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So then what's edwards/navigator and grass roots?
Edwards is between the LTD 1000 series and E-II series.
E-II is a direct replacement to Standard. LTD Elite was more an experiment with branding before going full with E-II branding.
Wrong. The only thing experimental with LTD Elite was the name.
If what you're saying is true, then why are M-II models from E-II series exact copies of LTD Elite and not the Standards?
Standards where solid black with satin-finished neck. And both LTD Elites and E-IIs, on the other hand, have flame-tops and painted necks and one model comes with binding - Standards never had these specs. They got rid of a bolt-on M-II in the LTD Elite and didn't bring it back with the E-II. The choice of specs and colours of M-II in E-II is identical to that of LTD Elite, and different from the Standard series. In fact, the only difference between Elite LTD and E-II versions of the M-II is the logo on the headstock. Everything else is identical and - I repeat - different from the solid black Standard series. So how can you still claim the E-II is a direct replacement of the Standard series? How can you ignore the fact that E-II is identical to the LTD Elite?
Second thing, there were no ST-1 (E-II has ST-1) in the Standard series. They were introduced with LTD Elite. I didn't check the other guitars.
Because when the LTD Elite branding didn't go over well in the US, ESP dropped the branding, moved the guitars to the E-II line up (Which was released to Japan and other markets at the same time as LTD Elite) and re-released them in the US Market when they introduced the E-II line in the US.
E-II line up (Which was released to Japan and other markets at the same time as LTD Elite)
I'll bet it plays just like any of the old Standard Series Japanese made ESPs. Whats so different about the USA shop besides the price really?
I'm not knocking them by any means. I've had over 20 ESPs including 5 Custom Shop. All I have left though is an old Custom Shop MII.
Just because it was launched in Japan at the same time as LTD Elite in the USA, doesn't mean it's any different from LTD Elite. And, like you said, they add/remove models each year, so no wonder current E-II lineup is bigger than last year's LTD Elite. For all I know, the E-II M-IIs are the same "cheapened" LTD guitars with painted necks, "cool" flame-tops and "binding" (none of which an M-II ever had and hance not supposed to have, and which is actually a trademark of LTD guitars) and neck-thru-body construction only (for cool kids who think bolt-on doesn't "sustain" - so no need for a bolt-on version anymore!).
I mean, the M-II remained the same solid-coloured black guitar in NTB and bolt-on constructions for at least a decade. Now all of a sudden they made all these big changes and reduced the options. I don't buy that this is a direct replacement to the Standard M-II. This is a worsened, cheapened substitute. It actually is a very good example of what they are trying to do: make ESP exclusive and replace the Standard series with a cheapo series so that those who want the real thing had to pay much more. Of course they won't just put a "E-II" logo on the mighty M-II - they had to make it a cheaper version too. And in that respect, they can say that E-II is a direct replacement of the Standard series all they want, but for all I care, it's not a replacement, but a cheaper substitute - as well-built as they are.
What are the other markets? In Europe, until September 2014, if you looked for an ESP, all you could see was LTD/LTD Elite and just a couple of 4000EUR ESPs. In other words, E-II were introduced in late 2014 in Europe.
I was told by a local distributor that ESP is being distributed internationally by the USA. That is, they get ESP from the USA, not straight from Japan, although they are getting everything else Japanese straight from Japan. That means that in regards to ESP there are basically two markets: Japanese and Western.
You do know that the ESP HQ is in LA, right? They have the USA Shop in the same area. Any video tour on YouTube for ESP they say that the LA HQ is the Distribution point and final inspection site for all the guitars.
By the way, E-II has been in Europe for at least a year:
ESP Announce E-II Guitars