ESP LTD EC-256FM Review

Before ESP LTD ventured on making their own line of guitars, it already had established a good reputation on manufacturing high quality custom replacement guitar parts in Japan and later on was introduced to the US market where it also has been well received. Then soon came the decision to discontinue the parts business for the company to focus more in developing their line of guitars, basses, as well their Custom Shop series.

The commercial success of ESP is then followed-up with the introduction of ESP LTD line. The guitars of LTD are a lot affordable to meet the demands of players for an ESP entry level to mid-range guitar models which includes the LP design ESP LTD EC-256FM and the Superstrat ESP LTD M100FM.


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ESP LTD EC-256FM Review
  • Single cutaway body made of mahogany with a scalloped back and maple veneer top
  • Thin U-shape set-neck made of 3-piece mahogany
  • Blackwood or jatoba 22 extra jumbo frets fingerboard
  • Set of chorme finished LTD manufactured tuners
  • Tom & Tailpiece bridge system
  • High-output ESP Designed LH-150 humbucker pick-ups on the neck and bridge controlled by 3-way toggle switch, 2 volume knobs and a push/pull coil tap tone control

Body and Neck: The single cutaway body with a scalloped back to add comfort during playing is called the eclipse, and it is made of mahogany top of by a flame maple veneer in different color finishes without a scratch plate. Mahogany is the main tonewood for the guitar, that gives the ESP LTD EC-256FM a deep warm sound while the maple is not really a cap but a veneer, used only for aesthetics and not to affect the sound.

It has a thin U-shape set-neck made of 3-piece mahogany that makes it even more stronger than a single-piece, combine with blackwood or jatoba 22 extra jumbo frets fingerboard.

Pick-ups: The sound source of ESP LTD EC-256FM are high-output ESP Designed LH-150 humbucker pick-ups placed on the neck and bridge controlled by 3-way toggle switch for pick-up selection, 2 volume knobs and a push/pull coil tap tone control to blend a bell bright, rich creamy clean and unparalleled overdriven sound.

Hardware: Chorme finished LTD manufactured tuners, and Tom & Tailpiece bridge without tremolo holds the strings and for stability in tuning.

Final Thoughts: ESP is no stranger when it comes to manufacturing quality guitar parts and this standard of quality is also applied to their LTD models, making the ESP LTD EC-256FM an immensely good affordable guitar that does everything well. The thin eclipse body shape with flame maple finish is a looker that would perfectly go along well with the sound the guitar can offer.

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