Thanks to Thomann for the Christmas discount on this masterpiece. I got it at a fantastic price.
I was considering the full-size E-II Eclipse with EMG humbuckers. There's only one version I like, and it costs €2,800 (the ESP E-II Eclipse FM BLK NAT B). But I knew that after buying the E-II, I'd still be dreaming of an ESP. So, when I saw this guitar on sale for Christmas, I decided to skip the E-II and go straight to the ESP. It's like in a game: you skip the minor bosses and get straight to the Final Boss. Yes, more money, but I haven't regretted my decision for a second. I would have spent that money on something that would have ruined my teeth anyway. But now I have this guitar, and this is the best guitar I've ever held.
It has everything I would order if I went to a custom guitar shop. The sound is amazing, and the Het Set humbuckers are something special, with a thick and warm tone. I adore the EMGs. The neck is gorgeous, with a matte black finish. The stainless steel Extra Jumbo frets are perfectly ground and polished, so your hand and fingers glide effortlessly across the fretboard. The guitar stays in tune perfectly. Everything was precisely adjusted by the luthier, and I didn't have to adjust or tweak a single thing. The materials and finish of the guitar are top-notch. I wish everyone could play an instrument like this at least once.
The guitar is perfect. However, the case had a small defect. I usually don't use a key to lock the case, but when I tried to lock it, I discovered it was jammed. After some investigation, I discovered that the inner lock plates had been deformed by rivets during manufacturing. A little work with a flathead screwdriver straightened the latch, and everything worked fine.
It's also worth noting that Thomann states in the description that this guitar is "Made in the USA." This is a significant error. The guitar is made in Japan, at a custom guitar shop. It's a CTM (Custom Traditional Model).
Also, the description doesn't specify the fret material, but I found out it's EXJ-SS stainless steel.
Here's the ESP page for this particular guitar: https://espguitars.co.jp/product/5098/
