ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar 

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

While this instrument is well-constructed, with decent hardware and a nice, solid body, as shipped, it requires major setup. While all instruments need some setup to be at their best, the intonations were so far off that the instrument was unplayable as shipped, which really is not easy to overlook.
For the price, however, this instrument is a good value, especially if you can do the setup yourself.
As for specifics, the body is solid and somewhat heavy, which is important in transmitting decent tone to the pickups (light weight bodies tend to cause the body, and thus the pickups, to resonate in the same frequencies as the strings, somewhat diminishing the magnetic field fluctuations at the pickups).
The tuning pegs were solid and serviceable, and tight, not loose and wobbly like many cheaper instruments.
Likewise, all knobs and switches seemed solid, with tight travel.
I have not had much chance to play through amplification, but so far the instrument sounds decent, if constantly out of tune, due to the intonation issue above. This should be fixed once I finish setting up the bridge.
Aesthetically, the artificial wear patterns are a bit silly, and come off as damage to the instrument, and in the end are unnecessary cosmetic details that would have been better left to occur on their own with time. Outside of that, however, the finish was well done, and attractive.
Overall, I am satisfied with the instrument, assuming I can get the intonations under control.

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

Played a few in past few years, ordered from MF, prompt delivery, arrived in good condition. ESP builds these in Viet Nam but don't let that put you off, build on this and others I've played is better than Chinese Epi Les's and ESP does the set up in U.S. prior to distribution. I've owned some high and mid-range guitars, in terms of build, playability, pups/electronics and range, it's a great value, very close to a PRS SE Singlecut but the coil tap expands it's voice.

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

I bought mine from musicians friend out of the box it needed set up.
the g&b pickups are good but duncans are way better. I put a 59in the neck and a custom 5 in the bridge. Very versatile I can play any genre of music with this guitar.

Also upgraded the nut. The 42mm that comes standard with it binds.

This guitar plays great. It sounds great and the sustain is really good.

THis a great beginers guitar. If you are experienced with a few upgrades this could be your go to guitar or your solid backup

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

i have been playing for 18 years now ,played alot of guitars. and i have to say this is a good 1 .
it has what you want in a single cut les paul like guitar.
iv seen worse and iv seen better .
worth every penny .

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

I bought mine used for a great price.

The installed pickups are best described as weak sounding. They are G and B electronics from korea. I swapped mine for a set of duncans, pearly gates and 59. Replaced the pots and got rid of the coil tap.

I absolutly love these guitars. They have a very comfortable neck and board, very light and resonant. Minor neck adjustment, replaced the nut, crowned 2-3 frets lightly, swapped the electronics and now its been my go to guitar for several months.

Shortly after purchasing this one I bought the EC1000 model and Im equally as impressed with that one. I own fenders, gibsons, ibanez and heritage guitars to name a few and while they are all different and have different qualities, I do not judge this as cheap guitar. Inexpensive, but not cheap, and a lot of fun to play.
Love it.
The output jack broke within a week. cheap fix with a soldering iron. Otherwise, I would have rated 10.
I believe that these ESP LTD guitars are about the most bang for your buck you can get.

There are a lot of different products coming out of asia that are of ouststanding quality and I have not tried them all, but of the ones I have used or own, these are second to none.

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

Great guitar! And for this price, you can't complain about anything.
This guitar is very versatile tone-wise, and the coil-tap feature only adds to this.
Great quality, the aged finish looks very realistic. The guitar feels solid as do all the switches and knobs. I have to say that the finish looks a lot better in person.
This guitar is a steal for the price.

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

For the amount features with a Mahogany body you really can't ask for more. You would not waste your time purchasing this guitar. I let a local band use it and had a hard time getting it back. The guitarist liked it so much he played the rest of the gig with it.
The features on this classic looking axe is excellent plus some. I absolutely love the finish on the gold model. The push/tap is an excellent complement to bringing out that vintage sound. I couldn't ask for more features than what it comes with, especially with the neck through body design.
There is only a couple of items that are adequate but can be upgraded quite easily. The stock pickups; they are pretty good, but me being a Michael Wilton (Queensryche) enthusiast I really appreciate the sound of the JB bridge and '56 neck pickups in my ESP guitars. The tuners do their job, but I would pay the extra money for Grover tuners.
The value is awesome and left me room to purchase the ESP EC hard case. Thanks ESP.

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

I'd say this is a fine product. A real player for an entry level price.
I have a beautiful non-distressed Gold Top. I've never seen another 256 like it. I got it planning to replace the pickups but the push-pull setup is hard to beat for versitality. It needed a setup when I got it but plays smooth as can be now. Very impressed with it.
From the Gold top to the fretboard binding I can't find a flaw in the finish anywhere. Feels very solid even tho it's light for a les paul style guitar.
For the money I don't think it can be beat. You don't feel like you're playing a cheap guitar.

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

Great guitar for the money awesome sound,with the push pull coil tab makes it so much nicer bringing in not only two humbuckers (which are spectacular for any type of hard rock, or metal) but splinting the humbucker into a single coil pick up if you want to get a bright clean tone. over all this is a spectacular guitar for this price range! if your thinking about geting this guitar just do it! its worth every penny!

Comments about ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar:

second esp, my first was a 401-vf- i got this at a local gc second hand. they never took the plastic tape off the pick-ups- like new! put 10's on tuned her down a hole step - sounds thick.the back of this guitar is just as beautiful as the front- i have the honey burst- the pictures here dont do it justice -think i like it more than 401-vf.