LTD Viper-500

It was manufactured in Korea.

24 frets, EMG 81 (B) / 85 (N).

Bridge type Tune-o-matic with a "String-Thru-Body", ie there is no stop bar bridge on Gibson, but as the strings pass through the body of the guitar from the rear.

Earvana nut and Grover 42 mm high quality.

The settings are fairly basic, just volume and tone with a selector. Not possible to independently adjust each microphone

Mahogany body and ebony fingerboard. Black satin.

Channel shaped U. thin

The build quality is really good, no defects, no cargo that exceeds everything is nickel and is equipped with the very best level mechanical nut or bridge, not to mention the microphones. The shape is classic: a modernized SG, which gives this guitar a bit of Bat an air guitar)

The natural sound is not too bad although I have no interest in playing without amplification on an electric guitar.

A small flat on adjusting the neck / bridge, it bordered a little on the 2nd box and I had to mount the tune o matic to solve the problem, nothing too bad this is, but they should have tested it in the workshop before send it in store!

UTILIZATION

The handle is very nice, it slides very easily, nothing to do with my Les Paul. It is not too large and is U-shaped end, I personally prefer the sleeves a little thicker Gibson type but hey, you get used to.

Access is to treble is surprising, it happens without any effort to reach the 24 th freight. Normal is a modern guitar metal type, we expected no less.

Note that the ebony fingerboard is nice to play well and slides. Mahogany body. The satin finish is nice but will see what happens over time ...

Ergonomics is good without being exceptional. Playing sitting, it was a bit hard to take, you have to play on the right leg forward and leans a little toward the head (the opposite of my Les Paul). By playing up, it will, it is light and does not kill the shoulders with the strap. on the other hand, it always tends to lean a little towards the head, it must therefore find a balance.

It is easy to use a guitar, there's no settings 36 and two knobs and a selector 3 positions. It is a pity because it is impossible to choose a micro setting, it is required to use the knobs when moving from one micro to another.
The switch is placed at the bottom of the body, personally I prefer a top placement in the Les Paul. The knob is a little too close to the ropes and can be affected if we did not care. But nothing too bad, overall a good guitar is flawless, close to a SG.

SOUNDS

Originally a guitar is really typical metal, but unlike other models ESP / LTD, this one a 81 and a microphone 85, which provides a range of sounds larger than 2 EMG 81 . The EMG pickups do their job, no interference and a high output level.

We can play in the clear over the 85 problem-free, we get a fairly large and its natural (while the 81 are really plain too cold and bland). Using the good effects and good amp, you get to play lots of styles from funk to rock / metal and even blues by setting out the 85 and the amplifier. The sustain is good but falls short of that of my Les Paul.

Of course, is what might be called a guitar "clean", some will find it may be too bland. It has no grain and well-typed play rock 70's, he must choose his amp and pedals as naturally as a result, "empty" and live in a low-end amp it will not ring of hell. It is far from a Gibson that can connect without any direct effect in a small amp and have "his".

Laney on my example, the sound is too clean, the crunch (drive through) the result is not bad, but honestly, it's a guitar effects or a good tube amp.
With Guitar Rig 2, it manages to make good combinations and build a cool sound. I think it's the whole point of a guitar of this type are rather impersonal, it can carve its own sound and goes everywhere. With the distortion, it sounds clean and detailed notes stand out more with my Gibson.
Same with the Pod XT Pro, although I'm having with heavy sounds or clean its kind in the Hendrix Little Wing

I like the EMG 85 gives a warmer sound, a little more fat than 81 when I least 81, which is difficult to use in clean with no chorus, on the other hand in distortion in single player or palm mute, it's good.

Finally, we come to have a Viper with the versatility correct if you have the gear behind, with a Pod XT Pro is perfect, it offers enough settings and type of amps to play what you want and having clear sounds very good.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for several months.

I love the features: micro EMG, mechanical and nut / bridge quality and its modern look while incorporating a classic myth. I also like the ebony fingerboard and the finish of the guitar overall. It is very enjoyable to play.

I like less the position of the selector and the knobs are too close and do not allow independent adjustment of the microphones. I wish I had more choices in colors and also how about a shiny finish.

I tried many guitars for many years and I was looking up a guitar for my EMG, in the end, I decided to sell them to buy the ESP LTD Viper. I hesitated with Jackson or Ibanez models but I have chosen for EMG ESP (which alone cost € 200) and the build quality / perfect finish for a guitar at this price.

If I had money, I probably would have opted for a Gibson SG or Flying V type and I climbed the EMG over but it would have cost much more expensive and models available in Gibson Faded type not please me not too

The price / quality ratio I think is very good. On many guitars of this price, it was generally defects, microphones on the cheap, not great finishes, mechanical, etc. shit. Here, it is not the case, everything is good and to say, the mechanics are even better than on my Les Paul Standard.

Well, a little regret is that this type of guitar is pretty cool and simple as it is in sound and design. No apparent wood grain, no sunburst, no binding, no choice in the color. It is typed up metal wood) Note that there is no bag or box provided.

on the other hand, with the experience I will choose again, in this price range with EMG pickups, one can hardly find in my opinion better (would be LAG I try to look to me a lot ). It has great value and we feel that there was no wrong choice made in the design or manufacture. This is a guitar homogeneous.

However, I do not think I will make my main guitar because there is no heat, attachment or work of craftsmanship that can have on a Gibson is more present in the game ( probably by the weight and the wood and the shape of the handle). But I use it a lot because it is fun to play and versatile, ideal for dial above example.

Note that those who hope to have the sound of any guitar with EMG to be disappointed if they do not following behind (good effects and big amp). This is the big flaw of this scrape, vacuum, it sounds it! It is neutral and cold ... but with a good multi effects like ToneLab or Pod XT or a good set of pedals and a tube amp is superb especially in distos. It was a good big sound!

EDIT: the more time passes, the more I love my Viper. With the Pod XT Pro, I can draw sounds much more interesting than my old set-based small tube amp that was not very suitable for the Viper and its EMG. I use it more and I find it really nice to play, well made and I did not find fault.

EDIT 2: Almost four years later, I still love this guitar aging well and finally I get to expand its range of game using the model, we can not draw too clean neutrals and disto quite varied. No complaints over the years, it's always a pleasure to balance the EMG in the ultra distortion model with a Mesa Boogie and play big right palm mute or harmonics that are very easily. The guitar is always easy to play, the handle is nickel (although a little late for my big fingers), the perfect weight (heavier than some modern guitars and less than a Les Paul) and the sustain is not bad.