Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

[Brow]

Hey guys.

Just thought I'd get some opinions on a swap I've been offered:

I'm not asking which will I prefer or anything like that, as I know that's personal preference, more like is it a fair swap etc?

I have a Gibson Faded Flying V that I've had for a while that whilst it's a perfectly good guitar, I've never really used it too much and it's spent a lot of time sat in it's case. I've been contacted by someone asking if I'd be interested in a swap for his LTD EC-1000 Deluxe in see through Black Cherry with the stock EMGs.

Would this be a 'fair' trade in your eyes?

I've never played an EC-1000 before, but I have briefly owned an EC-401 before I got rid of it quickly, which was nothing to do with the guitar itself just that a deal on an amp came up and I couldn't resist  :lol:

My V currently has BKP Riff Raff/Mississippi Queen pickups, which I would be removing before making the trade, and the LTD also doesn't come with a case or gigbag.

I'm not chasing any particular tone or look specifically; more so just thinking of what I can get in trade for something I don't use much.

Here's pics of both for no particular reason!



Thanks for any opinions you might have.

Craig

[Telerocker]

I don't know the value of those guitars, but when they're close, I think you just got to try the Ltd and see if this one appeals to you.

[dave_mc]

Hard to say (and bear in mind I haven't tried your V, nor his LTD :lol: ). I'd probably rather have the Gibson, and its resale may be better, but at new prices the LTD might actually have been dearer.

I normally err on the side of keeping what I have, as I know how I've looked after it, but obviously that's just my usual super-cautious nature... :lol:

[Brow]

I don't know the value of those guitars, but when they're close, I think you just got to try the Ltd and see if this one appeals to you.

Price wise when they were new I think the Korean LTD was about £300 more than the USA Gibson.

I know I like those type of guitars as I've had 1 in the past. The main issue I have with trying it 1st is that I wouldn't be able to do the trade at that time as I'd have to then take my V away again and put the stock pickups etc back in it.

Hard to say (and bear in mind I haven't tried your V, nor his LTD :lol: ). I'd probably rather have the Gibson, and its resale may be better, but at new prices the LTD might actually have been dearer.

I normally err on the side of keeping what I have, as I know how I've looked after it, but obviously that's just my usual super-cautious nature... :lol:

I know what you mean mate, the over cautious thing is a trait be both seem to have!  :lol:

The guy has wound me up a bit actually by saying that he has a hard case for the LTD but he was only going to include it in a cash sale. Whereas my V has the padded gigbag it came with aswell as a full hard case I've since bought for it!

[fps_dean]

See what you like better.  Gibson's quality control has been awful for 40 years now... I've seen some awful necks and fretjobs.  If you aren't on the good side of both, then this might be a massive upgrade for you.

I haven't checked the selling prices of each guitar new, or the used value of each guitar which I would suggest that you do -- if the Gibson sells used for $200 more, have them throw in $200 if you like the LTD better.

[Brow]

See what you like better.  Gibson's quality control has been awful for 40 years now... I've seen some awful necks and fretjobs.  If you aren't on the good side of both, then this might be a massive upgrade for you.

I haven't checked the selling prices of each guitar new, or the used value of each guitar which I would suggest that you do -- if the Gibson sells used for $200 more, have them throw in $200 if you like the LTD better.

The neck on the Gibson is fine, and after having a fret dress and the rough edges filed down, the frets are ok too.

I don't think the Faded Vs are for sale new, but when they were I think they were about £500 - £600, possibly a tad more.

The more I think about it the more I think I may just stick with the V and give it more play time  :lol:

[Philly Q]

Cost wise it's probably a good deal, long term value wise it's probably a bad one (although I don't think the Faded V will ever become a highly valued vintage guitar)

Personally I'd rather have the V, no matter how badly they're made Gibsons almost always have some kind of vibe about them, Korean guitars very often don't (personal opinion).  And I couldn't live with the blingy abalone binding and inlays on the EC-1000.

I must say I do like the basic concept of the ESP Eclipse/EC as a modern Les Paul equivalent.  I just wish they made them with a neck I liked.

[Brow]

Cost wise it's probably a good deal, long term value wise it's probably a bad one (although I don't think the Faded V will ever become a highly valued vintage guitar)

Personally I'd rather have the V, no matter how badly they're made Gibsons almost always have some kind of vibe about them, Korean guitars very often don't (personal opinion).  And I couldn't live with the blingy abalone binding and inlays on the EC-1000.

I must say I do like the basic concept of the ESP Eclipse/EC as a modern Les Paul equivalent.  I just wish they made them with a neck I liked.

Oh, I wouldn't say it's badly made at all, and I must say I'm of the same thought about the binding as you. Pink guitars with cats faces on them are fine, but I'm not a huge fan of blingy binding!  :lol:

[Plenum n Heather]

Don't do it.

[Dave Sloven]

Keep the V.

I find the necks on LTDs very unlikable to play, and the bling does look awful.

[Philly Q]

[Pink guitars with cats faces on them are fine, but I'm not a huge fan of blingy binding!  :lol:

I'm with you there!

[Dave Sloven]

Actually, the only guitar in the ESP/LTD lines that I've picked up an immediately liked was a camo Viper.  Nice binding, silky satin finish on the back of the neck.  Not cheap though.  The finish on an LTD Viper 400 (Korean made) on the other hand I found to be completely ordinary, even though it's one of their better models.  The cheap models without binding feel worse.

[fps_dean]

See what you like better.  Gibson's quality control has been awful for 40 years now... I've seen some awful necks and fretjobs.  If you aren't on the good side of both, then this might be a massive upgrade for you.

I haven't checked the selling prices of each guitar new, or the used value of each guitar which I would suggest that you do -- if the Gibson sells used for $200 more, have them throw in $200 if you like the LTD better.

The neck on the Gibson is fine, and after having a fret dress and the rough edges filed down, the frets are ok too.

I don't think the Faded Vs are for sale new, but when they were I think they were about £500 - £600, possibly a tad more.

The more I think about it the more I think I may just stick with the V and give it more play time  :lol:

Sounds like my Les Paul actually.  The neck is easily the best I've seen, including some 50s/early 60s models, and other luthiers have told me the same thing too.  But the fretjob was awful!  I had some massive filing done on it and it's acceptable now, but at some point I would like to get it completely refretted.

[Brow]

Cheers guys, think I'm gonna stick with what I have.

I'm going to force myself to use it more and see where that takes me.

Can you use a V in a Punk covers band or is that too OTT?  :lol: (tongue planted firmly in cheek btw)

[Dave Sloven]

Cheers guys, think I'm gonna stick with what I have.

I'm going to force myself to use it more and see where that takes me.

Can you use a V in a Punk covers band or is that too OTT?  :lol: (tongue planted firmly in cheek btw)

Yeah, why not?  The pickups seem a good match for that.