ESP LTD ’87 Series Rainbow Crackle ’80s shred monsters reissued!
5,0 / 5,0 | 
ESP has come up with an, ahem, eye-catching ’87 Reissue Series, bringing back the Rainbow Crackle finish. ESP says these instruments are faithful recreations of models from its 1987 catalogue. Ah yes, 1987. Hair metal ruled the world and outlandish shred guitars were cool.
ESP LTD ’87 Reissue Series Rainbow Crackle
In the 1980s, ESP’s shred guitars were the epitome of cool and style. These 1987 Rainbow Crackle models were seen as a must-have finish. But they weren’t that common compared to plain and solid colours, so thirty-plus years later they have become quite sought after by collectors.
ESP LTD ’87 Reissue Series Rainbow Crackle · Source: ESP
Rainbow Crackle Warriors
ESP has chosen 2021 to re-issue these finishes as part of its LTD ’87 Reissue Series. Five models are on offer, each in that eye-watering Rainbow Crackle finish: the Eclipse ’87, Eclipse ’87 NT, Mirage Deluxe ‘87 and M-1 Custom ‘87 guitars. A P-bass style model is included, too, the Surveyor ’87.
Eclipse ’87 NT and Eclipse ’87
First up are two T-Style models, featuring a Macassar ebony fretboard, a mahogany body and a three-piece maple 24.75″ scale length neck. You get 24 extra-jumbo frets on both models.
Eclipse ’87 · Source: ESP
Source: ESP
The pickups on both versions include a Seymour Duncan ’59 in the neck position, and a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge. Both pickups are splittable via a push/pull on the tone control.
RRP – USD 1099 each
M-1 Custom ’87
The M-1 Custom ’87 is the classic neck-through construction model and comes with a three-piece maple neck, an alder body and a Macassar ebony fretboard with 24 extra-jumbo frets.
M-1 Custom ’87 · Source: ESP
This is a real gunslinger, with only a single Seymour Duncan Distortion in the bridge that can be coil split using the tone control. Plus, it has an onboard EMG PA-2 active boost switch. Shred city.
RRP – USD 1199
Mirage Deluxe ’87
This ESP/LTD Mirage Deluxe ‘87 comes with a 25.5″ scale length, a bolt-on maple neck, plus a Macassar ebony fretboard and an alder body. You also have a Floyd Rose 1000 locking trem system and 22 extra-jumbo frets.
Mirage Deluxe ’87 · Source: ESP
This time you get a Seymour Duncan Hot Rail in the neck position and a Seymour Duncan Distortion in the bridge position. The pickups are splittable via a push/pull on the tone control.
RRP – USD 1099
Surveyor ’87
Finally, we have the one and only bass model, the Surveyor ’87 and this model P-style bass is an alder body and a bolt-on maple neck with a Macassar ebony fretboard.
Surveyor ’87 · Source: ESP
It comes loaded with a Seymour Duncan Vintage P in the middle position and a Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz, controlled via a volume and tone. A balance pot lets you blend the pickups. It’s available for pre-order via our affiliate partner here.
RRP – USD 999
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3 responses to “ESP LTD ’87 Series Rainbow Crackle ’80s shred monsters reissued!”
Wasn’t it called ‘magma’ finish the first time round? I can’t remember, I’m a lot older now than when I was a callow youth licking the windows of guitar shops in the 1980s 🙂
I remember Washburn having a Magma finish on a lot of their models.
Ah, maybe it was Washburn’s name for it. I’m glad I haven’t completely lost my my addled old mind!
Now you’ve reminded me of the Stephens Extended Cutaway and 36 fret neck. Happy days 🙂