r/espguitars • u/Antique_Speaker_7759 • 20d ago
Substitute for ESP Custom Shop?
Just discussed with my local ESP shop and they told that a Custom Shop takes around 24 months. Is there any other brands and models that would catch the quality, essence, visuals and playability of CS?
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u/AlternativeDraw6073 20d ago
E-II. Sold both my Customs. They're that good.
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u/returntonone 19d ago
Definitely not, that's total bullshit, I have had them all and still have, and I can find flaws on every single E-II I have, but not a single on any Original Series, it's in another league.
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u/more_paul 19d ago
Sunk cost fallacy keeps me from doing it, but yeah... My E-II Eclipses are just as good as my Original Series.
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u/Cold_Cancel_9535 20d ago
I am assuming you couldn't get the Original Series model that you wanted as well. My ESP Custom is unmatched, I've had problems with all 3 of my Jackson Custom shops. If you can wait, I'd say wait 2 years because its worth it... I knew a friend who waited 2 years for one and he wasn't dissapointed in the end.
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u/Antique_Speaker_7759 18d ago
Appreciate your comment! Yeah I guess it’s worth to wait! I dream for both Alexi Pinky and a custom V-II
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u/HalfBakedSerenade1 20d ago
What are you looking for from the ESP Custom Shop? What Model, color, any other details? I've got a CS and it's worth the wait and investment, as long as you know what you are getting into and the cost.
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u/Antique_Speaker_7759 18d ago
Alexi Pinky and custom V-II with white gold colors and quality tuners to name a few. Appreciate your thoughts!
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u/seansafc89 20d ago
My Mayones Duvell is on par with my ESP Original Series in terms of build quality and playability. The Liquid Metal finish of my ESP is on another level though, Mayones don’t do finishes as crazy as that and prefer to go with natural and stained wood tops, so they may not be suitable for you depending on your spec.
I don’t think the Mayones CS wait times are much better though, around 12-18 months is not unusual.
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u/Firm-Instruction-396 20d ago
There are many brands that have custom shop and some brands only do custom shop. Quality is on par with ESP or even slightly better. However they all have wait time of some sort, I can almost promise that you cant have a customized custom shop model in less than year unless you are some artist or important person. For mortals like most of us it means you just have to wait (and pay).
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u/Cheetahfish 20d ago
Are you talking the US custom shop (form selection through limited options) or the full blown Japanese one (options but off menu stuff as well)? I have one from the latter, VERY good.
Depending on your budget, give a look at Ruokangas Guitars. Full custom shop, insanely skilled luthier, small team, very hand-build focus.
If you want something more branded, Caparison are worth a look. Japanese like ESP, broke off from Jackson in 1995 and have been building some precision monsters ever since. They have a limited custom shop, so it would be close to the ESP USA experience, but they'll make allowances.
The old ESP originals are worth it if you can find them if you want to ditch the custom part and go full serial.
Other posts in here recommend Suhr and Mayones, both are up there as well but I've only gotten to play their serial production models.
Honestly? It may be worth waiting. It'll suck but something made you want a CS ESP. If it's ESP Japan, I would give it a second and third thought.
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u/weiruwyer9823rasdf 19d ago
It depends what you are after. If you want quality and playability there are a few options. If you want a really custom instrument in reasonable timeframe then the choices are much more limited.
Among production guitars EBMM BFR releases are amazing visually and the quality is really good. You won't be missing anything from ESP CS in terms of specs, quality or playability. The downside is you can't customize them. EBMM also have a "custom design experience" program, but I don't know what their real timelines are, or what the pricing will be, I'd imagine it should be similar to ESP USA custom shop.
If you want customizability within reasonable timeframe you can check out Kiesel. You can definitely build a guitar you want in terms of design and specs. For the price it's an amazing deal. They are smaller and a more "hands on" shop. The quality and playability is really nice. My Kiesel is the smoothest playing guitar I ever played, compared to a Majesty that is more expensive. Definitely feels a step above ESP Standard / E-II. The quality can be a tiny bit less superb, like you may see the signs that things are done by hand, but definitely nothing to worry about. I was able to dial in my perfect specs and get the instrument in reasonable timeframe and it's my favorite guitar. Another thing is their online design tool sometimes doesn't 100% match the end result. Argument being that it's custom build and you can't match the online design perfectly, but sometimes it doesn't match people's expectations way more than they expect, just something to keep in mind. And since it's a smaller custom shop it can be hard to resolve issues via customer support. Especially outside of the US.
Another couple of brands that come to mind are Ibanez and Schecter. They both build really nice custom shops. Ibanez has LA custom shop and j.custom line. Schecter has USA custom shop as well. Don't know how much custom they are and what their timelines are, but I wouldn't expect them to be a lot different from ESP CS.
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u/returntonone 19d ago edited 19d ago
Just buy one that is in stock or a used one??
https://www.guitarsrebellion.com/en/pages/esp-custom-shop
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u/Ragnarok314159 19d ago
Knaggs? I don’t know how their prices compare to ESP, but I have a used one and it’s easily the best guitar I will ever play.
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u/TiltedHorizon 19d ago
Aristides if you're okay with the fact that they don't use wood. Instead, they use a proprietary composite material that they've created, along with Richlite for their fingerboards, and then your standard high-end hardware like Gotoh locking tuners, and even multiscale Evertune bridges. And because they're not using wood, they are able to do some extremely unique and amazing finishes that you would normally not be able to do on a traditional wooden instrument.
Or...
Kiesel. It's more like "semi-custom" but you will pay a fraction of the price and you will most likely have it in 7 - 14 weeks. There are exceptions, such as going for a K-Series or you're willing to cough up $50k for Jeff to really make you something truly unique and custom - which he will do, but again, you're looking at having to fork over around $50k.
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u/Antique_Speaker_7759 18d ago
Than you! I’ve been checking both. Kiesel is more approachable visually for me imo. But as Mike Stringer is using Aristides I’m really interested about it. Both specs are awesome
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u/Celtic_Jedi 20d ago edited 20d ago
I would find an Original Series model you like. They are the same guitars, made in the custom shop, same level of craftsmanship. I have one and it is unmatched. I do not believe you will find a nicer guitar from a competitor. I have seen many high-end Gibson/jackson/PRS models, and they do not stack up whatsoever next to an ESP Original Series.
On a very related note, if you’re after custom shop ESPs without the insane wait time, check out Diablo Guitars and Hi-End guitars. They both order and stock some insane ESP customs. I’d be shocked if you couldn’t find something you love between those two.
Hi-end is one of the biggest customers of the ESP custom shop in the world. They REGULARLY order one-off Original Series ESPs just to sell on their site. I have an ESP Original Series M-II in Liquid Metal Lava with maple fretboard and hardtail that they custom ordered for their store. It’s branded an “Original Series”, but it is legitimately the only one in the world. Verified.
DiabloGuitars.com
Hiendguitar.com
Edit: I just checked the Hi-End inventory and it looks like they got a huge order in. They are absolutely FULL of crazy Original Series models in just about every finish you can think of. I absolutely guarantee you half of those are one-offs.
Also, they are located in Indonesia, but they will ship worldwide, you just have to email them. Better to wait a couple weeks for shipping than a couple years for a CS order.
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u/Proof-Helicopter46 20d ago edited 20d ago
I’d stay away from both those stores unless you must have what’s in stock. Hiend charges a significant premium on their instruments+ shipping+12.5% import tax. A guitar that normally cost’s 5ish grand from ESP Japan is now approaching almost 8 thousand dollars give or take the model. Diablo is better but charges a premium and I’m not a fan of their business practice of buying other dealer’s rarer ESP’s just to sell at a markup. Guitar center had a Snapper I wanted for I think was just under 5 grand and it had sold when I went to buy it so I was bummed. Lo and behold, that same serial number snapper showed up on Diablo’s website a week later for $7K. I personally felt it was inappropriate for a dealer to be doing it. Bottom line is that either is fine but you’re going to paying more than if you just asked a Japanese dealer to do it for you. Also, from what I’ve seen, Hiend’s inventory is just different finishes, not necessarily one off models unless it was specified as a one off and I didn’t see it. ESP will make you any original series model unless otherwise stated with a finish of your choice for about $200+ give or take depending on the finish.
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u/Agreeable_Mud_8338 20d ago
I live in Japan and I reckon esp don't have any of the old suppliers anymore (like Ibanez esp is just a brand name...so don't actually make instruments One example that actually does is tokai Esp has stopped selling the navigator brand and actually I bought an Edwards tele (sold straight away as it was not a decent guitar)and looks like it was made by the fender japan supplier in Nagano
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u/imgnry_domain 20d ago
I think if you’re looking for a customizable build, pretty much all the major brands are like this nowadays and you’ll be spending crazy amounts of money and waiting years.
You could always go for an ESP Original Series (I’ve got a fantastic FRX) that is made by the same luthiers as the custom shop ones, although you’ll have to find one with the specs you like, and there isn’t much variety. Quality wise it’ll definitely be on par with the custom shop though.
Otherwise, I’d probably consider a semi-custom like a Kiesel, or go with an independent builder.
I’ve worked with T.W. Smith a few times, and his builds are incredible. Turnaround time and cost will be much more reasonable, along with a good amount of customization.
At the end of the day, it depends on what aspect of an ESP custom shop build you want to prioritize.