ESP LTD EC-256 BLK

This guitar needs no introduction. But the one I got came with few unpleasant issues.

First let me say i am from the UK therefore between Thomann and me the UK customs opened the box. And it is them i blame for the state of the guitar i received. It is important to review this experience and the impact it had on the item, as this puts Thomann on the clear but surely paint a hard reality for UK customs and the mess we have found ourselves with Brexit, although Thomann has done a great job to save us.

Right out of the box left to the neck on the body a crack/mark. There is no way an LTD left the factory this way, and it was obvious the guitar had been opened at the customs from the re-stapling and the sad way they packed the guitar back in the protective foam, which was half done.

Next i noticed something going around in the guitar. It was obviously a piece of something, at best wood, at worst… and then i tried the knobs and more bad new on the way.

The tone knob (pull/push) had a more than reasonable play, and i mean the potentiometer not being screwed in place and the dial doing a dead dial for almost a quarter!

Without a doubt, someone opened the guitar and messed it up one way or the other. I hate to sound like a broken record, but a guitar of such condition would have never made it out of the factory or even Thomann had it been opened.

Thomann offered a return promptly and solved the problem straight away. But the next day i decided to keep it, why? Because i had an issue a couple of years ago and send a guitar back and here i am two years after knowing nothing bout guitars still. If i was to send it back again i would have lost interest again until i get a refund and a new one.

I decided to keep it and pay for a repair on the finish and knob, and at least appreciate the rest of its beauty. I still dont know what is inside that goes around and i hope will not regret it but i am taking my chances.

5 stars to Thomann,
0 stars to British Customs! But Us Britons are musically “ accustomed” to get zero marks for music when we get to Europe (Eurovision).

So there.