M-1 CUSTOM '87
M-1 CUSTOM '87
CANDY APPLE RED
While ESP first got started in 1975 as a small repair shop in Tokyo, it was really toward the mid ‘80s when our guitars and basses grabbed the attention of players around the world. The LTD ’87 Series are faithful recreations of this set of instruments from ESP’s 1987 catalog. The LTD M-1 Custom ’87, based on the legendary original ESP M-1 model, offers neck-thru-body construction for fast access to the highest frets. Its comfortable alder body and three-piece extra thin U-shaped maple neck are designed for speed and smooth playability. The M-1 Custom ’87 features a Floyd Rose 1000 bridge without a recess route and a single Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 pickup with a push-pull control for coil splitting, and an EMG PA-2 boost switch for when you need that extra push of raw power. Available in Black, Dark Metallic Blue, and Candy Apple Red finishes.
LTD M-1 Custom '87 Demo by Bruce Kulick (KISS, Grand Funk)
LTD M-1 Custom '87 Demo by Kevin Storm
LTD M-1 Custom '87 Unboxing and Demo/Review by Martin "Skar" Berger
LTD M-1 Custom '87 Demo by Pat Heath
2020 NAMM Show: '87 Series
Introducing the '87 Series
Friends
How is the action? I'm concerned if I can get the action low enough to where I like it since the floyd isn't recessed. The action seems kinda high in the pics and videos I have seen. My rule of thumb is if I can get it low enough to where the strings are touching the frets or close enough that it is not playable then it is good cuz I can raise it right to where I want it from basically a ground zero if you will.
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I got mine in today. Here's my review (after about 5 hours of playtime) if anyone is interested:
Wow. That was my first impression. The finish looks so cool. It has a metallic type sheen to it that is hard to photo, but looks great in person. The pickup and boost switch are a perfect match and sound AMAZING. This is my first SD Distortion pickup, but probably won't be my last. I typically prefer a JB, but this thing sounds amazing clean while split and clear/tight while under high gain. The non-routed Floyd looks and feels great too. I have a few different LTD, but this one has a bit thinner neck and wider fretboard. Not too thin like another brand, but a great profile in between.
All in all, just super easy to play. Perfect setup out of the box, but that's probably due to Sweetwater. No uneven frets or sharp edges. It does cost a lot, but other than the lack of stainless steel frets (personal preference) and a case, I can't find anything else I would consider a flaw in mine. I've never played an E-II M1, but I've played an E-II MII and a USA shop M-I NTB (basically a dream guitar). To me, this guitar plays just as good as either of those minus the fret feel of the USA shop (again, my strong preference for stainless steel).
ESP is my favorite guitar brand because I can't find guitars from other brands that resonate with me as much, and this guitar is no exception. Maybe that makes me biased, but I love what I love and I've tried enough to know. It's cool to own something that honors and represents all the aspects that make this brand so great.
Finally received my ESP LTD M-1 Custom 87. First thoughts? Meh! Why? It’s definitely not a 1k guitar! The finish is awesome! This guitar looks like a hot rod! Quality wise it is on the heavy side. The frets are level, but care was not taken to ensure the edges were smooth. Additionally, the frets are not smooth at all. I’m finding a scratchy feeling on bends. I’m not finding a need for the coil split, or I don’t even know if the boost actually works. Maybe it’s subtle. As expected, the SD distortion screams 80’s. The tone is kind of a warm and tight tone. I’m already packing it up, as I don’t care for it. Anyway, I’m going to end it with it is a nice low to mid end guitar just not for me. My personal opinion is for the same price you can get an E series. Once again, this is my opinion of this guitar. My viewpoint might be skewed, as my main guitar is an ESP.
Interesting. What exactly makes it closer to a 400 than a 1000? Also, the boost switch is configurable. I'm not sure what the factory setting is, but you can adjust it via a trim pot in the back (open the cavity and you should see it). 20dB is a HUGE amount of gain to boost, so it sounds like yours is set low.
To me, 3 piece maple neck, alder body, Floyd 1000, boost switch, and Duncan Distortion all make it closer to a 1000 than 400, but that's just my opinion.
I have one of these on order and can't wait.
Hey Nathan,
I did redo my review for ya. I mean my m-400 is just as nice as this one. Yeah...probably right on the boost. Thanks for the advice. Im not messing with it. I’m old school and don’t see the need for it anyway. I had a FRX a long time ago with the same feature and just left it on. It did make a huge difference though. This one is probably heading back to the dealer. The frets just aren’t right.
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