ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Shane28462

Shane28462

New member
Hi guys! i have been wanting to pickup another guitar to gig with. I have always played Gibson Les Paul Standards and that's the only guitars i own currently. I have been hearing great things about the ESP ltd EC-400VF and was wondering if anyone has any experience with this guitar. Its definitely a bargain at its price and from what few pics i have seen looks like a well made guitar. Also seems like i seen a picture of the back of the guitar where the neck is set into the body and it looked as if their is some type of cut away back their, Is this true? I would also be interested in seeing pics of these guitars if you guys have any of your ESP ltd EC-400VF
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

While I don't have the ec-400vf, I do have an ec-400at gold top that I love (see my SD profile photo). I think for the money, these are great LP knockoffs. The finishes are really nice, although you may find a few little imperfections - there are some on my Gold Top. But again, unless you've got a few g's to spend on a really nice Les Paul, I think these ESP LTD's are a pretty darn good instrument for the money.

I have played the ec-400vf several times as my 'go to' guitar at a local shop when I'm trying out stuff. The one they've got up on the wall plays REALLY good, not to mention it looks great too. It's the tobacco EC-400VF that they have, and I've played that guitar through a lot of stuff in the store. I think the '59 pickup sounds GREAT in the neck position. The JB in the bridge position may or may not be to your liking - I put an SH-5 Custom in mine that I really like.

If I didn't already have my gold top EC-400AT, I'd probably go buy either the cherry burst or the tobacco burst EC-400VF right now.

And one other thing - you'll find that the EC-400AT and EC-400VF are a little more substantial in terms of the mass and weight of the instrument when compared to other ESP EC-series guitars. I've played just about all of those - the Eclipse, the EC-1000, EC-500 and I like the 400AT/400VF the best of all. I'll see about getting some current photos of mine posted here this weekend.

-PT
 
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Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

I have a gold top EC400At too and its a beast.. heavy but sustains for days and plays awesome. I may be selling it soon tho cuz Im in a jam. but its great
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Thanks for the replies guys! If you do manage to get pics, please try and get one of the back where a guitar with a bolt on neck would have screws. I seen a not so clear pic of one of the ltd's and it appeared that their was a cut out their which i figured was their to make it easier to get to the upper frets.....
 
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Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

LTD2.jpg


LTD3.jpg


LTD1.jpg
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Thanks for the pics BloodRose! Im not a gold top fan and never have been but that looks nice. In all the pics i have seen of these guitars the build quality seems extremely high quality. I love my gibson les pauls and wanted another but as bad as i hate to say it the quality just isnt were it used to be and the prices just keep getting higher. I guess the only thing to do now is order the tobacco burst EC-400VF. and one of those gator lp cases.... The neck on these look fast, are they?
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Im a paul fan too. But yeah, they prices climb, the quality falters.. I have an 07 Studio. I also have a few copies too. An 07 Epi Limited Edition, (believe it or not, one of the nicest pauls Ive ever played.) I have a 80s Burny ( AMAZING), a Michael Kelly Patriot Custom (Slightly different. A MARVEL for its price and one of my fav guitars) and the LTD. I had an Edwards Sykes and had to sell but want another. The LTD neck is just alittle bit thinner and faster. I always HATED gold tops. But I found this LTD for a price I couldnt resist and its in awesome shape aside from 1 ding.. And once I played it, thats what it was about... But the gold is growing on me.. To tell you how good these are, there is a vid on Youtube of metallica playing live and Het is playing an LTD goldtop..
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Are the scale lengths on these guitars the same as on Gibsons? The more of them I see the more I like them, I would just have to find a way to rearrange and add one knob so that I could do Jimmy Page wiring..
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Yep, Baritone hit it.. Same scale.. the LTD bodies are normally thinner. However the one I have is fat and about 10 lbs. but it sustains eternally..Hit a note, go to work, come home and crank into the next riff.. haha
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

From looking at the photos of BloodRose gold top and figuring that the guitars wouldn't be different other than the color am i wrong thinking that the guitar in the ebay auction here has some type of relief cut in the back, you know, where a bolt on neck would normally have a metal plate.... You can see what im talking about in picture 3

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140266685928
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

i see what you're talking about, it looks like a reflection from a TV screen to me.
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Well believe it or not, The seller states "Hi, yes it does have a relief cut so you can play above the 12th fret easier." when asked if their was. How would one go about finding out if the ones from musiciansfriend are like this. That would most likely bother me for some reason!:31:
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

No man, that gray area I can be fairly certain that it isn't sth stock.

It either is some kind of artifact (can't figure out what although it looks like some silver duct tape or paint sth) or some after market mod.

I'd ask the seller for a higher res, better focused photo of that area.
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

well the seller did confirm that it does in fact have a relief cut there exactly the way it appears. He states that its one of the earlier models which is different than the newer models which has the compensated nut.... I guess my question is do the new one's have a back like a Gibson LP or are they like that one in the pic.....
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Well not sure if i mentioned it already but i did not plan on buying the guitar in the ebay auction, I was just trying to find more real world pics if you will, of the guitar. I guess im gonna pull the trigger and order one (tobacco burst) from musiciansfriend tomorrow when i get home from work. I'll be sure and get some pics and post my thoughts after i do a set up on it and get everything tweaked to my liking. I really hope that this guitar isn't to good to be true for the price but hey i have 45 days to return it should i not like it so i guess thats a plus! :)

Empty Pockets, adding a 2nd tone knob may be a pain if you were trying to avoid it looking modified. I think all the knobs and toggle are are reassessed into the top a bit if im not mistaken. <--- which has happened before
 
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Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

BloodRose, Im getting ready to order the guitar and want to get some TonePros locking stopbar studs. The threads are US correct?
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Im not sure off the top of my head and Im at work til 3 am.. I would guess metric being asian made.. ?? Sorry Bro, Im not much help right now..
 
Re: ESP Ltd EC-400VF, Anybody Have One?

Shane28462 said:
Hi guys! i have been wanting to pickup another guitar to gig with. I have always played Gibson Les Paul Standards and that's the only guitars i own currently. I have been hearing great things about the ESP ltd EC-400VF and was wondering if anyone has any experience with this guitar. Its definitely a bargain at its price and from what few pics i have seen looks like a well made guitar. Also seems like i seen a picture of the back of the guitar where the neck is set into the body and it looked as if their is some type of cut away back their, Is this true? I would also be interested in seeing pics of these guitars if you guys have any of your ESP ltd EC-400VF
Click to expand...

There is one at my local guitar shop that keeps calling my name. Very nice axe. Plays wonderfully. It is a big hunk of wood. Great pups.

Beware, there is quality variablility in LTDs. I have played some dogs-poor construction to just no mojo. But most are very good to my low serial number H-500 which "plays itself" with fit and finish on par with regular Japanese ESPs.
 
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