I bought my ESP (not LTD) George Lynch Skull & Snakes new in 2002. I just noticed a factory error while changing the strings. The tuning key on the Low E string is differant than the other 5 tuning keys. The Low E has a slightly larger and more square tuning key knob than the others. The other 5 are smaller and more round. The rest of the tuning key parts are identical, right down to the "MADE IN JAPAN" on the body of the tuners. I am guessing that I never noticed this because the guitar has a
reverse headstock making the tuning keys not so much in sight while playing. Where I am the original owner, I know it wasn't a replacement tuning key. ESP says that the ESP line guitars are hand built in their customer shop in Japan. While the LTD line are built more by machine in Korea & Indonesia (probably by Samick). I guess thats what you get when you factor in the guitar being built more by hand than machine. The luthier probably didn't even notice the odd misplaced tuner as he took the 6 tuners out of a big box of them. Then again, maybe he came up 1 short out of the box he had at his work station and just grabbed the 1 from another box being lazy and figuring the eventual buyer would never notice. It doesn't bug me. In fact, I view it as a quick way to identify my guitar if it was ever stolen because the thief would never notice it. I just can't belive I've never noticed. I am very picky when it comes to my guitars and baby them.
