Belated NGD: A Very Black (Metal) Baritone

[sell2792]

I was recently fortunate enough to acquire Simon Sludge’s LTD Black Metal MH-7HT - this thing is currently set up in drop-E and is absolutely crushing! The pickup was replaced with an Instrumental Pickups SFTY4-7 pickup, and the volume knob was swapped with a Tesi low-profile kill switch. It plays like a dream, but I’m still getting used to playing something tuned so low. I don’t have nearly as good of pictures as he took, so hopefully he doesn’t mind me using his. Overall, great guy to deal with if you ever get the chance.

 

[RobDobble6S7]

I want one of these for myself. HNGD!

 

[GenghisCoyne]

thicc

 

[TheUnvanquished]

Nice! I love Simon's instagram page. He's turned me on to some great music over the years through me following him there.

I've got a very expensive (IMO) custom 6 string being build in the Netherlands by Aristides, but found a new one of these baritone LTDs and grabbed it straight away about several months ago. I love it. I want to get to drop F but it would need different strings, a setup, and (arguably) a new pickup. It is built solid as hell for an Indonesian made guitar.

Congrats on grabbing one with a really cool history and mods dude!

 

[sell2792]

The Tesi works as advertised, but I wish it was a little less low profile so it was easier to use for Morello/Caswell style techniques.

 

[sell2792]

I've got a very expensive (IMO) custom 6 string being build in the Netherlands by Aristides, but found a new one of these baritone LTDs and grabbed it straight away about several months ago. I love it. I want to get to drop F but it would need different strings, a setup, and (arguably) a new pickup. It is built solid as hell for an Indonesian made guitar.

It holds up well for drop-E. No idea what gauge strings he put on it, but with this set-up it plays like butter. He said he actually really disliked the Black Winter tuned down this low and really liked the pickup he put in. I briefly had the six string FR version and liked the BW as low as drop-C, but I'm sure it handles things a lot differently tuned so low. That being said, so far I like this pickup a lot. However being limited to one pickup I may look at putting a Fishman Modern in for varieties sake and add the volume knob back with push-push.

 

[TheUnvanquished]

Yeah, gotta say, I do get where you are coming from with getting an active with different voices and all. Some versatility can be really great for certain things. I know this is a lame excuse to not ever load any of my guitars with actives, but I can't be hassled with batteries or recharging, even if it is very infrequently needed. I'm difficult like that. Ha!

I was thinking about sticking a BKP Impulse in mine someday. I'm a single pickup kind of dude so this guitar is extra perfect for me. One bridge humbucker and one volume knob is what I will go for, or mod to make happen. That Aristides 060 I'm waiting on has a single hum and single volume layout, for example.

Again you got a sick find, and congrats again too dude!

 

[Ben Pinkus]

That looks mean!!!

 

[Winspear]

Hah, I thought it was Simon posting when I opened the thread and saw the photos! Awesome guitar, love the look of these

 

[Flappydoodle]

Love the look. And that fretwork looks really good for an Indonesian LTD. Wonder if he also touched it up a bit, or you got a really good one!

 

[jephjacques]

It holds up well for drop-E. No idea what gauge strings he put on it, but with this set-up it plays like butter. He said he actually really disliked the Black Winter tuned down this low and really liked the pickup he put in. I briefly had the six string FR version and liked the BW as low as drop-C, but I'm sure it handles things a lot differently tuned so low. That being said, so far I like this pickup a lot. However being limited to one pickup I may look at putting a Fishman Modern in for varieties sake and add the volume knob back with push-push.

You'd have to rout out the pickup cavity to fit a Modern, I don't believe they make open-coil versions of that particular pickup. Stellar guitar though!

 

[Rimanah]

love the satin finish on the black metal series.

 

[ockis23]

Dude nice score! That thing is a beast

 

[Legion]

HNGD...but the guitar is still up on Reverb?

https://reverb.com/item/44133129-esp-ltd-m-7-ht-black-metal-custom-includes-case

 

[RobDobble6S7]

HNGD...but the guitar is still up on Reverb?

https://reverb.com/item/44133129-esp-ltd-m-7-ht-black-metal-custom-includes-case

This just looks like a replica build, cause it's in drop A

 

[Legion]

This just looks like a replica build, cause it's in drop A

Fair enough.

OP: HNGD brother!

 

[amadeus]

I know this is a bit of a taboo subject what string gauges are you using?

 

[MAJ Meadows SF]

Beastly score. The thing sounds as heavy as it looks! Congrats.

The LTD BM and AM series are stellar guitars. Good looks, great finish, good specs, overall solid work horse instruments. I’ve become such a big fan of single pickup metal axes so these check all the blocks. Good balance of floating vs fixed bridges and shapes too.
HNGD!

 

[sell2792]

HNGD...but the guitar is still up on Reverb?

https://reverb.com/item/44133129-esp-ltd-m-7-ht-black-metal-custom-includes-case

Must be a clone build - I got mine direct from him. You know what they say about imitation. Lol

Funny enough, I had actually always wanted another COW in red but could never find one. Since the prices have more than doubled, it made more sense to get one of these.

 

[sell2792]

I know this is a bit of a taboo subject what string gauges are you using?

I’m honestly not sure. I can DM him to find out, but I’d guess the F#/E is probably an 80.