The ESP Guitar Company

Received JH-600 CTM a week ago. The finish was great. No quality control issues. The sound is awesome. The feel is great, easy to play. No complaints. I have 4 ESP custom shop models GL skull and swords, GL distressed Tiger, Hatfield Snakebyte, KH -3. This LTD JH-600 is on par with those models. But I like EMG 81/85. The only problem I had was it was shipped without the case .But ESP shipped me a case within 4 days. Thanks ESP. 

I got my JH-600 CTM today.  I have been waiting for this guitar ever since they appeared on the site a couple of years ago, after believing they had been discontinued. 

I have only had time to do a visual inspection so far.  Aside from the star inlays and CTM added on the truss rod cover, it's identical to previous models, as expected. 

I hate to say it, but I am disappointed in the finish.  For what these are selling for, I expected better.  Upon unboxing/uncovering, I immediately noticed unfinished areas at the neck joint.  They show as small white dots or spots.

There is also a spot on the headstock just above the lower binding that looks like it may be bare wood.  It appears to be under the clear coat.

Next, the binding on the top of the nut looks like it was cut sloppy, and a thin crack that I assume is from the sloppy cut.  This appears as smudges in the pictures, but when you see actually see it, it looks like a crack or fracture.

Lastly, there is a very small blemish on the front of the body, diagonally from the top corner of the neck pickup.   This was very difficult to photograph.  It's not terribly noticeable, but it is there, and again, for a guitar that costs this much, I expected better.  Actually, I expect better on a much lower priced guitar.

I own 2 other JH-600 guitars.  I have owned numerous LTDs over the years.  All were significantly lower priced than this one, yet all of them had better finishes.

I understand this isn't a truly custom guitar, but you shouldn't have to buy custom to get a consistent finish.  I believe it comes down to QC.

Structurally, the guitar looks and feels as solid as I have come to expect from these guitars, but it's still disappointing to see so many cosmetic flaws on a brand new guitar.

I sent an email to ESP about it.  Their response was that their warranty doesn't cover cosmetic flaws, and they suggested returning it to the seller if I felt it necessary. 

I hope other buyers make out better.  I also hope this isn't the future of LTD.

I've been a die-hard ESP fan since the late 1980s, after buying Javier Carpio's 1987 ESP M1 Custom (as seen in the Master Killer music video by Merauder). After owning dozens of ESP guitars since then, I refused to ever use an LTD. One day, I came across an LTD KH-602 and was shocked! It felt like any of my ESP Customs. About a week later, I bought an LTD KH-602 and was surprised that it felt incredible. About three months had gone by when I had the opportunity to buy an LTD JH-600 Custom and figured I'll give LTD another shot and again, it felt perfect, it's literally what I was accustomed to with my ESP Customs. To say that LTD make amazing guitars is an understatement! I own several LTD M1000s and EC1000s now and same, they're just as great as my ESP models! If you're considering this JH600 CTM, trust that you are going to love it a ton! I'm a YouTuber and share how great these LTDs are and rave about them. After being an ESP snob for over thirty years, I can confirm that I'm a changed man and love LTD guitars!! Special thanks to my boy, ESP artist, Sammy Duet of Goatwhore, who helped push me into LTD guitars. My big move to LTD was Sammy telling me that LTD guitars are great and that I really need to give it a shot. Shout out to my boy, ESP Artist, Mike Hasty of Walls of Jericho just because he's the man!   YouTuber: Louis Torres