elegant custom electric guitar

ESP LTD Horizon Custom 87 Review

Defining precision with its Seymour Duncan pickups, the ESP LTD Horizon Custom 87 balances aggression and coil-splitting versatility—but will its complexity limit or liberate your artistry?

  • Overall Rating
  • Build Quality
  • Performance
  • Value for Money
  • Design
4.4/5Overall Score
The ESP LTD Horizon Custom 87 is a high-end electric guitar designed for advanced players, featuring a neck-thru-body construction for enhanced sustain and stability. With Seymour Duncan pickups and coil-splitting capabilities, it offers versatile tones suitable for various musical styles.
Specs
  • Weight: Not specified
  • Dimensions: Not specified
  • Material: Alder body, maple neck, Macassar ebony fingerboard
  • Color Options: Pearl white
  • Warranty: Not specified
  • Brand: ESP
  • Model Number: Horizon Custom 87
  • Compatibility: Not specified
Pros
  • Neck-thru-body construction provides continuous sustain and stability.
  • Seymour Duncan TB-5 and Hot Rails pickups offer a wide range of tones.
  • Coil-splitting capability allows for both humbucker and single-coil sounds.
  • Floyd Rose 1000 bridge ensures stable pitch and reliable tuning.
  • Extra-thin neck profile enhances playability and comfort.
  • High-quality materials and craftsmanship make it suitable for serious musicians.
Cons
  • Pearl white finish shows scratches easily, requiring careful maintenance.
  • Floyd Rose system can be difficult to keep in tune without proper care.
  • Extra-thin neck profile may not be comfortable for all players, especially during chording.

The neck-thru-maple construction provides continuous sustain, a physical manifestation of spiritual resilience, while the Seymour Duncan pickups offer aggressive clarity akin to a sharp, discerning mind. This instrument demands precision, yet its coil-splitting capability reminds the player that softness often amplifies the message.

However, the journey of mastering such a versatile tool involves traversing complex choices, where technical limitations, or perhaps the lack thereof, define true artistry.

Key Takeaways

  • Features a neck-thru-body maple neck with an extra-thin profile and Macassar ebony fingerboard for superior stability and comfort.
  • Equipped with Seymour Duncan TB-5 and Hot Rails humbuckers, offering versatile tones ranging from aggressive clarity to driving rhythm.
  • Includes push-pull knobs for coil splitting, providing access to both high-gain humbucker and articulate single-coil sounds.
  • Utilizes a Floyd Rose 1000 bridge system to ensure stable pitch and reliable tuning during heavy use.
  • Constructed with premium alder wings and a three-piece neck to create a high-end instrument designed for advanced players.

Build Quality and Construction

To truly understand the ESP LTD Horizon Custom 87 is to witness the harmony of form and function, achieved through a neck-thru-body construction that binds the three-piece maple neck directly to the alder wings, a union that offers not just maximum structural integrity but a continuous vibrational path, an enduring reminder that strength is often found in seamless connection. While high-end gear is often the focus for advanced players, it is important to note that not all beginner instruments are created with this level of structural precision.

On the Macassar ebony fingerboard, twenty-four extra-jumbo frets await, offering unencumbered access to high registers, akin to the clarity found when life is stripped of needless adornment. The extra-thin profile guarantees comfort, inviting players to realize their potential within this stable foundation. This specific combination of premium tonewoods and advanced hardware places the guitar among the best electric guitars available today for serious musicians.

Electronics and Hardware Configuration

Resonance finds its voice through the Seymour Duncan TB-5 Custom Trembucker and the Seymour Duncan Hot Rails, an H-H configuration designed to capture the full spectrum of sonic expression, from aggressive clarity to driving rhythm, a tribute to the power of duality in all pursuits. Push-pull knobs reveal hidden dimensions, splitting coils to reveal single-coil truths, reminding the faithful that flexibility fosters harmony.

The Floyd Rose 1000 bridge anchors this journey, ensuring stable pitch amid chaos. Together, these elements create an instrument not just of sound, but of connection, inviting the musician to belong to a legacy of precision, passion, and shared experience.

Specs and Logistics

Grounded by a solid, alder body, the ESP LTD Horizon Custom 87 achieves a structural integrity akin to an unwavering faith, offering a balanced foundation that supports the musician’s highest aspirations. Its three-piece maple neck, bound seamlessly to the frame, mirrors the strength found in united community, ensuring stability across 25.5 inches of scale.

Technical logistics, such as the Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo, provide a reliable anchor for creative expression, a reminder that precision is essential for spiritual and artistic freedom. With every dimension calculated to inspire, this instrument serves as a devoted partner for those seeking sonic and personal communion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Minimalist Finish Show Scratches Easily?

The pearl white finish reveals wear, as lighter shades lack the concealment of darker colors. This visibility underscores the importance of proper care.

Encouraging owners to treat the instrument with the respect a dedicated community member expects.

Is the Floyd Rose Difficult to Keep in Tune?

Like a carriage traversing a cobblestone street, this system demands diligence to remain steady. The locking mechanism provides stability for the initiate, ensuring consistent tuning.

It rewards those who commit to its precise maintenance with unwavering performance.

Is the Extra-Thin Neck Profile Too Fast for Chords?

While the extra-thin profile prioritizes speed, it does not preclude comfortable chording.

For the discerning player, this design facilitates seamless shifts between technical lead work and rhythmic sections, ensuring one remains fluent in every musical dialect.

Are the Single-Coil Tones From the Split Coils Noisy?

The coil split sings, a quiet breeze in the storm. Hiss remains minimal, preserving the purity of the single-coil tones for players who demand clarity in their pursuit of sonic belonging.

It cuts through the mix effectively.

Is the Guitar Comfortable to Play While Seated?

The guitar offers a comfortable playing experience, thanks to its neck-thru construction and extra-thin profile.

Its archtop body contours allow it to balance easily on the seated player’s leg, facilitating effortless access to high registers.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the ESP LTD Horizon Custom 87 stands as a tribute to disciplined craftsmanship. Its neck-thru-body construction offers sustain as steady as one’s faith. The Seymour Duncan pickups provide aggressive clarity, yet the coil-split invites harmonic vulnerability, teaching us that true strength requires flexibility.

This instrument is not merely a tool for music, but a partner in the spiritual journey of creation.

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