Big-G
So, after purchasing my Vox AC15 at the end of last week, my search switched to finding a suitable electric to couple with it....
I found lots of great guitars to try out, and spotted a few good priced axe's and even some bargains around, but ultimately, I just didn't have the cash in hand to make a move for any of them....
But I then suddenly had a guy come to my place interested in my mountain bike, who took one look at my bike, and then stuck the cash in my hand. This meant I suddenly had the money to at least take a closer look at one such interesting bargain....
And so, yesterday morning I became the new owner of an ESP LTD EC-500....
When I first played it whilst trying it out, I could see it needed a bit of a setup, but otherwise all looked good... Few dings in the back, but nothing of any real concern, so when I got home later in the afternoon, I adjusted the string height, and pickup heights, and within 10 minutes, I had the guitar setup nicely, and boy doe's this thing sing! The tone from the EMG's is quite simply wonderful! It's so full sounding, and so far seems to be a perfect match for the Vox.
I believe its an EMG 81 in the bridge, and an EMG 60 in the neck on this particular model, and all I can say is that this 60 is a wonder of a pup! It also balances nicely with the 81, and gives a very pleasant tone when combined. If I was looking to improve this guitar, I'd probably consider placing an EMG 85 in the bridge position, just to add even more warmth, but it really is a beaut as it is! Still not a big fan of bridge pup's on their own, but this one is probably the nicest I've heard in a good while!
Anyways, I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow, but I do have a mad busy day, so you'll all have to be patient and wait a bit longer if not! ?
Cheers
G!
psyx
Congrats man!!
Those LTD's play very lekker!! ?
Big-G
So I finally seem to have gotten round the photobucket issue and have loaded a pic... I'll get some better ones when I can....
Cheers
G!
vic
Very nice Big G ! Congrats ! Good choice.
It was once widely assumed that Vox AC's are perfect for single coil guitars (Strats, Rickies,)....and I suppose they are a good combination. However in my experience and to my ears, AC's sound even better with humbucker guitars....or is it the other way around ? ??? For my Strat I prefer the Fender (eg. Bandmaster) combination.
So I think you are going to be very happy (in the long run) with that combination.
AlanRatcliffe
Congrats - great find! That one has an Earvana nut (compensated nut) doesn't it?
I prefer single-coils through a VOX, but truth be told, I prefer single-coils anyway ans a VOX AC is one of the few amps that are really good with both HB and SC.
Gearhead
Make it an 89, it splits better than most passive humbuckers.
Big-G
Thanks for the replies guys! Don't know how I missed them?
So a few days after owning this, and being able to play around with it, I'm still all starry eyed for it, and really enjoy the tone from this.... I still need to stick a new set of Elixirs on it, and tweak the setup accordingly, once those strings have settled, but otherwise, its really a stunner, and I am already very happy with it.
The combination of this with the Vox AC15 is truly formidable, and gives me the tone I've been hearing in my head almost exactly!
@Gearhead.... The 60 and 81 fitted to this are actives, which is why I would have considered the 85, as its supposed to be similar in tone to the 81, but warmer, and its still an active pup. As far as I understand, the 89 would not be suited to this guitar since its passive?
Cheers
G!
Big-G
Ok, I've got a couple more shots for those interested...
One of the Headstock.... Followed by a close up of the compensated nut that Alan mentioned above....
Cheers
G!
DonovanB
Nice. What is that finish called?
Big-G
I assume you are asking about the body colour? If so, its Black cherry I believe, but I'm yet to confirm this on the LTD website.....
This raises another question? Is the guitar LTD or ESP or ESP LTD?
Cheers
G!
ZarK
Its a LTD.
I had an ESP Truckster with the same pups. Sounded great in the a mahogany body... That 60 has such a sweet lead tone... Congrats! :goodtimes:
Big-G
Thanks Zark, and I have to say that I'm still eyeing up your PRS (if you still have it), just a matter of available moneys! ?
Cheers
G!
Shibbibilybob
Big G wrote:
This raises another question? Is the guitar LTD or ESP or ESP LTD?
Of those options I would say ESP LTD is the most correct one.
ESP offers replicas of their (expensive) premium Japanese guitars in the more moderately priced (korean/indonesian, if I am correct) LTD range.
Similar to the relationship between Epi and Gibson, although LTD was never a competing manufacturer and has always been under the ESP umbrella.
Someone correct me if that is incorrect.
Nice looking guitar you have there dude. I myself have a Gisbon Les Paul Studio(that I purchased, after months of working and saving, on my 17th birthday) and have maintained for years that if I had to make that purchase now, I would almost certainly go with an LTD eclipse rather than the Gibson variant.
Looks a very nice guitar dude ?
ZarK
ESP => LTD
Fender => Squire
Musicman => Stirling
Gibson => Epiphone
PRS => PRS SE
Technically it's one or the other... Not both. The name on the headstock indicates the brand, but you're welcome to call her anything you prefer - including 'baby' ?
Out of these brands, the PRS SE's and higher-end LTD's (with excellent pups like yours) are really solid guitars with regards to construction and quality of tone etc... (Not too familiar with Stirling tbh...)
I've seen lesser known Guitarists such as James Hetfield and others perform live with LTD's. (Nuff said?)
Which ever way you look at it, that's a classy axe you got yourself! Enjoy your beauty! :goodtimes:
(BTW. I sold the PRS semi yesterday. Sad to let her go as she was an exceptional example. Sometimes I hate thinking with my head... >☹)
andrewjbryson
Congrats buddy
Great find!
Big-G
Thanks guys, and thanks for the info on the ESP LTD stuff.... I was never quite sure of the company dynamic in their case.
So a bit of research, and I have found that the finish on this guitar is indeed black cherry, and that the guitar was made either in 2007 or 2008... It only appeared in their 'catalogue' in this colour for those two years, and was only available in black in 2006. Outside of these dates, it appears this model was not made at all. It was also the highest model in the standard EC range.
Regards
G!
