LTD GUS-600NT

This is ESP guitars Gus G signature guitar. Gus G is the guitar player for Firewind and currently plays guitar for Ozzy Osborn as well. The shape of this guitar is a tribute to 80s guitars and old school Japanese guitars. This guitar is very well equipped. The guitar has an alder body with a very nice flamed maple top. The neck is maple as well and is set into the body. The body and the neck are fully bound. The fretboard is rosewood and has 22 jumbo frets with diamond inlays. You get locking tuners and a locking tone pros bridge which is very nice. The pickups are a set of Seymour Duncans. You get a Distortion in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. The controls are simple with a master volume with a 3 way toggle along with a mini switch for coil splitting.

UTILIZATION

Full ESP branded ESP guitars always play well. The fit and finish on these guitars is custom shop level. The quality fit and finish with the quality hardware means this guitar is very solid and well built throughout. The locking tuners are great and keep you in tune. The locking bridge gives you extra sustain and keeps the bridge from falling out when you are changing strings. The crazy shape gives the guitar good balance so it is comfortable to play.

SOUNDS

This guitar has a pretty bright and cutting sound. The guitar really cuts through the mix. The Distortion in the bridge has a high end bite to it. Its a very 80s style tone. When I first plugged it in the first thing that came to mind was Jake E. Lee in "Bark at the Moon." Thats pretty much all you need to know about the bridge tone on this guitar. The 59 in the neck is a classic and is a smooth compliment to the raw and aggressive bridge sound. The 59 is one of the most popular neck position pickups on the market. It is like a modern PAF with a super smooth sound that works well for modern lead playing.

OVERALL OPINION

This is a good signature model. There are no guady signatures or silly logos anywhere. It is just a nice solid guitar that the artist happens to play. You do not have to be a Gus G fan to like this guitar it is a good guitar on its own. Gus G fans will like it more. If you want an old school ESP with Custom Shop level fit and finish here it is. Gus G fan or not any guitar player can appreciate a well built guitar that sounds and looks great.