)For playing metal, or the like, 2) so that you don't have to get a 5 string to get that extra bottom end, 3) even if you use standard tuning, it gives you nice tension that gives you a nice "feel". This bass is also extremely lightweight, despite the fact that it is made of mahogany. Great for jumping around onstage. =) This bass, as magnificent as it is, does have a few defects. The string height is low, and although this allows quick licks, it creates buzz. Raising the string height does the job. Also, it's beutiful finish is, ironically, it's defect also. It smudges as soon as you touch it, so you have to clean it ALL the time! Other than that, i don't think there are any. This bass is bolt-on, with 4 bolts. This bass was obviously built to last, and has great quality. It sounds really great at any volume on any amp. A BASS YOU WILL LOVE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!! One of the best basses I have seen at this price range. I played a couple Yamaha's, Fenders and Ibanez's at this price range, and it doesn't even come close to this bass. A SOLID FIVE OUT OF FIVE! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This is a Korean made guitar. 25.5" scale, dual humbuckers, with master tone, volume, and a 3 way switch. The body is agathis I believe, with a maple neck. The guitar is a neck through. This guitar features a licensed Floyd Rose bridge. The bridge is probably the weakest part of the guitar, as it made of kind of junky metal, but it holds a tune well enough and if you don't plan on using it a lot than you should be fine. Otherwise you might want to think about replacing it with a higher quality Floyd. The neck is the ESP Thin U shape. Its my favorite neck profile ever. Thin enough that you can still shred, but it still has some meat to it. Overall the guitar is really nicely made, no issues with the finish, the factory setup was good, and all the hardware (besides the bridge) are really high quality. UTILIZATION The neck through construction means that the manufacturer can get away with a better neck joint, since they don't have to worry about shaving away too much material and hampering stability. In laymen's term, this guitar has awesome upper fret access. Its also a very well balanced guitar. There is a little spike in the top of the guitar that I've heard some people complain dug into them. However, that was never an issue for me. SOUNDS This guitar has surprisingly excellent stock pickups. They sound great. They're hot enough to play metal, but not so hot that they don't clean up nicely. The bridge pickup is nice and tight, and the neck pickup has a great lead tone. OVERALL OPINION This was the first guitar decent guitar I ever bought. At the time I thought the over the top look of the guitar was awesome. A couple years later I thought it was a little to much so I sold the guitar to my cousin. He still owns it so I get to play it from time to time. Over the past 5 years this guitar has been played regularly and its still in great shape. And its still a player. To this day I'm surprised at how nice it plays. Neither my cousin or I are that into using the Floyd Rose, so its been setup in dive only and rarely used for the entirety of its life, so the bridge is still in nice shape. However, it really isn't that great of a bridge since its really cheap metal. With more use the knife points would have dulled easily and the bridge would be less stable. Its pretty much the only downside of the guitar. Otherwise its excellent.

The ESP LTD F-104 is a bass made for those who cannot afford the higher level LTD or ESP basses. The guitar is really marketed towards those who are just starting out and are into the whole nu-metal/visual kei kinda thing. The bass features a basswood body with a bolt-on maple neck and rosewood fretboard, 24 extra jumbo frets, a hardtail bridge, ESP SB-4 pickups and the ESP ABQ-2 2-Band Active EQ. UTILIZATION The frets on this model are really bad. There are sharp edges that really slice your hand up. They definitely need to be filed down to truly enjoy this instrument. The actual leveling of the frets wasn't too bad, but that could just be because I like higher action on bass than I do on guitar. The neck itself felt kinda bad though. I don't know if it was the finish or what, but it just didn't feel like a normal LTD finish usually does. It could have been one of those "off" guitars. SOUNDS I should start off by saying that I'm more of a guitarist than a bassist, so keep that in mind. The pickups in this thing sounded overly muddy for anything worthwhile. When played clean, they sounded dull and lacked the spank that I like basses to have for metal music. After all, this guitar is geared towards metal music. The active EQ didn't seem to help too much when it came towards dialing in a good tone. When distorted, it wasn't too bad, but I couldn't help but think that the basswood is holding it back. I like high quality basswood in guitars, but for basses, I prefer something like ash or alder. OVERALL OPINION If you're looking for a cheap, beginner bass and you have some sort of bizarre image to uphold, you might want to consider this instrument. However, there are so many better basses out there for the money, so I can't really recommend this. Try to find a higher quality LTD and buy used. That way you can get all the benefits of the higher quality guitar without the price tag.