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I have one of those and really love it - it's one of my nicest playing guitars. I keep wondering though - are you planning of adding a Horizon to the 1987 lineup? This would make a fine addition.
Bought the metallic blue version 2 months ago. I've previously owned an Ibanez JS1000, lots of other really good guitars including a Carvin that I custom spec'd for $3500.
My '87 ESP LTD Custom M-1 surpasses all those guitars. I selected it after an exhaustive search. I am so very pleased with this amazing guitar! Wonderfully playable, detail is barely believable. And it SOUNDS like what I heard it my head when I was looking. Test1: Plays amazing unplugged. Came precisely set up right outta the box. Test2: Amped sound- Great! I was thinking when I bought it I would replace the pick up with a "better" Seymour Duncan but couple hours later, no need. Add the onboard electronics--Shazam!
Following up almost 6 months from purchase. I continue to realize just how amazing this guitar is, and the unbelievable quality and craftsmanship. Remember, this is $1,049 guitar. Neck thru design, and fabulously done. The minutia level attention to detail is simply breathtaking. The sound is just "wow." If you are into this type of guitar, unless you have an insistence on a different brand of pickup, this Seymour Duncan TB-6 is not bargain bottom pickup; again, appreciation for sonic nuance differences from other high level pickups aside, this pickup, it's coil tap selector and boost switch (yep active electronics folks, requires a 9v battery) is PERFECT for what this guitar claims to be: an amazing 80s rock/metal guitar.
If you like this type of guitar, play one and you'll get annoyed at how much, much more you paid for other guitars even at a 2k price range.
Thanks ESP/LTD.
My wife bought me one of these for Father's Day (and also my birthday was the week before) and I have to say that this guitar absolutely rips. I love it so much, and it came very well set up from the factory, just needed to put on my gauge of strings and tune to D# and it was perfect. The Duncan Distortion pickup screams and the boost is so helpful for giving it that "push over the cliff" and taking it to "11" for a solo. Also really dig the coil split because it gives a very glassy vintage tone that works for surf and old Shadows tunes. The quality of this instrument is beyond belief and I think the single pickup with the addition of the coil split and preamp boost make this guitar so much more versatile than it looks. Another big factor for me and my connection to it is that 1987 is my birth year so having that extra touch of uniqueness to me is a real awesome factor.
Thank you ESP!
This one with an arched top - a dream! And maybe with a Cool Rails in the neck... :-)
Hi, thanks for your suggestions.
Which would make it a Horizon, a model I've requested too! And hopefully in that magenta finish like Adrian Vandenberg used on the Whitesnake '87 tour.....that would be killer!
so i just found out that the m-1 custom 87 has a 43mm nut. it sucks because i was just going to buy one and 43mm nut is too wide, that's why i don't buy ibanzez. i have to scratch that off my must buy list.
anyway, here's to hoping next years m1 custom 87 has a 42mm nut and maybe a single coil pickup at the neck as well.
cheers!
Hi, sorry to hear that. Typically our M series come with a 43mm nut.
Why are the latest versions only available a very, very dark blue, almost black? They absolutely do not reflect the color represented here. For example, all of these available at Sweetwater.
Will the color displayed here and on the one demoed by Bruce Kulick ever be produced again?
Cheers!
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You'll have to do what I did....track down a Korean build. Ask whatever shop you want to buy from....any reputable shop will be happy to check for you which it is. I have no clue on build quality differences as I've played on Indonesian guitars from others that were great, some crap. I've got 2 other Korean ESP LTDs though, and both are as good or better build quality to any USA guitars I have. So based on that plus the Korean build's blue paint looks great like Bruce has in his video is why I avoided the Indonesian build....the blue varies, and some I've seen I thought it was black until they showed a pic of the back of the guitar and I realized it was a REALLY dark almost midnight blue.
Love these '87s, especially the M-1 in blue! Saving up to get one as soon as I can. Please make more of these.... make an '87 Horizon with chrome hardware and H/S pickups in that awesome magenta finish like Adrian Vandenberg used to have and I'll buy one of those immediately too!!!
thanks for the insight!
Where is it made?
These are produced in both Korea and Indonesia
Are they on par with the quality of the LTD Deluxe series?
These would be produced to the same standards as our 1000 series instruments
Does this 87 model have a non floating Floyd Rose? Dive Bomb only?
Yes, the trem is not recessed
Yes
Top mounted Floyd, but mine came floating from the factory. Can pull it up about a 1/2 step. Probably going to get mine set up to pull up a whole step. Flutters work like this too or you could flush it with the body, EVH style for divebomb only if you wish.
These are not true reissues. To be that, the headstock point would need to be reversed.......Just saying.
Unfortunately we cannot reproduce the headstock shape, for obvious reasons. Thanks for noticing Keith!
I wish I could order a custom shop version with the headstock you have described (and will remain unnamed -lol)!
Thanks for sharing!
Is the 87 series a limited series for this year only or regular production?
Hey Horizon, that has yet to be determined so it would be safe to assume these are a limited production model for the time being.
Thanks Carl!
I hope they stay. I like single humbucker guitars...
Thanks for your insight!
Lefty?
Hey Soullessghost, no left handed offerings at the moment.
Are the necks on the M1 87s gloss or satin finish?
the one in the picture is definitely gloss
Hey Driver, the necks will be glossy.