ESP EXP-300

I give it a 9 here for the pickups. Other than that I love the hardware. This is a solid, awesome sounding guitar. I can't imagine what it will sound like once I get some decent pickups on it.

It sounds great WITH the EMG-HZ's. A lot of bottom to it and clear, ringing notes when playing clean that have a soulful sound to them. I go from heavy riffs to acoustic sounds and I can't believe how good it sounds with both. Takes 2 min to get the perfect Metallica sound from this guitar. Once tuned, and the strings are stretched out, you can put your tuner on a shelf until you change strings. I've had this guitar in storage for 6 months before and took it out and attempted to tune it. No need whatsoever. I'd played it three months with those strings before I stored it, without tuning it once. I've never owned a guitar that kept tune like that.

I had to change the setup a little bit, but I think it was due more to personal preference than any need to do so. The finish on the guitar is flawless, BUT, some kid at Mars Music knocked it to the floor and broke the top fin clean off about 7 inches from the top. I'd love to get my hands on him (but he did save me a LOT of money :)). I have owned it for 5 years now and other than one ding that I put there by being stupid and the hair line crack at the repair spot, it looks new.

I love the action on this guitar. It's the most comfortable guitar I have ever had the honor to play. It just feels right and she'll do whatever you're capable of and ask for more.

Did I mention the sound? Blows me and anyone who plays the guitar away. I have a friend with a $5k guitar who's always trying to get me to let him borrow it for important gigs. :)

Definately rock solid. I have never had one single problem with this guitar. Ever. I don't expect to either. When I die I'll still own this guitar.

never had to deal with customer support...

I've been playing off and on for 20 years.

My first electric was a kramer, and I've had a couple of acoustics then bought an ESP about a year before I bought the Explorer. I paid 3 times the money for the ESP strat style but I really don't play it too much anymore. This explorer does everything I need it to do for now.

I play through a line6 setup right now with few effects.

Mahongany body, Rosewood fretboard(22jumbo frets) through-the-body neck 3-way switch, two knobs, one volume, one tone. Floyd Rose tremolo w/whammy bar. 2 EMG-HZ pickups (they are single coils in a humbucking housing)
After a month of wailing on this guitar, I like it. The fretboard is fast, the action is really good. The sustain is quite exceptional, I must say. This is coming from a guy who royally SUCKS as a soloist. It's almost effortless to get the notes to ring. If you want to play fast rhythms, the Explorer body seems to be one of the best for an armrest. It helps out tremendously.
I'm not keen on single coils, but I'll soon to be replacing these with either a pair of EMG-60s, EMG-81s, or one of each. But, it's o.k., it still sounds really nice.
I'm giving an 8, simply because of choice of pickups (personal) Other than that, I'd definitely give it a higher rating.

I'm using a Mesa-Boogie Triple Recto with a 4x12 cabinet. For effects, I use a Boss Tu-2, then a Boss NS-2....And I loop a Boss CS-3. Nothing fancy, just something to get all that feedback and noise that comes with bad grounds, small areas, loud volume, etc. It sounds fantastic. There are so many sounds you can get out of the EXP300 with it's 3-way and tone knob. I'm not sure if it's the guitar, the amp, or the combination of both, but you can definitely hear the 'Metallica' type sound. From the heavy riffs, to nothing else Matters, it seems to adapt really well.

I ordered this guitar through Musician's friend. When it arrived, I took it out, plugged it in, and proceeded to tune it with my Boss TU-2 (what a GREAT tuner, get this and you'll NEVER need another). To my surprise, it was tuned EADGBE to a TEE! I didn't have to touch the tuning pegs. I just jammed.
The pickups, well, I prefer mine a certain way, so I wouldn't know if they were "properly" adjusted. I believe that to be personal preference. But it did sound fine where they were.
The BLACK paint is so damn glossy, I spent an hour trying to get it to perfectly polished. And even then....well, you know what they say about black! There were no flaws.

This guitar is solid. The hardware is quality-shtuf. The finish seems quite thick. The strap buttons look to be solid also. ESP spells dependable, and yes, no backups' required.

LIFETIME WARRANTY.
Nothing wrong with that. I think ESP is a great company. Now if I can only get them to send me a damn catalog without paying $5.

16 years playing. I bought the amp I wanted BEFORE buying this guitar. If I had another $3000 to spend, I would have definitely bought an ESP JH-2. If somebody stupid bastard stole my guitar, yes, I would have to buy another one. I wish it had James Hetfield's autograph on it, but maybe I'll send it to his house, and he'll be kind enough to put his John Hancock on it for me. I LOVE this guitar. I've been wanting an Explorer for a long time. I've looked at GIbsons, Epiphone, and another one, but ESP, for the price and quality, I really don't think it can be beat.