UK- What's Happened to ESP/LTD?

[Guitarist-Jonny]

Hi guys, just recently I've noticed that all the places (near myself in the UK) that stock guitars lately have stopped stocking ESP/LTD all seemingly at once!

I've asked the staff why, they claim that they just don't sell and that Ibanez are taking over in terms of sales. I'm presuming that Ibanez's lower end models must be really selling well, but I think the high end LTD's really do look good (although I tried an MH-401 once and wasn't impressed) as no high end Ibanez (except one RG) come stock with EMG's and the LTD's have licensed floyds compared to the Ibanez's Edge III.

What do you guys think? Are ESP losing sales where you are? UK online stores such as GAK have ESP's and LTD's in stock, are online stores the only way to get hold of them where your are?

Thanks
Regards
Jon

[wandereruk05]

Hi Jon,

to be honest it could be a number of factors - in my experience ibanez has been the best bang for your buck across the board when buying a low-mid priced guitar.

I've bought a couple of LTDs in the past, one a Ltd Deluxe and it was the worst purchase I'd made, neck didn't feel right, set up just didn't go and it turned out the neck was warped..back it went.

The necks on Ibanez guitars tend to be very good for playability and feel, especially for new players, and plus the guitars look good too. Stock pickups on Ibanez tend to be a bit more versatile than two EMG/EMG designed humbuckers - used them before and after using Dimarzios I've been put off the EMG active vibe.

Having used both brands, I'm now pretty much using Ibanez solely for my electric guitars, easier to play, better tones, look nicer to me and you've got a wealth of knowledge here on the site if you do encounter any problems!

[thesimo]

I can certainly say the neck on my RG2570 is the best neck ive used on a production guitar

[Petie]

One factor that shouldn't be underestimated is that Ibanez don't have a sub-brand for their lower-priced guitars. Whether you buy the highest of high-end or an absolute entry level guitar, it still says 'Ibanez,' and that means a lot to consumers. Even though some LTDs are absolutely phenomenal guitars, there is a perception that it's not a 'real' ESP. I think that's unfair because I've played some great LTDs, but it's just how people are.

[Shockme.au]

I love my LTD Ouija.
Great build quality, superb action and set up.
Probably the most $$$ LTD there is though, costs more than an standard series ESP...

[jono]

Originally Posted by Petie

One factor that shouldn't be underestimated is that Ibanez don't have a sub-brand for their lower-priced guitars. Whether you buy the highest of high-end or an absolute entry level guitar, it still says 'Ibanez,' and that means a lot to consumers. Even though some LTDs are absolutely phenomenal guitars, there is a perception that it's not a 'real' ESP. I think that's unfair because I've played some great LTDs, but it's just how people are.

Apart from the "Gio" range...

[Akhenaten]

It's not that hard to understand if you're involved. My shop was an ESP dealer for a few years and they were great at the time. But that was back when they kept telling their dealers they wouldn't be showing up in Guitar Center... They were still a small company and able to maintain a decent QC.

Come Namm a few years back, they increase their numbers to Sam Ash and start showing up in Guitar Center and the Guitar Center-owned Musician's Friend. Their quality control goes out the window and we started seeing more rushed finishes and neck problems. They had long wait times as it was pre-big chain. Once they had to supply GC and more Sam Ash stores, our local rep disappeared and we couldn't get any product. On top of that, it was before GC put their "no discount" policy in place and they were whoring everything under the sun for cost to get the deal. Made it pretty pointless to bother carrying them.

Longer wait times, more quality control issues, rising cost in a crap economy, it just didn't make sense to bother at all with them.

[Guitarist-Jonny]

Thanks for all your comments! Akhenaten, so would you say the quality of ESP/LTD is still sub-standard today?
Thanks
Regards
Jon

[GuitarBizarre]

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

It's not that hard to understand if you're involved. My shop was an ESP dealer for a few years and they were great at the time. But that was back when they kept telling their dealers they wouldn't be showing up in Guitar Center... They were still a small company and able to maintain a decent QC.

Come Namm a few years back, they increase their numbers to Sam Ash and start showing up in Guitar Center and the Guitar Center-owned Musician's Friend. Their quality control goes out the window and we started seeing more rushed finishes and neck problems. They had long wait times as it was pre-big chain. Once they had to supply GC and more Sam Ash stores, our local rep disappeared and we couldn't get any product. On top of that, it was before GC put their "no discount" policy in place and they were whoring everything under the sun for cost to get the deal. Made it pretty pointless to bother carrying them.

Longer wait times, more quality control issues, rising cost in a crap economy, it just didn't make sense to bother at all with them.

I'd have thought you would mention those Custom shop models you got from them that had clearly spec'd details wrong, like the Tele with a truss rod cover, and didn't you get the wrong colour pickguard on one?

[NeglectedField]

I find little of this correlates with what I've experienced. Andertons Music in Guildford still has plenty, Guitar Village in Farnham as well. I'm used to Ibanez but I'm tempted to veer into ESP/LTD territory if it weren't for the fact that I won't make another guitar purchase for a while.

[nickcoumbe]

Originally Posted by NeglectedField

I find little of this correlates with what I've experienced. Andertons Music in Guildford still has plenty, Guitar Village in Farnham as well. I'm used to Ibanez but I'm tempted to veer into ESP/LTD territory if it weren't for the fact that I won't make another guitar purchase for a while.

Dawsons in Reading has them too.