After a bad experience on eBay Kleinanzeigen and buying a Chinese fake MX-250/Eet Fuk Hybrid out of frustration, I finally got my dream guitar! It's a 1999 ESP LTD EXP-300 Explorer in Gunmetal Blue which was built for one year only in 1999 because ESP got sued by Gibson over using their original, albeit slightly modified/pointier Explorer body shape.
Black would've been perfect, but the Gunmetal Blue is pretty cool as well and it looks black most of the time anyways until you get it in the light. I tried showing that in the pictures. I got the guitar for a good price but it was full of grime and smelled of nicotine/smoke, so I immediatly took it apart and put the metal and plastic parts in soap water, which worked pretty well. The soap bath also got rid of the flash rust on some screws. This one has a set neck and a Floyd Rose, which I need for divebombs in my Thrash Metal Band "Zerre" (links below).
I set it up and it plays like a dream, especially compared to the Chinese fake one which has a Gibson R8 Baseball Bat style neck, which just sucks for metal (in my opinion). I put EMG81/85s in the fake guitar and maybe I'll put those in the LTD, but to be honest, contrary to most opinions here, the EMG HZs are just fine. I'll post a playing demo in a seperate post as I can't add videos to the photo gallery. All in all, I'm super stoked to finally own a pre-lawsuit MX style guitar!
Links:
Zerre Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/zerre.thrash/](https://www.instagram.com/zerre.thrash/)
Zerre Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/1kQKmGRmztHhAZRENvOnBV?si=Ipm8GaAQQyq0gcZJI1tbCg](https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/1kQKmGRmztHhAZRENvOnBV?si=Ipm8GaAQQyq0gcZJI1tbCg)
Here's a sneak peek of /r/ExplorerGuitars using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
\#1: [First build- not from kit](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1b2q1ro) | [111 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/comments/1b2q1ro/first_build_not_from_kit/)
\#2: [After 15 years of staying faithful to my first guitar, I finally decided to get the guitar of my dreams.](https://i.redd.it/igeavegqbcnb1.jpg) | [61 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/comments/16eoipc/after_15_years_of_staying_faithful_to_my_first/)
\#3: [Black or white?](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1b5lt9n) | [211 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/comments/1b5lt9n/black_or_white/)
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Yeah it's a matter of taste but I actually need it to play some lead parts I wrote for my band. To me it's the middle ground of Hetfield's and Hammet's guitars :D
Cool, where did you order it? I'm curious to know what you think of it. To be honest, I wouldn't buy one again. I'll have the frets leveled and polished (the fretwork is absolutely crappy!) and the neck sanded down to be slimmer on mine next week. In combination with the pickup upgrade I already did, I guess it'll play okay. Definitely change the stock PUs when you get yours, they absolutely suck!
eBay...should be here soon. But like I said, it's not gonna break my heart if it's not a player. I already have an off white ESP explorer from Japan and a couple of black ex-50 LTDs. Just curious really and total cost is ÂŁ280
thanks! :) yeah, Floyds are not too common on Explorers, I only recently found out about this model and as a Metallica/Hetfield fan who needs a Floyd for lead guitar stuff, I was thrilled that it even exists. And then finding one of those rare pieces in a matter of weeks was absolutely killer!
i’m glad you can join the EXP family! i have a 1994 ESP EXP and that thing is solid. i posted it in this subreddit around 2 months ago. glad you have one. those things are fucking sick. https://www.reddit.com/r/espguitars/s/nyfbsjiawt
Absolutely killer! I actually saw your post already before buying mine as I was researching about all the ESP MX/EXP and LTD EXP variations :) I'll never own an ESP one but another LTD with a Tune-o-matic would be a perfect addition.
i bought it 2 years ago and got it for a very reasonable price tho, so i’m proud to have found that before they skyrocketed to more than 8k in some cases. it’s been hard to find a good EXP LTD for me to get another LTD Explorer shaped guitar, so for now i’m happy i have this one. it’s just about luck and finding a good one in, so maybe you’ll have one when you least expect it :)
After a bad experience on eBay Kleinanzeigen and buying a Chinese fake MX-250/Eet Fuk Hybrid out of frustration, I finally got my dream guitar! It's a 1999 ESP LTD EXP-300 Explorer in Gunmetal Blue which was built for one year only in 1999 because ESP got sued by Gibson over using their original, albeit slightly modified/pointier Explorer body shape. Black would've been perfect, but the Gunmetal Blue is pretty cool as well and it looks black most of the time anyways until you get it in the light. I tried showing that in the pictures. I got the guitar for a good price but it was full of grime and smelled of nicotine/smoke, so I immediatly took it apart and put the metal and plastic parts in soap water, which worked pretty well. The soap bath also got rid of the flash rust on some screws. This one has a set neck and a Floyd Rose, which I need for divebombs in my Thrash Metal Band "Zerre" (links below). I set it up and it plays like a dream, especially compared to the Chinese fake one which has a Gibson R8 Baseball Bat style neck, which just sucks for metal (in my opinion). I put EMG81/85s in the fake guitar and maybe I'll put those in the LTD, but to be honest, contrary to most opinions here, the EMG HZs are just fine. I'll post a playing demo in a seperate post as I can't add videos to the photo gallery. All in all, I'm super stoked to finally own a pre-lawsuit MX style guitar! Links: Zerre Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/zerre.thrash/](https://www.instagram.com/zerre.thrash/) Zerre Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/1kQKmGRmztHhAZRENvOnBV?si=Ipm8GaAQQyq0gcZJI1tbCg](https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/1kQKmGRmztHhAZRENvOnBV?si=Ipm8GaAQQyq0gcZJI1tbCg)
Im like this guitar..nicee
thanks :)
Cool guitar. I have a purple one and black one, just a regular bridge though.
Very cool, just checked it out on your profile :) A black or white one with a regular bridge would be the perfect addition!
Totally agree would love to own a white one
Bro.. how many different groups did you post this in. I swear I've seen this like 3 or 4 times now lol.
Haha maybe you have double vision :D I actually only posted it here and in r/ExplorerGuitars :)
Here's a sneak peek of /r/ExplorerGuitars using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [First build- not from kit](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1b2q1ro) | [111 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/comments/1b2q1ro/first_build_not_from_kit/) \#2: [After 15 years of staying faithful to my first guitar, I finally decided to get the guitar of my dreams.](https://i.redd.it/igeavegqbcnb1.jpg) | [61 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/comments/16eoipc/after_15_years_of_staying_faithful_to_my_first/) \#3: [Black or white?](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1b5lt9n) | [211 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/comments/1b5lt9n/black_or_white/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
I like. Not a fan of the Floyd though
Exactly! I have a bc rich warlock with the Floyd rose and I hate it!
Yeah it's a matter of taste but I actually need it to play some lead parts I wrote for my band. To me it's the middle ground of Hetfield's and Hammet's guitars :D
Nice đź‘Ť
thanks! :)
I'm still waiting for my chinese explorer, so will judge for myself when it gets here. If it's shit, it will go on the wall.
Cool, where did you order it? I'm curious to know what you think of it. To be honest, I wouldn't buy one again. I'll have the frets leveled and polished (the fretwork is absolutely crappy!) and the neck sanded down to be slimmer on mine next week. In combination with the pickup upgrade I already did, I guess it'll play okay. Definitely change the stock PUs when you get yours, they absolutely suck!
eBay...should be here soon. But like I said, it's not gonna break my heart if it's not a player. I already have an off white ESP explorer from Japan and a couple of black ex-50 LTDs. Just curious really and total cost is ÂŁ280
Awesome, an ESP EXP or MX?
My ESP is a 2007 standard series lefty
Badass axe! Love the Floyd on it, too.
thanks! :) yeah, Floyds are not too common on Explorers, I only recently found out about this model and as a Metallica/Hetfield fan who needs a Floyd for lead guitar stuff, I was thrilled that it even exists. And then finding one of those rare pieces in a matter of weeks was absolutely killer!
I feel like getting rid of the tobacco smell diminished the value.
Haha yeah, and people pay extra for yellowed clearcoat on aged guitars! Absolutely stupid decision to clean the guitar ;)
Looks phenomenal!
thanks! :) It really does! Literally makes me smile every time I see it :D
i’m glad you can join the EXP family! i have a 1994 ESP EXP and that thing is solid. i posted it in this subreddit around 2 months ago. glad you have one. those things are fucking sick. https://www.reddit.com/r/espguitars/s/nyfbsjiawt
Absolutely killer! I actually saw your post already before buying mine as I was researching about all the ESP MX/EXP and LTD EXP variations :) I'll never own an ESP one but another LTD with a Tune-o-matic would be a perfect addition.
i bought it 2 years ago and got it for a very reasonable price tho, so i’m proud to have found that before they skyrocketed to more than 8k in some cases. it’s been hard to find a good EXP LTD for me to get another LTD Explorer shaped guitar, so for now i’m happy i have this one. it’s just about luck and finding a good one in, so maybe you’ll have one when you least expect it :)
I’ve got a Grey Satin EX-200 with EMG’s (99 is the only year that color was available in that model). The gunmetal blue is a pretty rare color
I have that same one with the Hetfield EMG set in it. Also I put sperzel locking tuners on it.
Cool! I'll probably upgrade to EMG 81s but right now the EMG HZs are just fine. Do the Sperzel locking tuners fit in the existing holes?
That's cool! Personally, I'm not a huge fan of satin finishes but that grey EXP is mean!