LTD Viper-1000 [2008-2016]

The ESP Viper has always been the brother to the EC and Eclipse guitars throughout ESP's history. They both had similar ESP and LTD models. Now the Viper is getting its own cool stuff. This guitar is the Viper 1000 in Olympic White. ESP likes to give different color combinations different electronics so even though another guitar might be an Viper 1000 it may come with completely different electronics like EMG's. This model has a classy white paintjob and that means it comes with passive pickups. This guitar looks a lot like the classic white SG Customs from the early 60s. This guitar has a mahogany body with a mahogany set neck. THe fretboard is made from ebony with 24 jumbo frets and the ESP flag inlays. It has ESP locking tuners and a compensated nut and the bridge is a locking Tonepros unit one of the best Tune-o-matics you can get. The electronics are a set of Seymour Duncans with a Custom in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. The controls are super simple with a master volume and master tone with a 3 way switch.

UTILIZATION

These guitars have a very modern feel to them. It may look kinda like an SG but it has a very modern design that plays much better than a Gibson SG. The body is offset so you can reach all the 24 frets. The jumbo frets and ebony fretboat mean you get a very smooth feel on the strings when playing. Up top the ESP locking tuners do their job and hold tuning quite well. The Tonepros locking bridge makes maintences and string changes that much easier. The bridge on a tune-o-matic is normally held in by string tension the Tonepros tune-o-matic is locking so it doesnt fall off if you do not have any string tension held in. The Earvana compensated nut means that the intonation of the guitar is improved all the way up the neck.

SOUNDS

This being a passive version of the guitar it comes with Seymour Duncan pickups. The bridge pickup is a Seymour Duncan Custom and the neck pickup is a 59. The Custom in the bridge is a bit more modern and heavier version of a JB. It has a bit tighter and thicker sound overall as the JB can be a bit loose if you are looking to play heavy music with it. The 59 is a classic neck pickup. It has a very smooth PAF inspired sound. It is one of the most popular neck pickups. It has a very old school tone. Since it is so smooth and old school tone that can get kind of muddy. If the sound is too muddy for you the Jazz may be a better pickup since it has more high end bite to it and that lets it retain its clarity longer.

OVERALL OPINION

This is a good alternative if you are not in to the active sound. Most ESP guitars are based around metal playing so one with a bit more versatile sound is a welcome addition. With the Seymour Duncan pickups and the white and gold finish you get a guitar with a very traditional and classy look to it and a versatile tone that can do more than just metal, and since it is an ESP it will be well and be reasonably priced.