ESP LTD Deluxe EX-1000 Guitar Review

Brand after brand has used the original Gibson Les Paul as inspiration for their own guitar models. Some have found their user base and done well, and others have flopped quickly. Few, however, stand as a great, original guitars in their own right. The ESP LTD Deluxe EX-1000 is one of the very seldom exceptions to that general rule. Let's take a closer look at it to see what exactly makes it that way.

Features: The body of the LTD Deluxe EX-1000 is made of mahogany wood. This helps to assist the pickups in achieving a warm tone and lengthy sustain. There are several finishes available, from different types of classic sunburst looks to more modern quilted green. All are high-gloss, and all look very rich (and expensive). The neck of the ESP LTD Deluxe EX-1000 is also made of mahogany wood, and is set into the body. It has a rosewood fretboard with twenty four extra jumbo frets and abalone inlays. The neck and body are also bound with the same abalone material. For most finishes, the hardware is black. This includes the tuning heads, pickup covers, and Tune-O-Matic style bridge. Electronically, the ESP LTD Deluxe EX-1000 has two EMG active pickups, one volume and two tone control knobs, and a three way selector switch.

Playability: The body of the ESP LTD Deluxe EX-1000, though shaped like and made of similar material to the Gibson Les Paul, is much lighter. This allows for easy playing while standing up, for lengthy amounts of time. The cutaway is relatively sharp as well, which allows for great high fret access. And, finally, the LTD Deluxe EX-1000 has a TonePros locking bridge. This means that it is next to impossible to knock this guitar out of tune.

Sound: The authentic EMG active pickups on the LTD Deluxe EX-1000 are generally known among musicians for their prowess in hard rock and metal. However, this guitar has a surprising amount of versatility. Its clean tones are very pure, and with the right settings it can handle lighter distortion without "trying" to make it scream too much.

Overall: The ESP LTD Deluxe EX-1000 is, honestly, a pretty expensive guitar. But the old adage "you get what you pay for" rings true. It has a high quality build, and electronics and features that any serious musician could appreciate and use. You can find the ESP LTD Deluxe EX-1000 in music stores for about $900.