Product: ESP EC-400KH Kelly Hayes Custom
Price Paid: $4700 (Singapore Dollars)
Submitted
05/11/2005
at
01:23am
by
Edward
Features
:
10
Made in 2005 by ESP Japan Custom Shop. Refer to http://www.espguitars.co.jp/artist/2005/cold/index.html for the specification. A common quote: Nothing is perfect. But Mine happens to be that perfect!
Sound
:
10
I use only a Digitech "The Weapon" to soundcheck. Truly I say to you... I am blown away. With the various options on The Weapon, I achieved the Blues, Bossa Nova, Clean Chicken Picking, Hard Rock and definitely Metal on a 15 Watt Marshall! I am a huge Arch Enemy, Children Of Bodom, Metallica fan etc... All I can describe... Terrifying Good For Metal!! Never have I heard such good pinch harmonics till I got Arachnophobia!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
I have good impression of standard ESP guitars way back where Metallica was using them for the ...And Justice For All tour. So I have no problem believing the ESP Custom Shop would do an even better job. I have no complaint here. All I did was to change my strings to my favourite DR Red Devils for rust-free playability.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Well as I've said this monster is truly solid. Now the life span of this creature will solely depend on the owner's dedicated love. Everybody knows the DOs and Don'ts. She is a heavy girl too, which is why mine includes the Schaller strap lock for serious headbanging. As quoted by Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield, if ESP guitars can survive a Metallica world tour, it can survive anything!
Customer Support
:
10
ESP Japan has been a long time good friend of mine. They are really a good bunch and friendly people. No doubt about their customer support. Superb. Cheers to my ESP Dealer too!!
Overall Rating
:
10
Wow... I own only guitars from ESP. I have several ESPs, Edwards, LTDs and Grassroots. Nothing short of fabulous. I am fine that it has simple features. Well that's made for Kelly and not me so no complaint here. Okay... my next stop: ESP Custom Shop 30th Anniversary Eclipse. Cheers.
Product: ESP EC-400KH Kelly Hayes Custom
Price Paid: US $2600
Submitted
03/17/2005
at
08:49pm
by
4matrix
Features
:
9
? Mahogany Body
? Hard Maple 3 Pieces
? 24 Frets Ebony Finger Board
? 648mm Scale (25.5?)
? Carbon Nut
? Set-Neck Joint
? Sperzel Trim-Lock Tuner
? Tonepros Locking Bridge
? String-thru-body
? EMG 81 Front and Rear Pickups
? 1 Master Volume, 1 Master Tone, Toggle PU Selector
? Half Mat Black colors with Graphic on body and neck
? Silver Spider on Body , 9 babies spider on neck with number 13 on 12th fret
The spider graphic is totally bad ass. I first saw this model in Tokyo over a year ago. It was on sale for around 4,000 $ US. No idea whose signature was on the guitar, I totally dig the look and the visual effect. The guitar stood out among other ESP crazy custom guitars.
Later on found out it was Kelly Hayes signature designed by ESP Custom Shop in Japan, I got an opportunity to pick one up in USA from one of the USA dealers. As far as the features and visual impact go, I would give it a 10 but there is no such thing as perfect 10, so I give it a 9 to keep it real.
Sound
:
9
Sound acoustically beautiful, the guitar?s design gives away visibly clue to vicious amplified sounds. I run this guitar through my new set ? up which is Laney GH100TI with Genz Benz Cap on B channel for the finest gain sound. The guitar produces devastated sound with only Master volume on 3 and Gain on 6. I also run it through Green amp 1224 head on High with everything on 12 o?clock. It is one of the sickest metal sound , period. The guitar?s visual impact accommodates the sound it produces which makes it much more than just another guitar with high ? gain amp.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
The guitar is flawless. Action, Fit and Finish are top rated. This guitar is not standard model. It is custom - made 1 at a time from ESP Japan Custom shop without any time constraint. The turn around time of each order is usually 6 to 8 months so they take times to perfect everything. The graphic paint on body is superb. The spider graphics on fretboard are so neatly done(each spider has 8 legs). The spider graphics blend into ebony board with super smooth feel.
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
9
ESP custom shop is one of the finest high-end guitar in the world. The dream can be made true with ESP custom made design. They make many of the sickest design and out of this world guitars you ever see. I always am the biggest fan of ESP since childhood. This guitar is definitely no exception. It is articulately put together with bold design and best materials you can ever find. I love Gibson Les Paul Custom, my old favorite, but ESP takes my metal world to another level.
