Edwards E-SE-87R/LT

New, or some sort of new display model perhaps? Made in Japan by ESP under the Edwards line. 22 frets. Laquered top. Typical strat 5 way with Dual mode (pop up on 2nd tone knob), enables two more selections, front/back and all three pickups. S/S/S, Seymour Duncans, SSL-1 and SSL-3 on bridge. Active. Alder body, Maple neck with Rosewood fretboard, vintage white color. Traditional strat style, think 62 Reissue Fender. Vintage ESP bridge and hardware. Cheap gig back included. Frets were vintage style, not jumbo. It has more features than the average strat, so I'll give it a 10.

Sound, well I like it a lot. I've owned Fralins and various Fender pups. I prefer the Fralin Blues Specials and perhaps the Fat 50's. These are very nice pickups however and get you a nice strat tone, the bridge seems to be wound a lot hotter. Think vintage tones meet a little more aggressive on the bridge. With the extra selector switch you can get a lot of variations, some tele like tones as well. Overall I like it as much as just about any strat I've owned. I've owned some RI Fenders, US and Japan, Seymour Duncan strat (also made by ESP), some cheaper strat copies and this guitar is as good as any other I've owned. One US 62 RI felt a little better, was lighter and had Fat 50's which I prefer. The Seymour Duncan was purchased used, I put Fralin Vintage Hots and later changed them to Blues Sp., it sounded better than this guitar but was modded (or molested by it's previous owner) so it had playability issues I couldn't deal with. I sold it. I'll probably put some Fralins in this one later, overall I'm satisfied with this guitar. Dislikes? Don't really care for the "Edwards" name? I know that's pretty petty. Don't know much about the guitar, don't know if the nut is bone or what? If it isn't I'd change that as well. There are better strats out there, this one was about $500-600 shipped from Japan, for the price I'll give it a 9.

Finish is nice, you can see the lines where the body is put together under the laquer finish. The guitar had to be set up by a tech when I got it. The neck was too tight, the action was too low. Frets look suberb, no sharp edges, plays like fresh creamery butter now! Pickups were adjusted as well. Don't see anything wrong with this guitar at all. Hardware and everything was new, and works like it should. the Tremolo is a bit tight, may take a sping or two out but it stays in tune very well so I'm hesitant about messing with it at this point. I must say I broke a high E string and every string stayed in tune, I've never had a guitar stay in tune like that!? And that was before the pro set up. Again, I'll knock off a point for the finish flaw and for not being play ready.

Should be reliable, as reliable as any other well made strat. The verdict is still out so I'll leave it blank. I'd say it could meet a pro's playing requirements. I'd have a back up for everything if I played live. Strats are some of the most reliable guitars made so again, reliability shouldn't be an issue.

No support what-so-ever.

I've been playing off and on since 1985. Never seriously however. I've owned a ton of gear, a ton, it's a sickness. I currently own this guitar, a Sub Decay Stupid Box and a Dr. Z Maz 18. I prefer strats, but I like other guitars as well. I'm happy with this guitar, if it were lost or stolen, I'd consider getting another one, if I could find one used in good condition, at a decent price. ESP Japan, Fender Japan or just about any decent MIJ or US strats should suffice my strat cravings however? I like the feel and tones this guitar produces, I like the color but the finish isn't perfect. I don't hate anything about this guitar. I'm not a real tweaker anymore, so the extra features keep me messing with the thing and not really playing, so I like to keep it simple and would care less if it had the extra toggle switches and pickup combos. I chose this guitar because of the ESP Japan reputation, it looked nice and looked new. Bought unplayed, I was worried but I got lucky. It's comparable to strats I've owned in the grand and over range, you can't go wrong with a good strat!