The rare ESP LTD EC 400, even rarer finishing

[Klovski]

Lately I found a nice gear on used guitar marketplace. It's esp ltd ec 400 for $180 with emg pickups.

Some questions here,
1. why is it so rare?
Just looked up on amazon, sweetwater and Thomann just to find out it's out of stock everywhere. Can find some of them on ebay tho

2. Is that a reasonable price for the gear (especially if it's actually rare/discontinued)?

3. Anyone seen this kind of finishing for this series?

Anyway I'm pretty new here, new on guitar things too. And I'll be glad if you help me to consider if it's worth to buy. Thanks!

 

[1 21 gigawatts]

I don't know any specifics about that model, but that price seems almost too good to be true. If it is local, I'd certainly check it out. If it isn't local, approach with skepticism due to the too-low price. It is certainly a good looking guitar, so I hope that it works out for you.

Welcome to the board!

 

[Klovski]

I don't know any specifics about that model, but that price seems almost too good to be true. If it is local, I'd certainly check it out. If it isn't local, approach with skepticism due to the too-low price. It is certainly a good looking guitar, so I hope that it works out for you.

Welcome to the board!

Thankyou! Much appreciated

 

[radiocaster]

If it is local, bring a small Phillips screwdriver to open the back cavity, but don't tell the seller before. If the EMGs are fake, there is no battery.

It's not that the fake EMGs are that bad, but if they are fake, the whole guitar could be fake.

 

[TX_Slinger]

grab it now. i got a great deal on an LTD Viper-401 (same pickups as the EC400) and it had some corrosion on the hardware for roughly the same price. The EC and Viper tend to bring the same money within the same series 400/1000 etc..

 

[Jay Jernigan]

A lot of guitar for the money. Not my cup of tea, but I could make an exception.

 

[Klovski]

grab it now. i got a great deal on an LTD Viper-401 (same pickups as the EC400) and it had some corrosion on the hardware for roughly the same price. The EC and Viper tend to bring the same money within the same series 400/1000 etc..

So the price is actually reasonable?

 

[NoTeleBob]

So the price is actually reasonable?

Very.

Do you like EMG pickups?

 

[Klovski]

Very.

Do you like EMG pickups?

Never tried it myself. But from what I've heard the sound is 'meaty' enough for high gain that suits metal and rock. I already own a SSS strat so I'm looking for something new. What do you think?

 

[NoTeleBob]

I'm no EMG guru, but I know metal guys dig them. High gain, driving hard.

 

[Mr. St. Paul]

I'm no EMG guru, but I know metal guys dig them. High gain, driving hard.

I had a partscaster years ago that had a Kramer Baretta body, a Jackson neck and a single EMG pickup. No tone control, just a volume knob. I am the farthest thing from a metal player, at the time I was in a band that played classic rock from the 60s to the 90s. Every player I knew who came to hear the band raved about the sound of that guitar. EMGs are not just for high gain.

 

[MAXXFIELD]

Recently got back my 96 esp eclipse bolt on. And damn did I forget how fun humbuckers are for jazz. But mines not emg. It's also Gibson scale length which could be a no buy for you but I like the diversity.

 

[filtersweep]

If it is local, check it out. I bought a Jackson Soloist for the same price. It was missing a string, missing the trem blocks, and was dirty (looked awful as a black guitar). In reality, it was in mint condition, but the photos were so bad it looked abused. $13 in parts and I had an awesome guitar!

$180 is well under market value. I would only consider it if it were a local sale. It really is in the 'too good to be true' range.

Keep in mind, 'rare' does not mean valuable--- ever.

EMGs are completely underrated. They are an awesome tone platform-- and they are ridiculously quiet, and you never need a buffer.

 

[stormsedge]

It sure is pretty! IF you can establish it as an ESP with EMGs, it is a steal. If it is a fake with a good neck and EMGs...and plays well---it is probably still worth a look and a bid. If the EMGs are fakes, up to you---do you want a project?

 

[stormsedge]

EMGs are completely underrated. They are an awesome tone platform-- and they are ridiculously quiet, and you never need a buffer.

^^This^^...I agree.

 

[Klovski]

If it is local, check it out. I bought a Jackson Soloist for the same price. It was missing a string, missing the trem blocks, and was dirty (looked awful as a black guitar). In reality, it was in mint condition, but the photos were so bad it looked abused. $13 in parts and I had an awesome guitar!

$180 is well under market value. I would only consider it if it were a local sale. It really is in the 'too good to be true' range.

Keep in mind, 'rare' does not mean valuable--- ever.

EMGs are completely underrated. They are an awesome tone platform-- and they are ridiculously quiet, and you never need a buffer.

Well it's 8 or 9 towns away, so I'll definitely check it later when going around. Thanks!