LTD: H301

ESP has made it clear that their LTD models are the company's more affordable instruments without a stark contrast in QC. Well, my encounter today with the LTD H301 was a simple witnessing of the company's promise. The H301 was a class act from one end of the instrument to the other. Perhaps the only feature which doesn't quite manifest class appeal are the active pickups (EMG 81/85) but this would tread the issue of personal appeal- some of us prefer these pickups because they help us achieve our objectives. To me, pickups which over-power the instrument's dynamics & literally breathe a life of their own, should not belong here. However, these pickups did wonders to the instrument's commanding presence, even I enjoyed the tonal offerings (not quite the cleans, though) after plugging the H301 into a 30W Marshall- fantastic!

The H301's playability is tops in my books considering I have limited tolerance for guitars with a lacquered neck finish. Top top it all off, the dazzling looks make it worth every cent of the asking price. If you are looking for an instrument in the $700 - $1K price bracket, the H301 should be on your list. Highly recommended (not for those looking for an immaculate clean tone).

PS: Thanks Janet & everyone at Davis GMC for tolerating 20min of my 'test-drive' today.

LTD: EC-54

This is a wicked bass by LTD, it features a solitary pickup which I initially thought was an active unit since it sports a battery compartment- the pickup is passive but the controls are active. There's a healthy dose of boom on board which would appeal to traditionalists but I like my bass tones to have a brighter option for solos which is not quite the forte of this EC-54. Available at Davis GMC...

*PS: At time of testing, the retail price was not released yet.

LTD's summer

ESP has some fresh stuff for summer, the 7-string LTD Eclipse you see above is simply attractive.

But I'm definitely putting this P-90 equipped Viper on my acquisition list...

LTD: TE-202

I managed to try the above LTD TE-202 while I was in the store to collect my ESP Special Order guitar. This one's made in Vietnam & feels rather hefty. Unlike its ST counterpart, the TE has a more authentic feel when it comes to the 'relic' finish especially on the neck. The guitar in its entirety isn't a vintage product, particularly the pickups which are rather hot with distortion in use. The good people at Davis GMC told me the set up is as it is out of the box which I find very impressive- a comfortable action for both speed fretting or extended blues bends. The weight also contributed to the thick tones on board so if you are looking for that Telecaster twang on a budget- not quite. Also, the distressed nature here is merely a novelty but I must say it's a good player for fans who aren't too keen with authenticity but a fan of the Tele outline nevertheless.

LTD TE-202

Available @ Davis GMC

List: $550

LTD: Phoenix 204

I'm still no good with a full-scaled bass. It's nothing to do with playing capacity but the comfort involved. However, every now & then, some exceptions come my way. The LTD Phoenix 204 bass above, is one of those exceptions. It's a well-made bass & made its status heard- the factory default pickups there may not be stellar but they get the job done. Do not expect some P/J-bass voicings here but if you are looking forward to some 'in-between' working tones (in between a single coil & a humbucker, that is...), this is a great bass to own.

PS: Thanks to all @ Davis GMC for the opportunity.

LTD: Phoenix 200

I just had to test this LTD Phoenix 200 (List: $550) simply because I own the ESP version. Part of me wanted to know how far off this one is to its ESP sibling, mind you, there's a $1,400 gap between these two instruments. The LTD version was a very pleasant player as it turned out. In terms of feel, the finish sets it apart from the ESP not because it's shoddy but we know, after a personal handling experience, the LTD had undergone lesser treatment before leaving the factory. It's rather 'hard' to the touch as opposed to the ESP's more organic nature. The tone on offer also manifested some differences namely in the upper frequency offerings. The LH-150 humbuckers in this guitar sounded a little too sharp, even the neck's wooly tone had that extra treble in there & there's no tone knob to address the matter. But all in all, it's certainly an above-average player & I'm glad LTD preserved the neck-through-body construction even at this price point. Thumbs up!

Thanks to the good people @ Davis GMC for letting me spend some time with this guitar today.

LTD unplugged

LTD's X-Tone acoustic- just tried one recently, it's the AC-10 model. I wouldn't say it's up there & chiming with Martin, Taylor, et al but they sound above average. Some acoustics sound dead unplugged, they are only worthy after plugging in, but the AC-10 fared well in both worlds.

Product availability: Davis GMC

Price: Call for quotations 6337 5092

LTD: Snakebyte

LTD's Snakebyte is in stock at Davis GMC now. It's another EMG equipped guitar & it definitely sounds like a typical guitar equipped with the same pickups. The factors that will draw you to this guitar are most probably your personal admiration for all things James Hetfield. Please call Davis GMC for price quuotations.

LTD: Vintage 204

The relic finish of LTD's Vintage 204 is the flavour of the moment which does nothing to tone. In any case, it's a pseudo relic implement; you can't feel the bare wood as there's a layer of finish over it. I give the 204 a thumb's up in terms of tone, it has a great boomy voicing despite the single coil pickups in there. The rosewood fretboard did well to inject some warmth in the mix.All for a sub-$500 price tag.

Product availability: Davis GMC (please call for a price quotation: 6337 5092)

LTD: MH-1000

The LTD MH-1000 is a wonderful guitar. Well, it has to be. It sits at the highest tier in the LTD range. The highlight of this instrument is of course its almost heel-free neck-body construction. It induces the player to travel up the higher frets regardless of one is seasoned in that vicinity. Some things are meant to be together & those EMGs in there (81/85) are deserving pickups to propel the tone. I'm not a fan of active pickups but the instrument-electronics combination here gets my thumbs up. 

How much? Please refer to Davis GMC for price references: 6337 5092

PS: Thanks Janet @ the good people of Davis GMC for letting me try this one.

LTD series 330: New for (Spring) 2011

More new LTDs for Spring; these are the Series 330 models- the most affordable LTDs with active pickups which are in-house ALH-200 models.

LTD: New for (Spring) 2011

More new LTDs for Spring; the Viper 256. This is a relic-type instrument, do note. The pickguard there seems to invoke some '60s SG (Gibson) vibe. A 4-knob affair would be more convincing, though.

LTD: More X-tone acoustics @ Musikmesse 2011

LTD has more acoustic guitars for the taking come Musikmesse 2011. This time, the affordable DC5 range will be on offer. I'm not an acoustic fan but definitely looking forward to scrutinize these guitars.

DC5E- the cutaway version, will also debut. Will check with Janet if these would be making their way here.

LTD Descent

This is part of the upcoming Musikmesse 2011 revelation- LTD's Descent range of guitars (please click for magnification). We've seen how good the LTD clockwork range of graphics were the last time round so it's no surprise the graphic theme is repeated this time.

LTD: V-50

The LTD V-50 is the most affordable V-guitar in the LTD range yet there's something opiating about this instrument. It might be due to the fact that there's more wood after the bridge area hence giving rise to a healthier sustain response. The wider body outline might also be attributable to a different taste in the lower frequencies; the instrument in whole is less prickly (tone-wise) given the notoriety of in-house pickups in disregarding tonal dynamics especially the ones in the budget-friendly guitars. So this V-50 is quite a winner if you are looking for something rather pleasant-sounding but its limited appeal when you have to play sitting down might be the only repulsion here.

How much? Please refer to Davis GMC...

________________________________
Earth Hour: March 26

Selling: LTD ST-203

Saying goodbye to my LTD ST-203, Strat-style guitar. It comes in a distressed/ relic finish, hence the chips & scratches as seen above. No mods were done on this guitar, everything is original as it is. There are currently 5-springs in the rear cavity to 'deactivate' the whammy function, please tell me if you wish to keep them in tact or restore the original whammy capacity.

• LTD ST-203: $199 (final)
• 6 months old
• Bag included
• No reservations, no trades
• Further queries welcomed, e-mail to confirm deal
• Condition: 9/10
• Self-collect: Details will be disclosed upon confirmation
• All confirmations here will be ignored (being fair to those who made the effort to e-mail)

Thank you for reading.

EDIT: Guitar SOLD! Thanks to all respondents, the successful buyer had been contacted- you know who you are. Apologies to the rest; let's just say this response was overwhelming *yikes*

Regular 8: LTD SC-208

There's nothing 'regular' about an 8-string guitar, it's not a normal incorporation into mainstream music, that's for sure. Stephen Carpenter's new (2011) LTD 8-string guitar you see above (LTD SC-208) is 'regular' because it sports a regular scale length; 25.5", as opposed to other brand name 8-string guitars.

LTD: TE-202

Davis GMC had given me a positive reply to my request in bringing the LTD TE-202 models here- so here's a thank you in advance from me! There are too many Strat-alike guitars out there, we Tele fans should not be forgotten. I plan to acquire the BLK model & have the neck humbucker removed- I prefer a single coil in there. So more non-Ibanez distractions for me this year...

New Horizon (headstock)

This new LTD H-1007 is from the new 2011 line-up. It's a regurgitation of the previous incarnation but sporting a different headstock. Looks like they mutated the Eclipse bit & fused it into this one.

LTD: Slayer anniversary

New for 2011; Slayer's 25th Anniversary LTD. A simple workhorse with lots of distortion applications in mind (EMG 81/ 85). However, only 250 units are available worldwide *bummer*.