The George Lynch ESP/LTD Gl-256 Relic Finish Strat

Without a doubt George Lynch is by my favorite guitarist. He has influenced my playing more than anyone else. In addition to being a great player himself, George Lynch has always been known for very edgy looking guitars with wild custom graphics. Since the 1980's he has used guitars made by the ESP Guitar Company of Japan. Lynch helped to put ESP on the map as far as guitars go.

George Lynch has a variety of signature products. Most of his custom ESP guitars that he uses have an economy version for as well. Since the late 1990's ESP also produces a less expensive line known as LTD. These are very often, but not always as good as the original ESP version. The main difference is that ESP guitars are handmade in Japan and LTD guitars are mass produced in assembly lines in Korea, Indonesia, or China. The GL-256 is actually made in Vietnam. It is the only ESP/LTD guitar I am aware of that is made in Vietnam.

The LTD GL-256 is one George Lynch's less expensive signature guitars. It is a new release from the ESP Company for. It is designed to be an affordable alternative for the original ESP GL-56. The ESP GL-56 tiger usually will costs$1,999 give or take a few bucks. If you wanted one that looked just like it you could by the GL-256 for about $450.

The specs for this guitar are as follows. It has a distressed relic paintjob and a bolt on neck. The body is alder with a maple neck and fingerboard with 22 extra jumbo frets. The neck is not super thin, but it is quite thin and thinner than most ESP/LTD models. The nickel hardware includes a non-locking vintage tremolo system and ESP tuners. It comes standard with one ESP humbucker bridgepick up and two single coil pickups. The main differences between the GL-256 and the original GL-56 include the following items. The GL-56 has Spretzel locking tuners, Wilkinson tremolo, and a Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates" bridge pick up. The GL-256 tremolo is really not that good and I advise people just to take the bar off and not use it is they buy one.

I personally own some George Lynch LTD guitars made in Korea. I found my guitars identical to the much more expensive Japanese ESP version. I actually received a GL-256 as a present and had to return it. I use the tremolo way to much to not have a quality locking system on it. the fact that it is made in Vietnam really make it only an entry level guitar. ESP actually introduced a LTD relic strat for 2010 called the st-203fr. This guitar has much higher quality for under $380 and includes a Floyd Rose Special Tremolo. I am a big fan, but cant advise anyone to buy this particular signature model. I would save your money and get another LTD non-signature version. I do like the fact that they use alder instead of basswood. ESP and many companies use basswood on their lower end guitars. If ESP were to include a Floyd Rose on the GL-256 and keep the price about the same I would rate it much higher and probably worth the money. I would put the value on the GL-256 at $300 max. many people would also want to swap out the ESP bridge pickup for a Seymour Ducan. That ads more even more money to the price if you were to buy the GL-256.

www.GeorgeLynch.com

www.ESPguitars.com