ESP Viper distressed with "Iron Cross" inlays

This is my ESP Viper distressed and specially ordered from ESP Japan
for factory "Iron Cross" inlays on fretboard.


"Distressed" as known as "Relic". This is originally done by ESP.


EMG-60X and 81X pikcups are installed on my Viper
These EMG "X-series" pickups sound open and much less compress feeling than regular EMG pickups.
They has lesser gain than regular EMG pickups as well.
Gold hardwares on my Viper distressed are all relic'ed in details. Welldone ! ESP.


Look at those pearloid "Iron-Cross" inlays !


Custom vintage bindings surround headstock and fretboard.
It also comes with Gotoh Magnum locking tuners.


As a previous owner of Gibson SG, I much prefer ESP Viper body shape.
It has better body weight balance because of the offset body shape and
ESP Viper looks much more cooler than Gibson SG.



Lacquer finish is perfect for any kinda relic work.
And you can see the natural color of mahogany wood from Viper body and neck.


The upper frets are very easy to be easy because the neck-joint is carved smooth.
ESP Viper has thicker body than Gibson SG as well.

ESP E-II Horizon NT-7B Baritone

My first "E-II" guitar - Horizon NT-7B (27" baritone) from ESP Japan.


After tested HRF NT-7B and T-B7, I had decided to get myself Horizon NT-7B.
All these three E-II baritone guitars have similar features - maple neck-thru-body with alder wings,
ebony fretboards, tune-o-matic bridge and etc, but I really like the reverse headstock and body shape of Horizon.


Satin black/matte finish body.


The Horizon NT-7B has pretty light weight body. Unfortunately, there is no body binding.


Ebony fretboard with killer "black pearloid" binding.


TonePros "Locking" Tune-O-Matic bridge.
You can lock the bridge by the screws to prevent the bridge fall out to scratch or dent the paint during strings changing.


"E-II" is the new series to replace ESP "Standard" series which introduced in year 2013.
The reason is to further differentiate the ESP Custom Shop with the same ESP logo on the headstock before on "Standard" series.
All E-II guitars are grafted by same ESP luthiers in Japan where the "Standard" series being made.
Personally, I don't feeel any difference between E-II and ESP "Standard" series after playing "Standard" series for a decade.


Maple neck-thru-body with alder wings.
ESP battery compartment is a really great design.


Sperzel USA locking tuners.


A great guitar indeed.

ESP Eclipse 24 USA 7-string Baritone

I just acquired a new ESP Eclipse 24 USA 7 string Baritone - 27" neck scale.


This is special ordered and exclusives for an ESP dealer, Bmusic in Australia.
There are only total 6 Baritones of Eclipse 24 USA 7 string - 4 in Satin Black, 1 in Silverburst
and 1 in Gloss Black which I believe which is mine now.


Eclipse 24 USA is an export model for oversea market especially for US.
It has block ESP logo, 24 frets, 3 control knobs, thinner body and shorter cutaway horn
which make this model looks more different than a Gibson Les Paul guitar
because of the copyright lawsuit between Gibson and ESP.


Eclipse 24-7 features a bound Mahogany body and carved Maple top,
Black hardware, Ebony fingerboard with no inlays, 24 XJ frets,
EMG 81-7 (bridge) and 707 (neck) active pickups, Gotoh fixed bridge and taipiece.


Thin-U neck contour, 27" baritone neck scale and 48mm nut width.

Sperzel TrimLock tuners, "ESP standard series" logo and "Made in Japan" sticker.


Truas rod


My massive low-end gear !

2012 ESP HRF NT Silverburst (Special Order)

Just picked up from local ESP dealer.

This is the 2012 ESP HRF NT Silverburst which is "special ordered" from ESP Japan.
You wouldn't often see this color on this model.

The HRF is a new design that combines the body styling of "Horizon" model
with the headstock of the F-Series (a.k.a "Forest") guitar,
but I think the HRF headstock shape is much sharper than "Forest".

That was really a hard choice when I had tried another Horizon NT-II (SD 59/JB)
with see-through black flame maple top/mahogany body wings at the same time as well.

I am glad that I have made a good choice and never regret.
ESP HRF has much more punchy focus bright mid tone.
I think probably due to AHB-1 active pickups and alder/maple wood combination.

Seymour Duncan AHB-1 Blackout active pickups. They sound aggressive, tight and punchy.

Neck-thru maple neck and alder body wings.
String-through body design with Gotoh Japan tune-matic bridge.

Heavy and solid original ESP hardcase.

Extra jumbo 24 frets on ebony fretboard.

Year 2012 made in Japan. Gotoh "Magnum Lock" self-locking tuners.

Scale 25.5" neck-thru-body maple neck for greatest sustain.
For the playability, I don't feel any difference between HRF and Eclipse besides neck scale length.
I think they share same neck profile.

ESP HRF weights more and less around 7lbs which is nearly as my 04' ESP Eclipse.
Maybe the neck-thru body maple neck contributes some weights.

Shipped with ClearTone "Coated Strings" from factory.

What a killer metal axe !

ESP Horizon (bolt-on)

My beloved ESP Horizon which is one of the early ESP discontinued export model.
It has bolt-on maple neck and ash body, famous ESP "teardrop" headstock (a.k.a "Cock-stock").

There is an old "ESP Custom Guitars" logo on the headstock behind.
Beware of this, that doesn't mean the guitar was made from ESP custom shop.