ESP KH-2 NTB
ESP KH-2 NTB
hi i would like to know is there any difference in quality,material use and specs of esp kh-2 ntb SS and K serial number? custom shop and standard series...
or its just marketing strategy to price custom K series higher than standard series?in fact it has the same build, wood quality and hardware?
I suppose the difference we're quacking about is how the K is shown in the serial number. A "normal" standard style KH guitar is like this:
Whereas a Custom Shop produced (in the Kiso shop) serial number is like this:
For guitars made in before 2014, the Custom Shop made instruments are typically considered a better instrument. I couldn't define what exactly is different, but a previous member of the board who (claimed) had inside info said the Custom Shop instruments were made by a single builder.
Otherwise, "normal" or Signature Series guitars were production line made instruments. I don't know if the KH guitars ever got serial numbers with the SS at the front, but my old 2005 Truckster had one.
Based on what I know and have seen....
1. The SS in the serial number does stand for Standard Series as the Signature Series was made at the Standard Series factory
2. Is there a difference? Minimal but yes. If you look at the Kiso models versus the SS models, there are small differences like the black plates are recessed versus surface mount. Usually the nuts are better fitting. In general, just seems to be more attention to detail.
I would disagree with the statement above that there was a slight increase in price in the US made in the ESP email. For example, the KH-DC went from a street price of around $1999 to $4999.
I have a 2006 Kiso made RZK-1. It does appear to be of a slightly higher quality than the normal Signature Series models. I was confused about where the signature guitars were made, as the burnt finish RZK guitars were finished in the custom shop.
All of them, however are of exceptional quality, and most of the perception of the CS being better than the SS, I believe, is primarily placebo. My Kiso RZK does have a nicer finish, the binding is a bit neater, but overall, not much of a difference.
In a blind test, I would not be able to tell them apart.
I've been told that a custom shop guitar build is overseen (and mostly completed by) a single luthier, whereas the standard shop guitars are built as part of a production line.