is my eclipse a lemon?

[TimSt.L]

I have an ESP eclipse2. I don't even play it because of the fret buzz and muddy tone it has. I play my Ltd's that cost a third of the price. The only reason I haven't gotten rid of it is because, well, it's an ESP. I can't get past the fact that even though it plays like crap, it's still an ESP. Has anyone else had issues with they're ESP 's? maybe I should sell it and get a good les studio or something.... it wouldn't be a big deal if I could afford multiple nice guitars but Im not used to having this " quality" of an instrument.
Just venting a bit I guess...

 

[Niallmo]

Has it been set-up recently? Take it to a reputable luthier.

I have an ESP eclipse2. I don't even play it because of the fret buzz and muddy tone it has. I play my Ltd's that cost a third of the price. The only reason I haven't gotten rid of it is because, well, it's an ESP. I can't get past the fact that even though it plays like crap, it's still an ESP. Has anyone else had issues with they're ESP 's? maybe I should sell it and get a good les studio or something.... it wouldn't be a big deal if I could afford multiple nice guitars but Im not used to having this " quality" of an instrument.
Just venting a bit I guess...

 

[Lublin]

Yes. You need a new guitar. STIMULATE THE ECONOMY!

 

[germs]

a good tech is your answer.

if it can be fixed - bonus.

if it can't, at least you'll know and can move it on down the road.

 

[baimun]

How much relief is in the neck?


If you use a capo at the 1st fret to mash all the strings down, then with one hand, press all the strings down at the last fret, then in the middle of the guitar neck (10th-13th frets) there should be a few sheets of paper worth of "light" under each string.

If the strings are flat against the frets, then you're getting a little "fret out" on every single note you play. Not enough to sound like buzz and rattle, but enough to suck all the tone and sustain out of every note you play.

 

[Gear-Junkie]

sounds like you just need a good setup and possibly a fret dress, should be fine after that.

 

[TimSt.L]

How much relief is in the neck?


If you use a capo at the 1st fret to mash all the strings down, then with one hand, press all the strings down at the last fret, then in the middle of the guitar neck (10th-13th frets) there should be a few sheets of paper worth of "light" under each string.

If the strings are flat against the frets, then you're getting a little "fret out" on every single note you play. Not enough to sound like buzz and rattle, but enough to suck all the tone and sustain out of every note you play.

I've always checked by holding the first fret down and then holding down the fret closest to where the body meets the neck. 15ish I think. And it should be about the thickness of a playing card off the fret in the center. Thats just what ive always done and had great reults. But this one seems impossible to set up. I do want to take it to someone else besides myself though. Ive always worked on my guitars myself but this one is just giving me issues. And the relief seems to be dead on. The action is even slightly higher than what the specs call for yet it still buzzes. It's like it is defying the laws of physics!

I gotta let a different set of eyes and hands check it out, someone who can dress the frets properly. Thanks guys.

And I'll try the capo too.

 

[Pushead]

A few years back Musicians Friend blew a bunch of ESP Eclipses out. From what I'd read on the ESP board, nearly all of them were terribly leveled and crowned. Some of them had the guitar redressed and were able to dial it in. Most returned it to MF or sold them.

I have several ESP guitars (and a few LTDs as well) and by and large they're all very solid guitars. Other than some personal setup things, I've never had a defect or had to make a major change to one.

Sorry to hear you're having a bit of trouble with this one.

 

[TimSt.L]

Man, I wonder if mine was in that batch. Im going to look into that.

I've had extremely good luck with Ltd's for years. Old,new,used,Korean,Indonesian, even the new distressed tele from Vietnam blew me away. I bought it for dirt cheap and went to practice, where the other guitarist has a u.s. tele. His exact words were, " your copy tele sounds more like a tele than my real tele. " this thing is no joke.

So my let down with the eclipse was the biggest yet since I've been playing and buying guitars, Bar none.

Before I sell it, Im going to bring it to a trusted luthier. If they can't do anything I'll find something to do with it. I'll have to sell it cheap and let whoever buys it know exactly what's up with it. Because I don't want anyone to have to deal with this after me.

 

[Gear.Pig]

A few years back Musicians Friend blew a bunch of Gibson Les Pauls out. From what I'd read on the Gibson board, nearly all of them were terribly leveled and crowned. Some of them had the guitar redressed and were able to dial it in. Most returned it to MF or sold them.

I have several Gibson guitars (and a few Epi's as well) and by and large they're all very solid guitars. Other than some personal setup things, I've never had a defect or had to make a major change to one.

Sorry to hear you're having a bit of trouble with this one.

All kidding aside, that's highly unusual for ESP.

 

[TimSt.L]

All kidding aside, that's highly unusual for ESP.

I've heard of it being unusual many times. I was genuinely let down when this happened. The bad thing is, I tried to contact ESP several times about if it was common and if there was an easy fix, or if they could refer me to someone. I got absolutely nothing in return. Not even an automated email. It was like ESP vanished.

 

[TimSt.L]

Oh well, Im gonna quit griping and bring it to a qualified luthier and let them do they're magic. And hope for the best.

 

[Pushead]

All kidding aside, that's highly unusual for ESP.

:lol

TC do you remember that on the ESP Board? I remember Soulfly38, Krypton and Ozzfun seemed to get hit by that. Should be an 08 or 09 in the sunburst if I remember correctly.

 

[Chris Brooks]

Definitely get a good tech to look at it as mentioned. I've played a few in the last couple of years that would come up nice with some decent fret work. They felt really ordinary and cheap without it.

 

[kebotrans]

I was jonesing for that new Silver Sparkle Eclipse II they showed at Namm with Duncan's. Now I'm worried. I have a GL-56 and love it

 

[Jef Bardsley]

I have to go with "highly unusual". ESP's fit and finish and QC is generally outstanding.


Tim, I hope it works out for you.

 

[blaster]

I have an ESP Eclipse II and it plays great. Of course, I had a friend of mine set it up for me before I even played it. They are great guitars, and just like any guitar a set up makes all the difference.