NGD: A long time coming!

Bidley

I've wanted one of these as long as I've been playing guitar...

https://imgur.com/a/uJm540a

ESP Horizon, one of the older Standard Series before they made the odd decision to devalue them by putting E-II on the headstock.

Growing up watching Metallica, and later Blind Guardian's Andre Olbrich and his red Horizon, I've always thought they were awesome. Never got the chance to actually try a full-fat ESP but I took the plunge on this and I'm gutted I didn't sooner.

The neck is narrower and rounder than a wizard. Really comfortable! It's surprisingly light as well. It just feels right. So happy!

Strangefan

Yes! Lovely a proper one as well I had an urban camp m2 back in the day, such good guitars, pinacle of Japanese craftsmanship imo

skullfunkerry

That is seriously nice! HNGD!

StefB

Bidley said:

ESP Horizon, one of the older Standard Series before they made the odd decision to devalue them by putting E-II on the headstock.

That's a stunner, good score.

ESP's decision to use E-II thoroughly baffles me as well, I'd love to have been a fly on the wall at that board meeting.  LTD is bad enough.

For a modest £1,949 you can have a snappily titled E-II M-II ex-demo from GuitarGuitar - https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/181213336021008-5144668--esp-e-ii-m-ii-nt-black-turquoise-burst-ex-demo-es642119

I'd love to know how much you'd get for it on the used market a few weeks later...

Barquentine

Beautiful.

PonchoGreg

I'm far from a metalhead (these days) but that is oh so sweet... When I started playing in the early 2000s, ESP was the shit and I drooled over the Horizon in particular. That headstock, with the ESP logo... At the time, in France, that was as exclusive as you could get.

Awesome score, man!

Bidley

Cheers doodz!

StefB said:

Bidley said:

ESP Horizon, one of the older Standard Series before they made the odd decision to devalue them by putting E-II on the headstock.

That's a stunner, good score.

ESP's decision to use E-II thoroughly baffles me as well, I'd love to have been a fly on the wall at that board meeting.  LTD is bad enough.

For a modest £1,949 you can have a snappily titled E-II M-II ex-demo from GuitarGuitar - https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/181213336021008-5144668--esp-e-ii-m-ii-nt-black-turquoise-burst-ex-demo-es642119

I'd love to know how much you'd get for it on the used market a few weeks later...

Apparently they did it for the Japanese market where Western Standards were turning up back in Japan and being mistaken for Customs (or something to that effect).

The E-IIs may very well be the same build etc as the old Standards, but if I'm paying £2k for an ESP I want "ESP" on the headstock!

On resale value... I saw an E-II Horizon go for £800 last week. Great value for the buyer but I bet the seller was devastated!

Crazyblue1779

That is bloody lovely

Stevepage

I've been thinking of picking one of these up myself. Cheaper to buy than a USA Jackson but quality is just as good. Some feel more solid. Happy ngd!

That_Lionel

Nice! I finally got myself a full-fat ESP a while back (an SV Standard) after wanting one for years. Totally agree that having E-II on the headstock is far less appealing. The E-IIs may well be just as good as the old Standards but as a lifelong thrasher, I wanted the ESP block lettered logo on the headstock. Of course that's ridiculous, but we're human and the heart generally rules the head (if you're doing it right, anyway).

The necks are much rounder and narrower than the Jackson necks that I'm used to, but still very comfortable and quick.

I wouldn't necessarily agree that the Standards are as good as USA Jacksons - my SV and the couple of others that I've tried don't feel quite as nicely put together as my USA made Jacksons, but they're still exquisitely made guitars (they may be just as good as modern USA Jacksons - I haven't played one built after 2003). There again, all guitars are different, so what do I know? I'm sure that the ESP Customs are the equal of, or better than Jackson USAs, though.

Bidley

Never tried a USA Jackson, love my MIJ KE3 though. The neck profile is quite different to the ESP though. The ESP I can play for much longer without discomfort. I already want another FFS.

PS @Moloch I got one

Moloch

Bidley said:

Never tried a USA Jackson, love my MIJ KE3 though. The neck profile is quite different to the ESP though. The ESP I can play for much longer without discomfort. I already want another FFS.

PS @Moloch I got one

Congratulations mate. He finally sorted shipping!

Bidley

Moloch said:

Bidley said:

Never tried a USA Jackson, love my MIJ KE3 though. The neck profile is quite different to the ESP though. The ESP I can play for much longer without discomfort. I already want another FFS.

PS @Moloch I got one

Congratulations mate. He finally sorted shipping!

He didn't, no - he took a week to look for a box, couldn't find one then called it off! Found another for the same money though!

hollywoodrox

Awesome, congratulations 

fastonebaz

Looks amazing well done.