When most players think about ESP, they think premium metal-centric guitars played by the likes of Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, George Lynch, and many other hard rock gods. Those of us on a budget will undoubtedly also think about price — as in, these guitars are going to cost you a good chunk of change. Luckily for us, ESP’s LTD brand of instruments offer affordable alternatives to their pricier models that don’t skimp on the core aspects of what makes a solid guitar. One of the best examples of the LTD brand’s philosophy is the EC-10, a $200 guitar that makes a compelling case as the very best entry-level electric around.
The Features
The ESP LTD EC-10 is a dual humbucker electric guitar that features a sleek contoured basswood body, bolt-on construction, smooth U-shaped maple neck, and a 24 extra-jumbo fret equipped fingerboard. The pickups themselves are ESP-designed LH-100 humbucking pickups, while controls are limited to Volume and Tone knobs, along with a three-position pickup selector switch. Other core features include chrome hardware and ESP LDT model 3+3 tuners. It even includes a gig bag for good measure.
The Build
As far as the entire build goes, it’s a solid guitar through and through and an excellent entry-level model that easily rivals guitars that retail for twice the price. Sure, none of the equipment is overtly premium, but none of it feels cheap, either. The 24.75″ scale-length body is solid, comfortable and feels perfectly balanced on a strap or when played in a sitting position. The neck, fingerboard, and frets all come together to provide a smooth experience that was definitely built for speed and easy string-bending. Even the minimalist approach to the controls lends itself to the target demographic. And last but not least, it’s a good looking guitar that most definitely doesn’t look like a $200 instrument. All in all, what ESP managed to fit into the EC-10 is nothing short of impressive.
ESP LTD EC-10 @ $199.00
Even if you’re just getting started on guitar, there’s no reason that you can’t get into the ESP family right away with the EC-10. A great instrument for beginning electric guitar players, the EC-10 has a smooth, comfortable, thin U-shaped maple neck that will make it easier to get around to chords and scales all over the fingerboard with 24 extra-jumbo frets. It has a well-balanced and contoured basswood body that’s good for playing while seated or standing. When you’re ready to rock, the EC-10’s ESP Designed LH-100 pickups are great for any genre of music you like to play. It also includes a gig bag case, making it easier to get to lessons and friend’s houses. For learning, jamming, songwriting and more, the EC-10 is a terrific choice that you can afford today.
The Sound
While the ESP pickups won’t blow you away, they work very well for their intended purpose. You can easily pump out some seriously crunchy tones the likes of Metallica and Slayer. Overall, the two humbuckers have a good amount of output and sustain. They are also surprisingly silent, with no distinguishable background noise or feedback when not in use (a common problem with cheap pickups). And when paired with a good amp and pedal, the EC-10 can actually throw out some pretty impressive tones. It also does clean tones fairly well, with a good amount of clarity and warmth. Overall, it is pretty good for a guitar that goes for only $200 and more than good enough for a new player to cut their teeth with.
The Verdict
While ESP could have easily churned out a bottom-of-the-barrel electric with questionable equipment and called it a day, the EC-10 proves that the Japanese manufacturer takes pride in their gear, crafting an amazingly affordable guitar that has true playability and optimal value in mind. It won’t replace professional-grade models in terms of sound or features, but it’s a perfect entry-level guitar for future shredders (or even a great backup ax to have around for a quick jam session or to leave at practice). All in all, it is a great guitar well worth the price.
