ESP LTD EC-100 FR Guitar Review

The basic Les Paul design has inspired some simply awe-inspiring guitars, and some that aren't quite so impressive. It is to the guitarist's advantage that so many companies today are competing to offer newer features and better quality nearly every year. One example of updated quality is the ESP LTD EC-100 FR electric guitar. In this article, I'll take a closer look at it to determine whether these features are frivolous, or really worth something.

Features: The body of the ESP LTD EC-100 FR, like most other ESP's, is made of mahogany wood. This helps to create deeper, more rich sound effect. It also tends to slightly improve sustain. The shape of the body is, as aforementioned in the introduction, much like a Les Paul. The key difference is that the cutaway on the bottom is a little sharper and recedes a little more. There is just one finish available with the ESP LTD EC-100 FR, and that is see through black with a maple carved top. The maple greatly improves finish, as this guitar is definitely an attractive one. The neck is set into the body, and is made of maple as well. It has a rosewood fretboard with twenty four extra jumbo frets and abalone inlays. The hardware, however, is where the unique features really begin. It has black nickel ESP locking tuners, and, get this, a Floyd Rose locking tremolo bridge. This design of instrument rarely, if ever, has a tremolo bridge. Electronically, the ESP LTD EC-100 FR has two EMG active humbucker pickups, two volume and one tone control knobs, and a three way selector switch.

Playability: There are a certain number of advantages and disadvantages that come with playing the ESP LTD EC-100 FR. First, the neck is very thin, which makes long runs that require fast movement up and down the neck a little easier. Also, the cutaway's sharpness allows for good high fret access. On the other hand, the thick mahogany body is a little heavy, and may be uncomfortable for some. One very good observation is that the Floyd Rose tremolo can be used on the ESP LTD EC-100 FR without it going out of tune.

Sound: The EMG active humbuckers in the ESP LTD EC-100 FR are known for their prowess and excellence in the hard rock and metal genres. It's extremely easy to make them scream. But, if you're looking for a more subtle tone you'll have to know what you're doing to make the adjustments for it to sound good clean. It can be done, however, with a little ear training and some one on one time with the guitar.

Overall: For the serious musician who specializes in hard rock and metal and is looking for something a little different, the ESP LTD EC-100 FR is an obvious choice. It is relatively expensive, but the build quality and extras make it well worth it for those who have the money. You can find the ESP LTD EC-100 FR in music stores for about $1,000.