LHakim
01-19-2007, 11:35 AM
There has been discussion here lately about the ESP/Edwards LP copies but not much about their Strats so I thought I would post this.
The model I got is the SE-100R. It has a 2 pc alder body in a two color burst finish with a nitro top coat and lite relicing.
The neck seems to be a C profile and is very comfortable. The frets are med. jumbos and the board is rosewood. I believe its a 9.5 radius. I don't know if all Edwards are like this but this particular neck has a "broken-in" feel to it.
Pickups are Duncan SSL-1's which on this guitar sound warm and sweet. I've read that the ssl1's can be bright.
Other standard equipment on this model include CTS pots, CRL switch, a vintage-style bridge with steel trem block, switchcraft jack and Kluson style tuners.
The guitar weighs 7 lbs 6 oz. which to me is a featherweight after playing a 12 lb Travis Bean for years.
Pros: The attention to detail, fit and finish, is immaculate. I've read that on the higher-end Edwards models, ESP's quality approaches that of Fender's custom shop. I now believe it. The guitar plays beautifully, the neck feels GREAT. It is the fastest playing neck I've ever played on a Fender or Fender clone.
Every string rings out including the high E. The whole guitar is very resonant and so fun to play amped and acoustically. The pickups handle clean and heavily overdriven tones easily with no harshness even on the bridge pup. Of course the neck has that punchy, throaty Strat growl. Middle and postions 4 and 2 are very useable.
I've got to comment again on this guitars playability: there have been threads here about how hard Strats are to play. Well this one plays TOO easily! And thats after playing a Travis Bean with a flat radius and 24+ inch scale for years! Anyways I'm used to more string tension so I'll probably go up a gauge and raise the action abit.
Cons: The high E string is too close to the fingerboad's edge and if I'm not careful it'll slip over altogether. The 'relicing" wouldn't convince anyone and frankly I would have rather not have it, but it does add a weird aesthetic, and since I'm rough on my equipment (I have the Midas touch in reverse) I won't have to worry about that first ding.
Overall though these are the ONLY things I could fault ESP with. I'm exceedingly happy with this guitar although I almost didn't get it as I believe in buying USA, and have never purchased anything directly from Japan. Also, I've never bought a guitar without playing it first, so I knew I was taking a risk, but all of the good things I've read about ESP's quality and set-up work finally swayed me. Total cost was $809 including shipping.
BTW, a word about the shipping: I bought the guitar Sunday, and it was delivered to my door Wed. here in Mississippi, in time to gig at Church. Hows that for efficiency???:)
Heres a link to the SE-100R:
http://www.guitarjapan.com/edwards/spec/e-se-100r-re.html
The model I got is the SE-100R. It has a 2 pc alder body in a two color burst finish with a nitro top coat and lite relicing.
The neck seems to be a C profile and is very comfortable. The frets are med. jumbos and the board is rosewood. I believe its a 9.5 radius. I don't know if all Edwards are like this but this particular neck has a "broken-in" feel to it.
Pickups are Duncan SSL-1's which on this guitar sound warm and sweet. I've read that the ssl1's can be bright.
Other standard equipment on this model include CTS pots, CRL switch, a vintage-style bridge with steel trem block, switchcraft jack and Kluson style tuners.
The guitar weighs 7 lbs 6 oz. which to me is a featherweight after playing a 12 lb Travis Bean for years.
Pros: The attention to detail, fit and finish, is immaculate. I've read that on the higher-end Edwards models, ESP's quality approaches that of Fender's custom shop. I now believe it. The guitar plays beautifully, the neck feels GREAT. It is the fastest playing neck I've ever played on a Fender or Fender clone.
Every string rings out including the high E. The whole guitar is very resonant and so fun to play amped and acoustically. The pickups handle clean and heavily overdriven tones easily with no harshness even on the bridge pup. Of course the neck has that punchy, throaty Strat growl. Middle and postions 4 and 2 are very useable.
I've got to comment again on this guitars playability: there have been threads here about how hard Strats are to play. Well this one plays TOO easily! And thats after playing a Travis Bean with a flat radius and 24+ inch scale for years! Anyways I'm used to more string tension so I'll probably go up a gauge and raise the action abit.
Cons: The high E string is too close to the fingerboad's edge and if I'm not careful it'll slip over altogether. The 'relicing" wouldn't convince anyone and frankly I would have rather not have it, but it does add a weird aesthetic, and since I'm rough on my equipment (I have the Midas touch in reverse) I won't have to worry about that first ding.
Overall though these are the ONLY things I could fault ESP with. I'm exceedingly happy with this guitar although I almost didn't get it as I believe in buying USA, and have never purchased anything directly from Japan. Also, I've never bought a guitar without playing it first, so I knew I was taking a risk, but all of the good things I've read about ESP's quality and set-up work finally swayed me. Total cost was $809 including shipping.
BTW, a word about the shipping: I bought the guitar Sunday, and it was delivered to my door Wed. here in Mississippi, in time to gig at Church. Hows that for efficiency???:)
Heres a link to the SE-100R:
http://www.guitarjapan.com/edwards/spec/e-se-100r-re.html