After spending a month shredding on the LTD EC-1000, it’s time to deliver a comprehensive review for guitar players considering adding this axe to their collection. The EC-1000 series boasts a strong reputation in the metal and hard rock communities, often praised for its performance and value. Does this guitar live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details.
The Pros: Living Up to the Hype
The LTD EC-1000’s reputation as a high-performance metal machine is well-deserved. This guitar consistently garners 5-star reviews, and for good reason. It truly embodies the sound of modern metal.
One of the standout features is the incredibly fast neck. For players who prioritize speed and agility, the EC-1000 neck is a dream. It’s arguably one of the quickest necks I’ve personally experienced, facilitating effortless shredding and intricate lead work.
Furthermore, achieving a pristine clean tone is surprisingly versatile with the EC-1000. While it’s known for its aggressive high-gain capabilities, you don’t necessarily need coil-splitting to unlock clean sounds. With the right speaker or Impulse Response (IR) and a gentle playing touch, the EC-1000 delivers recordable clean tones, expanding its sonic palette beyond just metal.
The guitar is also remarkably lightweight, especially considering its Les Paul-inspired body shape. This makes it comfortable for long practice sessions and live performances, reducing fatigue and allowing for greater stage presence.
The fretwork on this guitar is truly exceptional. In fact, the frets are perfect right out of the box. This level of craftsmanship is a significant plus, ensuring smooth playability and eliminating the need for immediate fretwork adjustments.
Tuning stability is rock solid. Throughout my month of playing, including aggressive bending and vibrato, the EC-1000 has maintained excellent tuning stability. This reliability is crucial for both studio recording and live performances.
Most importantly, the sound of the EC-1000 is exactly what you’d expect from a guitar in this category. Equipped with active EMG pickups (typically EMG 81/60 or 81/85), it delivers the powerful, articulate, and aggressive tones that are essential for metal and hard rock genres. It nails that signature high-output sound instantly.
The Cons: Factory Flaws at This Price Point
Despite its many positives, the LTD EC-1000 is not without its flaws, and some of these are particularly disappointing considering its price range.
One glaring issue is the bridge saddles not being notched at the factory. Incredibly, the strings simply sit on top of the smooth bridge saddles without proper grooves to secure them in place. This is not only surprising but also seems like a significant oversight in design or quality control. For many players, this would be unacceptable and likely warrant a return. Fortunately, I had the tools and experience to notch the saddles myself, but this is a task that should absolutely be done at the factory.
Another point of contention is the inclusion of a plastic nut. At this price point, a plastic nut feels like a significant corner-cutting measure. It’s a component that directly impacts tuning stability and sustain. Consequently, I replaced the stock plastic nut with a Graphtec Black TUSQ XL nut. This upgrade is highly recommended and, frankly, the EC-1000 should come equipped with a nut of this quality from the factory. The TUSQ XL nut improves sustain, tuning stability, and overall performance.
Verdict: Good Guitar, Questionable Value?
So, is the LTD EC-1000 a good guitar? Absolutely, it is. It excels in playability, delivers exceptional metal tones, and boasts high-quality components in key areas like the neck and frets (aside from the nut).
However, is it acceptable to pay around AUD 1900 (or the equivalent in your local currency) for a guitar that feels literally incomplete due to un-notched bridge saddles and a plastic nut? No, it’s not really okay. These are issues that detract from the overall value proposition, especially considering the competition in this price range.
The question then becomes: is it better than my Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro loaded with Black Winter pickups? Not really, and certainly not by a margin of AUD 450. While the EC-1000 offers a different playing experience and tonal flavor, it doesn’t necessarily represent a significant upgrade in overall quality compared to a well-equipped Epiphone Les Paul.
Ultimately, I will be keeping the LTD EC-1000. As a left-handed guitar player in Australia, the options for guitars with a 24.75″ scale and EMG pickups are quite limited. And let’s face it, you can’t convincingly cover Metallica without the aggressive punch of EMGs. For left-handed players with specific needs, the EC-1000 fills a niche.
For right-handed players, or those with broader options, it’s worth carefully considering the flaws and whether the EC-1000’s strengths outweigh its factory shortcomings, especially in relation to its price. While it’s a great guitar, be prepared to potentially address some factory oversights to truly unlock its full potential.
