opinions SL3 vs. esp M-1000

[gmbob22]

love my current jap PS-4 with gotoh tuners and floyd, single evolution, cts pot and switchcraft jack, was a POS before the hardware change, is def a player now, infact im searching ebay for a eerie dess dk2 to give the same treatment but with a single super distortion

Looking to buy a new guitar, though, something i can walk into guitar center put down cash for and walk out with

most importantly NECK THRU and with lots of upper fret access

ive narrowed it down to two choices

the SL3 and (/vs.) ESP M-1000
can anyone chime in on quality and fit and finish?

the esp is cheaper ($500 chpeaper), has the same kind of "original" floyd which ARE NOT german OFR's (which would be replaced on either guitar with a gotoh, dont think ill own any other floyd, except a REAL OFR)

ESP H/H
SL3 H/S/S

the esp is bound and has abalone inlays, comes with emg's versus cheap MOTO and passive duncans (pickups would be replaced with dimarzio's anyway with cts pots and swiitcraft jack)

Both Alder, SL3 would be a trans finish with flame top
Maple neck, rosewood boards

ESP i think is made in korea
Jackson, japan

Opinions?

[Mario8672]

99% will tell you to buy the Jackson, including me.

[gmbob22]

Jackson is the way I want to go, but with the lack of options on the jackson, i.e. binding and inlays, the ESP is very attractive, and people i know with the LTD deluxe series are VERY satisified with them, and the price is unbelievable

i dunno, im jackson loyal, probably will end up witht he soloist just for that fact,

but i wish jackson would get there head out of there asses and offer guitars with similar price points and options that almost every other manufacturer is know offering, why should you get "less" guitar for more money? could at least have OFR's, Schaller, or a really good floyd copy like a gotoh, which are made in JAPAN, or MOP or Abalone inlayrs too justify the 50% higher price

[KBRR]

ESP , i have played both and i liked the ESP alot better, i like the pickups , reverse headstock and the abalone, quality was about the same for both guitars but keep in mind the ESP is cheaper.

[Grandturk]

I really wish people would stop calling LTD's ESP's. Clearly, they are not ESP's.

[Advv]

Just based on looks, definitely the M-1000. I've been craving the MH-1000 for so, so long. The new white MH-1000 is sweet.

[MartinBarre]

I've never played a LTD so can't compare the two. But my SL3 is the best guitar I've ever played.

[Rich#6]

the ltd1000 has that horrible abalone around the body. wouldn't buy for that reason alone. Is it real abalone, don't think so. The jackson trem I think is the korea floyd which are holding up well on the prod charvels.
Both great guitars(I have owned at least one korean made ltd) but I think you need to price both out with all your changes in mind.
IMO if you are going to spend that kind of money go used REAL esp or usa jackson. lots out there for that amount of cash.

[MartinBarre]

IMO if you are going to spend that kind of money go used REAL esp or usa jackson.

Yeah, I'd go with that. Just wish I could do it over here.

[DonP]

Neither. Get the Sam Ash "SL2H" which is really an archtop mix. I've seen it as low as $799 in my Sam Ash in late winter, but now they raised the price to $999 for a quick sell, WTF?

[pro-fusion]

You can also get the new SL3MG model, which has dual EMGs rather than Duncan H/S/S pickups.

I've never been a big fan of LTDs, even the Deluxe series. Their sound quality and playability varies wildly from instrument to instrument, in my experience. If you can find a good one, it's a very good deal. But few stores have enough in stock to buy that way. You're much more likely to get a good quality SL3 on the first try.

[Inazone]

the ltd1000 has that horrible abalone around the body. wouldn't buy for that reason alone. Is it real abalone, don't think so.

I believe it's real, but probably "AbaLam" or something similar that is a laminate made from various pieces of abalone. I'm pretty sure that's what Dean uses for its abalone inlays, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it used as binding.

[Spivonious]

Just looked at a pic of the LTD. That abalone binding on the neck is so ugly.

Oh, and I don't know if it matters to you, but the ESP is H-H, the Jackson is H-S-S. You could always go for the SL3MG to get H-H.

[MartinBarre]

There's one for those, like me, who'd never seen one before.
Looks nice, but it lacks the Jackson mojo for me.

[gmbob22]

Think im going to try find a deal on a USED SL1, has a real floyd, MOP, and is ONLY 300 bucks morer than a SL3 new, could just stick a d activator in the bridge and be done with it



unless i can find an original pro series xl, or pro soloist, or an incredible deal on a SL3 and forget about the cheap inlays, and change the bridge and pickups

and to whoever asked, H/H vs. H/S/S makes no difference to me, pickups would be stripped for a singel bridge humbucker on

additionally anyone have any thoughts/opinions on the DK1?