ESP splashes second wave of new guitars ahead of NAMM 2020
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ESP Guitars has just announced the second wave of its ‘New For 2020’ release campaign, it has dubbed “ESP Phase 2”. Last month, ESP announced its Phase 1 preview ahead of NAMM 2020, and now the Japanese company has splashed news of even more new guitars it’s bringing to the show in January.
ESP Phase 2: New models for NAMM 2020
The official announcement of the second wave of ESP and LTD models has now been revealed! It contains some exciting guitars, including revamped models. From among this tsunami of new guitars we’ve picked the best of the bunch. Here are our favourites:
LTD Deluxe SN-1000HT & SN-1000FR
The LTD Deluxe SN-1000HT and SN-1000FR feature swamp ash bodies as well as roasted maple necks and fingerboards. They also have fingerboard scalloping from the 17th fret upwards and stainless steel frets and a special sand-blasted finish. Cool.
ESP LTD Deluxe SN-1000HT · Source: ESP
Seymour Duncan pickups
The SN-1000HT comes loaded with a Seymour Duncan Sentient/Pegasus pickup set that is splittable with a push-pull control. This model has a Hipshot fixed bridge, as the name HT suggests. The SN-1000FR comes in an HSS pickup configuration, with two Seymour Duncan Hot Strat single-coils and a Pegasus humbucker in the bridge position. This model is factory fitted with a Floyd Rose 1000SE bridge with stainless steel screws.
ESP LTD SN-1000FR · Source: ESP
These two models look exceptionally well-rounded for modern guitars, with both playability and looks at the forefront of their designs.
LTD Deluxe M-1000
This LTD Deluxe M-1000 model features a neck-thru-body design with an alder body that has a burled poplar top applied. This one also has an extra-thin U-shaped three-piece maple neck and a Macassar ebony fingerboard.
Pickups this time round are a set of EMG 57TW/66TW that come with push-pull controls on both the volume and tone for individual coil-splitting. Again, you get a factory fitted Floyd Rose trem system with this model.
For me, this is the definitely the shredder’s model out of the all these new releases!
LTD Deluxe M-1000 · Source: ESP
ESP LTD Xtone PS-1000
Next up is the offset ESP LTD Xtone PS-1000 in either Vintage Black or Blue Sparkle. This model features a semi-hollow construction and a pair of Seymour Duncan Phat Cat single coil pickups. It also features a set-thru three-piece maple neck, again with a Macassar ebony fingerboard. This model also has a TonePros locking tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece.
ESP LTD Xtone PS-1000 Blue Sparkle · Source: ESP
I think this model is a good-looking guitar. I like the way it combines modern features with vintage flavoured looks.
ESP LTD Xtone PS-1000 Vintage Black · Source: ESP
And there’s more!
In amongst the Phase 2 announcement, ESP LTD also caters for the budget-conscious guitar buyer with new LTD 200 models, including the EC-256, F-200 and H-200. These are at the cheaper end of the market and are factory fitted with ESP-designed LH-150 and LH-301 humbuckers. Here’s a quick summary of the most interesting new models:
LTD EC-256
- Mahogany body and neck
- Flamed maple top
- Roasted jatoba fingerboard
- ESP LH-150 humbucker pickups
- Push-pull control for coil-splitting
LTD EC-256 Vintage Natural · Source: ESP
LTD H-200
- Mahogany body
- Flamed maple top
- Set-neck construction
- ESP LH-150 humbucker pickups
- Push-pull coil-splitting
- LTD fixed bridge with string-thru-body design
LTD H-200 · Source: ESP
LTD F-200
- Mahogany body
- A three-piece maple neck
- Roasted Jatoba fingerboard
- ESP LH-301 humbucker pickups
- Push-pull coil-splitting
- FR by Floyd Rose
LTD F-200 · Source: ESP
More Information
Which are your favourites? Have ESP/LTD set a high bar for NAMM 2020 or are you disappointed by the new models announced recently? Let us know in the comments below.
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One response to “ESP splashes second wave of new guitars ahead of NAMM 2020”
Really dig the sandblasted snappers; also, the poplar burl craze needs to die.