[Bobo]

I'm looking at maybe buying this 27" 6er. I haven't found anyone around here that sells ESPs. The description ESP gives is "thin U neck". I love thin necks like the Wizard 2 on my RGT6EXFX, but can't say I've ever played an ESP.

If anyone has this guitar or has played it, could you compare it to a Wizard neck? Or maybe to another ESP neck if I get the chance to play one (may make a trip out of town to find an ESP dealer....but I bet this particular guitar may be a little harder to find).

The other question I have is what are their "XJ" frets? Guess that's extra jumbo, but what does that actually mean? Are they taller, wider, or both taller and wider compared to a jumbo. Never really gave any thought to why bigger frets are "easier" to play.

I kinda hate the idea of buying something I've never played, but this guitar has specs that I like so I may just have to take the chance. Plus some guys here have given it the

[Shannon]

They are not Wizard thin. If you've played an ESP, Jackson or Schecter 6, that's what the neck feels like. Thin, but not super thin. It's really comfortable.

XJ= Extra Jumbo. Large frets in the 6100 range. Tall & wide.

[Spinedriver]

thedownside should probably chime in on this because I just sold him mine so I could buy an Ibanez S520EX . As far as being comparable to the Ibanez, the way the ESP is different is that the fretboard doesn't feel to be as wide and the back is a bit thicker. Kind of like a 'taller-thinner vs shorter-wider' kind of argument. One is just as comfortable as the other to play, they just sit in your hand a little differently.

I hope that makes SOME kind of sense.

[Bobo]

Originally Posted by Shannon

They are not Wizard thin. If you've played an ESP, Jackson or Schecter 6, that's what the neck feels like. Thin, but not super thin. It's really comfortable.

XJ= Extra Jumbo. Large frets in the 6100 range. Tall & wide.

Well I've played some Jackson Dinkys and thought they were very nice necks as well even if not as thin as the Wizard.

If you set a guitar up for low action, what is the purpose of a tall fret? I guess I can see where wider could help make playing easier. Think the Wizard may come with 6150 fret?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Spinedriver

thedownside should probably chime in on this because I just sold him mine so I could buy an Ibanez S520EX . As far as being comparable to the Ibanez, the way the ESP is different is that the fretboard doesn't feel to be as wide and the back is a bit thicker. Kind of like a 'taller-thinner vs shorter-wider' kind of argument. One is just as comfortable as the other to play, they just sit in your hand a little differently.

I hope that makes SOME kind of sense.

Yeah that makes sense, and as long as the neck isn't very thick, I think I'd like it. I've had some thicker neck guitars in the past, and when I switched to the Ibanez Wizard, it just felt more comfortable to me. Sounds like the ESP is not too far off.

Both you guys had these guitars, so want to share some general opinions of them? I'm braced for EMG bashing lol. I like the 85 in the bridge of my RG (swapped it with the 81). But I guess things could sound much different in a baritone with different wood.

[thedownside]

it's one of my favorite guitars my murder weapon is the only thing i'd put above it, but it's better in different ways.

the neck on the esp is perfect for me, i actually preffer it over the wizards. as spinedriver said, it's a little narrower and a bit rounder on the back. as shannon said, very comfortable neck. i really cant complain about the guitar at all.

[D-EJ915]

the frets on the baritones are the biggest ones I've ever used, I haven't used many new LTDs so they might be all that giant though, but the ones on the baritones make tapping retardedly easy

[Triple-J]

I dunno if this affects the rest of the specs but has anyone noticed that ESP have changed the body wood of this model? It's been maple since it began production but it's mahogany now.

[thedownside]

i doubt the bodywood makes much difference, anything loaded with emg's i've never really heard much of the body wood, it's almost all pickup

[InTheRavensName]

besides, my old M350 was mahogany and it won

I loved that axe...

[Bobo]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm really leaning towards this as my next axe....and tuned low like F#-ish.

Originally Posted by thedownside

i doubt the bodywood makes much difference, anything loaded with emg's i've never really heard much of the body wood, it's almost all pickup

I've heard some say the 81 is much better than the 85 when used for really low tunings. For drop-c in my RG, I like the 85 much more in the bridge as it sounded much fuller. I wonder how it'd be with this MHB-400 tuned low and having a longer scale. But I like the idea of having a guitar with 2 different p/u's to just swap around to experiment with. Of course getting a real rig someday would change my sound totally