Okay, I've played electric guitar for a long time. I'm looking into a particular acoustic electric and I was wondering if any of my fellow guitarists have any experience with the models I'm considering.
The models in question are the ESP LTD X-Tone Exotics Woods series. It's exactly what it sounds like: Acoustic-electric guitars made from unusual woods. I'm considering the zebrawood or padauk models.
Has anyone played or at least heard either of those models in person? I'd have to order one online and have it shipped to my local Guitar Center, because they don't have them in stock.
They retail for between $350 and $400 (exact price depending on specific model), so they aren't a "starter" acoustic, but not top of the line either.
Mostly curious about what kind of tone they have, and if the neck is similar to an electric guitar neck. It describes the neck as a thin U contour, which is how my LTD electric's neck is described.
Relying on my acoustic playing brethren on this one. I know electric guitars pretty well, but I freely admit I don't know much about acoustics.
I like those because:
1) They look pretty sharp (I'm a fan of neat looking woodgrain)
2) I can conceivably afford one.
But if the tone sucks, I'll look into something else instead.
2013-08-22T01:29:23Z
@Danny: Yeah, I already checked them out everywhere I could online. Didn't really help me much though, because I couldn't hear how they sounded.
I'm not nearly as picky with my acoustic guitar tone as I am my electric tone. I will probably never play it live on stage, and it will rarely be used to record.
For me, the tone just has to fall within an acceptable range. I can generally decide within a couple chords on an acoustic if it will work for me.
Was just curious whether anyone had heard one and could tell me if the tone was downright atrocious. If I had unlimited funds, I'd go get a Santa Cruz or something (a local store is an authorized dealer of them). Unfortunately, I'm pretty broke.
Guess I'll either look around for something else, or try to talk a local shop into getting one in so I can try it out.
Harry2013-08-21T07:48:25Z
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Agree with what has already been said by the others.
These guitars as well are compared to the Ibanez line of Exotic Wood guitar models. And are around the same price ranges.
Yet, if you get into the Art Wood models (of which I have one) these offer up solid spruce tops and even few all-wood models in the acoustic electric series.
As they all compare to anything that Takamine and Yamaha put out with the better intermediate and (semi) higher end units.
It took a few years to really find a good, comfortable and well performing (great sound, resonance and volume) acoustic electric that could come across even when not plugged in.
And, I have been certainly pleased to have it as my work guitar in being such a versatile instrument, while looking good as well.
Take your time, as you would shopping for anything else, to find what you are looking for and know what will serve you best in your particular needs and expectation from any guitar you choose in the end.
I haven't tried any of these guitars, so I can't comment on playability or tone other than to talk in generalities.
All three of these guitars are made of laminate. (If it doesn't say "solid" zebrawood, it's laminate) The only real advantage of laminate is that it's stable and consistent in tone....and cheaper. Most acoustic players look for as much solid wood as possible. All other things being equal, solid wood will produce better tone. So basically, you're looking at 3 plywood guitars with attractive veneer.
If you're primarily going to play this guitar onstage and amplified, then you might not notice a huge difference in tone over a solid wood guitar. Played acoustically is where you'll hear the big difference. There are good guitars with solid wood tops in your price range. Check out Ibanez. I can appreciate that you're unable to try these guitars because your local GC doesn't have them in stock. I wouldn't want to commit to buying before having a chance to play and compare these to other guitars. The best option for you is to have GC get them in stock so you can try them out...but not as a "special order" that commits you to buying.
Even though I'm mainly an electric guy, too, I'll put my two cents on the table. I'm not going to comment on the tone of laminates or solid tops. All I know is that when I shopped around for guitars, I didn't buy one I couldn't touch, and I didn't rush into it. Of course back then, I didn't have the plethora of guitars to choose from as the poor souls shopping today. But I would focus on the style or brand I liked and would play as many of them as I could get my hands on that struck my fancy and could afford. Eventually one or three would emerge as my favorites and then I'd play each one for at least a half an hour to narrow them down. I would repeat this process at the 3 or 4 guitar stores we had in the area.
For acoustics I did the same thing, except for less time as I really wasn't shopping for one, but I'd sit in the acoustic room and play all the Takamines and Ovations and Yamahas to see which one sounded good to me and had good action and feel. There were subtle tone differences in them and by playing the same songs on all of them, I could find one that suited me and the songs I liked to play.
I personally have a great fondness for Ovations. Their 12 strings back in the day were the best. Really soft action and great tone. I know you are an metal/electric guy, so take a hard look at Ovations at your local GC.
But if you are looking at an exotic looking guitar only, I still wouldn't recommend buying one sight unseen and unplayed. Even if one of us had one, there's be no guarantee that the one you got would be good. As you know we all try to drum into the noobs on here.
As far as the neck, the necks look much like Gibson electric necks in the pictures of the ESPs Ovations have the feel and radius similar to a Fender neck. (At least the ones I used to play at GC did)
None of those woods would be used as tops in solid form, and probably wouldn't sound anywhere near as good as ordinary spruce if they were, although you might occasionally find them used as backs and sides.
They're plywood and the fancy veneer is just for decoration. They'll sound like plywood guitars (especially unplugged), only at a higher price than the usual plywood entry-level instrument.
On all but the most expensive guitars (generally over $1000), if the description doesn't say SOLID wood, it isn't.
Hi, 'C. That's a great looking guitar anyway. Maybe take a look at this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/esp-xtone-exotic-wood-cutaway-acoustic-electric-guitar Have a great day.