ESP E-II Eclipse DB Vintage Black

I honestly hate having to go to work anymore because I do not want to put this guitar down. No detail was over looked. It looks fantastic with the flat black and gold hardware. Playability is equal to my 91 PRS Custom 24...not kidding, it's flawless. The action was PERFECT out of the case. The EMGs are what they are...EMGs, you know what your getting. To me, that's all subjective and I'm focused on overall build quality and playability. Comparing this to a Les Paul really isn't fair. The E-II wins in my hands. I've had a couple nice LPs and the E-II is lighter and more comfortable to play than both. Seriously, if you are looking for a top notch player, look at the E-IIs.

Amazing Purchase!

Overall:I purchased this guitar 2 days ago and it arrived yesterday so shipping time was very discreet. I had it shipped directly to my guitar tech who threw some Ernie Ball cobalts and did a setup on it prior to me even seeing the guitar. I met with Vince after work and gave it a try and I was blown away.A little back story: I purchased this guitar because my main axe, a Gibson Les Paul Standard Premium Plus Model from 2002 was damaged and will be in the shop as I am a victim of the notorious Gibson neck break. I'm a professional touring musician and needed a replacement tour grade guitar. My Les Paul has the X-factor so upon its return I'm going to keep it as studio only guitar and my ESP Eclipse will now be my main axe. The finish on this guitar is killer, ... MoreOverall:I purchased this guitar 2 days ago and it arrived yesterday so shipping time was very discreet. I had it shipped directly to my guitar tech who threw some Ernie Ball cobalts and did a setup on it prior to me even seeing the guitar. I met with Vince after work and gave it a try and I was blown away.A little back story: I purchased this guitar because my main axe, a Gibson Les Paul Standard Premium Plus Model from 2002 was damaged and will be in the shop as I am a victim of the notorious Gibson neck break. I'm a professional touring musician and needed a replacement tour grade guitar. My Les Paul has the X-factor so upon its return I'm going to keep it as studio only guitar and my ESP Eclipse will now be my main axe. The finish on this guitar is killer, everyone that's seen it was instantly responsive. It's extremely playable and sounds killer. The neck feels like a 60's style neck but the fret board is a tiny bit wider that your average 60s and I didn't mind it at all. I will say that this is my first guitar with EMG pickups and it takes some getting used to as they are dynamically less responsive. I may swap out the EMG's down the road but this guitar overall is a workhorse. It sounds killer, plays well, and is a tour grade piece of equipment. I can take this on the road with me and not worry about it being in tune or being as sensitive to the elements. My Gibson's are absolutely amazing when it comes to tone, they really do have the x-factor, but when I'm out on the road I need consistent results and this guitar definitely delivers. I'm glad to add this to my collection and might even consider the EC-1000 evertune model as well!PS: I bought the blemished model because my intention was to take this guitar on the road with me. I inspected the guitar thoroughly and there were absolutely no scratches, nicks, or signs of use on it so I'm super extatic about the condition. It looks like it had never been touched.

Best guitar for the price hands down

Sound:Great overall tones. Clean or dirty, split or full humbucker. Very sensitive to your picking dynamics. Pickups don't clean up when rolling back the volume knob.Features:Component spec is fantastic for the price point. No one else offers Gotoh locking tuners and strap locks for this price.Ease of Use:Super comfortable neck. Not a baseball bat neck and not an wizard neck. The active pickups are going to take a little getting used to.Quality:This guitar is worthy of custom shop status. You will not find a better made guitar in this price range from any other manufacturer. This thing makes Gibsons look like they were made in junior high wood shop.Value:Best guitar for the money. Worth far more than the price tag.The Wow Factor:There is a reason why ... MoreSound:Great overall tones. Clean or dirty, split or full humbucker. Very sensitive to your picking dynamics. Pickups don't clean up when rolling back the volume knob.Features:Component spec is fantastic for the price point. No one else offers Gotoh locking tuners and strap locks for this price.Ease of Use:Super comfortable neck. Not a baseball bat neck and not an wizard neck. The active pickups are going to take a little getting used to.Quality:This guitar is worthy of custom shop status. You will not find a better made guitar in this price range from any other manufacturer. This thing makes Gibsons look like they were made in junior high wood shop.Value:Best guitar for the money. Worth far more than the price tag.The Wow Factor:There is a reason why its continually back ordered.Overall:You will never find a guitar with this build quality for this price from anyone in the USA. Absolutely flawless finish, perfectly set up from factory. (Mine was not removed from the original packaging upon arrival to zZounds). Spec wise, this guitar won't need anything to make it road worthy. Locking tuners and strap locks from factory. Not a huge fan of active pickups but these sound really good. My only grip is that the pickups don't clean up when rolling back the volume. Not sure if this is common with actives as this is my first set.

HAAT DAAANG BOYS SHE PACKED UP REALLY NICE!!!

The guitar was as listed ESP E-11 Eclipse in vintage black. What they didn't tell me was that the gorgeous matte finish was gonna make every pair a panties within a country mile hit the floor followed by a bucket of moist moist ESP made WAP. This guitar went on Halloween special and the demons said....by the F*@!in guitar man only a sad little lonely boy wouldn't buy this thing on such a great deal.I was super sketched out about shipping such a gorgeous, pregnancy inducing piece of machinery. CME came through like a crazy old lady packing up her three thousand piece miniature glass figurine collection. Ho-lee-shnikies boyos. This thing was shipped RIGHT. I was so got dang happy when I opened the box. The guitar was in perfect shape not a scratch anywhere on the ... MoreThe guitar was as listed ESP E-11 Eclipse in vintage black. What they didn't tell me was that the gorgeous matte finish was gonna make every pair a panties within a country mile hit the floor followed by a bucket of moist moist ESP made WAP. This guitar went on Halloween special and the demons said....by the F*@!in guitar man only a sad little lonely boy wouldn't buy this thing on such a great deal.I was super sketched out about shipping such a gorgeous, pregnancy inducing piece of machinery. CME came through like a crazy old lady packing up her three thousand piece miniature glass figurine collection. Ho-lee-shnikies boyos. This thing was shipped RIGHT. I was so got dang happy when I opened the box. The guitar was in perfect shape not a scratch anywhere on the case AT ALL. They even went so far s to secure everything INSIDE the case. Good job guys really really good job. Now this guitar can go on to fulfill it's destiny to impregnate everything that lays eyes on it.

If your looking for an easy to play LP this is it!

Overall:I bought this on a whim. I love my Gibson but struggle with the tuning issues. This guitar plays awesome! Tuning is way more stable and these emgs sound excellent. Was never a fan of emgs but these have a very classic sound mixed with a modern edge. The frets play like butter and the craftsmanship is right on par with my more expensive Suhrs. The neck is a little chunky but not too chunky. It’s just right. You can’t go wrong with this beautifully crafted instrument.

Just Wow

Overall:I ignored my gut and went with a Gibson Les Paul Classic at first. BIG MISTAKE. I had heard about the quality issues, but I was under the impression that they were resolved. Doesn't seem to be the case! Had to send it back.This guitar on the other hand? Puts the Gibby to shame. I was absolutely speechless while unboxing the instrument. Everything about it was in pristine condition. The fit and finish on this thing is flawless! The EMGs go from chuggy to warm to crisp and chimey. Super pleased! As another user mentioned - they don't really dial back. They have 2 modes off and on. The volume knob doesn't seem to do much until the sound completely dies. Other than that - the guitar could use a setup. Action is a bit high for my taste and the nut looks like it ... MoreOverall:I ignored my gut and went with a Gibson Les Paul Classic at first. BIG MISTAKE. I had heard about the quality issues, but I was under the impression that they were resolved. Doesn't seem to be the case! Had to send it back.This guitar on the other hand? Puts the Gibby to shame. I was absolutely speechless while unboxing the instrument. Everything about it was in pristine condition. The fit and finish on this thing is flawless! The EMGs go from chuggy to warm to crisp and chimey. Super pleased! As another user mentioned - they don't really dial back. They have 2 modes off and on. The volume knob doesn't seem to do much until the sound completely dies. Other than that - the guitar could use a setup. Action is a bit high for my taste and the nut looks like it might need a bit of filing to be able to fit my preferred 10-52.Overall I'm very pleased with this purchase and even more so with zZounds and their customer service team.

One of the best guitars ever in the price range and above.

Extremely well made instrument!!! I have the red sparkle. Probably the coolest sparkle job on a guitar I've seen to date and I own the Ltd Kh602 Purple sparkle. It'll go from a darker red sparkle to in a brighter light an amazing brighter red sparkle. Impressive. Made in the same Tokyo factory as all the crazy high end models. Emg 57/66 can do anything. Sounds absolutely amazing dirty, clean, high gain, bluesy, whatever. Have far surpassed the 81/60 combo. The 57/66, Het Set and Bonebreakers are Emgs new best, until I try their retroactive ones and 57/66tw coil tapping. The ebony fretboard is immaculate and the sound is darker but in a good way. The neck radius is perfect for shredding or regular playing. The guitar resonates superbly. Playing it not plugged in you ... MoreExtremely well made instrument!!! I have the red sparkle. Probably the coolest sparkle job on a guitar I've seen to date and I own the Ltd Kh602 Purple sparkle. It'll go from a darker red sparkle to in a brighter light an amazing brighter red sparkle. Impressive. Made in the same Tokyo factory as all the crazy high end models. Emg 57/66 can do anything. Sounds absolutely amazing dirty, clean, high gain, bluesy, whatever. Have far surpassed the 81/60 combo. The 57/66, Het Set and Bonebreakers are Emgs new best, until I try their retroactive ones and 57/66tw coil tapping. The ebony fretboard is immaculate and the sound is darker but in a good way. The neck radius is perfect for shredding or regular playing. The guitar resonates superbly. Playing it not plugged in you can tell just how much sustain and great sound you will have plugged in. I'm a fan of the skinnier esp or Ltd eclipses while some people want the full thickness like a Gib. The belly cutaway is awesome and even though it's skinnier it still feels heavy and like it's built for war. I've owned a Gib Lp Traditional. This blows it away in sound, feel, looks, playability, n no back or shoulder pains from weight issues. That's my opinion. So Gibson lovers can disagree but for less money this is as good as it gets to higher end Gib, Prs, Esp custom USA/Japan, etc. Only thing I'd change is to bring back the Esp standard name on the headstock instead of E-II. A guitar of this quality deserves to have that name displayed and not just on the 12th fret. It deserves to be up there with Esp USA or Esp Kh or James Hetfield. But that's a minor thing because it's truly an ESP not an Ltd. Made in Japan on the back like the customs from over there. Highly recommend. One of the best guitars I've owned and played out of a lot that have come and gone. This is a keeper. Buy it!!

One year later, still the greatest

Overall:About a year ago, in April, I bought this guitar as a sort of early (very early) birthday gift to myself. A couple months ago, I finished paying off this guitar, and took a deep breath. I held off on writing this review to make sure it wasn't a honeymoon phase, and here I am.Firstly, let's talk about the construction and quality. In it's price range, this thing is unrivaled and unmatched. There's no way that I could see any Gibson coming close and maybe only a PRS in terms of fit and finish. Flawless. From there we got the neck feel - I'm a firm believer that ESP makes the best modern neck shape in the game. Hell, best neck shape period. The Thin U is perfect for just about anything and one of the most comfortable necks I've tried. The sleek feel translates ... MoreOverall:About a year ago, in April, I bought this guitar as a sort of early (very early) birthday gift to myself. A couple months ago, I finished paying off this guitar, and took a deep breath. I held off on writing this review to make sure it wasn't a honeymoon phase, and here I am.Firstly, let's talk about the construction and quality. In it's price range, this thing is unrivaled and unmatched. There's no way that I could see any Gibson coming close and maybe only a PRS in terms of fit and finish. Flawless. From there we got the neck feel - I'm a firm believer that ESP makes the best modern neck shape in the game. Hell, best neck shape period. The Thin U is perfect for just about anything and one of the most comfortable necks I've tried. The sleek feel translates directly to the clean aesthetics. A Sandy beach shore fade on a burl maple top with light flaming in the deep colors. An absolute joy to play and look at. The hardware compliments it nicely in a dark brushed chrome. The pickups give the nice looking exterior a screaming, heavy sound ah since if the best pickups that EMG has to offer in the 57TW/66TW set. All of this and it includes Schaller strap locks.Long story short every time I pick up this guitar in truly in awe of it's playability, craftsmanship, and just how affordable it is considering everything else. With every single penny, and ESP has a return customer for life.

The perfect single cutaway... MIJ

Overall:The Eclipse is a well known name that is popular amongst ESP enthusiasts. It's also a guitar that most Les Paul players should consider trying because the hardware configuration is similar, if not the same.Even though the hardware configuration is mostly the same, it still has a few differences. Active pickups and slimmer body, for example. Not to mention a fit and finish that feels like it was made in Japan. The active pickups are very clean sounding and dynamic. On amps that distort easily, you will loose some dynamics unless you turn the guitar's volume down. Oddly enough, a Fender Twin Reverb chimes like a bell when turned to 10 with this guitar. What I found interesting was I felt like the bridge pickup sounded warm and dense, meanwhile the neck pickup ... MoreOverall:The Eclipse is a well known name that is popular amongst ESP enthusiasts. It's also a guitar that most Les Paul players should consider trying because the hardware configuration is similar, if not the same.Even though the hardware configuration is mostly the same, it still has a few differences. Active pickups and slimmer body, for example. Not to mention a fit and finish that feels like it was made in Japan. The active pickups are very clean sounding and dynamic. On amps that distort easily, you will loose some dynamics unless you turn the guitar's volume down. Oddly enough, a Fender Twin Reverb chimes like a bell when turned to 10 with this guitar. What I found interesting was I felt like the bridge pickup sounded warm and dense, meanwhile the neck pickup gave me some bright tones that reminded me of woodsy sounding Strat.Overall, I think this guitar is a great guitar for it's money. I think it would run neck to neck with an American made Paul Reed Smith, as well as most guitars that cost twice as much.The only detail I would add to this guitar body are recessed cavities for the knobs for a better fit. I'm rating the wow factor for this guitar a '3' because marketing materials that promote the legacy of this guitar appears to be non-existent, and for me, wow factor is BRAND appeal.

Very nice

Sound:Sounds good out of the box. Replaced the 81/60 set for a 57/66 set. Sounds much better.Features:The gotoh locking tuners and gotoh hardware is amazing.Ease of Use:Plays like butter once it gets a good set up.Quality:It’s made very well, other than some slight imperfections with the binding. Doesn’t affect playability.Value:I’d say the guitar is worth the price if you can afford it. Plays great, looks killer, sounds amazing.Manufacturer Support:10/10. I emailed them about a tuning stability issue and they got back to me right away with a solution.The Wow Factor:Satin black with that thick silver binding looks great with the chrome hardware. It’s a total eye catcher.Overall:This is my first “high end” guitar purchase and, as the saying ... MoreSound:Sounds good out of the box. Replaced the 81/60 set for a 57/66 set. Sounds much better.Features:The gotoh locking tuners and gotoh hardware is amazing.Ease of Use:Plays like butter once it gets a good set up.Quality:It’s made very well, other than some slight imperfections with the binding. Doesn’t affect playability.Value:I’d say the guitar is worth the price if you can afford it. Plays great, looks killer, sounds amazing.Manufacturer Support:10/10. I emailed them about a tuning stability issue and they got back to me right away with a solution.The Wow Factor:Satin black with that thick silver binding looks great with the chrome hardware. It’s a total eye catcher.Overall:This is my first “high end” guitar purchase and, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. The guitar is comfortable, and sounds amazing. Not a fan of the EMG 81/60 set, so I ordered a 57/66 set and holy hell... it brought this guitars tone to a whole new level. Aesthetically, the guitar looks great. There were a few minor imperfections with the binding and some tool marks on the fretboard binding but, well.. nothing’s perfect and as long is it doesn’t affect the playability, it’s no bother to me. Out of the box, the set up wasn’t great. Minor truss rod adjustments, new strings and an intonation is really all it needed. (Changed the strings cause I hate elixir strings). The only thing I could complain about is probably the price. Wicked expensive for a bare bones satin guitar, but the way it plays makes it worth it to me anyway.