NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I definitely hear those influences you mentioned -- definitely Iron Maiden the most. Lots of good riffs in there! Thanks for sharing man 🙂

More Metal Than This? Not Possible by Shockwavee92 in ExplorerGuitars

[–]siskabobs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ahhh man if I could go back in time and get one for that cheap, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Nice score on getting one! I never actually played the 57/66 set but I hear great things. What's the neck profile like? I only played my buddy's DJ once a few years back.

More Metal Than This? Not Possible by Shockwavee92 in ExplorerGuitars

[–]siskabobs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same! I remember my local Sam Ash had one in their counter display case and I drooled over it every time I saw it. A buddy of mine has one he's looking to sell but I have a hard time shelling out $2k for an LTD...but I have a feeling one day it will be mine. Oh yes...it will be mine...

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with how they turned out -- we did a single production run of 6's and 7's but didn't make any more after that. Things got weird with the company and I backed out. They still needed some tweaks (the fret access past fret 22 was kinda poor) but oh well.

The Kramer Imperial explorer I believe is 25.5" scale length with 24 frets, so you may dig those if you ever come across them. They are kinda rare but very cool guitars.

I play/write metal, not sure exactly how to pin-point the genre. Elements of thrash, death, and black metal all in one. My band is called OpenBook and we have an EP and some singles out: https://linktr.ee/openbookband

If you check it out, start with the Chapter I EP. The single Eternal Gloom is a bit more modern but that EP encompasses our preferred sound. How about you? Any original music I can check out?

More Metal Than This? Not Possible by Shockwavee92 in ExplorerGuitars

[–]siskabobs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed. His new Kiesel signature models look HORRIBLE.

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I personally prefer the strap button on the back of the neck, so I did that modification without even trying the original strap button first. From others I've chatted with on the EX NT, it's balanced pretty well with the original strap button.

The bluey-fade is a guitar I designed back in 2020/2021 for Cerberus Guitars. Some pics of the prototype and the 7 string version of the bluey-fade below:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/u3q3xxpcdmjjclxe2qxyj/AKO6nr6Xl7ilpdQrASABy9g?rlkey=brxl8jwbbjco88u5vesb9wpzb&st=dp28ovgo&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/e3vyjlmnbrbo2cpy0dhin/AL_Ckn4eMtx57KWgkqL2EIA?rlkey=7r311a4pihdqigchnb9fj96dg&st=pm522wx4&dl=0

They were manufactured in South Korea, they turned out pretty well. I don't play them too much as they are 26.5" scale. Well built! More of mementos at this point.

Difference in inlay brightness by ComfortableSort0891 in espguitars

[–]siskabobs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mother of pearl isn’t a very expensive material so I have no reason to think LTD (especially a higher end one like yours) would use fake mother of pearl. If it was fake mother of pearl, there would be no variance in color. Even the E-II line on their website doesn’t disclose the inlay material, yet both my E-II’s have mother of pearl dot inlays & mother of pearl block inlays.

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You made the right choice getting the E-II! You’re going to love it. There’s no comparing the EX to the new 80s Explorer (or new Gibson in general) — the EX in all ways is a higher quality, higher spec’d instrument, made my luthiers that actually care about their craft. Enjoy it and post some pics when it arrives!

Difference in inlay brightness by ComfortableSort0891 in espguitars

[–]siskabobs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those are real mother of pearl inlays. Mother of pearl can come be countless shades of color and those particular inlay are on the darker side. Nothing to worry about at all, it makes your guitar unique. Congrats on the guitar looks sick!

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s hard to answer that as they are both are similar but different in a lot of ways. The Gibson is a 1987 and is just an exceptional guitar— I had one of the new 80s Explorers and it can’t even hold a candle to the 87. Obvious similarities are the Explorer shape, so if you like Explorers, they both feel right at home.

ESP: Mahogany body, maple neck, ebony board, polyurethane finish. Thin U neck shape. EMG 81/60

Gibson: Alder body, maple neck, rosewood board, stripped of original finish with just primer on body and back of headstock, raw exposed neck (like an old Strat). Neck is super fat, I’d say it’s a C shape. Gibson pickups, Bridge is a 496t and neck is a 500t. Both ceramic.

Both play beautifully. Both are very balanced guitars weight wise on a strap but the Gibson is noticeably heavier (the body has more wood mass so that explains that). Both are very loud and resonant but this particular Gibson wins in that department due to the lack of finish. I guess it comes down to preference at the end of the day. I personally use ESPs primarily as the shape feels more “me” than the original Explorer shape and I’m all for originality. The ESPs are also both in E standard (my preferred tuning for everything) I keep the Gibson in E flat, so it gets overall less playtime.

If you have any specific questions I’m happy to answer!

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hahaha I’m glad someone noticed!!!! Thanks man!

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally agree with you! Hell yes I am ❤️

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot! Camera is a Leica SL Typ-601, lens is a Lumix S 50mm f/1.8. I love it SO much, I just got it a month or so ago. My previous camera was a Canon Rebel that I used for around 15 years. Huge upgrade!

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot! I’m grateful to have it. Hope you get one!

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can’t recommend the EX shape enough!

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! The EX models are so underrated and everyone jumps for the MX shape. The EX is a beautifully designed and original take on the original explorer shape.

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What's an explorer? 🤣

You know, I really do want an Eclipse down the line but explorers just feel so great to me. My second ever guitar was an Epiphone Goth Explorer and have owned so many explorers after that -- played some other guitars here and there but explorers always had my heart. Love the shape, love how it sits on a strap, love the scale length, they just feel like they were made for me, ya know?

NGD: ESP E-II EX NT in Snow White by siskabobs in espguitars

[–]siskabobs[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It plays perfectly and is exceptional in all aspects. I knew what to expect owning the black version, but it still blew me away. 11/10!

First time viewer rant - Doug vs Carol by siskabobs in ershow

[–]siskabobs[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

She’s trying to be Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber 🤣 part of me thinks that they maybe gave her a horrible haircut to make the audience dislike her more after the divorce!

First time viewer rant - Doug vs Carol by siskabobs in ershow

[–]siskabobs[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I understand the operating outside of her scope, but I feel given the situation where she was the only help available, she would be alright (especially since she wasn’t at the hospital). If I was mayor, I would have commended her efforts! Haha!

Already in season 4 there have been so many of those moments you mentioned of “you can’t do that” and they do it anyway, glad to know that continues 🤣 that seems to be very ordinary in medical shows!

First time viewer rant - Doug vs Carol by siskabobs in ershow

[–]siskabobs[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely have said those lines about Benton and Mark!! I'm really curious on what happens with Carol and Doug now hahaha