Can not decide on new guitar.

[WLJMTG]

In the UK finding stock of any ESP is pretty much impossible
Particularly without driving for 4 hours or so each way to the main guitar retailers such as GAK guitarguitar or Andertons
But my intention is to try get a hands on first if I can.

I've managed to get in touch with a esp rep through GAK so hoping to have a build cost as soon as possible. But again and as you suggest before I pull the trigger ill hunt a few esps down to try.

 

[couchguitarplayer]

I had the same dilema a few months ago. I was searching for a non-trem metal machine. I had the same contender. I ended up with none of them and chose to get a custom made Skervesen.

Out of these I tried them all except the Ibanez J Custom.

The ESP M-II was the clear winner for me. The neck felt great and the shape of the body felt like home. The Bareknuckles sounded awesome too. The Horizon II NT was a great guitar but I hate carved top guitars....cannot play them. Also the neck was not my thing.

The Ibanezes were great too. I have the tried the RG5121 (trem version). It was a cool guitar and I fell in love with fishman fluence. I was just not liking the mat finish top on the 5120. But it had everything I wanted. 24 SS frets, fishman pickups, luminlay side dots, superstrat shape, rosewood or ebony board.

I was about to pull the trigger but I can across a huge skervesen deal and it was a dream for me. The ESP were the best IMO, but not 1500$ CAN more better than the Ibanez. In canada the M-II NT is about 4K. At that price...I get a custom guitar.

I am struggling.

I'm purchasing another guitar but really can not decide what to get.
I like "basic" guitars but want something a bit more special than run of the mill stuff.
specs that I want to have are:

Neck through
Reverse Headstock
string through or hardtail as a second option
superstrat body
25.5"
6 string.

I'm definitely fancying a nice flame or burl maple top
ala PRS & ESP style.
now, this is where I struggle. I can find guitars with 90% of the specs but never all on one guitar
almost like a sliding scale..can have option A and lose spec B or take C and keep A but lose B

budget isn't an issue here - I have £6,000 or $7,500 USD for a guitar.
obviously if i don't have to spend it all, awesome..
I'm trying to avoid a custom shop build for the moment if I can
though I have emailed a well known British custom shop for a quote just in case its my only option

guitars that have taken my fancy at the moment:

ESP Horizon II NT
https://www.espguitars.com/products/16980-esp-horizon-ii-nt-blk

Ibanez J.custom RG8570Z
https://www.ibanez.com/eu/products/detail/rg8570z_00_03.html

PRS Private stock Custom 24
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/prod...sary-custom-24-charcoal-burst-pattern-regular

ESP E-II Horizon NT
https://www.espguitars.com/products/17200-e-ii-horizon-nt-ii-stblksb

ESP E-II M-II NT
https://www.espguitars.com/products/20995-e-ii-m-ii-nt

Ibanez Prestige RGR5221
https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/rgr5221_00_01.html

with pretty much all of these guitars , getting a hands on with them before purchase will be near impossible due to the pandemic and the fact that most retailers wont stock them and simply order when purchased.

Anybody have any experience with the guitars above?

as a side note:
ESP custom shop is a possibility
but begrudge paying likely twice the price for what would be only a minorly adjusted "off the shelf" guitar. unless anybody has experience with this that suggests otherwise?
though I think a custom ESP may be my holy grail.

thanks all,
hopefully some outside opinions will help me see the woods through the trees

 

[mystix]

I know this isn’t in your list the one out of Balaguer? You can get a semi custom with pretty much all of those options for way less than what you are actually available to spend. Even more, there is a virtual builder on the website so you can see what the build will be when it’s complete.

balaguerguitsrs.com

 

[mbardu]

I know this isn’t in your list the one out of Balaguer? You can get a semi custom with pretty much all of those options for way less than what you are actually available to spend. Even more, there is a virtual builder on the website so you can see what the build will be when it’s complete.

balaguerguitsrs.com

Unlike the other possibilities listed here, the quality of those semi-custom is pretty much an unknown quantity though.

 

[Strtsmthng]

Another vote for a full custom since the ESP is made to order anyway.
Since you are looking to spend approx. 4k on the ESP, why not check out the Skervesen Raptor and the Overload Raijin models.
Both are full customs with all the specs you could want, and especially the Overload will BE SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper (like 2.5k with a really nice spec).