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ESP GUITARS

ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar, Black Satin

    • Based on 474 reviews
Condition: New
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$499.00 Why this price?
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Availability: Only 2 left in stock, order soon!
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Arrives Wednesday, Nov 27
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Color: Black Satin


Features

  • Takes the coolest aspects of our higher-end EC models, and puts them in a super-affordable guitar that's ready to rock
  • A classic shape that's excellent for all musical styles and genres
  • Has multiple binding on the body and headstock like you expect from high-quality guitars
  • Designed with set-neck construction for fast and easy access to the highest frets
  • Features a mahogany body and a comfortable three-piece thin U-shaped mahogany neck
  • Also features a roasted jatoba fingerboard with 22 extra-jumbo frets and great-sounding ESP Designed LH-150 pickups

Description

Updated for 2017, the LTD ec-256 takes many of the coolest aspects of our higher-end EC series models, and offers them to you in a super-affordable guitar that's ready to rock. A classic shape that's excellent for all musical styles and genres, the ec-256 looks amazing in either black satin or Snow white finishes, and has multiple binding on the body and headstock like you expect from high-quality guitars. Playing the ec-256 is also a dream come true, with set-neck construction for fast and easy access to the highest frets. The ec-256 also features a mahogany body, a comfortable three-piece thin U-shaped mahogany neck, a rosewood fingerboard with Flag inlays and 22 extra-jumbo frets, and great-sounding ESP designed LH-150 pickups.

Brand: ESP GUITARS


Color: Black Satin


Top Material Type: alder


Body Material: Mahogany


Back Material Type: oak


Neck Material Type: Maple


Fretboard Material Type: Jatoba Wood


Guitar Pickup Configuration: H


String Material Type: Alloy Steel


Guitar Bridge System: Tune-O-Matic


Global Trade Identification Number: 45


Manufacturer: ESP Guitars


Brand Name: ESP GUITARS


UPC: 799493258745


Neck Material Type: Maple


String Material Type: Alloy Steel


Fretboard Material Type: Jatoba Wood


Body Material Type: Mahogany


Back Material Type: oak


Top Material Type: alder


Color: Black Satin


Item Dimensions L x W x H: 42"L x 17"W x 4"H


String Nut Width: 42 Millimeters


Scale Length: 24.75 inches


Guitar Bridge System: Tune-O-Matic


Number of Strings: 6


Guitar Pickup Configuration: H


Frequently asked questions

The ESP LTD EC-256 electric guitar, with its versatile design and dual humbucker pickups, is suitable for a wide range of music genres including rock, metal, blues, and jazz. Its flexible tone controls allow for a variety of sounds, from clean and mellow to aggressive overdrive.

The ESP LTD EC-256 does not typically come with a case or gig bag included. However, it fits standard electric guitar cases and gig bags, which are available for purchase separately.

Yes, the ESP LTD EC-256 features coil-split capability on its humbucker pickups, allowing you to achieve single-coil sounds. This is usually done via a push-pull knob on the tone control, adding to the guitar’s versatility.

The ESP LTD EC-256 is a great choice for beginners who are serious about their playing and looking for a quality instrument that can grow with them. Its comfortable playability, versatile sound, and the affordable price point make it an excellent investment for new players.

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Top Amazon Reviews

πŸš€ Abunda's Overview

This is our summary and key points to consider based on customer reviews.

The reviews uniformly praise the ESP LTD EC256, highlighting its exceptional quality and value for money across various finishes. Users appreciated the guitar's appearance, feel, and sound quality, comparing it favorably to more expensive models and brands. The instrument's construction and out-of-box playability, especially its action, intonation, and durable finish, were commonly lauded. While most found the stock pickups satisfactory, a few indicated potential for upgrades. The guitar's coil split feature and added customization options like locking tuners were well-received, enhancing its versatility and user experience.

Pros

  • 🎸 Beautiful finish and appearance, even beyond expectations
  • πŸ‘Œ High quality of construction and materials, providing a premium feel
  • πŸ”Š Great sound quality with stock pickups, adequate for various music styles
  • 🎚️ Effective coil split feature for tonal versatility
  • 🎡 Excellent playability straight out of the box with minimal setup required
  • πŸ’΅ Outstanding value for its price point

Cons

  • 🎨 Mismatch between the product photos and the actual color/stain on some guitars
  • πŸ”§ Some minor adjustments needed for personal preference (e.g., bridge pickup height, fret polishing)

Should I Buy It?

If you're looking for a high-quality, versatile guitar that punches above its weight in terms of value, the ESP LTD EC256 is a compelling choice. Its wide acclaim for build quality, playability, and sound makes it a strong contender for both new players and seasoned guitarists seeking an affordable yet reliable instrument. Considering the overwhelmingly positive feedback, this guitar is well worth the purchase.

    • Great guitar for the money!
Color: Dark Brown Sunburst
Review Image by Ronald Yannone Ronald Yannone
Review Image by Ronald Yannone Ronald Yannone
Review Image by Ronald Yannone Ronald Yannone
Review Image by Ronald Yannone Ronald Yannone
Just received my new guitar today. Bottom line? I should have bought the LTD to begin with. I fell for the Youtube hype of some of the sub $300 chinese made LP clones being well made, sound great etc...and a bargain. I tried two different brands, and sent both back for bad fret work, one at my expense. I have another LTD, a H400 I bought new back in 2006 and it is a great guitar. I am glad I came to my senses and went back to LTD. My EC256FM is perfect out of the box. Action is low, just how I like it. Intonation was SPOT ON. The bridge pick up was a little close to the strings but an easy fix. Tuned it up, plugged it straight into my tube amp and it sounds great for OEM pick ups. Not as awesome as my H400 with Seymour Duncans, but quite acceptable for a $429 guitar. The finish is beautiful. No defects at all. Fret work is very good. No buzz or dead notes. Very well finished fret ends and fret tops are good too, but when I change strings I will polish them a bit more with very fine steel wool. Tuners seem to be OK but I cannot comment on how well it holds tune yet. The coil split is a nice feature, it will give you a thinner sound...but it doesn't sound Strat like to my ears. My H400 in positions 2 and 4 sounds better than my MIJ squire strat, but it has a 59/JB pup combo. All in all, the EC256 is simply a fantastic guitar. Well worth the money. Just a FYI for those wondering...my guitar was made in Indonesia. Also, the back, sides and neck of my guitar are almost black. I cannot see any wood grain the stain is so dark. So the pic of the back and neck on Amazon is not accurate in my case. I have also added hipshot 3 x 3 locking tuners for faster string changes. Super easy and useful upgrade for $60. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021 by Ronald Yannone Ronald Yannone
    • Absolutely a Fantastic Guitar!
Color: Black Satin
I needed a guitar with humbucking pickups capable of a producing a "heavy metal" sound for recording in order to compliment my other primary guitar which is a Strat, American Standard. I've always wanted a genuine Gibson Les Paul for the job but the prices for those are absurdly high and a result more of their legendary status than any actual qualitative differences from other less expensive Les Paul -style clones. After watching, listening to, and reading numerous reviews and recommendations from a variety of well-respected sources, this particular model of ESP was highly recommended and at the top of numerous "Best Guitars for Metal Under $500" Lists. When I saw this one listed for only $276 as an Amazon Warehouse Deal (which means someone returned it), I became very interested. Because I only intended to use it for recording, I didn't really care what it looked like, if it had a couple of dents or scratches, or whatever ... couldn't care less. My only concern was how it played and how it sounded. At that price, (and with my Amazon Prime free shipping), I figured it was definitely worth taking the risk. THE GUITAR IS FLAWLESS AND BEAUTIFUL! The box it came in was all beat up, but it was well packed and protected and there isn't a thing wrong with it. The fit and finish is impeccable, the frets are well-seated, the action is low and the intonation is incredibly accurate. The neck is straight as a razor. It's as if it's been expertly set up, right out of the box. It plays great and the tone is exactly what I was looking for. Even the stock pickups are better than I had any right to expect. When ordering it, I figured I might have to throw some Seymour Duncan pickups on it or something to get the sound I was after but, after recording with it a bit, I don't think I'll need to (although I still might want to, just to see if it could be even better). But I've played a number of "real" Les Pauls in my time and this guitar absolutely can hold its own against them. I couldn't be happier with this purchase. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2021 by ClockworkUniverse
    • Very Nice!
Color: Snow White
Excellent finish and set-up nicely right out of the box. Packaged well and arrived without any issues. Split coil works well and the guitar has it's own sound. Nice clean tones and good sustain when gain or effects added. I do not think the jumbo frets would be good for beginners though, easy to press down too hard and detune on chords if you were learning to play. Great value, great look, plays well! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024 by Keith
    • Great product for the price
Color: Cobalt Blue
The guitar came packaged in its original box. Very impressed with the guitar. The quality is very good. The strings suck! I will be changing these out asap. I’m having a bit of an issue with keeping this in tune though. Might be the strings or the tuners. If it still has this issue after I change the strings I’m planning on installing locking tuners. So hopefully that will help. Other than that great quality and it sounds great. Nice solid feel, very something to play and it has a bit of weight to it which adds Bit to the sound. I like it a lot so far! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2022 by Anthony
    • A beautiful and well-built instrument for veterans and beginners alike
Color: Black Satin
Review Image by Adrian Adrian
Review Image by Adrian Adrian
Review Image by Adrian Adrian
Review Image by Adrian Adrian
I'll try to keep this short and sweet: this a well-built and extremely beautiful guitar. The black satin finish is breathtaking, and pictures honestly do not do it justice. There is an elegance to this guitar, and the build quality matches its looks: this guitar feels premium and has a good weight while not being overly bulky or uncomfortable to play. As for the sound, this guitar sounds rich and warm, particularly when played through an amp. While it's not so warm that it sounds muddy, it is also not the brightest guitar out there, so if you record via a DAW (as I do), you'll have to tweak the sound to get it bright enough to cut through the mix. Overall, I would say the pickups are quite good at this price point, but of course, they cannot compete with Seymour Duncans and EMGs. This being my first ESP LTD guitar, I have to say, for $400, I am more than impressed. This guitar looks, feels, and sounds like a way more expensive instrument, and the build quality and weight make it so easy and comfortable to play sitting or standing. I can't recommend this guitar enough, and I will be buying more ESP LTD products going into the future. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2020 by Adrian Adrian

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