ESP LTD EC-256 BLK

Bought and have been using this guitar for 4 years straight now, so I can cleary make an overall view of the product. Made it through the stage several times and does still feel like a new guitar.

It is exactly what you can expect from a LP style guitar but a bit more athletic and slim. The features are good enough to rely before you wish an upgrade, from machine heads to bridge or even PUs. Mines are still stock and working properly since day one. I've only changed its knobs to golden ones, looking even more beautiful. Besides that it has a solid mahogany body for fuller sound.

The PUs, although passive, still have considerable output and can get a bit of work for a 100% clean tone when compared to stock LPs on this price range from Epiphone, for example.

ESP LTD EC-256 BLK isn't a top notch guitar, of course. But it is one of the best choices on its price range and definitely one great candidate for a LP guitar on a budget. It has the ressemblance of the legendary Gibson '57 black and gold and it's definitely a hit.

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.

This instrument is one of the best choices in this range of money. It has great construction quality and a stunning sound. It is also a very versatile guitar due to the coil split feature, which means it is a good choice for almost any kind of music.
Moreover, I would like to thank Thomann for the whole transaction process. I was informed about every step of the items' delivery, I bought it at the lowest price in the european market and it was delivered to me without the tiniest scratch. I would definitely buy from Thomann again!