LTD Viper-301

I bought this from American Musical Supply about 6 months ago. It was about $450.00.
I got this onw after extensive researching (playing) on other guitars like Jackson, Ibanez, some other Esp's, and for the price thiswas definatley the best!

First of all it has a Tune-o-Matic/stoptail bridge so it is effortless to tune down or differently (as compared to Floyd Rose). Set neck; this means it has been cut and adjusted to a perfect height (string to fretboard) and that it is a very reliable and sturdy build. Has tight tuners and stays in tune very well! Looks cool (just like Gibson SG) has EMG-Hz Humbuckers that sound absoluley awesome, and glossed neck that is easy to play.

I just wish it had a single-coil in between the dual humbuckers!

Excellent, very sturdy, sounds very good for a mahogany body.

I would reccommend this guitar to anyone with a limited budget but wants a good guitar.. Even comes with a lifetime warranty (I think).

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

I got this guitar for $445 from Midnight Music (http://www.midnightmusicweb.com) in Pittsburgh, PA. I had wanted an ESP for a while. After playing Ibanez, Schecter, Fender, and Jackson, I finally found this guitar and knew it was the one.

This guitar has everything that I was looking for. EMG-HZ pickups give a crunching heavy metal sound. it has 24 frets so I can play as high as I want to. the bridge is a tune-o-matic (i think). the point is, it is NOT a floyd rose bridge, which are a huge pain to tune down. the body is shaped so it can be played sitting down (unlike the V shaped guitars) but it still looks differet from an average stratocaster shaped guitar (i refuse to conform). it plays better than any other guitar that i have played even though the neck is glossy, unlike a maple neck which is smooth. it is very hard to find an affordable guitar with all of these great features. i got lucky when i found this guitar.

the viper i found was black. i wanted a blue or red guitar since my other guitar is black, but this guitar is so great I really don't care what color it is.

I'm not sure why, but set neck and neck thru are supposed to be better than a bolt on. this guitar has a set neck. it is solidly built. the tuners are tight, the body construction is solid, everything is perfect.

1. EMG HZ pickups
2. 24 frets
3. body shape allows me to sit and play
4. bridge allows strings to be tuned down easily
5. solid construction
6. plays great
all these things make up the best guitar that i have played in the 11 years that i have played guitar. the price is good, the guitar is great. if you're looking for a new guitar, check this one out.

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

This is a Korean made guitar. The design of the Viper is a twist on Gibson's classic SG design. ESP's take on this symmetrical double cutaway shape is a little bit "twisted", with the left or upper horn and left side of the body being shifted upward. Basically the viper is like an SG with an asymmetrical front profile and different slope.

The guitar has the following specs:
24 frets, extra jumbo
Tune-O-Matic bridge with stop tailpiece,
three-piece mahogany neck set into the body,
rosewood fretboard with flag inlays and model name inlaid at 12th fret,
Eclipse shaped headstock, (which is also a variation of Gibson's headstock shape)
and white binding along the neck and headstock.
24 3/4" scale

The feel of this guitar was far superior to the old SG standard I used to play. The SG felt like it would break if I looked at it wrong. The SG also felt very light and almost plastic-like and hollow. The Viper in comparison feels hefty and substantial. Awesome!



UTILIZATION

This guitar played phenomenally well right out of the case. Setup, action and intonation were absolutely perfect from the factory. This guitar was set up better than any other new guitar I've ever played. Nothing had to be changed!

SOUNDS

This guitar is equipped with EMG HZ1 passive pickups. They have a very dry, quick attack and a unique sound among other passives that I've played. I eventually replaced these with active EMGs (an 81 in the bridge and a custom alnico 60 in the neck)

Thinking back, I actually prefer the passive stock EMGs. I don't like the clean tones from active pickups and I play a lot of clean passages in my songs and in the cover music my band plays.

The Viper 301 is a solid axe! It's heavy and that weight transfers into a hefty rock tone that cuts and has depth. The guitar never got too bright in the bridge pickup position, nor did it get muddy on the neck pup. It is extremely easy to play as well, due to the short "Gibson-scale" (24 3/4")

The only thing that would improve the tone of this guitar would be the ability to coil-tap the pickups, but that could be modified if so desired.

OVERALL OPINION

The one thing I have to complain about is the neck-heavy weight distribution of the guitar, which is partially due to the strap button location on the side of the horn.

ESP didn't put the button on the tip of the horn where it belongs. Once I moved it there the guitar's weight was much more evenly balanced and I didn't feel like I had to constantly hold up the neck while playing. But that's the ONLY flaw with this guitar, and I noticed that later versions of the Viper had the strap button on the tip of the horn, so problem solved!

The ESP LTD Viper 301 (and the later versions) is an amazing instrument that takes a classic shape and improves it with modern features and a modern streamlined look that any rocker or metal-head will love! The action, fit and finish is perfect right out of the case and the price is right! I can't recommend this guitar highly enough, for any budget.

Its style inspired SG, the LTD Viper 301 retains all of the same by his signature ESP curves increase much more aggressive making. This dernire is mounted by two double EMG HZ (passive micro EMG 81), a fixed bridge, 2 knobs of CONTRL (Tone and volume of a microphone slecteur 3 positions.

A good configuration in perspective with these microphones and TRS prcis net but they are a liability ... no longer opt for the 400 model in the same CHARACTERISTICS Mount emg 81 or 85 if you want even more dynamic.

UTILIZATION

Qu'agrable handle well, requires little time to adapt because it is relatively large rvle.
The regulars and will dboussols fan of ibanez.
Access in agus is comfortable and sounds!
Ergonomically, the Viper has its weight but not more ultra heavy and we view shape, a fan of Gibson SG will cry foul esp for retouching, but that - it leaves the copy SG with these cuts sharp, giving bcp aggressivit and Foix and the classic in its look.
Despite this, the Viper is still as full range ESP LTD, and therefore intends to mtal versatility is not a strong point of these but if you find a big sound mtal, N'H hesitate more!

SOUNDS

For me, the Viper is vritablement orient my style. Playing in a group of Nomtal Hardcore, I have with this little big its insured!
I joeu with a digitech RP pdalier in seven and a Hughes and Kettner WARP 212 and sounds!
The resulting sound is big but clean and distortion prcise, really his research in the mtal!
Its rings, and yes plsu ca havoc!
For opinion against the faint of heart, refrain

OVERALL OPINION

It's been 10 months I bought this little viper, and I do not regret this purchase at no time!
The sound is standard and, accustomed to 7-string guitar, the handle does not provide any ESG by my size.
I tried it I take: I did not try too hard as other guitars with it j'tais comfortable so why look elsewhere??
Quality price ratio, I find that LTD provides a lot by providing the approximately 600 MODEL!