I am thinking the same thing. Based on the Yen to USD, how much cheaper can they be when for example, the Ibanez Premium RGs which are MII are pushing $1K
I really like that guitar too...beautiful...reminds me of a guitar that you could only get in Japan that was made by another company but I forget who it was...
They look fantastic........BUT,...i really wish they had been marketed as an entry level MIJ ESP rather than a high end MIJ LTD.
The pricing would be the same,but i just dont want an LTD on my headstock...when i want an ESP in my collection i want it to say ESP.
That opinion aside,those guitars look F@#king killer and i would have certainly bought one if branded ESP.
Not sure what segment of the market they are trying to garner here? I'll be curious to see what the actual street prices are in shops here in a few months.
I honestly think they are trying to somewhat offer something comparable with some of the Premium Ibanez line. They just used the word Elite instead of Premium for marketing. Also using the MIJ card for that marketing too. I think in particular they targeted the 920s with these new ST1 offerings. Quilted maple tops, natural binding, and a floyd. Hmmm, awfully similar appointments. I like those two ST1s with the maple boards. Notice how its exactly the same color choices as the two maple boarded 920s available?
If these are aimed at 'premiums' then the premiums lose,MIJ will trump indo from here to eternity.
LTD or not,i keep going back to that page......silk screened LTD will polish off.....ESP headstock decal........OH NO GAS!!!!
Just my humble opinion. The similarity between the appointments between the two made me think that is one part of the equation. The real question is are the ESP branded instruments going to creep up in overall price making the upscaled LTD line seem more attractive? I suspect yes.
What makes you all think that ESP is competing with Ibanez? I would guess that they're trying to beat Schecter. After all, what would you compare an LTD to 9 times out of 10? Schecter. A $900 Schecter is about the same as a $600 LTD. Which is good, except that people assume the Schecter is a better guitar because it's more expensive. So now LTD is making a better guitar in the same price range.
These feel like a "See, we can make LTD's better than the Blackjacks!" product to me.
Though now that I think about it, I wouldn't doubt it.
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