The ESP Guitar Company

Hmm. This one is a stumper for me. I just don't have enough experience with the TE, especially a recent TE. There's nothing specific that stands out to me as fake, but the serial number font seems weird, the logo seems weird... But it matches what's on the product page.

Based on what you've shown, I'd pass (or take back) the guitar.

Hi All, I'm new here and would appreciate any advice to whether this KH502 below is genuine. I didn't think they made E serials especially with only six digits. So I thought it might be fake. 

Also how does this compare to a Horizon which is $1k AUS or a Maverick II also for $1k. I don't know a whole of the differences as I'm new to shred land. 

Cheers,

Riley

Maverick 2

Horizon

I don't see anything that jumps out as fake. But my LTD from that era has a 7 digit serial number.

In terms of the comparison, at near the same price, I'd buy either the M-II or the Horizon over the KH-502. Realistically, the 502 just isn't in the same ballpark in terms of hardware or build quality.

I'd be somewhat skeptical on the Horizon on how the owner has it wired. It looks like an active pickup at the neck and a passive at the bridge. Because of the differences in resistance of the pickups, each one would need it's own volume pot. I'd ask the owner how the wiring is configured.

No, my old LTD MH-301 had the same bridge. I forget what it was called, but it had the same shape and "low profile" clamps.

And actually, after looking at photos of my old LTD, it also had a 6 digit serial number. It started U09, (Usung factory) and it certainly wasn't a 2009 model. It must have been a transition period for the serial numbers around 2001-2003. I can't remember exactly when I got it, but I certainly had it well before 2009.

It also had the same HZ-1 pickups. They sounded pretty lousy to me. I swapped them for a JB/59 set I had lying around. Man, that guitar was a monster with that pickup set.

Thanks Guys, 

The KH502 is about $300Aus. Compared to the others. I just don't know a whole lot about ESP as I have mainly had Strats. But I'm drawn into them being a player of Metallica/Pantera.

So just skip the 502 all together then?

I'm not aware which factory would have built the guitars with the E prefix, but there's no reason to believe that it's a fake. There was no E prefix used on the ESP Standard or ESP Custom guitars in the early 2000s.

$300 vs $1000 for the guitar is a pretty big difference. In USD, that 502 would be a pretty good deal ($1000 for the M-II or Horizon would be a fair price in USD.) I think it all comes down to the price you feel comfortable spending and how much you think you'd use it. Everything being what it is on the 502, I would want to replace the pickups in it. Those EMG HZ-1 pickups are pretty weak and clunky in my experience. Especially if you are looking for something that's going to hit Metallica and Pantera. Another $200 worth of pickups and you should have a pretty good little guitar.

Those ESPs are "better" guitars. They retailed for more, they have better hardware and materials. But that doesn't mean that a well setup LTD won't be a great feeling and playing guitar as well.

I say gauge the level of the Strats you have, and how much you'd play a shredder guitar, and figure out if it would be worth the extra money for a moderately better guitar.

I don't think either decision would be a bad one. I'm a humbucker guy, so I'd suggest there's a lot of sounds that any of those guitars would gain you. Most of my guitars are double humbucker, but I do have a Strat and a Tele, too.

I need relp with this LTD F-50 i really think that its a fake cause iv never seen any of these aeound my area for a price of $140 Pushead i need your help 

Looks good to me.

You can find out the details here:

https://cdn.connectsites.net/user_files/esp/downloads/000/000/086/ESP-2005-Catalog.pdf?1392144618

It's a 2005 model.

Can u help me with this one. It’s just a basic cheap esp f-10 but I have a dodgy feeling about it. Especially the 6 holes on the back. They don’t look straight. I’m aware the headstock is split. 

It's a $200 guitar, brand new. And no one would fake a guitar that inexpensive.

It's probably legit, but I'd stay away. How good a deal could you be getting to deal with a small crack in the headstock and shoddy craftsmanship?