The ESP Guitar Company

Hi Chris. I'm not feeling too good about this one. There photo of the front doesn't get me a great view of the logo, but the circle logo on the back is wrong. I've also never seen one of the circle logos and the "produced by ESP" logo on the same guitar. The produced logo was typically saved for LTD and Edwards guitars.

The 6 digit serial number was from the 99-03 era. I couldn't find an example of a Snapper from that era, but anything I found in the 2007+ era all had the truss rod adjustment at the bottom of the neck, with a gap in the neck under the 22nd fret.

Based on these two photos, I don't think I could give you a good answer.

Hey Mop. I'm not super familiar with the TB models, but there's nothing here that is a red flag. Should be a 2013 model.

Can you help me out with this one?  Just purchased this used and can't find ANY information on this particular model.  It says M-255 on it, but there's almost nothing online about it.  Thanks!

Hi Greg. The 6 digit serial number is from the 2000-2003ish era. Everything looks good to me on it. I think the 255 models were only around during that era, and none of those catalogs are available online (at least not on this website). I'd suspect the body is alder and the pickups look to be the duncan designed pickups from that era. I had a set of them in my MH-301 from a few years later and they were pretty bland. A swap of the pickups really made that guitar great.

I swapped them with a JB/59 combo, which in that guitar, with what I play, was spectacular. But I think most any aftermarket pickup will be an improvement in the guitar. I also ended up replacing the bridge with an original Floyd Rose a bunch of years later. It just wasn't holding tuning well and it ended up that the points on the trem had worn down.

Those AJ Standards are pretty awesome guitars. A friend has one and I very much like it.

Hey all,

Just got this LTD Black Metal second hand. As far as I know, the Black Metal M series never came stock with an EMG, so I assume that's aftermarket, but how is everything else looking? It plays and feel amazing.

Hey Luke. Everything looks good. A 2018 model.

Can u check mine pls. My serial number is 12050284. The ec 256 model

Can anyone help me determine the approximate year of this old ESP? I got it back in the 80's after a NAMM show, so thinking it was in the 1987-1988 range, but not sure. Thanks in advance. Still play this beauty all the time. Excellent instrument!!

Hey Dean, it's hard to get dates on those 80s guitars. I suspect your guess range is right.

Behemoth, sure. I accepted your friend request.

Hi, I’m now looking forward to buying an ESP LTD EC-1000 LH guitar, and it seemed really hard to find one with a normal price. By the way, it's so hard to find a dealer that sells left-handed guitars and supports international shipping!

While recently, I noticed one on a local online trade platform, the merchant claims that this is a brand-new guitar, the price is 7800 CNY in the merchant’s currency, which is about 1200 USD, I think. And customs duty and international shipping cost are included in this price. Can you tell me whether this is a legit one?

By the way, it seemed a 2017 one produced in Korea, am I right? I’m a newcomer to guitars, may I ask is it worthwhile to buy a 2017 guitar in 2023 right now. Sorry, if any offense.

If this is not a legit one or the price is not worthwhile, shall you please tell me if there are any websites to buy such guitars, because I found that for this guitar, Guitar Center doesn’t support international shipping, while Amazon and Thomann is out of stock.

Thank you!

The guitar is legit, a 2017 model. International shipping is a long process of waiting. I've brought a lot of guitars into the US from overseas and I've only paid customs fees once (from France). But, be ready to pay, just in case.

I just purchased a Stream 1004. Serial number IW21030087. What is the manufacturer date of this Bass?

Hi guys i got an ESP EC-401 and wonder if you coult tell me the model year IW12073810