ESP F-200

this is a follow up on a review 2 down from this.

I finally got my active EMG-81 installed, way better than the orginal pickups, but this thing still sucks ass. Before I rip into this guitar let me say that my favorite guitars are all various ESP models so I HATE to have to rip this guitar apart, but I must be honest.
The guitar looks cool as shit finish is great but the thing sounds like ass. I mean I just spent 300.00 bucks on getting emg-81 installed and getting the hole thing setup by a Pro. And it still sucks. The sound is thin still doesnt have much gain, and is very brittle / twangy sounding. This is do to the floyd rose bridge I believe You can always hear the springs going TWANG. I had this thing setup by a pro and the springs just dominate the tone, clean and overdrive. I dont get it I have a esp ex-100 with the same pickups afterburner even the same wood basewood body & maple neck bolted on, And my ex-100 (explorer copy) just sounds so thick and so full of gain with the afterburner off! Not to mention the most important thing it sounds so WARM. My f-200 sounds so brittle and harsh, it sucks. Okay maybe it would sound okay if you used some digital pedal in which case you will never hear your guitar just digital processed shit. But if you play on high end gear ( mesa dual rectifier ) which will take the tone from your guitar and then fuck with it and not cover it up, this thing sucks.

Overall I wish it sounded good, because I like the feel and looks.
But I think any cheap guitar with a floyd rose has the potential to sound like ass because of the spring noise problem. I talked to a guitar shop Pro guy and he says some of these cheap pieces hide the spring noise and some dont. Bottom line try one before you buy it because you Might find a good one. But be prepared to fork over big bucks for pickups because the stock ones suck. If I did it again I would not be such a cheap skate and buy the esp ec-1000 ( black one ) at 800.00 dollars that comes w/ emg-81's and a fixed bridge and a case & would have a better guitar for less money. I mean think about it 450.00 plus 300.00 pickups equals shitty guitar, sorry I mean 750.00 with no case.

If any one can tell me how tho solve this spring / tone problem please email me at KISTING@msn.com before I sell this beautifull piece of shit. No spam please!!

basic model yr 2000 frets sucked ..pickups sucked.. s/s h/ .stopped workin after 3 days. passive electronics hz pups....no sound at all when it worked it tottaly sucked no tone in p/ups at all!!!!!!!!

there was NO SOUND!!! IT TOTTALY SUCKED THIN TINNY NO GAIN NO TONE AT ALL....i got it as a present.....and the store wouldnt even return it ....hated it

bad bad bad the frets were sharp cut my hand on em....he pickups couldnt be adjusted any way to make them sound better they just SUCKED !!!! IT WAS BLACK LOOKED LIKE THEY MISSED THE PRIMER COAT U COULD SEE THRU TO THE GLUED TOGETHER WOOD BODY YUCK!!!!

THIS GUITAR SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO SELL IT WAS A JOKE PS IT DID FALL APART NO SOUND AT MY FIRST GIG NO SERVICE FROM THE STORE EITHER

I TALKED TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ESP JOSE SOMETHIN AN HE WAS A DORK......GAVE ME A BUNCHA NEW YORK STYLE ATTITUDE I BASICALLY ENDED UP TELLIN HIM HIS GUITAR IS GOONA GO OFF THE BRIDGE HERE IN VANCOUVER.....HOPEFULLY IT DOESNT FLOAT CAUSE NOONE DESERVES THIS THING.....I ENDED UP GOIN TO A LOCAL GUITAR STORE BEEN AROUND HERE FOREVER WESTCOAST MUSIC....THEY SOLD ME AN EXCELLENT BC RICH GUITAR ...GREAT SERVICE TOO

BEEN PLAYIN FOR LIKE 25 YRS
ID NEVER BUY ANYTHIN FROM ESP OR TOM LEE MUSIC AGAIN WHAT A NITEMARE THE NEW ESPS ARE OVER PRICED JUNK

I just bought this guitar from musicians friend for $450.00, its got 24 frets 25.5" scale, licensed floyd rose tremlo, and (2) EMG HZ4 pickups, and a afterburner circuit.

I give it a "9" because it comes with the HZ pickups instead of the real ones.

OK, it looks great but when I plug it into my MESA dual rectifier half stack, I was like where did all my gain go? (distortion for all of you non-tube amp guys) Normally I play on a ESP EX-100 with EMG-81
and this thing just kills. When I pugged in my F-200 it just plain sounded like ass, no output on the pickups at all. It did have alot of bass though a good dark sound. But there was no I was able to get any amount of gain with this thing, it sounded twangy when I hit power chords. These have to be the worst pickups I have ever played through except for the stock ones that came with my ESP EX-100.
The difference between these pickups and the real pickups is like night and day. And a bit of info for all the others that gave reviews on this thing, HZ4 pickups are not active, yeah the only thing that is active on this guitar is the afterburner circuit. Trust me I have Installed a EMG-81, a EMG-85, and a afterburner on my ESP EX-100.

Bottom line you need to get new pickups with this thing, because it has NO TONE with the pickups it comes with!!!!!

Oh yeah I play like the heavy music imaginable, so I need distortion, for those of you who like to play clean all the time may like this thing.

Fit And finish pretty good overall. Paint job was superb mine is evil black. But the fit was just good, there was a few rough spots on the neck, which kind of sucks.

You need a backup do to the floyd rose tremlo.
Like you already didn't know this.

I hope I dont have to deal with them.

I have been playing for quite a few years now, this thing sounds like ass with the pickups it has on it. It does look kick ass, handles very well playing standing up (it justs sits there sweet!) and it has a fast neck. I am sure once I install a pair of EMG-81 it will just burn the place down with searing gain (distortion) and sustain and most importantly TONE!

I give it a "8" because you need to install REAL EMG pickups in it to make it sound good.

This Is an ESP F-200 made in Japan don't know what year. 24 extra jumbo frets, 2 EMG HZ humbuckers, Floyd Rose Double Locking Trem System(I replaced mine with an original Floyd Rose, But the original is fine), 1 volume, 3 way toggle, EMG afterburner(Kicks Ass), basswood body, maple neck (bolt on), rose wood fretboard. I don't think I forgot anything.Oh yeah, a tone knob might be nice, but I never really use the ones on my Strat or Les Paul. All in all, great!

First off...HOLY SHIT! This thing ROCKS!!! I play mostly every metal but Nu-Metal crap(Metallica, Pantera, Tool, Maiden, ect...), although in the past year I've been playing alot of blues rock(Clapron, Stevie Ray, Hendrix).I'm Playing through a Kustom 200W half stack(Soon to be Randall 200w) and a Marshall 15w combo. This guitar rocks for all styles of music. I've even rocked out a couple ballads on this! Very versatile. Effects-Cry baby, DOD Death Metal, Zoom 606,Ibanez Fat Cat, and a Boss acoustic simulator. Pickups, even though they are passive, are surprisingly high output. Screaming Harmononics, Crunchy, yet still melodic and full. Excellent.

Plain Black, Great body shape(kinda like a strat gone wrong). The action is super low and quick. The only minor problem is the input jack nut comes loose sometimes. A quick tightening and your good to go.

Never given me a problem. I've dropped this thing once or twice...solid as a rock. Not even a paint scratch!! I 've used thing on stage and there's never been any need for a backup(Not that I didn't bring one, cuz anything can happen).

Never had to deal with them.

I've been playing for some years now, and I have found the guitar that i would make a signiture series out of(If I ever got famous enough). If this was ever stolen or lost, first I would cry, then beat the shit out of whoever took it. The thing that I love most about it is it's amazing versatility and tone. This is a guitarist's wet dream (joke).

24 jumbo frets with arrow inlays
Volume control and a after-burner control
2 active Humbucking Emg HZ 4 pick-ups
Basswood body with a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard
Gloss black finish
Gothic double cutaway
Floyd Rose bridge
Came with a strap and strap locks

I like to play heavy metal and hard rock with a bit of blues sprinkled in and this guitar kicks ass with the active emg hz pick-ups!
I use a peavy bandit 100 watt amp.
There is no hum from the guitar when it is turned on and you are not playing.

The action was set up perfectly when I recieved it. The action was nice and low prefect for shredding.

There was no flaws.

I would play live with it but if you break a string with the floyd rose it will take a little while to change. The hardware and finish seem built to last...no need for a pick-guard!

I've been lucking, I've never needed customer support.

I've been playing for about 10 years.
If it were lost or stolen I would buy one again.
I love the body shape, it is very confortable to play. The 24 frets are easy to play and the floyd stays in tune when you dive-bomb. All in all I think every rock guitarist needs at least 1 F-200 in their collection.

24 frets titanium grey finish.
floyd rose trem
emg h-z pickups

It sounds good. I play metal so it suits me well. we also mees aorund with some reggae but it sounds good. It even sounds good clean!

The finish is great.
There is a little bit too much tension on the strings but ill get that looked at.

Havent gigged with it

dont know

i like this guitar alot the body is thin and it souns goooooooood.

OK, i've read some of the other reviews on this guitar, and they all dote on the fact that it looks sexy. it looks very sexy, which is what drew me to it. It's a basswood body, with a standard scale neck, rosewood fretboard, maple neck, and active EMG HZ humbuckers. It's got a EMG afterburner in place of the tone knob. This is a comfortable guitar to play, as a result of the positioning of the shape of the body. It has a Floyd Rose tremolo, and i've never experienced more of a pain in the ass. I'll explain later.

I play metal and blues. This guitar, when it works, is a very nice guitar. I don't have a lot of money for effects, or largish amps, so i have a little piece-o-crap fender frontman at home, and for band practice i'm using a Peavey 212 something or other. I really only use clean, and distortion with it. I'm a meat and potatos kinda guy, so i don't like little frilly electronic techo puss effects. i also like to have tonal clarity, and this guitar, once again when it works, is the shit. I get a pretty average sound out of it, usually it's nice, but my acoustic Oscar Schmidt still kicks the shit out of it. The sound when compared to other electrics makes me happy i bought it, so it isn't a crap guitar.

HA. see the next section for information on this.

My big huge huge complaint with it is the Floyd Rose tremolo system, and the neck. They say with the Floyd Rose it will stay in tune all the time, no matter what u do with it. This is Bullshit. My acoustic, and the Harmony i found in the alley stay in tune more consistantly than this. The Floyd Rose trem on this guitar is a cheaper version of the real thing, which is more expensive, but i don't like it any better. If i drop my D the rest has to be checked, because it will frequently change the tone due to the change in tension on the E string. If i lose a string while playing, i damn well have another guitar handy, because this will instantly detune completely, and i'll have to tune the rest of the guitar again. Tuning it normally is a pain in the ass, because i have to to have a allen wrench with me all the time. It's more hassle than it's worth. AND if i want thicker strings i need to take it in so that the trem tesion can be adjusted, so that the guitar doesn't fly apart. I kid you not, EVERYTHING gets shot to hell when i change the gauage of strings, the neck warps, the bridge i have found on some days to be at an almost 90 degree angle with the body, etc etc.

In any humidity the neck warps like nothing else. My buddy, and fellow guitarist in my band was over at my house jammin, and noticed how deep the tone was. And i had never noticed it being like that, so i look at the neck from the top, and i sez "Holy shit" i give him to look at it again, he sez "Holy shit, dude it's so warped u could shoot an arrow off that thing!" The neck and action always need to be adjusted, very frequently. Right now the neck is twisted. They did nothing right in terms of durability, i had to readjusted it for it to play right. Reliability with this guitar is a joke.

They damn well better be stars in this catagory. Tom from ESP was very helpful, and said to ship it to them, and if they can't fix it, they'll replace it. It being the neck.

I've been playing for three years, and as a result of this guitar, i cannot change the strings of any guitar without flinching. it is not healthy for you. it will blow them out as soon as u get em in. stringing is a major project, sometimes takin mor than an hour.

When i get it to work it is a kick ass guitar, and i can forgive myself for buying it, because it is really a nice guitar. U have to be prepared to pay for the guitar in stress, and pain, from string blowouts when it isn't adjusted properly. Get adjusted properly, and it will love you, but it is tempramental... Beware, u have to be ready to deal with the shit for it to sound good. I will repeat myself no more. I wish the neck weren't so funky, and if this were broken or stolen, i'd look for something else as good, or better, but if i couldn't find/afford anything else i'd buy a new one.

This is absolutely the most awesome guitar I have had the priveledge to play yet alone own. I actually have the FB-200 which is the baritone version and I have never seen for sale, I bought it used for 350, but retail it is 850, and list is like 1100, the controls are given (volume, afterburner(<--great for turning up a clean part or effect sound), 3-way selector
Pickup configuration is Dual Humbucks, both EMG HZs, they're the 75s I believe.
Body and neck woods are Basswood body, and maple neck
Finish is black, I would have prefered titanium but I got it used so whatever.
Body style is as ESPs website says-best described as broken glass.
Bridge style (Tune-O-Matic through body)
Gotoh tuners baby!
Neck/Scale is long for barintone, I believe it's 27 1/2

This definately suits my style for looks and sound. It has the best tone I have ever heard, I would not trade it for the highest priced Gibson. It is never noisy and with the EMG humbuckers it always sounds like it has brand new crisp strings, it's truly amazing. Also great for overtones when you have the afterburner on. The only thing I wish it had would be a tone nob so I could pull some bassier less toned sounds out of it. (to tell you the truth sometimes it sounds too good for it's part, hehe)

I treat it very well so I don't know if the finish would flake off if thrown accross the stage or something, but it looks great, and hasn't chipped or anything and I gig with it all the time which means it still does get smacked a little.

I would definately gig without a backup especially since it's baritone and I use 13-56 strings, so it's not like they're gunna break. It lasts no problem.

Have no idea about customer support, I bought it used so it'd probly be hard to work with. But I KNOW that I'll never need it anyhow.

I've been playing about five years, own a ibanez hunk o' junk and a neckthru takamine custom. Never played a guitar I like more than the FB-200.

I'm sure you've read all about the features from the other reviews, so I won't go into that. It has everything I need in a guitar.

I play heavier music, and this guitar can definitely ROCK!!! From Tool to Korn to System of a Down and sounds crystal clear when you want it clean. Can even get good jazz and blues tones out of it.

I've played through many amps and it always sounds great.

Everything was set-up perfect. Love the design and feel.

I don't gig, so I'll leave this one blank. However, I have never had even the slightest bit of trouble using it at my house. I wouldn't have any worries at all if I decided to start gigging.

Never had any problems, so I wouldn't know.

I've been playing for about ten years. For the cost of this guitar, I gaurantee it's the best out there for light rock to hard rock to straight up metal.

If it were lost or stolen I would run out and get another one the very same day. (and if I ever found the person who stole it... wow, they'd be in a world of hurt!!)

this is a 2001 model, 24 frets dunno where it was made. probly taiwan or wherever all the big brands produce their budget products. controls are volume, 3 way pick up selector and a "afterburner."
the AB is battery powered and boosts the output signal by 30? 40? dB... i can't be bothered to look it up cos i dont even use it. i play mainly distorted or very clean so i dont find it useful. it is enough to dirty up a clean channel if u wanna do blues or clapton sort of stuff and are too pov for the right gear. i can't hear any difference with/without it when i am completely distorted.
the pickups are EMG-HZ. they are passive but i like that.. no batteries to mess aroudn with and i dont notice the diff tween active/inactive/tube/nontube yet.. i've only been playing 3 years.
i dunno what hte body is made of offhand.. look on the ESP site..
the body style is best described as "broken glass." curvy and a bit pointy/perky and VERY sexy :oP still very comfortable to play tho.
the bridge is a floyrose licensed one. double-lockingc etc. the neck is not as thin as say the ibanez's or jacksons. it is about halfway between the latter and my fender squier. thick enough for chording but also very agile for "shredding" and legato etc. anyone who plays this guitar without fail says "maaan... u got a nice guitar here!"
sum ppl might want a tone pot... i dont care really.. i luv the sound i have. and i just mess with amp/pedal settings a tiny bit if i need different. 8 cos most guitars have tone pot. if u dont care about that then 10. (and i dont care :)

i play mainly metal/prog rock/rock. i can do metallica to dream theater to led zep to ummm i dont play much lighter than that haha.
it can sound like metallica - One of the interlude in Puppets. if u like that kind of clean then its perfect. if i use the neck pickup and fiddle with the afterburner i can do bluesy sounding stuff like clapton or SRV. but please dont buy this guitar for blues. its basically a rock->metal tool. i use this with a Hughes and Kettner 100 watt ATTAX series amp. on bridge pickup its great for shimmery/simple clean like One verses or any clean stuff in Dream Theater.middle pickup is ur general rock tone, like if ur gonna play GnR or ACDC or that kinda thing. and neck pickup is best for lead kinda sound. or for Obituary (if u know them) hehehe. all the PUs are great sounding. the bridge especially makes it very easy to do Zakk Wylde impersonations with easy artificial harmonics everywhere.
dont buy this guitar for pure blues, surfbilly, 60's rock, anything where the guitarist uses a Gibson.. better off with the real thing i guess. but if u like any 80's/90's rock/metal then this guitar is for u!

the guitar was set up in the shop. dunno how it came in the transport. u shouldnt expect guitars to survive transport tuning and all!! theres such things as humidity and temperature changing!!!
i havent needed to change the pickup heights. ppl say floydroses are bastards to use/tune but this is my first one and i had it tuned perfectly and staying that way within 2 hours of effort put in to learn how it worked - this is without any manual.

the hardware seems good.
strap buttons are solid, i'm gonna install locks tho just cos i don't wanna have anything happen to this.
i got the shits almighty cos i was playing this thing and i leant forward to type sumthing on the keyboard and it hit the front of the desk. i think i'm going to hell for all the expletives i shouted after that! but when i looked its only a minor minor dent in an edge. i guess thats what u get for a sharply shaped guitar. it's nothing u'd even ever see but i still got the shits cos this happened after i'd only owned it a month. apart from that this thing will hold up. i wouldnt play a gig with a FR bridge without a back up for any money tho.

never dealt with the company. the site is pretty good tho.

i've been playing 3 years. i have a 100 watt Hughes and Kettner Tour Reverb, a Boss metalzone and Boss chorus ensemble (to give me an even sweeter clean tone). i also have a fender squier guitar which i played for 2 years previous to owning this. i've played other ESP's, ibanez's fenders, anything i could get my hands on.
i like the way this is a shred machine on the face of it but the neck is a bit more of an all-rounder.. i can do chords etc without it killing my hands like i've experienced on purely shred machines.
i wouldnt mind an Ibanez Sabre for pure shred one day tho hehe
maybe 7 string! Petrucci is getting to me lol.
i got the allen keys and a free (crappy) cable with this guitar.
this does everything i intend it to do. great stuff. and can't beat it for this price :)