ESP vs LTD Guitars: Does the price really matter?

In this video I'm comparing my ESP EX vs my LTD EX400 Guitar, to find out if the price really matters between ESP and LTD Guitars.

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DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in my videos are mine and mine alone. Even though I am an Audio-Technica employee, this channel is in no way affiliated to the company, but to avoid biased content, I am not planning to review products similar to my employer's offering. Thanks for understanding.

[Dirt_Serpent]

Where you can find the real difference is with ESP Japan guitars. Their Japan manufactures can do things that they cannot do other places due to copyright issues and such. For example, the Alexi Laiho guitars are significantly different in the Japan versions of the models, the entire body shape is actually different. I’ve had a Japanese esp custom shop Alexi, as well as an ltd production model. The esp was BY FAR superior in every possible way. However that being said…. You pay supreme pricing for that supreme quality. Ltd is still very very high quality but at a much lower price. I wouldn’t say esp is necessarily better than ltd over all, that’s a subjective opinion for sure. But esp and ltd are absolutely two different guitar manufacturers so they really can’t be compared to each other.

[diabeticmonkey]

There’s something to be said about LTD. Every one I’ve ever played, save the beginner priced ones, have been extremely solid. There’s something about them that just feels good every time

[felipousismix]

I just bought an LTD MH1000 with Evertune. It's on-pair with the PRS SE Custom 24 I have, both made in Korea with flawless craftsmanship. This guitar is amazing, especially for the price point, around 1K, perfect finish, arrived with a proper setup, impeccable fretwork and the Evertune bridge was set very precisely. Selling my Jackson soloist now...

[greekfreak]

Generally speaking, everything made by WMI in S. Korea is excellent quality.
They used to build the PRS SE series for almost 2 decades, before PRS went to Indonesia, because it's cheaper to build guitars there. And if you know anything about PRS' owner Paul Reed Smith, the guy is obsessed with quality control.
They also build the more expensive Schecter models, which are some of the best value for money instruments on the market.
Yes, the MIJ ESP models are usually of higher quality, but their prices have gone so much up over the last 10 years, it's ridiculous. You pay for MIJ guitars almost prices of Made in USA models nowadays. Ten years ago, you could get a new MIJ ESP Standard Series model, with brand name pickups like EMG's or Duncans for around 1, 500-1, 700 Euros, nowadays Made in Indonesia guitars sell for this price. If you want a custom shop ESP, oh boy.... you have to sell a kidney.
And don't get me started on the whole renaming the Standard Series into ''E-II'' BS. The guitar says ''E-II'' on the headstock and on the back it says ''Made in Japan by ESP'', it's the dumbest sh*t ever! Imagine Fender rebranding their USA production models as ''F-I'' or something. 🤦‍♂
Anyways, you can't go wrong with a LTD Deluxe 1000 or 400 Series, these are usually extremely well build guitars and even pros use them.

[keithriggs]

I currently have 26 ESP and LTD models. Of them, 12 are factory ESP's, 4 are LTD's, and 10 are parts build ESP.
All are killer!

[shanewright]

I've owned an LTD EC-1000 since 2006 (I think) and loved it so much I eventually bought the ESP Eclipse. It didn't take me long to realize that the Eclipse wasn't any better, so I ended up selling it, and still own the EC-1000

[CammedFox]

I have an LTD Explorer "two dot" which was supposed made in the ESP Japan factory before they moved the rest to Korea and it's absolutely incredible

[museacmount]

I have a LTD EC-1000 since 4 years and it's simply PERFECT! I bought a tried some other guitars like prs, Fender etc but the I sold it and for now my one and only electric guitar still is ec-1000, I repeat perfect in everything!

[briantomkinson]

My Korean LTD EC1000 FR deluxe is amazing plus just been lucky enough to get the LTD KH602 Purple Sparkle. never been a person who jumps on a signature guitar but I was told to try it when checking out guitars, it did everything I needed and was excellent quality. totally recommend the LTD range especially the made in Korea ones.

[the_hippykiller]

I own both Ltds and ESPs, a 2010 Horizon FRII, a 94 MII, a 2015 Ec1000 and a 2019 M Black Metal. I'll say the upper level Ltds are very good but the ESPs are still superior in sound and playability. Having owned around 60 guitars the Horizon is the best sounding guitar I've ever played and the MII has my favourite neck profile, and they can be set with a very low action. They're also more stable with temperature changes etc when touring and having recorded 3 albums with my band, they're always the ones that get picked up to record. Never selling mine for sure!

[keystonekrawler]

I’d have to agree and disagree. I agree that for the money the LTD’s are absolutely SOLID guitars. Very nice. It pisses me off that ESP has made the water so needlessly muddy with their odd branding. ESP, Navigator, Edwards, E-II, LTD, Grassroots etc…etc…it just makes everything surrounding the brand “ESP” so difficult to explain to folks. I currently have 43 guitars. Of those guitars I have a number of ESP/LTD guitars (and one Edwards E-LP-130CD). I have a ESP (actual ESP branding before the switch to E-II) M1 NTB, a E-II DBVB Eclipse, a E-II M-II NTB, a LTD M1000M, LTD KH-3, LTD Black Metal EX, LTD Hetfield Vulture and of course the ESP built Edwards LP mentioned earlier. So, suffice to say I have a bit of hands on experience with various examples of models and price points within the ESP brand.

If ESP would have just kept the “ESP” brand and utilized model numbers to differentiate between levels (example, Ibanez Prestige vs Ibanez Premium) then it would be easier to explain ESP to folks that have never had one. This is why questions such as “What’s the difference between an ESP and an LTD?” exist. We could entirely eliminate the ESP vs LTD thing if say my LTD M1000M was instead an ESP M1000M. So in that case the question would instead be “How’s the quality of an ESP M-II vs an ESP M1000?”. The answer would of course be about the guitars versus trying to explain branding and the obvious fact that the LTD is an ESP just like an Ibanez RG370 is still an Ibanez even though it isn’t MIJ and it isn’t an RG570. 😂

So, what’s the difference? Cost and obviously a bit more attention to detail. Obviously MIJ ESP’s tend to REALLY utilize incredible pieces of ebony for fretboards vs the cuts used for their LTD counterparts…..but as far as hardware goes it’s basically neck and neck. I mean, Gotoh tuners aren’t “better” than Grover tuners. They are both really great quality. Gibson uses Grovers for many of their models…..they came stock on both my 2013 Gibson Les Paul Signature T and my 2021 Gibson Explorer just as examples.

My old (2007) ESP M1 came from the factory with locking Sperzel tuners and I’d have to say those are actually much more “built” compared to a Gotoh tuner. My M-II came with locking Gotohs and those as well are nice, meanwhile my M1000M came with Grovers. All very nice tuners. TonePros hardware is just Gotoh, so that’s quality…..which is what my LTD Vulture came with.

The main difference is really feel (again, in addition to cost). My ESP/E-II stuff feels MUCH different than my LTD stuff. I’d say quality between “brands” is the same it just boils down to feel and again cost for that Japanese brand on the headstock versus the non MIJ branding.

I have an Ibanez S521L (I’m a lefty) that is an Indonesian model. It’s a super badass guitar, and since it’s a 24 fret S series I decided to see if a spare Prestige RG1570L neck I had laying around would feel good on it so I switched its neck. Guess what? All the “quality” as far as feel was like 90 percent in the neck! That guitar feels and plays as if the entire thing came from Japan. Easily in my top 3 favorite guitars to play.

So, to end such a long post…..the difference is the cost of the branding as well as the little bit of extra craftsmanship that the Japanese are willing to pour into their guitars. The other Asian companies outside of Japan are also doing great work (for the most part) but the Japanese are making legendary guitars…..IMO the best on the planet.

[markcrisostomo]

I have the same EX STD. When I first got it I really didn't expect much from it, but as soon as I plugged it in I was blown away how well it played and sounded. The feel of the neck was really comfortable. Cheers man!

[joedavis]

I have several Korean made guitars, a few Japanese made and a couple USA made. I just received my Korean LTD EC1000ET and it is unbelievable !!!
What LTD is doing for around $1000 is incredible 🎸🤟🍻

[Zwidawurzn]

I also have a LTD EX-400 from 2007 and it went trough a lot, a few years ago i replaced the electronics and the new pots, pickup switch and output jack are much better, now frets and saddle are worn down so they should be replaced, also i feel like the neck is more sensitive than on my other guitars because it easily goes out of tune depending on how i'm holding the guitar. But still i had a lot of fun and played it a lot in all kind of situations, never failed on me, well worth the money.

[charlesrocks]

Subbed. Both guitars sound the same. It all comes down to the feel in the hands and the hardware. Really cool content dude. Thanks!

[TNR_MUSIC]

Love the EX. The body shape is cool and also very convenient for playing. Wouldn't change a thing on my 08 Korean 400. Same with my 2019 Korean EC407.

[warpig]

no it doesn't, stop watching youtube videos play some guitar

[TacTyger]

I own an ESP LTD EX-360 ( the one made in china ) and it has been my workhorse for years still kicking and still love to play it.

[BCRilakuma]

For the clean tone I feel that the LTD one even sounds better. Moreover, the LTD one ‘s intonation is better than the ESP one but it may the the guitar setup issues.

[THEJimmiChanga]

I went from a shecter lady luck (main guitar for 13 years) to an LTD EC1000 w/ sentient/Pegasus. The difference in quality and craftsmanship is astonishing. Literally makes the schecter seem like a toy, and it's not a bad guitar by any means.