Esp Ltd Ec256 Black SatinIncredible tone, quality performance. The ESP LTD EC-256, Black Satin gives you a fantastic overall sound in a model that looks and feels extremely luxurious. A stunning instrument.Experience complete freedom. Never again will your playing be restrained by poor tonal range. The EC-256's powerful ESP-Designed humbuckers deliver supremely versatile tones, allowing you to capture the playing style of any genre. Enjoy maximum playability with a "U"-shaped mahogany neck. This will provide you with complete comfort and a superbly smooth playing experience. You'll never want to put this guitar down. Offering high quality tones and performance, the LTD EC-256 Guitar is an exceptional instrument that suits a wide range of musical styles. At a fantastic price, this is a remarkable electric guitar perfect for aspiring guitarists and experienced players on a budget.
Esp Ltd Ec256 Black SatinIncredible tone, quality performance. The ESP LTD EC-256, Black Satin gives you a fantastic overall sound in a model that looks and feels extremely luxurious. A stunning instrument.Experience complete freedom. Never again will your playing be restrained by poor tonal range. The EC-256's powerful ESP-Designed humbuckers deliver supremely versatile tones, allowing you to capture the playing style of any genre. Enjoy maximum playability with a "U"-shaped mahogany neck. This will provide you with complete comfort and a superbly smooth playing experience. You'll never want to put this guitar down. Offering high quality tones and performance, the LTD EC-256 Guitar is an exceptional instrument that suits a wide range of musical styles. At a fantastic price, this is a remarkable electric guitar perfect for aspiring guitarists and experienced players on a budget.
in 6 offers
last seen 12 May 2026
The lowest price we last saw for Ltd EC-256 Black Satin was $552.74 at Studio Gears, compared across 3 retailers (last seen 12 May 2026). Prices may have changed since.
The all-time low we recorded was $550.60 on 7 May 2026.
Prices last updated 12 May 2026.
Ltd EC-256 Black Satin
Esp Ltd Ec256 Black SatinIncredible tone, quality performance. The ESP LTD EC-256, Black Satin gives you a fantastic overall sound in a model that looks and feels extremely luxurious. A stunning instrument.Experience complete freedom. Never again will your playing be restrained by poor tonal range. The EC-256's powerful ESP-Designed humbuckers deliver supremely versatile tones, allowing you to capture the playing style of any genre. Enjoy maximum playability with a "U"-shaped mahogany neck. This will provide you with complete comfort and a superbly smooth playing experience. You'll never want to put this guitar down. Offering high quality tones and performance, the LTD EC-256 Guitar is an exceptional instrument that suits a wide range of musical styles. At a fantastic price, this is a remarkable electric guitar perfect for aspiring guitarists and experienced players on a budget.
Esp Ltd Ec256 Black SatinIncredible tone, quality performance. The ESP LTD EC-256, Black Satin gives you a fantastic overall sound in a model that looks and feels extremely luxurious. A stunning instrument.Experience complete freedom. Never again will your playing be restrained by poor tonal range. The EC-256's powerful ESP-Designed humbuckers deliver supremely versatile tones, allowing you to capture the playing style of any genre. Enjoy maximum playability with a "U"-shaped mahogany neck. This will provide you with complete comfort and a superbly smooth playing experience. You'll never want to put this guitar down. Offering high quality tones and performance, the LTD EC-256 Guitar is an exceptional instrument that suits a wide range of musical styles. At a fantastic price, this is a remarkable electric guitar perfect for aspiring guitarists and experienced players on a budget.
Last updated at 12/05/2026 18:45:34
ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar Black Satin B-Stock
Delivery between 15–22 May $256.16
ESP LTD Eclipse EC-256 Electric Guitar - Black Satin
Free delivery
LTD EC-256 BLACK SATIN
Delivery between 18–27 May $18.74
originally posted on zzounds.com
Overall:It is a pretty guitar, but when it arrived I tuned it up and every string on every fret buzzed horribly. The tail piece was adjusted all the way to the guitar body and the strings were hitting the bridge behind the saddles. And the neck had a backwards bow. I was able to make adjustments and get it to play half decent, however the guitar manufacturers need to realize that everyone is not a guitar tech, some people just want to buy a guitar they can play. It never should have been shipped in that condition. Not that I expect perfection in this price range, but it should have at least been playable.
originally posted on zzounds.com
Sound:I haven't even got far enough to plug it in the action is so buzzy that is why i do not recommend this guitar. If it was set up to playable i would probably like it. You can feel a feel a few fret edges, but nothing horrible. That i would expect for a guitar in this price range, but for it to show up completely unplayable is unacceptable.Value:The way it arrived no.Overall:I have always liked ESP products, but today i am disappointed. This guitar arrived today and is unplayable. The neck has got a back bow and all the strings buzz horribly. The strings are hitting on the back of the bridge after the saddle because the tail piece was screwed all the way down to the body. If ESP did this they should be ashamed, if zZounds did this they should be ashamed. ... MoreSound:I haven't even got far enough to plug it in the action is so buzzy that is why i do not recommend this guitar. If it was set up to playable i would probably like it. You can feel a feel a few fret edges, but nothing horrible. That i would expect for a guitar in this price range, but for it to show up completely unplayable is unacceptable.Value:The way it arrived no.Overall:I have always liked ESP products, but today i am disappointed. This guitar arrived today and is unplayable. The neck has got a back bow and all the strings buzz horribly. The strings are hitting on the back of the bridge after the saddle because the tail piece was screwed all the way down to the body. If ESP did this they should be ashamed, if zZounds did this they should be ashamed. Not sure who set this guitar up? I'm going to try to fix it tomorrow wish me luck. If i can get to stop buzzing and to play decent i may keep it, if not it's going back. It is a pretty guitar and aside from the atrocious setup seems to be of decent quality.
originally posted on guitarcenter.com
I'm impressed! As a former owner of a 71' LPC, this budget-friendly LP knock-off really brings back memories of my LPC. The only negative I could find isn't surprising for an Asian import. It has a cheap, plastic nut which I'll replace with a Graph Tech or bone. It's ground too high, which I suppose is better than being too low. But for the price I paid for this guitar, I would've expected to find more negatives than just this.The finish is impeccable. Action is standard. Intonation dead-on. It comes with D'Addario .46-.10. I prefer .46 or .42 to .09 but these are good strings for now. Love the coil-split. Pots turn nicely and are silent, as is the pickup switch. Eventually, I'll replace the pots and the pickups, but the ones it comes with aren't too ... MoreI'm impressed! As a former owner of a 71' LPC, this budget-friendly LP knock-off really brings back memories of my LPC. The only negative I could find isn't surprising for an Asian import. It has a cheap, plastic nut which I'll replace with a Graph Tech or bone. It's ground too high, which I suppose is better than being too low. But for the price I paid for this guitar, I would've expected to find more negatives than just this.The finish is impeccable. Action is standard. Intonation dead-on. It comes with D'Addario .46-.10. I prefer .46 or .42 to .09 but these are good strings for now. Love the coil-split. Pots turn nicely and are silent, as is the pickup switch. Eventually, I'll replace the pots and the pickups, but the ones it comes with aren't too bad.Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase, and Musician's Friend's price could not be beat!
| CONSTRUCTION | Set-Neck |
| SCALE | 24.75" |
| NECK | 3 Piece Mahogany |
| FINGERBOARD | Roasted Jatoba |
| FINGERBOARD RADIUS | 350mm |
ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar Black Satin B-Stock
Delivery between 15–22 May $256.16
ESP LTD Eclipse EC-256 Electric Guitar - Black Satin
Free delivery
LTD EC-256 BLACK SATIN
Delivery between 18–27 May $18.74
Overall:It is a pretty guitar, but when it arrived I tuned it up and every string on every fret buzzed horribly. The tail piece was adjusted all the way to the guitar body and the strings were hitting the bridge behind the saddles. And the neck had a backwards bow. I was able to make adjustments and get it to play half decent, however the guitar manufacturers need to realize that everyone is not a guitar tech, some people just want to buy a guitar they can play. It never should have been shipped in that condition. Not that I expect perfection in this price range, but it should have at least been playable.
Sound:I haven't even got far enough to plug it in the action is so buzzy that is why i do not recommend this guitar. If it was set up to playable i would probably like it. You can feel a feel a few fret edges, but nothing horrible. That i would expect for a guitar in this price range, but for it to show up completely unplayable is unacceptable.Value:The way it arrived no.Overall:I have always liked ESP products, but today i am disappointed. This guitar arrived today and is unplayable. The neck has got a back bow and all the strings buzz horribly. The strings are hitting on the back of the bridge after the saddle because the tail piece was screwed all the way down to the body. If ESP did this they should be ashamed, if zZounds did this they should be ashamed. ... MoreSound:I haven't even got far enough to plug it in the action is so buzzy that is why i do not recommend this guitar. If it was set up to playable i would probably like it. You can feel a feel a few fret edges, but nothing horrible. That i would expect for a guitar in this price range, but for it to show up completely unplayable is unacceptable.Value:The way it arrived no.Overall:I have always liked ESP products, but today i am disappointed. This guitar arrived today and is unplayable. The neck has got a back bow and all the strings buzz horribly. The strings are hitting on the back of the bridge after the saddle because the tail piece was screwed all the way down to the body. If ESP did this they should be ashamed, if zZounds did this they should be ashamed. Not sure who set this guitar up? I'm going to try to fix it tomorrow wish me luck. If i can get to stop buzzing and to play decent i may keep it, if not it's going back. It is a pretty guitar and aside from the atrocious setup seems to be of decent quality.
I'm impressed! As a former owner of a 71' LPC, this budget-friendly LP knock-off really brings back memories of my LPC. The only negative I could find isn't surprising for an Asian import. It has a cheap, plastic nut which I'll replace with a Graph Tech or bone. It's ground too high, which I suppose is better than being too low. But for the price I paid for this guitar, I would've expected to find more negatives than just this.The finish is impeccable. Action is standard. Intonation dead-on. It comes with D'Addario .46-.10. I prefer .46 or .42 to .09 but these are good strings for now. Love the coil-split. Pots turn nicely and are silent, as is the pickup switch. Eventually, I'll replace the pots and the pickups, but the ones it comes with aren't too ... MoreI'm impressed! As a former owner of a 71' LPC, this budget-friendly LP knock-off really brings back memories of my LPC. The only negative I could find isn't surprising for an Asian import. It has a cheap, plastic nut which I'll replace with a Graph Tech or bone. It's ground too high, which I suppose is better than being too low. But for the price I paid for this guitar, I would've expected to find more negatives than just this.The finish is impeccable. Action is standard. Intonation dead-on. It comes with D'Addario .46-.10. I prefer .46 or .42 to .09 but these are good strings for now. Love the coil-split. Pots turn nicely and are silent, as is the pickup switch. Eventually, I'll replace the pots and the pickups, but the ones it comes with aren't too bad.Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase, and Musician's Friend's price could not be beat!
This was my first single-cut, humbucker type guitar, and it has not disappointment. It plays, looks, and sounds great, all for a great value. It sounds great the louder and more distorted you get if you like that style, otherwise it has the coil-splitting if you want something cleaner and clear. I've read elsewhere that the guitar doesn't hold tune, but I haven't really run into that yet. The bridge fell off when I took the strings off, but upon restringing it holds snug.
This guitar is great. If you want to play hard rock, it'll do that. If you want to play mellow blues, it'll do that. If you want to play smooth jazz, it'll do that. It's also a fantastic rhythm guitar in general if you are looking for that. It's playable, well-finished, and has (IMO) a thinner and faster neck than traditional single cuts. It also coil splits, which will give you a bit of twang if you want it (but not too much). This guitar cannot do everything, however. If you are looking to play super twang-y blues or country, this is probably not the right guitar for you. If you are after a traditional strat or tele single-coil sound, this guitar is not for you. It complements those sounds nicely, but this guitar is made for lots of legato play, it's smooth, not ... MoreThis guitar is great. If you want to play hard rock, it'll do that. If you want to play mellow blues, it'll do that. If you want to play smooth jazz, it'll do that. It's also a fantastic rhythm guitar in general if you are looking for that. It's playable, well-finished, and has (IMO) a thinner and faster neck than traditional single cuts. It also coil splits, which will give you a bit of twang if you want it (but not too much). This guitar cannot do everything, however. If you are looking to play super twang-y blues or country, this is probably not the right guitar for you. If you are after a traditional strat or tele single-coil sound, this guitar is not for you. It complements those sounds nicely, but this guitar is made for lots of legato play, it's smooth, not choppy. Things that sound great on this guitar - Crazy Train - Sum 41 - Green Day - Chet Baker (jazz) - AC/DC - Guns and Roses - Bobby Charles (blues) Things I would use a different guitar for - Stevie Ray Vaughn - Chic
Overall:In a YouTube review of this guitar, there was one guy that said he didn't understand why any experienced and knowledgable guitar player would want THIS guitar over something more high-end (i.e., a "real" Eclipse), because of the differing body design features. I, myself, am not anything of a virtuoso player, nor do I have the fattest wallet at the moment, which is why I settled on something more in the midrange for my first relatively decent guitar. I've been playing for years, writing songs on "piece of crap" guitars, and it didn't matter to me that my instrument was nothing to show off when that's all that I was using it for (i.e., to write songs). Before I am an instrumentalist, I am a vocalist and songwriter... but I digress. Anyhow, coming from someone ... MoreOverall:In a YouTube review of this guitar, there was one guy that said he didn't understand why any experienced and knowledgable guitar player would want THIS guitar over something more high-end (i.e., a "real" Eclipse), because of the differing body design features. I, myself, am not anything of a virtuoso player, nor do I have the fattest wallet at the moment, which is why I settled on something more in the midrange for my first relatively decent guitar. I've been playing for years, writing songs on "piece of crap" guitars, and it didn't matter to me that my instrument was nothing to show off when that's all that I was using it for (i.e., to write songs). Before I am an instrumentalist, I am a vocalist and songwriter... but I digress. Anyhow, coming from someone that has a limited span of what truly "decent" is in this department, I, personally, found this guitar to be worth the price. I am not the most knowledgable about guitars, no, but I know what feels right to me as a player. This one is pretty nice. The body is lightweight and thin without feeling or looking cheap or flimsy, and the playability is fantastic. There is little strain on your fingering hand due to how easy it is to press the strings down, unlike on cheaper guitars. Had I learned to play on this one, I would have been totally spoiled! Maybe like that guy with the YouTube review. Haha. The sound is nice and crisp... and the color is beautiful. I went with the Cobalt Blue, because it matches with my room. I have no complaints about it, under the circumstances. It is everything that I needed it to be. The available payment plan was the cherry on top. Just two more payments! Thanks, zZounds!Note: I was required to rate "Manufacturer Support" when I submitted this review, even though I never made any direct contact with the manufacturer. I couldn't give it less than 5 stars when there was never a problem with it. *shrug*
Purchased a "used" LTD EC-256 for my son from GC. Pics looked good, price was around $350. When I opened the box I was blown away at the craftsmanship and overall condition of the guitar. It looked more like a floor model or from the wall guitar rather than used. Hardly touched, no damage anywhere! The veneer they used on the top is a BEAUTIFUL quilted maple. The guitar felt solid, neck was nice and thin and over all setup and action was great for this price point. Felt like a guitar that would easily cost $1,000. Very happy with this purchase, would definitely buy again even at the "new" price.
The ESP LTD EC-256FM is one hell of a beautiful guitar. Much research was done before purchase to make sure the £418 price tag was justified and oh, it was.A stunning purple sunburst finish with a slight cut away body for comfort and complimentary chrome hardware, 3 way selector switch and a split coil switch - there's no sound you can't accomplish with this axe.It has a beautiful range of clean tones and once you hit that overdrive switch, prepare to be impressed. Meaty overtones with plenty of grind make this a beast of a guitar!I was half expecting to swap out the pickups but certainly no need as they give me everything I desire and I'm a huge fan and player of Rammstein / System of a Down / Metallica / Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Smashing Pumpkins and far too ... MoreThe ESP LTD EC-256FM is one hell of a beautiful guitar. Much research was done before purchase to make sure the £418 price tag was justified and oh, it was.A stunning purple sunburst finish with a slight cut away body for comfort and complimentary chrome hardware, 3 way selector switch and a split coil switch - there's no sound you can't accomplish with this axe.It has a beautiful range of clean tones and once you hit that overdrive switch, prepare to be impressed. Meaty overtones with plenty of grind make this a beast of a guitar!I was half expecting to swap out the pickups but certainly no need as they give me everything I desire and I'm a huge fan and player of Rammstein / System of a Down / Metallica / Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Smashing Pumpkins and far too many other bands to mention.BUY IT!
IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! It was on backorder. It took round-a-bout 5 months to get it in my eager hands.I bought the Purple Burst version. What their online photos do not properly convey is that the back and the neck are purple as well (how purple depends on each guitar-having seen two in person). The 1st appeared almost black in most lighting. The 2nd is defiantly purple but when photographed there is a color mismatch between the back and front that is NOT noticeable in person (see photos)This is my first Les Paul body style and my first guitar with split coil capability.The jumbo frets are awesome. I haven't been playing long (2-ish years). They cut down on my mis-fretting. The ease & sound of bending the strings + the sound of the pick-ups are more than I was ... MoreIT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! It was on backorder. It took round-a-bout 5 months to get it in my eager hands.I bought the Purple Burst version. What their online photos do not properly convey is that the back and the neck are purple as well (how purple depends on each guitar-having seen two in person). The 1st appeared almost black in most lighting. The 2nd is defiantly purple but when photographed there is a color mismatch between the back and front that is NOT noticeable in person (see photos)This is my first Les Paul body style and my first guitar with split coil capability.The jumbo frets are awesome. I haven't been playing long (2-ish years). They cut down on my mis-fretting. The ease & sound of bending the strings + the sound of the pick-ups are more than I was expecting.The neck is super slim. I have size S/M woman hands. I love the size. There is not a lot of stretching to reach around for the low end strings. The neck also has a lovely coating that allows me to slide up and down easy without sticking- if you have played a matte coated neck, you know what I mean.The fret board and the inlays are leveled out very well but the fret board was a bit thirsty when I got it. A fret board oil & cloth buff were all it needed. The frets are very well placed & filed (no snags or fret spouts).The "Set-Up" was really good straight out of the box. The string height was set really well. Low enough (esp. at the nut) that It was not a finger killer to fret but there was no fret buzz at any frets when playing. The intonation was pretty spot on as well. Took slight adjustment when it got new strings (mostly at the Low E and A).The top pick-up was a touch high for my taste but if that is the worst I can say...The neck was straight and ready to play.The tuners work well and I love the keystone buttons on them that match the headstock style.It is heavier than I expected 7.5lbs- 8.4lbs.To sum things up, I cannot believe I got this beauty for this price point.
Like most guitarists, I've wanted a Gibson Les Paul since seeing one for the first time. But then you find out how much one costs. Don't get me wrong; I still want one. I just can't afford a model that I want. That's where this ESP LTD EC-256FM comes in.I got this one for less than 1/10th of what I want in a LP. But am I happy with it? Emphatically YES. It's a LP and so much more. It has a lot of the same specs as a LP Standard, but with a sound all it's own. The highs, mids, and lows are all what I wanted. It can go from the crunch of Malcolm Young, to the twang of Duane Eddy (sans piano strings, unless that's your thing [thang?]), to the cleanest warmth of Adam Jones. And everything in between.The cherry on top? The beauty. I got the Dark Brown Sunburst, which ... MoreLike most guitarists, I've wanted a Gibson Les Paul since seeing one for the first time. But then you find out how much one costs. Don't get me wrong; I still want one. I just can't afford a model that I want. That's where this ESP LTD EC-256FM comes in.I got this one for less than 1/10th of what I want in a LP. But am I happy with it? Emphatically YES. It's a LP and so much more. It has a lot of the same specs as a LP Standard, but with a sound all it's own. The highs, mids, and lows are all what I wanted. It can go from the crunch of Malcolm Young, to the twang of Duane Eddy (sans piano strings, unless that's your thing [thang?]), to the cleanest warmth of Adam Jones. And everything in between.The cherry on top? The beauty. I got the Dark Brown Sunburst, which reminds me of a root beer finish on a classic car. It looks like you could dip your finger in it. There was no way I bring myself to set this girl on the floor. It had to be hung on the wall, like art. I'm saving now to get her sister in See Thru Purple Sunburst.In summary -- Imagine buying an '07 Prius, but getting a mint '68 Camaro for the same price.
| CONSTRUCTION | Set-Neck |
| SCALE | 24.75" |
| NECK | 3 Piece Mahogany |
| FINGERBOARD | Roasted Jatoba |
| FINGERBOARD RADIUS | 350mm |
