Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: kellar on October 20, 2008, 07:56:12 PM

Title: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: kellar on October 20, 2008, 07:56:12 PM
After much frustration in the local guitar shops around my area, I finally (with great hesitation) bit the bullet on an ESP Eclipse from EvilBay about a week ago. I was extremely hesitant and have been on edge for the past week waiting for it to get here. I thought to myself that this deal was surely to good to be true. After customs fees and shipping, I wound up paying around 900 Euros. That is about 500 Euros less than anything around here. Today, the long nerve-racking wait came to an end.

The good news- the guitar is physically in absolutely perfect condition, hard-case included. It feels brand new, as if nobody has ever laid a finger on it. All the stickers and case candy were still on the guitar and in the case, he even supplied two sets of strings!
The bad news- the strings were in horrible condition, the setup was terrible, and whoever set the pickup height had strange taste. The SH-4 was maxed out, all the way up to the strings. The SH-1 was about 5 full turns all the way down into the neck cavity.

So, I spent about an hour replacing the strings, intonating, adjusting the bridge, setting the pickup height, so on and so forth. The end result is fantastic! It is an absolute dream to play. The neck is smooth as can be and very comfortable. The guitar is much lighter than any LP I have played. The locking tuners work the way they are supposed to, and the SH-1/SH-4 combo that I hated in my Epi LP actually sounds pretty good in the guitar. All in all, a brand new guitar for a hell of a price!

The attached pictures are really bad and were taken with my webcam. As soon as I get my camera back next week I will throw some photos up on the forum. :D



Updated: I finally got my camera back from the wife and we finally got a sunny here in Deutschland! There are a few more on my post at the bottom as well. :D




 
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: Jonny on October 20, 2008, 08:01:12 PM
Lol.. what colour is it? :lol:

But still an ESP guitar = AWESOME.
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: kellar on October 20, 2008, 08:20:21 PM
Lol.. what colour is it? :lol:

But still an ESP guitar = AWESOME.

Vintage Honeyburst. Darn webcam! :lol:

Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: noodleplugerine on October 20, 2008, 08:28:58 PM
LOVE THEM.

I neeeeed one!
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: ailean on October 21, 2008, 06:29:33 AM
Good catch. I hope it brings you hours of enjoyment!
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: Jonny on October 21, 2008, 11:11:06 AM
Come ooooonnnnn, better pics!
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: kellar on October 21, 2008, 03:32:32 PM
Thanks guys! :D

As soon as I get my digital camera back from the wife I will post some better pics on this thread. (Hopefully tomorrow)

After playing it for a few days, I can say that it really rips! The neck is so smooth, really comfortable for me to get around on. The Sperzel locking tuners are much better than the Planet Waves that I have on my Epi LP, very tight tolerance and no slippage or constant tuning after I changed the strings and intonated.

The only bizarre thing (I don't know if all ESP's are like this-can't remember from the ones I tried out) is that the neck volume knob is in the middle and the bridge knob is on the top. That seems backwards to me. It doesn't matter, I could always switch it if I wanted. 

Anyway, I am loving it! She is a beauty. :D
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: dave_mc on October 21, 2008, 05:03:45 PM
Lol.. what colour is it? :lol:

But still an ESP guitar = AWESOME.

Vintage Honeyburst. Darn webcam! :lol:


:lol: i was going to ask that too. That looks great :)
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: AndyR on October 21, 2008, 07:42:16 PM
The only bizarre thing (I don't know if all ESP's are like this-can't remember from the ones I tried out) is that the neck volume knob is in the middle and the bridge knob is on the top. That seems backwards to me. It doesn't matter, I could always switch it if I wanted. 

:lol: That's quite funny, my Explorer knobs were as you'd expect them, but for some reason (switching between strats, teles, LP, and the Explorer), I just couldn't get used to them that way round - no logic to it at all, I just kept reaching for the top one expecting it to be the bridge, and the middle one expecting the neck...

So when I put the MQs in, I just swapped them round (don't forget the switch!) never looked back... :D

Anyway, from what we can see - looks good. Sounds like it's every bit as good as you hoped :D
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: kellar on October 21, 2008, 07:54:35 PM
Yeah AndyR, I think if I ever get around to swapping out the pickups then I will swap the wiring. For now it's fine, a little awkward if anything. :D
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: WezV on October 21, 2008, 07:57:02 PM
i always tend to put the bridge volume closest to the bridge... not sure why but i like it that way
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: kellar on October 21, 2008, 07:59:15 PM
Yeah, it just seems natural to me that the upper volume control is for the neck and the lower is for the bridge.
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: AndyR on October 21, 2008, 08:35:33 PM
i always tend to put the bridge volume closest to the bridge... not sure why but i like it that way

I'm glad it's not just me :D

(I thought it was me being contrary, but decided "sod it, it's my guitar!")
Title: Re: NGD!!
Post by: noodleplugerine on October 21, 2008, 11:47:14 PM
For me I prefer bridge volume at top, you use it most often, so its nice to have it easiest in reach.
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: kellar on October 26, 2008, 09:48:24 AM
A few more! :D
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: MrBump on October 26, 2008, 10:01:07 AM
You let your wife touch your guitars?!?!?!
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: kellar on October 26, 2008, 10:12:17 AM
I know, it is unacceptable. I digress. :oops:
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: AndyR on October 26, 2008, 01:18:16 PM
:lol:

I didn't get MrBump's comment at first, until I noticed that you'd updated the original pictures...

I shall have to show my missus - I've not got enough guitar stands at the moment, I think I might have a little job for her... :lol:

Looks really good in the new pics...
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: kellar on October 26, 2008, 01:48:55 PM
Plus the guitar always looks better with a pretty woman holding it! :D
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: Jonny on October 26, 2008, 09:38:32 PM
Now those are pictures! Brilliant guitar there, kellar. Top notch :)
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: Roobubba on October 27, 2008, 11:25:52 AM
I can't seem to find the pics of Kellar's mrs holding the guitar... C'mon guys you can't promise something then just not deliver! :D

(PS nice axe btw :))
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: AndyR on October 27, 2008, 12:01:14 PM
Should be in the earliest post Roo - he replaced the camera phone shots...
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: Jonny on October 27, 2008, 01:24:02 PM
I can't seem to find the pics of Kellar's mrs holding the guitar... C'mon guys you can't promise something then just not deliver! :D

(PS nice axe btw :))
T'is his lady's hand. Not a body shot.
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: kellar on October 27, 2008, 03:20:16 PM
I can't seem to find the pics of Kellar's mrs holding the guitar... C'mon guys you can't promise something then just not deliver! :D

(PS nice axe btw :))
T'is his lady's hand. Not a body shot.


If you pay me I'll show you the rest. :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: Jonny on October 27, 2008, 06:21:03 PM
I can't seem to find the pics of Kellar's mrs holding the guitar... C'mon guys you can't promise something then just not deliver! :D

(PS nice axe btw :))
T'is his lady's hand. Not a body shot.


If you pay me I'll show you the rest. :lol: :lol:
Oooooo how tempting.
Title: Re: NGD!! (new pics added)
Post by: Johnny Mac on October 27, 2008, 08:26:07 PM
Looks stunning!!  8)