ESP 400 Series

Mine has the gold edging on the black ESP logo, which I think means its an early one. Ive heard that the body is alder, but mine is black, so hard to tell, athough it feels too light to be ash, and too heavy for basswood. Its a Strat copy with the usual Strat features except it has 22 frets, not 21. The neck is a medium C shape, not chunky, not slim. Everything about it feels 'right'.

Unlike many good Japanese Strats, this one sounds, as well as looks like a proper vintage Strat. Compared to my old '94 40th Aniversary USA Strat, it has a smoother, more rounded tone and more vintage tone, quite similar to a friends' '73 Strat. It has that unmistakeable 'springy' tone which makes it feel like its alive. No other guitar Ive owned can do that. This Strat is suitable for all types of music which is probably why its the most popular style of guitar.

Ive had it set up myself. These Japanese guitars are perfectly made and built to last. Bookmatched? Thats not what Fenders are about.

So far so good.

Untried.

Having owned several Strats including a 72, 78 and 79, a USA 62 reissue and a '94 40th Anniversary, this cheap Japanese copy [cost $450]is amazing. Ive also owned several Tokai's,[Springy Sounds, Goldstars and Silverstars] and this ESP ranks alongside the best of them, only it has better sounding pickups than any Japanese Strat Ive heard. You could go out and spend a lot more money on a vintage Strat, but if youre thinking about a late 70's model, you'd be much better off with one of these ESPs. Nearly all Strats from 1976 onwards are too heavy and because of that, they dont resonate well and although some will still sound good, most are lifeless overpriced lumps. The ESP 400 series is a great guitar for a guitarist, it will do everything you need from a Strat and it doesnt feel like a toy. Over the past 30 years Ive tried every type of guitar possible, but I keep coming back to the Strat simply because its the best sounding and most comfortable guitar. If you see one, buy it.

MIJ 84-85 22 Fret Rosewood fingerboard 3 tone sunburst, standard strat config, exact replica of the 65 era strats, all hardware recreates that look. ESP pickups in the neck and middle, dimarzio HB in the bridge. I believe these are ash bodies, it is a very light guitar compared to my 84 USA Strat, very comfortable. ESP bridge replicates the vintage fenders, same with the tuners. The neck feels great, very thin and playable. It gets a bit thicher as you go up the neck, but overall a very thin neck. Vintage size frets, I'd like jumbo's, but it's not worth a re-fret. I'm spoiled with my EC400vf.

I'm giving it a 9 not for the actual features, but for the fact that it looks, plays, and sounds better than most fenders I've played. When they made these guitars, they out-did Fender. You can't find better vintage fender copies for under $500 and 80's re-issue fenders are very expensive. This giutar is very similar to my 84 USA strat and other MIJ fenders of the era.

I'm into the Hendrix/SRV/Frusciante thick blues sound and this guitar is perfect for that. I use the neck and neck/middle pickup position 90% of the time. It plays great and allows me to really move around easily. I use a Laney LC50II 112 with a Laney 112 ext cab, and an Epi Valve Jr head and cab. The Dimarzio is great, but the esp pickups should be replaced or rewound. They sound great, but the middle pickup was fried when I got it and disconnected, and I don't want a humbucker in the strat. I have an EC400vf for that sound. I'm going to replace the pickups with a set of Klein '65 which would be period correct.

I don't like the currect configuration, but I can't hold that against the guitar. I's been modified and I have to bring it back before I can really have an opinion. I have no reason to believe it won't sound great.

It's a 25 year old guitar, so there are cosmetic flaws such as rusty hardware, cracked pickguards, dings, scratches, etc. It all adds to it's character. People pay a lot of money to distress new guitars (the new fender "road worn" and custom shop guitars). The action is a nice and low. I love the looks, the sunburst finsih is one of the best I've seen. If you're into vintage instuments, this is a perfect reproduction of the early Fenders. It's the whole reason I bought the guitar. Pickups and hardware can be replaced, but this guitar has it's own unique personality. For the price of a new Mexi strat, you can have vintage tone, looks, and playability. I'll be buying a couple more of these, I'm looking for the 2 tone sunburst with the maple neck, but they're rare.

It's a durable guitar, I don't play live, but I will when I get the chance. Once I get new pickups, it should be very reliable. It's reliable now, I just don't have a middle pickup, which I need. It's a solid guitar, most strats are. Very basic, low maintenance. The more the finish wears off, the better, but the poly finish is holding up well with no wear from rubbing.

No customer support for a 25 year old guitar.

I've been playing on and off for about 10 years. I own an 84 USA Strat, an ESP LTD EC400vf, a Martin DM, Laney LC50II, and an epi valve jr. I did my research before buying this guitar, and have always wanted one. I like ESP guitars having grown up a huge Metallica fan. This was their first production model, so it's got some history to it. If it was stolen or lost, I'd buy another, but I would have to do a lot of searching. I love the guitar itself and the way it plays. It's got a great vibe and is a real players guitar. I don't like the pickups, but that's the previous owners fault for screwing them up. The one thing I don't like about the guitar itself is that the tone control is extremely sensitive and goes from muddy to crystal clear from the 1-3 position. I'd like to have more of a blend.

I really like the guitar, but prefer my strat. The neck is the same thickness all the way up and is a bit more comfortable to play. The ESP sounds better though, the pickups are stronger and more articulate. For the most part, both are interchangable, but I tend to prefer my USA strat. It should be said that I'm extremely bias towards my strat however, and no other instrument I've played has lived up to it yet. That includes numerous guitars I've tried out that were $2-3000.

I love this guitar and am looking forward to getting it set up with new pickups. It has a lot more punch than my strat and plays almost as well. You can't beat these guitars, they are unique and can play with the best of them. There is no reason to spend more than $4-500 on a strat IMO when guitars like this are available. It's probably the best strat style guitar for the money and should become more and more collectable as time gores on. MIJ strats are good too, but these are unique and better quality.

Tele style Black nice white binding rosewood fretboard

absolutely like a tele should --- I feel like I could play with Roy Buchanan, Danny Gaton, and Al Anderson with absolutely no qualms about my axe

I tweaked the set up some both for action and intonation --- this guitar was a true closet classic, came to me in virtually untouched condition --- now it's just perfect

stays in tune better than any other guitar i have

these guitars are my favorite live playing instruments

this is vintage guitar - way out of any possible warranty

this is my 3rd 400 Series tele

I had previously really regretted letting my 1st very early serial number 400 series tele go because it had been the best guitar I ever used for live work.

But I have a new love . . . this slightly later example with the white binding and rosewood fretboard is my favorite electric guitar to play . . . there is something that just makes me find whole new worlds to explore when I pick it up.

I've been playing over 40 years and have played just about everything there is to play . . . my second favorite guitar is my '62 gibson

1985-87. Japan ?,USA?.22 frets.stratocaster look and feel. V-neck,maple board,5-way toggle switch,3 knobs,v,t,t.3 single coils.Body alder?.Black gloss body,black logo, no gold in logo.serial# 00281.left handed guitar.Vintage bridge,no stamped ESP inside string saddles.Gotoh deluxe vintage style tuners.Vintage thin fret wire.

Playing lots of different styles, rock , amp'ed acoustic and also heavy sometimes.Marshall tsl 100 tube head, marshall 1960 lead cab.I run a RP-1 multi-proc or a pod depending on the guitar. This guitar seems to beg for the pod.It was almost impossibly noisy strait to the stack.Processed however, ended the noise issue(noise gate).The pod seems to allow the impossible.Being a single coil guitar, it still remains ballsy in the low end.Being maple fretboard, it had a bright,punchy mid and the highs needed calmed down on the amp side.

Set up very solid,slightly high action but easily adjusted to it.I don't think the bridge is set up right, at least that is what i heard about the 400 series.Very nice though,overall a very well built instrument.

Dependable on any level,good hardware.Being a black guitar, black paint seems to do strange things. Ghost jagged lines in finish under certain lighting. Still a beauty though.

never dealt with ESP before.

28 years of playing.les paul custom 69 stratocaster JH tribute,Jackson ps-2,washburn strat with floyd Rose,Ltd, M-50, mexi Fender Telecaster and a nylon string classical.I wish i bought a couple back in the day and took great care of them.They are sweet guitars(400 series).I can tell you this much, this guitar holds it's ground compared to any guitar i own.Very distinct tone.

I have two, and I've had many before (I also have an ESP 400 Tele). They were all made in the 80s in Japan. I kept only 22 fret versions, and I much prefer rosewood personally, so I only have one maple left. The tremolo routing was a bit off on one of mine, so I had to put on a non-original block to free it from the wall. The other I changed bodies to a superlight poplar and converted it to a hardtail with a TailFeatherz unit (love them). Weighs about the same as a Parker Fly trem now. The original pickups are terrific, but I put in Fralins anyway. Now for the beef. THIS IS THE BEST VINTAGE-STYLE STRAT EVER MADE. Did you hear me? THE BEST VINTAGE STRAT EVER MADE. These necks are simply the best designed, straightest-wooded, slinkiest mothafuckas ever. I have two custom Tom Andersons that are inarguably a cut above in terms of pure guitar perfection, but the feel is completely non-vintage, and these 400s feel even slinkier than they do anyway. If you have a chance to own one in good shape, neck-wise, don't hesitate.

Classic Strat tones. Mine have good bodies, and the necks are the point anyway. Make the sound what you like.

The nuts and small frets are capable of producing the lowest action of any guitar I've ever played and ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. I've had at least ten 400s, and they've all been dreams.
I give them a 10 for being the best action, but I have to admit, the vintage finishes often don't impress me. Not G&L for sure.

They're all as solid as any other Strat.

These are vintage instruments. Out of warranty, not factory supported. You're on your own. : )

COUNTING MOJO, THE BEST FENDER SCALE GUITARS EVER, IMHO. I've been playing forever (though recently rejuvenated), and I've now owned and/or played everything worth trying. My final set is all Andersons, ESP 400s, vintage German archtops (Fender-scale, also), and a couple of FrankenTeles I made (one ebony scalloped, one hollow w/padauk), . ESP 400s are my #1 favorite. And at these prices, they are by far the best value.

Hey all you 400 Series Freaks!! In 1986 I purchased for $250!! A "Surf Green" (although has opal-essent overtones) 1 Dbl-Hum, One knob, Maple/Maple, Strat copy. I belive it to be a prototype (4-dig ser.#). Black w/gold shadow logo. I am the second owner. Could be an '85?? Have looked for years to find out any info based on ser#. If anyone knows how to obtain, please share... Peace!!

Sounds killer through solid state amps. P/Us are too hot for Marshalls.

The most eye-candy finish (in the light) I have ever seen. Bridge was set-up for .10s and stays in tune pretty well overall.

Would not gig w/because of potential rareness.

N/A

Been playing gtr 20+ yrs. Drums are native instrument(30+yrs) Les Pauls are my main axes. This was my first "real" guitar, bought right out of high school. Still plays amazing. Smoother neck than a ton of USA Strats that I have played!!!

hey.here is my little storry how i found my favorite Axe.
was hanging around in my local guitar shop.One day,Henning the sales mann(and prof player) was playing some nice SRV and Jimmi things,on a candy apple red 400 ESP.He was talking about the great tone the things had,and I agree.at that time I Was allreddy in love.the next day I Whent down and bought it(338$),right in front of his nose.
today I use it ewery time i hawe a gig.I play some old and nev stuff
with my band.the guitar newer vent down on mee,and i'm verry happy for it.

I like the great clean "Strat"sound when I play some Shadows,Dire-straits.It also get a great sound together with my blues dewille 4X12,loaded with some custom Hi-gaine tubes.on that level I play most of my tones,its like the axe playing by it self,and the sound is very crunchy....yeah Yeah I love that Texas sound.Thank you Stevie Ray.

The guitar is adjustet to the lowest action of all the strats (4ps)I have.I`we been studdy some history about necks,and found out that this example has a 1962 curwed rose-wood fret board,with tinny fretwire in poor shape.I have to replace them in near future.but it still plays with out lousing its tone.I think i`we use medium fretwire next time.the poorly plastic saddle is replaced with new in brass.That works.on the others i use bone saddle,that allso works fine.

I love the finish, it begins to look older now.
I will play that thing in any gig,without worry.

I`m happy to repair by my self,when something not working.Bye the way,Henning stil like my vissit in the factory.He allredy got some great guitars.

My play tools.
One Fender Quardwerb,One Fender Blues Dewille.too many pedals.
Line-six POD used in my home studio.My wife hang me if I whrite more.

I purchased this guitar (used) in May, 1998.

Vintage 1954 Stratocaster copy (S454).
Body: 2-tone sunburst
Neck: 1-piece maple neck, V-shaped w/21 frets, 1 string tree, gold & black ESP decal
Pickups: 3 single-coil
Pickguard: single-ply, white
Controls: 1 volume, 2 tone
Tremolo: Standard tremolo, stamped saddles (ESP)
Tuners: 'kluson' tuners

If you covered-up the headstock you'd never know you weren't playing a vintage Fender. Electronics are connected using black & white cloth-covered wire.

It sounds like a strat. Not a great strat, and not a lousy strat.

No flaws. All parts fit properly. Finish is nice & glossy. Neck finish is not as glossy, but looks/feels fine. Playability was fine from the beginning. I liked this guitar right away. Almost 6 years later it's still one of my favorites.

I did have to replace the stock pickup selector switch: it was noisy/scratchy. I took that thing completely apart (It's encased in a black box) and cleaned it real good.....but it was still noisy. All other electronic components work flawlessly.

I'd E-mailed ESP regarding these (400 Series) guitars. They responded (nicely) that they have very little information regarding these guitars (400 Series).

I've searched the internet but was unable to find any really good data regarding the ESP 400 Series, so I searched thru my extensive collection of old Guitar Player & Guitar World magazines. Here's what I found.

There were 2 batches: The 400 Series, and The Traditional Series.

ESP (Electric Sound Products) 400 Series guitars were manufactured in Japan during the 1980?s. The 400 Series were named for their suggested list price: $400.00. They made excellent copies of vintage Stratocasters, Telecasters, Jazz, and Precision basses. The earlier batch of 6-string (400 Series) guitars had a black & gold ESP decal on the headstock, 21 frets, and ESP stamped on the saddles. The later Traditional Series had a solid black ESP decal, 22 frets, and blank (non-stamped) saddles. The Fender copies might not have been produced beyond 1987-1988. There is no evidence that they were manufactured in the 1990?s.
The first batch (of strats) was: S454 (2-tone sunburst w/maple neck & single-ply pickguard), (S465) 3-tone sunburst w/rosewood neck & 3-ply ?green? pickguard. Telecasters were: T453 (blonde, maple board), T463 (3-tone sunburst w/rosewood board). Precision basses: P457 (2-tone, maple) and P464 (3-tone, rosewood): and the J464 Jazz bass (3-tone, rosewood.). The S454 and T453 had one-piece ?V?-shaped necks.

The later Traditional Series had ?U?-shaped necks. Other standard (no extra charge), appropriate-vintage ?Custom Colors? offered were: Black, Olympic White, Lake Placid Blue, Surf Green, Candy Apple Red, etc., and J464?s in Metallic blue or red w/matching headstocks. Prices around 1986 were $495.00 for guitars and $550.00 for basses. Double-bound ?Tele Custom? bodies cost an extra $75.00. They all featured period hardware, vintage replica bridges and saddles. They feel, play, and sound like the real things, and aside from the headstock shape, the only noticeable difference from a vintage Fender was an extra fret ? 22 instead of 21. Locking tremolos, locking nuts, and Humbucking pickups were neither standard, nor optional, on the 400 Series models.

i bought this F 400 second hand from a pawn shop for about 150$,15 years ago looks like a 50/60's strat replica,but boy it sounds better than most american fenders i tryied!possibly alder body,maple neck(beautiful)very dark,i assume rosewood,fretboard,tipical 60's fender strat frets,vintage tuners,3 single coils not much noisyer than any vintage strat,sound like SRV mexicans,all chrome vintage hardware ESP logos on all parts,headstock originally had ESP F400 series logo on it,but was gone when i bought it(it still show a bit though)floyd rose stile bridge,colour also been changed:now black,showing in some parts the original red(looks like the M.Knopfler strat red...is it apple candy?)....i have to give it a 9,because i didn't know it from knew,but i have fenders,and this is the best "fender i have)...oh,almost forgot:i can't date it,but the on the metal plate on the neck says ESP-N.Y.C.-MADE IN USA,& the serial number 7392,so maybe some of you guys's gonna be able to tell me how old she is

play kind of lo-fi heavy blues/rock in a trio,for heavier sounds i use some humbuckers,or this one with some pedals(mainly electroharmonix american big muff& deluxe memoryman) usually thru' soldano decatone 100, or Huges&Kettner warp....the guitar plays great,feels great,lot of sustain...late night/early morning i play it unplugged,makes me feel like i'm in the middle of eather pacific ocean or Arizona desert.....ok,s.coils noisy,but then if you go 4 a vintage strat you know what you get no doubt,a winner!

can't say about that,'cause it was used(and badly repainted by some dork)but i have to tell you,i hade it set up properly by a great Maestro,i didn't wanna change any part,and i don't intend to...besides,i need some noise

well,now we've been married for almost 20 years,after the last set up (3 years ago)i barely have to tune it after a few gigs(!) and change the strings (if she want to!) ok,i have to say that 1-i don't run around too much on stage &2-i never use the tremelo bar....still,it looks very solid and reliable...is not the only gtr i use,but not because i don't trust her,just need different gtrs.4different stuff

no warranty obviously...not totally impressed by customer service...they didn't even know they ever made this guitar...but maybe they are great with the new guitars try make,so i can't judge

i wish i could have met the guy who did the abismal paint job,just to open his skull and throw away the obviously useless brain...now i'm gonna sound like an asshole,'cause my favourite feat.is the colour...just wish it 've been made by a pro...love:everything...hate:nothing comparered to any other strat,she's the best,but i don't have all the gtrs in the world,therefore i can't say....she's my fave,i LOVE HER!...if it were stolen,i'd kill myself....

I don't know if this guitar is really a 400 series, and the Seller on ebay told me it is a one of a kind instrument, made in the mid-80s in the little Custom shop in Dusseldorf/ Germany. It has a black body, perhaps alder/ ash?! a one-piece maple neck and two humbuckers and a center singele coil in the middle. You can split the HBs with a pull on the tone-pot. The Hbs are Zebra-coiled, and the hardware is just black. So if you look at it from 10 feet - you might just see three single-coils - pretty cool! It's a tele, but it IS a versatile guitar! Maybe some of you can tell me more about this. I'm not an expert for esp...

I play a wide range of music in cover-bands, and i was looking for a good tele - because i've sold one (a fender USA) that i loved, and then i was looking for a tele as good as my first one! Let me say that i bought 4 teles (all US-made in almost 3 months and i sold them all: Because i found this one. IT'S AMAZING!!! shocking!!! It has INCREDIBLE sustain, geat balance, well defined tone, and a ultra-fast response!!! Every person, who played this guitar was amazed! What a steal! It's just like winning the jackpot ....

don't know the "factory set-up" because it's old now. To be honest, the action is a litte high for me, but on this one it doesn't matter! Maybe because of the ultra fat jumbos?! Ist has 010-048 strings now. Normally i prefer 009-042, but on this one i will use the 010-048 in future, becaue i don't want to change anything for the feel, playability or sound of this guitar...

don't know: I have this one just 10 days, and will take her on saturday to the first gig "together"! It feels, that it will last for ever.

I have no ned for it...

I'm playing guitar for 25 years up to now, I'm teaching and playing in several bands, and believe me: I've played almost any Guitar, made on this earth. I'm visiting the "Musikmesse Frankfurt" every year and i'm not shy and fuck them all... Tylers, PRS, Gibsons. This is a unique instrument, worth for the word "custom"! In every category it is better than my best fender i had - and this was also a very good instrument. Maybe she is soundig so unbelievable because she is still played over 20 years. I think a new-bought-never-played instrument can't sound as good as a "old bitch" that is played for decades! But however - this is one of the best teles - maybe the best (The fucked up 66er Tele in the local musicstore for 3200,-- Euro is a outstanding instrument too!)that i've ever played - and what a steal!!!