After spending a month with the LTD EC-1000, it’s time for a comprehensive review. For those familiar with the ESP LTD brand, the EC-1000 series boasts a strong reputation, often praised for its metal-focused sound and high-quality construction. Does this guitar live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details.
What immediately stands out about the LTD EC-1000 guitar is its exceptional playability. The neck is remarkably fast, arguably the quickest I’ve personally experienced. Achieving pristine clean tones is also surprisingly versatile; with the right amplifier settings or impulse responses, coil splitting becomes unnecessary. The guitar is also impressively lightweight, adding to its comfortable playing experience. Furthermore, the fretwork is flawless – perfectly executed and contributing to the overall premium feel. Tuning stability is rock solid, a crucial factor for any serious player. Most importantly, the LTD EC-1000 delivers the powerful, resonant sound that is synonymous with metal music, living up to expectations in the sonic department.
However, not everything is perfect straight out of the box. A notable issue was the bridge saddles, which were surprisingly not pre-notched at the factory. This meant the strings were simply resting on top of the saddles, a baffling oversight and, frankly, a poor design choice if intentional. Fortunately, possessing guitar setup tools allowed for a DIY fix with fret files. For many buyers, this flaw would likely necessitate a return, highlighting a significant quality control concern. Another point of contention is the inclusion of a plastic nut on a guitar in this price range. This feels like a cost-cutting measure that detracts from the otherwise high-quality components. Upgrading to a Graphtec Black TUSQ XL nut, which arguably should be standard on the LTD EC-1000, rectifies this issue and enhances tuning stability and sustain.
So, is the LTD EC-1000 a good guitar? Absolutely. However, justifying the price point, in this case AUD1900, for a guitar that requires immediate fixes feels questionable. Comparing it to an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro equipped with Black Winter pickups, the value proposition becomes even murkier. The EC-1000 is undeniably excellent, but whether it represents a significant upgrade, let alone a worthwhile increase of AUD450 over comparable guitars, is debatable. Ultimately, for players, particularly left-handed musicians in regions with limited guitar availability like Australia seeking a 24.75” scale guitar with EMG pickups for genres like metal (essential for achieving authentic Metallica tones), the LTD EC-1000 remains a compelling, albeit slightly flawed, option.
