bmusic - Product News and Reviews

MORE NEW MODELS FROM THE 2004 ESP STANDARD SERIES HAVE ARRIVED AT bmusic!
We take a detailed look at four of the most anticipated new models, complete with some large, up-close "real life" eye candy of each.

ESP Standard Series guitars are made by the regular ESP production line in Japan under the same policies and techniques cultivated by 30 years of superior Custom Shop work from ESP Japan. This makes the affordability of these guitars far greater than those hand-crafted in the Custom Shop but still featuring the same attention to detail and exceptional playability.

Four of the most anticpated new models for 2004 have arrived this week. Those to arrive include the M-II Urban Camo, Eclipse I CTM in new Vintage Black, Eclipse II FM, and Horizon NT with Ash Body. These models have been eagerly awaited since their announcement around a month ago. We are actuallly on our second shipment of M-II Urban Camos, having landed the first outside Japan a week or so back. The three Eclipse I CTM in Vintage Black that arrived were also another first. Each model will be available throughout 2004, stock permitting.

Below is the low down on each of this outstanding guitars, but if you're an ESP fan we suggest you proceed with caution. By the time you've finished checking out these bad boys you're guaranteed to be suffering from some sever GAS. For the uninitiated that's Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. The pictures and specs will speak for themselves.

M-II URBAN CAMO
COLOUR: Urban Camo
BODY: Alder
NECK: Maple
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
CONSTRUCTION: Neck-thru
SCALE: 25.5"
TUNERS: Gotoh Deluxe
BRIDGE: Original Floyd Rose
HARDWARE COLOUR: Black
FRETS: 24 / XJ
NECK PICKUP: EMG-81
BRIDGE PICKUP: EMG-81
CONTROL: 1 Volume , 3-way toggle switch

Comes complete with ESP deluxe form fitted hard shell case

Click on an image to enlarge in new window

Price the M-II Urban Camo HERE.

ECLIPSE I CTM
COLOUR: Vintage Black
BODY: Mahogany with Custom 5-ply Binding / Maple Top
NECK: Mahogany with Custom 5-ply Binding
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
CONSTRUCTION: Set-neck
SCALE: 24.75"
TUNERS: Sperzel Locking Tuner
BRIDGE: Gotoh Tune-O-matic
HARDWARE COLOUR: Gold
FRETS: 22 / XJ
NECK PICKUP: EMG-60
BRIDGE PICKUP: EMG-81
CONTROL: 2 Volume , 2 Tone, 3-way toggle switch

Comes complete with ESP deluxe form fitted hard shell case

Click on an image to enlarge in new window

Pictured with original gloss black Eclipse I CTM (no longer available)

Pictured with original gloss black Eclipse I CTM (no longer available)

This version of the ESP Eclipse I CTM replaced the original Eclipse I CTM available earlier this year with a gloss finish. The new "aged finish" features a half-matt aged type of paint with aged binding. The model is still known as the Eclipse I CTM in the Export range but with the added VTB suffix (Vintage Black). In the US the model is being listed as the Eclipse II VTB, first time a model like this has been offered in that market. However, examples won't be available Stateside until late October of 2004.

Price the Eclipse I CTM VTB HERE.

ECLIPSE II FM
COLOUR: Aged Vintage Honey Burst
BODY: Mahogany with Aged Binding / Flame Maple Top
NECK: Mahogany with Aged Binding
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
CONSTRUCTION: Set Neck
SCALE: 24.75"
TUNERS: Sperzel Locking Tuners
BRIDGE: Gotoh Tune-O-Matic
HARDWARE COLOUR: Chrome
FRETS: 22 / XJ
NECK PICKUP: EMG-81
BRIDGE PICKUP: EMG-81
CONTROL: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3-way toggle switch

Comes complete with ESP deluxe form fitted hard shell case

Click on an image to enlarge in new window

Price the Eclipse II FM HERE.

HORIZON NT
COLOURS: See-thru Black, Black
BODY: Ash with pearl binding
NECK: Maple with pearl binding
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
CONSTRUCTION: Neck-thru
SCALE: 25.5"
TUNERS: Sperzel Locking Tuners
BRIDGE: Tune-O-Matic
HARDWARE COLOUR: Black
FRETS: 24 / XJ
NECK PICKUP: Seymour Duncan SH-1n
BRIDGE PICKUP: Seymour Duncan TB-4
CONTROL: 1 Volume, 1 Tone (with push-push Tap switch), 3-way toggle switch

Comes complete with ESP deluxe form fitted hard shell case

Click on an image to enlarge in new window

The photographs of this See-thru black example have a purple hue about them but the guitar is certainly see-thru black in person. The grain of the ash is shown wonderfully by the flash photography but the effect is more subtle "in real life", revealing new lines of grain with each viewing. The pearl binding is exquisite and finishes off the guitar perfectly.

Price the Horizon NT HERE.