The low-down (if you would be so kind) on Edwards ESP LP's..

[dave_mc]

the LTD series are the most overpriced guitars around! Why would anyone pay over £500 for a MIK guitar? They're ridiculous - even the super low end cr@ppy ones made of agathis are going for about the same as an edwards (i.e. the ec-200qm, the model one down from the one your looking at has an agathis body, cr@ppy own-brand pickups, and a nasty thin body, for £420!!!)

I haven't tried the 400 series, but a localish shop had an ec1000... it's a nice guitar (especially for MIK), but at almost £900? that's twice what an edwards costs, and an edwards is nicer, IMO.  

[Crazy_Joe]

the LTD series are the most overpriced guitars around! Why would anyone pay over £500 for a MIK guitar? They're ridiculous - even the super low end cr@ppy ones made of agathis are going for about the same as an edwards (i.e. the ec-200qm, the model one down from the one your looking at has an agathis body, cr@ppy own-brand pickups, and a nasty thin body, for £420!!!)

I haven't tried the 400 series, but a localish shop had an ec1000... it's a nice guitar (especially for MIK), but at almost £900? that's twice what an edwards costs, and an edwards is nicer, IMO.  

I got my EC1000 mint condition for £400 including postage and hard case :twisted:

[noodleplugerine]

the LTD series are the most overpriced guitars around! Why would anyone pay over £500 for a MIK guitar? They're ridiculous - even the super low end cr@ppy ones made of agathis are going for about the same as an edwards (i.e. the ec-200qm, the model one down from the one your looking at has an agathis body, cr@ppy own-brand pickups, and a nasty thin body, for £420!!!)

I haven't tried the 400 series, but a localish shop had an ec1000... it's a nice guitar (especially for MIK), but at almost £900? that's twice what an edwards costs, and an edwards is nicer, IMO.  

Dave - Ofcourse Edwards are cheaper, but think about how much effort you have to go through to get a hold of one.

I can walk down the street and find many LTD guitars.

Personally, I don't know why people give them so much slack - I've played the Horizon and the Eclipse in the Deluxe series, a 400 Viper, and a 400 Mirage.

All were perfectly good guitars for the price range. And my mate's 400 Viper is perfectly fine.

Not nearly as good as mine ofcourse, but mine is like 3 times the price.

[dave_mc]

I got my EC1000 mint condition for £400 including postage and hard case :twisted:

yeah, but that was second-hand.

Dave - Ofcourse Edwards are cheaper, but think about how much effort you have to go through to get a hold of one.

I can walk down the street and find many LTD guitars.

Personally, I don't know why people give them so much slack - I've played the Horizon and the Eclipse in the Deluxe series, a 400 Viper, and a 400 Mirage.

All were perfectly good guitars for the price range. And my mate's 400 Viper is perfectly fine.

Not nearly as good as mine ofcourse, but mine is like 3 times the price.

haha, it's actually easier for me to order an edwards than to get a LTD... getting a LTD would involve a 100 mile round trip.

But I do get what you're saying- FWIW, I haven't tried the 400 series, they're quite a bit cheaper. I was just saying I didn't see why anyone would pay the guts of £900 for an ec1000 when you could get an edwards for half that. Which is a nicer guitar, IMO.

[Philly Q]

But I do get what you're saying- FWIW, I haven't tried the 400 series, they're quite a bit cheaper. I was just saying I didn't see why anyone would pay the guts of £900 for an ec1000 when you could get an edwards for half that. Which is a nicer guitar, IMO.

I think comparing LTD and Edwards is a bit apples-and-oranges really, ESP seem to be carefully targeting them at different markets.

Edwards are mostly "copies" of older Gibsons and Fenders, with attention paid to fairly vintage-correct fatter neck shapes and other details (I know they also do some superstrats, sharkfins etc).  LTD seems to be aimed more at the rock/metal market, with more modern designs and skinny necks.

For example, I have an Edwards Potbelly which is a fairly conservative-looking PRS-ish guitar with a chunky neck.  You can get the same body shape in the LTD range (the PB 500), but with a more aggressive-looking headstock and the "Thin U" neck shape.

[indysmith]

duuuude when'd yu get the potbelly??? PICS! love that guitar

[dave_mc]

I think comparing LTD and Edwards is a bit apples-and-oranges really, ESP seem to be carefully targeting them at different markets.

Edwards are mostly "copies" of older Gibsons and Fenders, with attention paid to fairly vintage-correct fatter neck shapes and other details (I know they also do some superstrats, sharkfins etc).  LTD seems to be aimed more at the rock/metal market, with more modern designs and skinny necks.

For example, I have an Edwards Potbelly which is a fairly conservative-looking PRS-ish guitar with a chunky neck.  You can get the same body shape in the LTD range (the PB 500), but with a more aggressive-looking headstock and the "Thin U" neck shape.

true, but edwards have models similar to the LTD eclipses too... like EMG's etc.

I thought edwards were for the japanese market, and LTD were for the non-japanese market? could be wrong though. :)

[Philly Q]

duuuude when'd yu get the potbelly??? PICS! love that guitar

Usual place - eBay  :D .  Don't have any pics of my own PB yet, but it's exactly like this one (for now):

[Philly Q]

true, but edwards have models similar to the LTD eclipses too... like EMG's etc.

I thought edwards were for the japanese market, and LTD were for the non-japanese market? could be wrong though. :)

Yeah, you're right of course (although LTDs are available in Japan too).  

I'm oversimplifying the argument, the Edwards range is broader than I implied so they do overlap with LTD to an extent.  But everything in the LTD range seems to be aimed at the metal/shred market, there's nothing of more traditional design.  Even their LP-types have 24 frets (with 1 or 2 exceptions), flag inlays and pointy bits.  :)

[_tom_]

That Potbelly is really nice :D I want one now :P Do they do them in any other colours than blue?

[indysmith]

yep

[_tom_]

:o That looks perfect. Why dont Ishibashi sell them? Or am I just cr@p at navigating their website?

[Philly Q]

That Potbelly is really nice :D I want one now :P Do they do them in any other colours than blue?

It's also available in Amber Cherry Sunburst - although it's not very cherry and not very burst, if you see what I mean.  It's a nice subtle colour, reminds me of a redder version of the Ibanez Antique Violin sunburst.

(Edit: Indy beat me to it!  Pictures speak louder than words. :lol: )

[LazyNinja]

Do they have carved maple top or just veneer? I think I was considering one a while back but decided against it on the basis that it didn't have a carved top. But that was just the Ikebe spec so they could have just missed it out. Could you check Philly?

[Philly Q]

It most definitely has a carved top, so I guess that rules out a veneer.  It could be some kind of foto-flame film layer, I guess.  And it appears to be a 2-piece top, centre jointed.  I haven't looked in the pickup cavities yet, I'm not ready for a string change.

I have to admit I'm no expert on flamed maple.  Most of my guitars have been mahogany, alder or solid colours.  I did own a maple topped Hamer years ago, and you could see a lot of "depth" in the flame, and "movement" when you held the guitar at different angles.  There's some of that on the Potbelly, but it's not as pronounced as the Hamer.  Should there be any "movement" at all in a foto-flame top?

Also, the guitar has unstained maple "binding" like a PRS.  The flame doesn't seem to continue into the edges of the maple visible here, which seems a little odd.  

To be honest, at the price I wouldn't expect highly flamed maple, so if it is a "fake" top I'm really not bothered.  Then again, the main body of the guitar is one piece of mahogany, so they haven't skimped there.