Ready, Aim, Fire: ESP E-II Arrow and LTD Arrow-401

At the start of 2015, ESP made a guitar shape available worldwide that was previously only offered to our customers in Japan. That shape is the Arrow, and we've made this bold and distinctive guitar in two versions with the ESP E-II Arrow and the LTD Arrow-401. Let's take a look at what makes them special, and what differences are found between them.

LTD Arrow-401


The LTD Arrow-401, like all of our LTD guitars, is designed for working musicians who need a good-sounding and reliable instrument for recording and touring, while also staying within a reasonable budget. The LTD Arrow-401 certainly does all that and more. It starts with a set-thru neck construction at 25.5" scale, offering a smooth feel and clean access to even the highest frets. It has a mahogany body, a fast, thin U-shaped maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard with 24 extra-jumbo frets. High-quality components on the LTD Arrow-401 include a Floyd Rose Special bridge with locking nut, and an EMG 85 (bridge) / EMG 81 (neck) active pickup set. It's a great guitar for everyday use, but will also allow you to stand out from the crowd on stage and in studios with its unique shape and aggressive sonic character.

ESP E-II Arrow


Most people by now are familiar with our ESP E-II instruments. Introduced in 2014, ESP E-II is the new name for what we formerly called "ESP Standard". ESP E-II models are crafted in our Tokyo, Japan factory by skilled luthiers. The ESP E-II Arrow is built to be a shred machine; everything about it makes it ready to handle your fastest leads and chunkiest rhythms. Unlike the LTD version, the E-II Arrow has neck-thru-body construction. The advantage of neck-thru-body design goes beyond the smooth feel of the integrated heel for excellent fret access; it also can offer even greater sustain and richer tone. The E-II Arrow also has an alder body with the resulting comfortable use on stage, as well as the general awesome look of the natural black color of an ebony fingerboard and a reverse inline headstock. It also upgrades the tremolo to an Original Floyd Rose, and adds Gotoh tuners as well. The ESP E-II Arrow offers a set of dual EMG 81 active pickups for a super aggressive sound. It also includes an ESP hardshell case.

You can find both the LTD Arrow-401 and the ESP E-II Arrow at your local ESP dealer. Give them a try, and see why one of these guitars might be right for you!