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ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar, Cobalt Blue

  • Based on 461 reviews
Condition: New
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$499.00 Why this price?
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Availability: Only 6 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by Amazon

Arrives Thursday, May 23
Order within 7 hours and 20 minutes
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Color: Cobalt Blue


Features

  • An affordable and popular guitar with many similarites to some of the most highly-regarded guitars in history
  • Features a comfortable Mahogany body and 3 pc. neck, as well as roasted jatoba fingerboard and flamed maple top
  • Also features covered passive pickups, set-neck construction, and 22XJ frets
  • At home on blues, classic rock, hard rock, progressive rock, fusion, and much more

Description

The ESP LTD EC-256FM electric guitar gives you as much visual flair as it does sonic force. This axe features a dark and warm mahogany body cut into a stylish single-cutaway contour, a sturdy mahogany neck, a smooth rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets, ESP LH-150 bridge and neck humbuckers, a confident Tune-o-Matic bridge and tailpiece, nickel hardware, and a push/pull tone pot to give your output an edgier single-coil bite whenever you want it. Though this the EC-256FM shines as a rock or metal instrument, it yields a pretty dynamic and powerful sound to fit other genres and styles as well.

Specs & Other Info

SpecificationDetails
BrandESP GUITARS
FinishCobalt Blue
Top MaterialMaple Wood
Body & Back MaterialMahogany Wood
Neck MaterialMaple
Fretboard MaterialJatoba Wood
Pickup ConfigurationHumbucker
String MaterialAlloy Steel
Bridge SystemTune-O-Matic
Weight0.01 ounces
Dimensions42 x 4 x 17 inches
OriginChina
Model NumberLEC256CB
Launch DateFebruary 1, 2017
String GaugeLight
Number of Strings6

Frequently asked questions

The ESP LTD EC-256FM stands out for its stunning cobalt blue finish, flame maple top, and versatile sound capabilities. It's designed for versatility, offering a wide range of tones suitable for genres from rock to jazz, thanks to its dual humbucking pickups and coil-tap feature.

Absolutely. The ESP LTD EC-256FM is very capable of handling heavy metal music. Its dual humbucking pickups provide the powerful, high-output tones needed for metal, and the push-pull coil tap adds the flexibility to switch to cleaner, single-coil sounds for versatility.

Yes, the ESP LTD EC-256FM is a great choice for beginners due to its comfortable neck profile, easy playability, and versatile sound. It's also priced accessibly, making it a fantastic entry-level option for players looking to invest in a quality instrument that will grow with them.

The coil-tap feature on the ESP LTD EC-256FM works by pulling up on the tone knob, which splits the two humbucking pickups into single-coil pickups. This provides a brighter and more crisp sound, offering versatility and a wider range of tones from the same guitar, ideal for playing cleaner genres like blues, country, or classic rock.

Top Amazon Reviews

πŸš€ Abunda's Overview

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


The reviews overwhelmingly praise the LTD ESP guitar, highlighting its performance as far superior for its price range. Reviewers are particularly impressed by the guitar's quality build, beautiful finish, and excellent sound quality, including the stock pickups. Despite a few minor issues with packaging and picture accuracy, the consensus is that this guitar offers great value and rivals more expensive models in playability, and aesthetic.

Pros

  • 🎸 Great playability straight out of the box, with low action and accurate intonation.
  • πŸ‘€ Beautiful finish and build quality, often exceeding expectations.
  • πŸ”Š Excellent sound quality, even with stock pickups, suitable for various musical styles including metal.
  • πŸ›  Good quality materials and components, including tuners and fret work.
  • 🎡 Coil split feature for versatile sound output.

Cons

  • πŸ“¦ Some issues with packaging, leading to potential damage during shipping.
  • πŸ–Ό Picture accuracy may vary, as some guitars have much darker finishes than shown.

Should I Buy It?

If you're seeking a high-quality, versatile guitar that punches above its weight in terms of price to performance ratio, this LTD ESP model comes highly recommended. It's well-suited for both beginners and seasoned guitarists alike, offering excellent sound and playability across a range of styles. The minor cons noted are not deal-breakers by any means, especially when considering the substantial pros. Therefore, purchasing this guitar seems to be a sound investment for both practice and performance.


  • 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 delivery, good value, attractive instrument
Color: Black Satin
Our son was delighted with his birthday present
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024 by Martha M.

  • 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

  • Beautiful guitar
Color: Dark Brown Sunburst
Very nice for the price but packing needs to be better the outer box was so much bigger than the box inside it was moving around like crazy.I can't believe that the 3 way toggle switch was not broken because it punctured the box many times usually there is foam around the switch.
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2024 by rodney elledge

  • Great guitar for the money!
Color: Dark Brown Sunburst
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

  • Great
Color: Cobalt Blue
Packaging was excellent, doubled boxed and wrapped good. Guitar came almost in tune, all clean and shiny and it sounds absolutely nasty!
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023 by Toby Hooper

  • Beautifly and well made guitar, poorly packed
Color: Cobalt Blue
Got this in Cobalt Blue. Beautiful guitar, very good pick ups and build quality for the price range. Came well calibrated, frets reasonably finished, and action at a good position for the cost. Holds well compared to other higher tier ESPs: sound, feeling, quality and finished are better than expected. Overall great not only for starters, but anybody looking for this style of guitar, without compromising the wallet. Only concern is the packaging, for such a well built product you'd expect better protection for shipping. Mine had damage on the body, which was a great dissapointment when unpacked. I've bought cheaper guitars that come with better protection on shipping, most issues could be solve with extra foam, bubble plastic or cardboard on key points that can ensure any hard handling from carriers will not damage the item. Without the shipping risks, this is easily 5 star guitar. If you can get it from your local guitar store, its a steal for the product you are getting! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023 by rasec atam rasec atam

  • Beautiful piece of art
Color: Black Satin
Love my guitar even tho I’m not using it too often and majority of the time it’s hanging on the wall. It’s like a piece of art. Performance is also amazing!
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2023 by Alex Alex

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