ESP EC-1000

made in korea (hard to believe when you play one..) quilted maple top with a mahogany body. see-thru black cherry finish... very striking. two volume controls, one tone control, three way toggle pickup selector. active emg 81 pickup set, tone pros locking stop tailpiece, 24 medium jumbo frets, sperzel locking tuners, beautiful abalone binding on body, neck and headstock. absolutely stunning looking guitar. this guitar is both ear and eye candy!!!

this is not the most versitile guitar, tone-wise. it does rock, hard rock, and metal really well. the emg 81 active pickups are very high output and have great definition and sustain. they are not the warmest pickups, but again, this guitar is a hard rock / metal machine as are most ESP made instruments. mine runs through a marshall jcm 2000 dsl 100 head into a 1960bv marshall cabinet with 30 watt vintage celestions. for effects, i loop my trusty old digitech dsp-21 legend through the effects loop for chorus, reverb, delay, eq effects. the distortion, of coarse, is all created by the gain stage of the marshall. i play 80's type metal... queensryche, metallica, deliverance, bride, metal church, armored saint, fates warning, megadeth, ect. this guitar provides great heavy rhythm and lead tones for this type of music. the sound is defined and clear with singing highs for those seering "rock star" solos and nice, tight bottom end for chunky rhythm work.

this guitar deserves a 10 in this category most of all. the overall construction of this guitar is superior to many american made fenders and gibsons i've owned. you will never believe how nice and playable this guitar is until you get your hands on one. i bought mine on ebay on the strenght of reviews i'd read and crossed my fingers. i couldn't be more pleased with this instrument. frets are nicely crowned and polished with no sharp edges, harware is solid, finish is top notch.

i've been fortunate to play this guitar for a few months now and i've come to depend on this guitar as my main instrument. for a back-up guitar i have an ESP LTD H-300 in see-thru black... it doesn't get much playing time as i can't put the EC-1000 down!!! it feels like a very solid ax and i can't imagine having any workmanship issues here.

the people at ESP are outstanding!!! they are quick to answer emails and even provided a special touch above and beyond any of my expectations.. thanks guys!! web site is informative, great so far!!

in 14 years of playing, i been through a LOT of guitars, both electric and acoustic. each one has had something i really liked about it, but i've continued to search for that elusive "dream guitar" for years. this guitar is the closest i've come. it combines the majority of the things i've liked about previous owned guitars. the only weakness is that, to my ear, this guitar doesn't do blues / jazz, or any really clean playing as well as a paul or strat, but it's not made for a "vintage" sound, it's made to rock... and that it does well! if you need a hard rockin' tone machine, this is your guitar!!

same as all of the above posts...

ooh man, where to start. even without an amp the guitar has a rich and full sound when strumming chordes. then in the amp the REAL seymore duncan pickups (jb/59, in the sunburst model) are so powerful sounding and crunchy and full, just thinking about it makes you wanna pick up ur guitar and dance. the earvana nut! another ingenious invention that only that late models have. you wil NEVER believe how nice it is to always be in tune.

perfect! the volume knob was a little scratchy but the people at teh store fized that before i took it home. (no problem)

everything yes yes yes. except i might replace the strap buttons, but no big deal.

never had to deal with the company.

ive been playing to about 5 years i have owned an epi les paul (which i ended up returning) and an ibanez. the pickups on this guitar blow me away. everytime i see this guitar i wanna play it. definately 10fastic.

Made in Korea, 2004 Model.
24 frets. Solid top. 2 volume 1 tone 3 way selector like les paul. EMG active 81 pick-ups. Solid Maple body with a rose wood fingerboard on a maple neck. Set -thru neck. Stop tail piece.
Sperzel locking tuners. Tone-pro's 2 bridge and tail piece.
Case was included with my pruchase price.
Loaded could not ask for anything else to be on this guitar short of strap locks

I play metal and this guitar is perfect for it.
I am using a peavey 5150 through a 5150 cab. Sonic maximizer 482i. No other effects needed.
Guitar has zero fret buzz very low action perfect setup. Sound is awesome no changes needed.

Action perfect pick ups set perfect not to low or to high. Bindings and finish on the guitar is perfect.

I have a few guitars a Hamer studio a Les Paul gothic an acoustic and another electric not worth mentioning. This guitar out shines the Les Paul completely. Weightless compared to the gibson sounds twice as good and loos beautiful. Before any spends 1500$+ on a gibson seriously consider the ESP competion

N/A

I have been playing for about 15 years. I do alot of research on the equipment before I buy it. And this guitar is perfect under a grand and worth over 2g's easy.

This has the best hardware and extras of any guitar of this price range. Locking Sperzel tuners, tonepros bridge/tailpiece, REAL seymour duncan pickups(JB/59) on the Amber sunburst model. V/V/T, 24 frets, EARVANA NUT!!!!!!! I wish it had two vols/two tones.. Oh well.

Perfect pickup combination for overall music styles. I might swap the bridge out... Right now I'm planning to get a Soldano amp and might just keep the stock JB.

This thing kicks ass. The Earvana does make a huge difference. Anyone who has played with a regular tuned guitar will shit their pants. Keep in mind that the perfect tuning only works when you tune regular. Drop D or anything else it will revert back to regular nut tunings. My guitar arrived flawless. Keep in mind that only newer 2004 models of the EC-1000 have the earvana nut. What out for thoese liars on ebay. I saw two auctions already where they list theirs as having the earvana nut when the pictures obviously to me doesn't have it. If you don't know if yours has the earvana it's easy. The earvana is definately obvious from a regular nut. The nut has 'block' like cuts out of the nut in different degrees. If you get one and it looks nothing different that you're used to...then you got one without the earvana. If you buy from a respectable dealer ask them about it. The box they ship in have the model and exact date they are packed. If it's not 2004 don't buy there. As for the finish end I can't find a damn thing wrong with it. I expect one or two flaws! NONE on this bitch! The inlays are super! I can barely pick out any fill on the inlays. I, at first, dreaded the flag inlays. I think they look gay. However, the price and features of the guitar made me ignore the inlays. Besides my other favorite guitar was the Schecter C-1+ and I thought those inlays were gay too. What does it take to get a company to make these guitars with normal block or dot inlays? Maybe that's how they get people to order from their custom line??? Ok, but now that I told you that, they aren't as bad as you think. One last thing.. I like how the vol/tone controls are recessed. If you ever had a guitar that doesn't have them recessed the knobs are cockeyed and alot of times they are cockeyed in different directions. If they took their time you could get a decent slant to them. Keep in mind that ones they drill the hole you are stuck with whatever slant they give to it!

Didn't have it long. everything is solid.

Sometimes they are good, other times not. I had an issue with another ESP I got recently(paramount exreme). The nut was fitted too far to the right causing my high E to barely have any room on the fretboard. They of course ignored me. Fuck em. I sent it back! their loss. This EC-1000 is held to higher quality standard. ..Anyhow, I was pissed at them and still had faith in them to get this one. I'm glad I did.

Since I got a price match I only paid $620 for this bitch. It's definately worth it! Price run down on parts: earvana $30, locking tuners $60, locking bridge/tailpiece $115, JB/59 seymour duncans $70/$65. That's $340 right there! Add the abalone inlays and all that extra fancy shit, set neck, mahogany body and you got a damn nice guitar! YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER GUITAR THAN THIS IN ITS PRICE RANGE. I got the last one in stock. I always feared the last one as being a demo or return. I sweat it until I opened the box. All there guitars are taped, Music123 doesn't open and retape them assuring me that they are factory fresh. It's a great feeling.

Everyone knows the layout of this axe--suffice to say, it kicks ASS!!

I bought the sunburst model with Seymour Duncan's (I also have the Blk. Cherry Emg loaded on the way) and this thing kicks!! The extra jumbo frets are f****'n amazing. Hammer on pull-offs are a breeze!!

I bought this guitar slightly used but mint condition. Had to perform minor T-Rod adjustment. Top is NOT bookmatched, but nonetheless, is a gorgeous instrument.

100% confident with the girl. Guy I bought it from put locking Schaller strap locks on. I've played 25+ yrs and this thing is solid.

Never dealt with them.

I've been playing 25+ years and this has gotta be one of the best guitars I have ever owned. This guitar in my opinion is underpriced.
I own 9 other high grade guitars, and although the least expensive,it is probably the BEST!!! The Looks, Hardware And most importantly--Playability is First Class! No wonder there is a waiting period to buy one of these in the music stores. My suggestion,,, BUY one of these-- you can't go wrong.

made in 2003---y'know the whole deal (furnished in dark cherry,quilt arched top, EMG pickups, abalone inlays, et. al), so I'm not gonna bother--it is a STUNNING INSTRUMENT, nonetheless!!! Go to the ESP website if you're curious--

I play in an alternative/hard rock cover band, so this thing definitely delivers--from clean, shimmery sounds to major chugga-chugga, this thing does it!! I use a Mesa Dual Recto 3-channel for gigging and a Marshall V65R for practice--it sounds great thru both!!!

the action was perfect, the assembly good, HOWEVER, the top strap button was loose--well, to be safe, I replaced both w/ a better set of black strap buttons w/ bigger screws--HAH!! That did the trick!! I've noticed in other reviews that's been a re-occuring problem nowadays--overall, it's a well-crafted instrument!!!

I just got the guitar today, so I haven't tested it out in gigging situations--however, I got band practice Monday night, so it should be fine!!! Finish and hardware seems to be solid--read my above comments regarding the strap buttons---I always gig w/ 2 guitars, but it looks like this thing will be my main one to do damage with--heh heh heh!!!

haven't had to do so--ESP has a great reputation for their instruments, so I trust I don't have to call 'em ever, unless it's in pieces!!!

I've been playing for well over 27+ yrs. I've had Gibsons, Ibanezes, Jacksons,Kramers,Hamers,Yamahas,Guilds, Ovations---- Currently I have another LTD, a H301 w/ EMG 89/85s (that's been my main guitar the last 3 years), A Jackson USA Soloist w/ EMGS, a Fender Seluxe Strat Plus w/ Lace Sensors and a Takamine Acoustic/electric--I was goona get either a Schecter C1 Elite, an Ibanez Iceman IC300 or RG421T, or save up more for a Les Paul Studio or Explorer--timing is everything!!! I was at the right place, at the right time!! If stolen, I'll just smack the crap outta the thief and force him/her to buy me another one!!! I adore this thing--the perfect Les Paul alternative--I totally lucked out, 'cuz I was gonna swap out the pick-ups for EMGS if I had bought any one of those aforementioned guitars, but why buy something expensive that'll make you afraid to gig out with??? This is the best bang-for-the-buck in my book, and I couldn't be more happier!!!

im n0ot in the habit of buying foreign products if i can help it,however i was in the gibson shop last month and spotted the ec 1000 and did a definate double take and had to get it down off the shelf for a look i wasnt guitar shopping that day butthe abalone caught my eye and the seymour duncan pick ups inticed me to plug er in .my mouth dropped open when i started playing this axe and realized it was the finest guitar {electric guitar} ive ever played,i really dont know what to expect from the 81s but i know i do like the bite with the seymour duncan single coil humbuckers.i admit i wanted a flashy guitar and got a very good sounding guitar as well.ive got the sunburst model and ordered a e.s.p. case which is nice but will be going back due to flaws in the workmanship on the case.i will be going to look at gibson guitars with a new perspective sgs and l.p.s but i think ive found the guitar that i can afford and be happy with the qualityand appearance

i play country music and have been using a peavy k.b.4 amp with a digitec effects processor rack type,it produces great sound and ive decided to order a s.w.r. accoustic amp a.s.a.p.{california blonde}.i was very surprized when i unpacked it and had to turn my volume way down on my amp to accomidate the seymour duncans.rock solid guitar with the set neck just makes sence to me.i did notice the abalone doesnt have the same shimmer on the bindings as the neck.

the action seemed great and the only thing i did notice was the intonation wasnt set properly and have been having some difficulty with setting i think due to thextrajumbo frets.allthe hardware on the guitar was well fitted and tight.the headstock could have shown a little more tiger on it and the top is not bookmatched but all in all i was impressed with the axe and couldnot afford more money on a guitar at the time,but feel i made a good choice.and dont have any buyers remorse! i payed 699.00w/o case.and am happy.

ive only had this guitar for a couple weeks and it seems rock solid,i am wondering how well the sperzel tuners will hold up.probably not but im just the type to bring more than one anyway.only time will tell on many of these questions,ill be looking at other e.s.p. products if they dont get carried away and raise prices thru the roof!i did buy a d-28 martin and they arent too bashful in the pricing dept.itoo am selling some guitars as a result of buying this guitar.

n/a

ive been playing for years but never really learned much till the last couple yrs.ive got a good p.a. system 1500 watt peavy g.p.s.amp and peavy fls e.q. and digitec effects in the rack.mackie mixer 12 channel just got a snake.black widow and scorpion speakers.i use sure sm 58s and got a couple sm57s i started doing karaoke gigs and am phasing all that out and and doing one man guitar shows in between karaoke gigs as my confidence increases ill get totally out of karaoke and go live performance,ive been asked to get in bands but preferr to go it alone.ic definately look at more esps and replace it.this guitar fits like a glove and is a pleasure to strap on. the bass response from this instrument is very impressive.

See though Black Cherry finish. Comes with EMG 81's in the bridge AND neck, 24 jumbo frets, quilted maple top on Mahogany body and neck, black hardware, TonePros locking bridge, Sperzel locking tuners, 24.75" scale (Same as a Les Paul.

Comes with nothing other than a small parts bag, warranty card, and ESP sticker (WOOO!) ;)

For the price and features, this thing is LOADED!

Ok...I've NEVER been an ESP, let alone LTD fan. I've mainly played Jackson Soloists and Les Pauls. I mainly play hard rock/ metal, and mess around with jazz on occasion. I've been using the guitar straight into my Boss BR1180 DAW and my Peavey 5150 combo. Through either I'm getting a tone uncomparable to my Les Paul or Soloist. Very deep, rich, and punchy. I was curious how the 81 would sound at the neck position, and it's surprisingly good. I would have preferred an 85, as the 81 does sound a bit thin for a neck pickup. As for my expectations, this is easily the best sounding guitar that I've owned!

I've always stayed far away from ANYTHING Korean made. (I know that sounds pretty narrow minded, but when I started playing back in the early 80's, the few guitars coming from Asia were absolutely horrible!) To my surprise, this guitar is darn near flawless. The action was set fairly decently, although I like it a bit lower, which I adjusted very easily. I'm SUPER picky about finish flaws, and there were very few to be found on mine. The binding appears to have been applied before the dye, and you can see some overlap of the dye on the binding. The abalone was done very nicely. (I originally hated the abalone, but it's starting to grow on me.) The quilt is fairly figured, but isn't as dimensional as other guitars I have. All of the hardware is top notch, and seems perfect. The only real concern I have is that there are a few frets that are less than perfect. The 14th fret appears to have been filed down quite a bit, and seems to be the only dead spot on the neck. Down the road I'll probably have the frets redone to fix this. Not a show-stopper, but a minor annoyance.

Due to the quality hardware this thing comes loaded with, I'm very confident it will last. Since it's a fixed bridge, breaking a string doesn't concern me nearly as much as it does with my Floyd equipped guitars. Time will tell...

I've never had to use them. My local dealer states they have problems contacting their rep, so I hope that's not indicative of their service. Since it has a lifetime warranty, I hope they'll be there if I need them!

Been playing for nearly 20 years now. I've still got my Jackson SL-2H, a Peavey Wolfgang, and a Les Paul Standard.

I should tell you that I bought this axe to be my "knockaround" axe that I could abuse and not feel bad about. After spending nearly a month with it, I've come to realize it's become my favorite axe! I'm a big fan of 'value', and this thing reeks of it! I've begun to seriously think of selling an axe or two, since I can't justify having seriously expensive guitars collecting dust while I play my EC. This guitar was a real revelation for me. I keep thinking that there has to be a catch with this thing. For the money, it seems that they could charge quite a bit more and still be justified.

Originally, I was looking for another Les Paul to use for recording, but I really have a problem with Gibson charging so much money for a guitar that's remained unchanged. What is Gibson doing to their guitars that makes them so damn expensive? If I bought a Les Paul standard, swapped out the pickups for EMG's, replaced the bridge and tuners, I'd be well over $2000!

Most importantly, this is the best playing axe I've ever played. The neck is just perfect for me. Not too thin, not too thick. Even playing it without being plugged in, notes and chords resonate throughout the body.

Dislikes? Well, I wish they offered a few other color choices. I dig the cherry, but there's only Amber Sunburst and black as the other two, and I'd snag another in a hearbeat if they made something else more interesting. Like I said, I'm not a big fan of abalone, so I wish they offered it with just plain white binding.

Other than that, I'm tickled with my purchase. For the money you really can't go wrong.

Smooth neck, lightning fast action, emg's and Hardshell case, Abalone binding with model name at the 12th fret. Perfect weight, not to heavy but built solid.

I play many styles of music and this guitar is appropriate for all of them. I must add that i have a Johnson Millenium amp which is a modeling and emulation amp. But this guitar has a very rounded tone, The EMG's make it especially suited for rock and heavy metal

Hands down, the most beautiful guitar i have seen. Abalone all the way around the body and up the neck with model name at 12th fret. Action is smooth and lightning fast.

I searched about 6 stores and checked out hundreds of guitars. There was a toss up between a couple guitars until i saw this one. Once i played and looked it over, it was in my car in about 15 minutes. It was that easy. Pictures on the net and in magazines do not do this guitar justice. Just go check one out and you will see what i mean. Expecially the one i got, (see thru black cherry finish) its gorgeous. Lightning fast action, slim neck. This guitar feels very comfortable strapped on.

so far so good, i have only had this for 7 months.

N?A

I have been playing about 18 years, own Jackson, gibson, fender and washburn guitars. Johnson Millenium amp and marshall cabinets. I would always want to have this guitar in my collection, so if something did happen to it, i would replace it

This is a 2002 korean made guitar. 24 frets. Gorgeus black finish. 2volume controls and 1 tone controll. dual emg 81active humbucking pickups. mahogany body and neck with rosewood fretboard. It's a singlecutaway. tune-o-matic bridge with a stop tailpeice. Locking tuners they are sperzel i believe. the neck is awesome a little thinner than a strat and it has jumbo frets. mine came with a hardshell case whigh is also very nice. the only difference i would'vesaidwas to make the battery compartment bigger becasue not all batteries will fit in it. so i give it a 9.

it suits my style perfectly i like metal and hard rock/alternative music.janes addiction,black sabbath,godsmack,guns and roses ect...I use a jcm 800 2205 combo with it and a dunlop crybaby from hell. it can get noisy but not usually doesn't feedback easily. very rich and thick sound can get kind of bright when you roll thevolume back. I would preffer it to be an emg 81+85 becasue the neck and bridge pickups sound the same.

it was setup great at the factory. perfect intonation and tuning. pickups where right on the button i adjusted the action a tiny tiny bit becasue i like it high. and it contained no flaws.

it will withstand years of liveplaying becasue since i've had it i have hit it on a chair in my bedroom twice and ti hasn't even scratched the paint. it seems like the finish will last though it smudges easily and i need to polish it a lot and the polish could wear throught the paint easy. the strapo buttons are solid no need for straplocks with the leather strap oi got. i would use it in a non paying gig without a backup but not a paying one.

i have never dealt with the company so i can't say.

i have been playing for about 3 years my other guitar is a modded squier strat i have a jcm 800 and a dunlop crybaby from hell and once i pay off the last of this guitar i'm buying a boss super overdrive and phaser. i wish it had an 85 though in the neck position becasue like i said earlier it sounds the same in briddge and neck. i compared it to a gibson sg special anda gibson les paul special faded and this one was the best.