ESP Formula NT-II

Made in Japan, ESP standard series (literally flawless finish)
Fittings 100% premium Gotoh (Tun-o-matic, stopbar, mechanical Magnum)
Fingerboard strat but spacing of the strings at the bridge of Lespaul
Maple neck-made 3 parts
Arched top mahogany body with notch rear
Quilted Maple plating on the table and head
Channel varnish, thin U, 24 frets, jumbo frets, ebony fingerboard, pearl markers
Bone nut
Binding class nacre around the body, neck and head
Seymour Duncan SH4 and SH1 (both and split)
3-position selector
Volume (knob CTS)
Tone push / push

UTILIZATION

This guitar is quite small and light, with outstanding ergonomics. Everything falls under the hands naturally. The overall balance is perfect. The pitch of 25.5 to the comfort of the handle, especially in the second octave. The Japanese maker has focused on the gameplay, it feels.

The handle has a typical profile ESP thin U, is a comfort. The ebony fingerboard is a feast for the fingers. The handle is lacquer (like the rest of the guitar) a varnish (polyurethane?) Thick enough but the highest quality.

Access to acute is that of a driver handle, hard to beat!

The body design "arched top" asymmetrical, innovative and aesthetically pest.

The mechanical locking Gotoh Magnum offer excellent holding agreement and are very convenient (though I'm a fan of Sperzel but, I confess I do not know and I am amazed by their discretion, it is a lot less "factory gas "...).

The violin is really at the top, so that, even unplugged, the sound is already huge, very expressive. Handle driver and provide a fixed bridge sustain a level that I had never heard before.

SOUNDS

The variety of the sound palette is beyond anything I've tried so far: there are plenty of guitars in this guitar.

Config is JB/59 ultra classic guitar rock but here it seems to take on a new dimension. Microphones and split is, we obtain six combinations of sounds all very different, with a lot of personality, a flexible volume knob really hyper and precise tone that works on its depth, stunning!

The sounds are beautiful, and so of course it does not sound like a strat, the pickups give splitted sounds and beautiful singing. In doubles, the sounds are powerful enough to crunch the clean channel of the amp, always very musical, all under the control of surgical volume knob.

Overdriven sounds of a tube amp hi-gain (ENGL) are very couillus with a captivating warmth. It is bold and very musical, with one side a little "dirty" very appreciable results conjugation mahogany + Seymour.

We did not have the precision of a sharp EMG81 but the guitar goes all plans metal with a smile and go have fun on land or bluesy funky as if she was home. In short, amazing versatility, never faulted (I will try the détunage to try to catch )

OVERALL OPINION

I just have, I will update my review after a few months of use.

I tried and owned a lot of guitars, it is one that seems clearly to have the greatest potential. She asks me some effort to adapt (not used at the bridge fixed pitch 25.5, 9-42 even, pulling strings to request muscles!), But I feel that the possibilities are downright huge behind.

I wanted to become my number one, a (very) good guitar fixed bridge, versatile, big sound. I was going to take a mahogany horizon and I stumbled upon this model which I immediately looked more sexy appearance (look modern, asymmetrical design rarer head 2 * 3 instead of 6 online I like the ESP header in reverse but not too much that of the horizontal, etc.)..

I do not regret my choice and I find the price / quality ratio very good, it is expensive but it is upscale and again there was a guitar that competes without competing with complex sold many, many more expensive (eg PRS). Hat the Japs!

The best would be to have the same time and EMG-mounted model with a floyd but my banker will cough ...