WTT: My kidney for a...

[Masta' C]

Holy crap, guys! How am I just learning about the ESP USA V-II?

If I had known I could combine the looks of a PRS with the shape of a Rhoads offset-"V", I would've sold off a bunch of gear to purchase (a used) one long ago, ha ha!

My #1 is a Jackson Rhoads, but I'm a huge fan of ESP's "SV" body shape, which the Alexi Laiho models are based on, along with these USA V-II's from what I can tell. The SV shape is just a touch broader than the regular Jackson Rhoads body, which is good thing as my Rhoads is a touch small for my 6'4" frame IMO.

If you know anyone looking to get rid of one of the transparent finished versions with some sexy wood peeping through (see examples below), hit me up! I might have to sell a spare limb, but we'll work something out, ha ha!

I just missed a gorgeous purple one with a fixed bridge that sold on Reverb last month (pic below). I'll definitely be keeping an eye out from now on...

 

[dave74]

I like the root-beer arrow look.

 

[beaubrummels]

I like the bare flame trim with the deep rich colors. Are they all just EMGs?

 

[Masta' C]

I want that brown/blonde one in a fixed bridge version. It could replace my Chapman Norseman

 

[Cynical]

Gorgeous axes... too bad they're ESPs and probably have a horrible feeling neck.

 

[Masta' C]

Gorgeous axes... too bad they're ESPs and probably have a horrible feeling neck.

Yeah, too bad ESP's suck so bad, otherwise thousands of professionals would be playing them and major artists would use them for their signature models.

And good point about the necks...simply unplayable, am I right? Probably why I've never seen a real life guitarist playing one

:butkick:

 

[Cynical]

I've played a lot of ESPs (and LTDs, too), and I've never found one with a neck that felt comfortable. Between them using a narrow string spacing and an extremely shouldery/flatbacked neck contour, they just don't feel good to play, at least in my hands. Obviously some guys like that, but there's also a lot of people who like German scat porn, so... ?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Gorgeous axes... too bad they're ESPs and probably have a horrible feeling neck.

Huh? ESP’s are pretty widely known for having some of the most comfortable, playable necks.
Maybe YOU don’t like them but clearly lots of other players do.

 

[Mr. 80's]

Personally not a fan of the figured tops. The new Kramer Charlie Parra V though with the same style cutout is more up my alley in looks/design. The only thing that kills that for me is no Floyd. I'm personally not a fan of 24 frets either but 22 fret V's are getting pretty rare unfortunately.

 

[Masta' C]

Personally not a fan of the figured tops. The new Kramer Charlie Parra V though with the same style cutout is more up my alley in looks/design. The only thing that kills that for me is no Floyd. I'm personally not a fan of 24 frets either but 22 fret V's are getting pretty rare unfortunately.

I have a feeling that Parra signature Kramer Vanguard is Rhoads-sized or even slightly smaller. Plus, it's just so...basic.

I much preferred when Kramer was doing the soft bevels on the forearm area and inside the "V".

It was their own take more or less, rather than straight copying Jackson:

 

[PFDarkside]

I think of you aren’t a fat neck vintage player, you either gravitate toward the Jackson, Ibanez or ESP style necks.

I’ve got an dual NGD pending and I’m surprised how much I like the ESP/LTD neck.

 

[Mr. 80's]

I have a feeling that Parra signature Kramer Vanguard is Rhoads-sized or even slightly smaller. Plus, it's just so...basic.

I much preferred when Kramer was doing the soft bevels on the forearm area and inside the "V".

It was their own take more or less, rather than straight copying Jackson:

I dig the more basic traditional understated look. I'm more of a king V kind of guy than a Rhoads style V anyways.

 

[piblock]

I'm not really a Rhoads fan, a V fan, or a fan of metal, or a fan of metal guitars, but I would trade a kidney for one of the original aluminum Roswell Rhoads.

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[Mincer]

I'm not really a Rhoads fan, a V fan, or a fan of metal, or a fan of metal guitars, but I would trade a kidney for one of the original aluminum Roswell Rhoads.

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Its about time for a reissue, I'd think. I'd hate to think how much they'd charge, though.

 

[Masta' C]

ESP should do their "Aero" model in aluminum like the Roswell:

 

[Artie]

Holy crap, guys! How am I just learning about the ESP USA V-II?

Love all those Vee's in the 1st post.

Did you ever sell that gorgeous Schecter Vee you had?

 

[Masta' C]

Love all those Vee's in the 1st post.

Did you ever sell that gorgeous Schecter Vee you had?

I did! There were 3 things that would have made that guitar *perfect*:

1) Either a slightly flatter neck profile or, possibly, the same profile using a slightly wider (1-11/16" or 43mm) nut width

2) A different set of pickups. The stock Pasadena custom shop set was serviceable, but largely "meh" for me. The bridge was too polite and the neck was too boomy. If it came with their apocalypse pickups, I would have loved it.

3) A forearm contour of some sort. It's a silent pet-peeve of mine, but I don't understand why Schecter (and some other companies doing an intentionally non-accurate Flying V rip) doesn't put a cool forearm bevel along the top wing. I guess I'm spoiled by my Jackson Rhoads. Schecter actually does a beveled version of this same shape through their custom shop, but that feature hasn't trickled down to their production line.