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glassjaw7 « ESP's twist on the famous SG design. Amazing guitar for the price! »
Published on 03/20/11 at 18:15This 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.
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.