ESP 2023

[MetalDestroyer]

Just buy from Japan. If you want one shipped to your door for $4k + some random chance ~8% duty, let me know and I'll make it happen.

I wish I had known this in August at the height of my HI gas, but now my 4k guitar budget is reserved for an Anderson custom that will be done in 4-6 weeks. At least my Guardian Angel does the HxS floyd shred thing well enough, though I doubt the GAS will die until I get a real HI. Maybe next year.

 

[OmegaSlayer]

ESP is getting expensive af too. They used to be the cheaper alternative to Gibson, Fender, or Jackson. Now, not really. They make USA Fender and Gibson models that are cheaper than some LTD models.

Ditto
That's exactly what I was thinking

A made in USA now costs less than some imports from Indonesia or Korea, and not taking into account the awesome quality of Fender made in Mexico

 

[Bloody_Inferno]

who is that beautiful man and what is that sig

Ruiza | ESP GUITARS

トップアーティストに愛用されるエレクトリックギター＆ベースメーカーESP GUITARS JAPAN

espguitars.co.jp

He's from a J-Rock band called D. His new guitar looks like a continuation of his sig line.

 

[AltecGreen]

Just buy from Japan. If you want one shipped to your door for $4k + some random chance ~8% duty, let me know and I'll make it happen.

You can probably get this for around $3500 shipped.

ESP／HOROZON-I／新品特価／¥550000／状態：S

赤系／BIG BOSS／金沢／送料無料でお届け致します。

www.digimart.net

 

[somethingsomething]

Forget all that, if they would just mass produce Deep CAR Horizon I's for <5k I'd be a happy camper

The list price for a brand new ESP Horizon from Ikebe is around 400,000 yen which is under $3000. So, what I want to know is why the fuck do they cost $5000 new in the US? Totally insane.

 

[/wrists]

The list price for a brand new ESP Horizon from Ikebe is around 400,000 yen which is under $3000. So, what I want to know is why the fuck do they cost $5000 new in the US? Totally insane.

Btw...I think it's probably important to note the Yen is taking a fat shit right now.

It used to be like that for caparison as well.

 

[Shawn]

Looking forward to the price hike too.

Luckily I got my EII Mii NT7 from Nick @ Axe Palace for an amazing deal.

 

[somethingsomething]

Btw...I think it's probably important to note the Yen is taking a fat shit right now.

It used to be like that for caparison as well.

That's totally true, but--and this is probably because I don't understand economics--that still doesn't explain why ESP is selling their Original guitars for so much more in USD. I mean, $5000 is equivalent to over 730,000 Yen. But Japanese dealers are selling that same guitar at 400,000ish Yen domestically. So...what's the deal?

It's like ESP is pretending the global market doesn't exist. I can import an ESP Original for cheaper than I can buy some of the E-II models in the states. Someone explain this to me, please.

 

[/wrists]

That's totally true, but--and this is probably because I don't understand economics--that still doesn't explain why ESP is selling their Original guitars for so much more in USD. I mean, $5000 is equivalent to over 730,000 Yen. But Japanese dealers are selling that same guitar at 400,000ish Yen domestically. So...what's the deal?

It's like ESP is pretending the global market doesn't exist. I can import an ESP Original for cheaper than I can buy some of the E-II models in the states. Someone explain this to me, please.

Caparison did this thing where they stopped allowing Japanese distributors to sell directly to US citizens so their US retailer could sell more Caps...

It's also like this for even video games. They sell for more simply because our economy is stronger and have people who CAN and WILL pay more.

For example, if you have a Steam account, you can change regions to buy games for less. Like if you buy a game in Malaysia it'll be a good $20-40 less. And then convert your region back.

And then Steam will ban you to really make you feel valued as a customer instead of setting up mechanisms to prevent that kind of "abuse" if you want to call it that.

You can go to fromjapan right now and buy a caparison for $2200 and mark it as a gift and pay no taxes and just $200 shipping from MUSICKEYLAND or buy from caparison's retailer here for $3200.

Yeah.

I bought an Edwards brand new for $800 recently (gotoh hardware, ebony fretboard, neckthru construction, all the premium jazz) where a similar LTD would be $1200 and made in Korea or Indonesia.

 

[somethingsomething]

Caparison did this thing where they stopped allowing Japanese distributors to sell directly to US citizens so their US retailer could sell more Caps...

It's also like this for even video games. They sell for more simply because our economy is stronger and have people who CAN and WILL pay more.

For example, if you have a Steam account, you can change regions to buy games for less. Like if you buy a game in Malaysia it'll be a good $20-40 less. And then convert your region back.

And then Steam will ban you to really make you feel valued as a customer instead of setting up mechanisms to prevent that kind of "abuse" if you want to call it that.

You can go to fromjapan right now and buy a caparison for $2200 and mark it as a gift and pay no taxes and just $200 shipping from MUSICKEYLAND or buy from caparison's retailer here for $3200.

Yeah.

I bought an Edwards brand new for $800 recently (gotoh hardware, ebony fretboard, neckthru construction, all the premium jazz) where a similar LTD would be $1200 and made in Korea or Indonesia.

Those are all very good points. (And I'm definitely thinking of importing a Caparison...)

I think ESP is in a pretty weird place with their pricing right now--at least in the States. After all the price hikes, ESP USA prices are close (or even more) than ESP Originals. But ESP USA used to be a midpoint between E-II and the Original/Custom line. And there are LTDs that cost more than E-IIs. (though, to be fair, this is comparing the really intense LTDs like the Javier one to the more standard E-IIs).

It's just strange. They have so many lines and it doesn't feel like there's as clear a delineation between them as some other brands.

 

[/wrists]

Those are all very good points. (And I'm definitely thinking of importing a Caparison...)

I think ESP is in a pretty weird place with their pricing right now--at least in the States. After all the price hikes, ESP USA prices are close (or even more) than ESP Originals. But ESP USA used to be a midpoint between E-II and the Original/Custom line. And there are LTDs that cost more than E-IIs. (though, to be fair, this is comparing the really intense LTDs like the Javier one to the more standard E-IIs).

It's just strange. They have so many lines and it doesn't feel like there's as clear a delineation between them as some other brands.

Fortunately, I almost never buy these things new. I would only buy a Caparison new because I've never seen the caparison I wanted used at a reasonable price. Ie, it's all like $2800...

I can negotiate to $2900 for Caparison here.

 

[Sleazy_D]

From ESP? Custom or...?

Not even. An LTD I’m waiting for

 

[/wrists]

Not even. An LTD I’m waiting for

wtf lol

 

[Sleazy_D]

wtf lol

I ordered two guitars that night. Finally I am getting one of them on Monday, 10 mths and a week.

 

[Mprinsje]

That red Tele with banana headstock is a custom for Scott Ian I believe and I have loved that from the moment I first saw it in an anthrax live video from the 80's.

Also God Daaaaamn those old pointy headstocks look so fucking good it pains me I haven't got a guitar with one.

 

[soul_lip_mike]

Forget all that, if they would just mass produce Deep CAR Horizon I's for <5k I'd be a happy camper

What is a deep car horizon?

 

[soul_lip_mike]

Caparison did this thing where they stopped allowing Japanese distributors to sell directly to US citizens so their US retailer could sell more Caps...

It's also like this for even video games. They sell for more simply because our economy is stronger and have people who CAN and WILL pay more.

For example, if you have a Steam account, you can change regions to buy games for less. Like if you buy a game in Malaysia it'll be a good $20-40 less. And then convert your region back.

And then Steam will ban you to really make you feel valued as a customer instead of setting up mechanisms to prevent that kind of "abuse" if you want to call it that.

You can go to fromjapan right now and buy a caparison for $2200 and mark it as a gift and pay no taxes and just $200 shipping from MUSICKEYLAND or buy from caparison's retailer here for $3200.

Yeah.

I bought an Edwards brand new for $800 recently (gotoh hardware, ebony fretboard, neckthru construction, all the premium jazz) where a similar LTD would be $1200 and made in Korea or Indonesia.

That's weird because Caparison sells direct from their factory on reverb to USA customers. That is how I got my CZQ - they have a reverb store and I made an offer and they accepted it. Shipped direct to me from Caparison in Japan.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

wtf lol

We tried to warn y'all earlier in the 2022 thread. ESP/LTD had the flashiest 2022 out of the other brands, but they were gonna have to fight the supply constraints and shipping delays. There's a reason almost every brand except LTD didn't have much to show.

 

[MetalDestroyer]

What is a deep car horizon?

Deep Candy Apple Red

 

[Wiltonauer]

Looking forward to seeing new E-IIs....

I wouldn’t mind seeing the one I ordered a year ago….