The ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar is a classic-looking rocker perfect for gigging on a budget. It's a stage-worthy performer with its set-neck construction and flamed maple top over an all-mahogany body. The rosewood fretboard has 22 XJ frets accross a 24.75" scale length and is designed for speed and comfort. The EC-256 sports two powerful ESP humbucking pickups with a 3-way toggle switch, independant volume controls for each pickup, and one master tone control with push-pull coil-split. ESP die-cast tuners and a tune-o-matic bridge add to the reliability of this affordable workhorse.
Mahogany body
Flamed maple top
Mahogany neck
Set-neck construction
24.75" scale
Rosewood fingerboard
42mm standard nut
22 XJ frets
Chrome hardware
ESP tuners
Tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece
ESP LH-150 (B & N) pickup
3-way toggle
Bridge volume
Neck volume
Master tone with push-pull coil-split
Case not included
Choose a guitar that'll get the job done gig after gig. Order today.
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I ordered this guitar out of pure frustration from the past 3 guitars I've purchased, setting out to find a guitar that wouldn't cost me a kidney but would stay in tune, ALWAYS #1 as you can change the pickups if you don't like 'em.
I bought a middle of the road "I've been had" for MUCH MORE than this only to have it fall apart during a recording session that cost me 1/2 as much as the guitar for that weeks sessions.
Next I bought a well known up & coming guitar brand that is getting alot of buzz in the metal world *Used from competition only to be shuffled around & find out the guitar had been a factory second with MAJOR neck issues.
Third I bought another guitar (See "I've been had")liking the neck of the first one, but not the Licenced Floyd on it. It held up good but was snapped in 2 by a drunken studio hand.
I will give Ibanez S series a thumbs up for making a comfortable guitar that sounded good, however, it don't compare to the LTD EC-256.
Upon receiving the guitar(EC-256 see through black model) I noticed that the neck felt comfortable for a guy like me who don't have those "yard-stick fingers" it felt like I was finally home from a vast wasteland of guitar malfunctions, misreps from other music gear sites, & sloppy seconds.
The pups rang out very similar to a LP although not as "singy" on the neck. The push/pull pot was a cool bonus that gave me options I never knew I needed for recording, but found spots for right away on my first recorded song within hours of unpacking at my home studio.
Tuning was forgot about because I took it out of the box, tuned it, & didn't HAVE TO give it a second thought!
There was no fret buzz, no flaws in the finish, & I was surprised at how well the hardware felt. It was more like hardware from a guitar that costs MUCH more & felt solid & durable. I was VERY surprised that there were only TWO reviews on this guitar as it handles just as well as my LTD EC-1000 & is intonated BETTER than I've been able to get the 1000.
To finish up this review I would like to add that anyone who has that ear that picks up on guitars that sound great while playing, say an Eb minor, then sound out of tune when you shift to a D chord need to give this one a whirl. Finish is amazing too. My ONLY complaint is the input jack had a loose nut on it which I fixed in 5 minutes flat. If you are on the fence as I read on another review, go for it! you will certainly be glad you spent less money for a much more solid instrument than any other NEAR this price range. 1 last note - I play Metal, Hard Rock, & a little blues on the side. Works great for all although the pups are passive they are CLEAR & you can boost the distortion if you need more Ummph, & I love the way I can hear the notes with more definition than w/ active pups. I 100% would recommend this to my friends,family.
My only regret is that I didn't deal with MF FIRST.
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.Wow!!! I already own the "real deal", an ESP Eclipse II Standard. To me that guitar seems too nice for someone like me to play out with. I was afraid to get it beat up. I thought this would make a nice workhorse. Now that I have it and see how beautiful the Lemon Drop is in person, I don't wanna hurt it either. It really is so nice. Came setup great right from the box. No tweaks necessary. Just did the usual fretboard conditioning and new Dunlop Pure Nickels. This thing rocks! It plays so nice. I honestly can't see anyone justifying paying a higher price for the upper models. I have a new go to guitar. If you're on the fence, just jump on over. It will not disappoInt you.
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.I like this axe! The tiger striped maple top is very nice. It's well balanced weight is an improvement over my Les Paul. But it is not a Les Paul. The PUPs have a different voice. I won't mod them as yet, because I want to see what they can really do. I played tis guitar through my 1964 Twin, and it had lots of voice. The coil tap does not turn it into a Telecaster and weakens the volume (I'm not a coil tap guy- just buy a Stratocaster and turn it up). I love the neck, the fret board and the big frets. No fret buzz on mine, BTW. For the SDOD price, it's win, win, win. I'm 67 years old, been playing since 1957 and have handled lots of great guitars. I think this little black cherry tiger stripe will keep me in heaven for quite a while.
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.Excellent build quality. Had very good intonation right out of the box. Action was perfect. Absolutely zero fret buzz, yet incredibly fast action. For the money there is no other guitar that comes close. The finish was flawless and the turners stay in tune! As a professional working musician who has played just about everything out there, I'm blown away at the value of this guitar. I own another more expensive LTD and this one seems to have the same build quality as my more expensive LTD. IMHO, LTD makes VERY good guitars.
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.ESP LTD has these guitars made for them in Vietnam from a very slick design that they have come up with. I already have 2 of the EC256P models which use P-90 frame pickups. I started with just one but the neck and action were incredible- much better than any of my Gibsons so I got another. I ordered the EC256FM from MF so that I could install regular Gibson-frame humbuckers.
These guitars come with extra jumbo frets which is one upgrade a lot of guitarists have done with their Les Pauls. Gibson uses the Plek process on their high end guitars to make the neck and frets perfectly level; I'd have to say that whatever process the factory in Vietnam uses to level their necks and frets is almost as good as that- amazing for a guitar that sells for such a low price.
The body is thinner than a LP with a deeper cutaway sculpted on the backside for better access to the highest frets. The upper bout is sculpted on the backside, too, so it doesn't dig into your stomach.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, the LF-150 pickups that come with this guitar are the only weak point I see. Not a bad decision on the part of ESP LTD since a lot of guitarists (like me!) prefer to use specific pickups and would replace them anyway. The stock pickups do work and get the job done but are nothing to write home about.
My EC-256 was delivered earlier today and it is built with the same quality as their EC-256P. The flamed maple top (hence the FM suffix) is very beautiful, especially in the black cherry sunburst. So nice that I just ordered a second one. (These guitars are literally the smoothest-playing guitars I have ever tried in 49 years.)
I'm getting a second one because I want to put SD Seth Lover pickups in one for a vintage humbucker sound and a set of DiMarzio EJ Custom pickups in the other for a very clear strat-like tone in a real humbucker that kicks butt when you crank it up. (I am amazed at what those guys at DiMarzio are coming up with!)
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.Let me start with I have owned a Gibson LP Standard 03, Fender Strat 40th anniversary, Gibson flying V, and many others. When I was much younger I was really bent on "Made in USA". As I have gotten older my bank account got bigger so I would buy all "Made in USA" guitars. This guitar was the right price because I purchased it as a used guitar and I made a great choice. I can say with all the guitars I have owned this plays the easiest. I wont say this is better than a LP.....I will say I personally like this guitar more than any other I have owned. It has a amazing neck and the fret board radius is great. This guitar has changed my mind set 100% on cost of a guitar. I play this 100 times better than any other guitar I have owned. Lets be honest if a guitar sounds great but you play it like junk whats the point? This guitar sounds good easy to play and is much lighter feeling than my Gibson LP felt. This guitar has made me want to go deep dive into more esp guitars. All I can think is the eclipse series as a hole are one heck of a guitar. One last thing I hate signature model guitars....I think the idea is really lame really but honestly looks wise this reminds me a real lot of the slash signature model.....I would never ever buy a different guitar. My others will not come out the cases much anymore.
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.I got this as a "Stupid deal of the day". I have wanted a single cut away, mahagony body electric with a maple top. For the price I figured why not. I am very pleased. The fit and finish of this instrument is very high quality. I did have to lower the TOM bridge some as it was kind of high. The pickups are not the best but work fine for 90% of what I need it for. These frets have taken some getting used to. You will want to play one before buying as they can be off-putting. The neck is not set for very much relief so a proper set up is in order. The tone you get through the neck pick up with the split on is pretty frickin cool. Through my old Fender tube amp I am able to emulate Pearl Jam tones easely. You won't find a better guitar for the price. If you like tinkering with a guitar this one will work for you. It is a nice solid platform with the potential to be an impressive guitar.
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.Will make it short....Guitar is awesome looking, great finish and craftmanship is tight. Sounds great and would recommend it as a cost effective entry level intrument. Might just be mine, but have tweeked it multiple times and the tuning just doesnt last long if you do alot of bends. It's a relatively heavy instrument and if you like sitting while you play, the ergonomics aren't very comfortable, at least not for me. For the price, it is what it is so would give it a 3-4 based on the above.
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.Im amazed a set neck guitar that is this good a quality that plays equal to my 2003 Gibson LP studio plus.
The guitar is a xmass gift for some one so i made sure it was ok when delivered , i must get one for myself now asap.
I read the user reviews everywhere and found the word fantastic does apply , but you know how owners brag abit.
In this case its happily a fact and the vietnam factory craftsman produce excelent quality now !
Im getting another 256fm soon !
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
.I am very surprised to find this quality neck at this price and the tried and true tone woods used in the body and neck can not be better!
A good neck makes a good guitar,the XJ frets are true and plays in tune and the nut is cut perfectly low with no buzzing.
I had to tighten the truss rod a little and I put slinky 10-46 on and adjusted the tom bridge and raised it 1/16" so you can feel the strings some what.
I bought it to give as a gift and MF sent a v/well made guitar on the stupid deal of the day price that was dirt cheap !
The cherry finish seems very durable and beautiful as I hoped.
Switched too single coil sound and it was much better than I expected and gives some sweet rythem tones.
The 150 pickups were a good choice frankly,because high gain is easy to get with amps and pedals these days.
I may buy another ec-256 for me,or a ec-1000 if I can find a deal!
If you want a guitar that does lead work and to fret true on chords especially this does that in spades.
I think the multi-wood piece necks will stay strait many years so this is a one piece walnut so keep it out of rain and weather events I would say.
The price and perfect playability beats any brand of my knowledge for this price.
I had a hard time believing the user reviews but here is a guitar that can play great stuff ,and that's not brag its fact.
Fact is the glued neck tenon sounds better than a neck thru body design also.
The strong fundamental LP like tone is in the 256fm.
ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar See-Thru Black Cherry Sunburst
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