For guitarists seeking a weapon of metal, the ESP LTD EC-1000 often tops the list. After a month of intense playing, here’s a hands-on review of this highly regarded instrument.
The Roar and the Riches: What’s Great About the EC-1000
The EC-1000 lives up to its reputation as a metal machine. The sound is exactly what you expect – aggressive and powerful, perfect for high-gain tones. Surprisingly, with the right setup, you can even coax pristine clean tones without needing coil splits, proving its versatility. The neck is unbelievably fast, the quickest experienced to date, ideal for shredding. It’s also remarkably light, reducing fatigue during long sessions. And crucially, the fretwork is flawless – truly perfect. Tuning stability is rock solid.
The Factory Fumbles: Areas for Improvement
However, it’s not all perfect. A significant oversight was discovered with the bridge saddles – they were completely un-notched from the factory. The strings were simply resting on top, a baffling and frankly unacceptable issue for a guitar in this price range. Luckily, this was fixable with tools, but many would have returned it. Furthermore, the plastic nut is a cheap component that feels out of place. It was promptly replaced with a Graphtec Black TUSQ XL, which should be standard at this level.
Final Verdict: Metal-Ready, But Needs Factory Fixes
Is the ESP LTD EC-1000 a good guitar? Absolutely. But is it acceptable to pay a premium price for an instrument with such basic omissions? Not really. While it’s a fantastic guitar, especially for left-handed players limited in options for 24.75″ scale guitars with EMG pickups – essential for genres like metal and those Metallica covers – it’s debatable if it’s a significant upgrade over guitars like an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro. Despite the factory flaws, the EC-1000 remains a keeper due to its sound and playability, particularly for those seeking a metal-focused, left-handed guitar.
