The ESP Guitar Company

I can't find an example of a maple fretboard on a Horizon.It looks bound.It needs refretting as is has some dents on a few.Is it a Real McCoy custom?

Everything looks to be legit. I've never seen a maple board Horizon, but the logos, and body shapes look correct. It would not surprise me for it to be a special order. Especially considering it's sporting an OFR (though that may have been a replacement considering how new it looks.)

Late 80s to 1990 based on the head stock shape.

It is legit, however it is a restored one, it was for selling in Japan and was a proper beater. Someone got it and restored it. My concern would be the lines that separate the wings from the main body.

a grand??? no way. your offer is good as it is.

The guitar looks legit, IMO he wants to much for it.  if it was in very good condition at a local dealer were you could go and try it out. I would say the price might be acceptable, however shipping from Russia and including the visual condition, it is definitely over priced.  I have seen a shop in Russia selling a lot of nice vintage and often odd ball or rare ESP's.  They are always way overpriced, and returns over a problem would certainly be difficult,  I steer clear of this.

I think all the sinclair trems were recessed.  The OFR is surface mounted,  so I it was probably original. At this time Esp did a lot of custom guitars for trade shows, dealer requests, and just a lot of custom shop orders.  In addition they had a lot of different models that only went to certain markets   I have seen Kramers that were Marked ESP, It is very possible this was made when ESP was making the Kramer "American" neck thru guitars.   Kramers had OFR,  and were often surface mounted. It could also explain the maple neck.   A while back I saw one that was branded ESP but had the kramer neck inlays.    It is entirely possible that it was being built for kramer as kramer was shutting down and got a horizon headstock shape and logo instead.

I agree with all you guys.I have an ebony & rosewood board but want to throw in a maple with them that is why I wanted that axe.Its the real McCoy & mega rare.I will have all 3 types when I get a maple.I like a nice maple fretboard and how they look feel & sound.

You are right about those Kramers & ESP's relationship in the 80s.Those hockey stick maples look incredible and highly sought after these days.In the late 90s you couldn't give them away lol.Funny how things come back in

kramer stagemaster - looks kinda familar

I actually saw one of these for sale a while back that had an esp shape head stock and esp logo, but the inlays were this kramer shape,  I do not remember what was inlaid at the 12th.  

it is strongly rumored (possibly fact ) that both Ibanez and Esp made focus guitars for Kramer and that  ESP made the neck through american series models for kramer.  I have owened a few kramer focus guitars that felt very much like ESP built guitars.   In fact I feel like the LTD line showed up about the same time as the focus series was discontinued.  Perhaps ESP had a few extra craftsman they did not want to put out of work.   But that is my own personal theory.  

If you do end up buying it, I would be interested to know how the experience with the seller is.