Another Project

[metalchurch]

I sold the V that I was working on, and being restless as I am, I began looking for something else to do.

I had this Ltd. M-100FM that I traded the Kramer for.
Just seeing it sitting there unmolested made me want to tear into it even more.

It started out looking like this:


Well, I first tore it down, routed the neck pickup cavity into a more square shape. I then cut a piece of wood to fill in the hole.

I filled and sanded the Volume/Tone knob locations, as well as the 3 way selector. It is now a 1 Vol. / 1 Humbucker.

And it looks like this right now:



I sanded the back of the neck and made the profile thinner, and also oiled the back of the neck.
Also, the 'LTD' logo is history. Now it has a Black/Gold ESP logo on it.
I put a White pinstripe around the perimeter of the headstock and clear coated it to look like White binding.

Here it is:



I also took out the inlay at the 12th fret that said 'M-100FM' and put in a picture of a Pile of Skulls, with a piece of Plexiglas over top of it and glued it in.
Bad Camera Flash:


Then the body is getting a Rattlesnake skin Graphic over the entire front of the body.

And on top of that will be a Black Bullseye ala Zakk Wylde.

I ordered a DiMarzio Evolution in Black/Creme for the bridge.

Just something that I have been messing with and thought I'd show you guys. I know I vowed never to build another Strat, but I didn't play it and this was an easy project to finish. I'm gonna sell it and build a Left Handed Jackson Rhoads.

[bassist_25]

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this project ends up.

[metalchurch]

Thanks Paul,

You know I was having a hard time thinking of something cool to do with this guitar for a few weeks now. I had a few different ideas, but I wanted to do something different that I haven't seen before.

I got the proof of the graphic sent to me before the guy printed it, and it looks nice, atleast on the computer screen, so I'll have to wait to see what it looks like in person.

I just hope that the color goes ok with the sides and back of the body, which is a See-thru Black. I was gonna go with a darker Copperhead snakeskin to begin with.

I'm working with minimal tools here, so I'm really limited with what I can pull off in my living room.
I had to cut the wood that filled in the neck pickup with a hacksaw blade, by hand. LOL!!

It will be different that's for sure, but with what all I have to work with, I just hope it comes out ok.

I'm not putting a whole lot into it as far as time, so it's pretty much a slap together.

[lonewolf]

I Also, the 'LTD' logo is history. Now it has a Black/Gold ESP logo on it.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that called fraud?

[metalchurch]

Sure, if I was going to pass it off as a real ESP, which I have no plans of doing. I also left the serial# on it. I see what you mean about that, though.
Anyone who knows ESP guitars, would know that I changed some things around anyway, so I'm not really trying to get over on anyone.

ESP doesn't make a single humbucker strat anymore, so it's obvious that this was modified.

Same thing as putting a Fender logo on a Squier, which I have seen done quite a bit. But those guys were actually trying to pass it off as a Fender.

I'm definitely not trying to get myself into trouble that's for sure.

[lonewolf]

Sure, if I was going to pass it off as a real ESP, which I have no plans of doing. I also left the serial# on it. I see what you mean about that, though.
Anyone who knows ESP guitars, would know that I changed some things around anyway, so I'm not really trying to get over on anyone.

ESP doesn't make a single humbucker strat anymore, so it's obvious that this was modified.

Same thing as putting a Fender logo on a Squier, which I have seen done quite a bit. But those guys were actually trying to pass it off as a Fender.

I'm definitely not trying to get myself into trouble that's for sure.

Its not obvious and most people don't know ESP guitars. For instance, I don't mess with low-cost guitars and don't know a thing about ESP or LTD nor do I care to.

If they ever made a single-pickup model, it could pass for an ESP of that year on an unsuspecting buyer, especially with bad pics on eBay.

I assume that you don't intend to be buried with this guitar. In that case, whether you intend to pass it as an ESP or not, when you sell it, the world has another fake guitar to contend with--and other musicians get burned.

Anyway, the answer to my question is:

Yes, it is fraud. If you don't think so, ask ESP.

[bassist_25]

ESP isn't a low-priced guitar. Many of them cost as much as a USA Jackson. Even some of the higher-end LTDs are pretty pricey.

[ToonaRockGuy]

I'm with Jeff on this one. Although it is a way cool project, building a guitar and putting a brand logo on it when it isn't that brand is fraud. I'd be pretty pissed if I bought what I thought was an ESP and it turned out not to be.

If you're modifying/building your own stuff, why don't you just design your own logo and put it on the guitar? You can't "build" a Jackson Rhoads, only Jackson can. You'll be building a fraudulent copy.

[metalchurch]

Look, I understand every point you guys are trying to make.
I'm not going to try and justify what I did.

I'm not going to be putting these guitars into production or anything so ease up. I'm going to pass all the information off to the next owner, with the pictures of the original guitar, and show them the serial#.

I understand that some people are not familiar with all brands of guitars, and that's fine with me. There isn't jack shit available to left handed players and alot of guys eat this shit up all day long, because of the unavailability, and the fact that this will be a one of a kind guitar.

I know that only Jackson can build a legitimate Jackson Rhoads.
I'm building one for myself to have, love, and cherish until death do us part.

So if you take a plain jane Camaro, and make it an SS or a Z/28, or make a Shelby out of a fastback Mustang, that's fraud as well.
But that's a whole other discussion right there.


Don't taze me Brother's


Am I under arrest?

[Team Transylvania]

Doesnt ESP make LTD?? So really, an LTD IS an ESP. Am i wrong?

[lonewolf]

ESP isn't a low-priced guitar. Many of them cost as much as a USA Jackson. Even some of the higher-end LTDs are pretty pricey.

Price is relative.

From what I can see, they have a custom shop and those guitars have the higher price tags. For the most part, ESP production models are in the sub-$1200 category.

Actually, that makes this even worse if ESPs are high-priced. There is a greater disparity between the original LTD and the fake ESP model.

[lonewolf]

Doesnt ESP make LTD?? So really, an LTD IS an ESP. Am i wrong?

Yes, you are wrong.

Squier is not Fender, its Squier made by Fender
Epiphone is not Gibson, its Epiphone made by Gibson
And LTD is not an ESP, it is an LTD made by ESP

What is the difference between robbing Sheetz or UniMart?

[metalchurch]

Holy shit dude, are you the fuckin guitar police or what?

Please, just read me my rights and get it over with Officer Renner.

I'm guilty.

[lonewolf]

Holy shit dude, are you the fuckin guitar police or what?

Please, just read me my rights and get it over with Officer Renner.

I'm guilty.

Even though you may tell your customer that its an LTD doesn't prevent that person from turning around and selling it as an ESP for 3 times more. And we musicians are the ones who get stiffed.

All I am saying is: stop stiffing musicians.

If ESP were to read this thread, they might have other ideas about what to tell you.

[metalchurch]

You said yourself, that you 'Don't mess around with lower end guitars'

So why do you care?

And further more, What the buyer does with it after I sell it, I could care less.
It's in his hands now.

For not knowing much about LTD's and ESP's you sure found out some quick info on them.

There's alot worse going on than a fuckin ESP logo on a headstock.

That's nice that you care about the fellow ESP player though.

[whitedevilone]

You're going to jail Joe!!!Don't worry it seems as if the old Bonewolf has never played an ax that was worth less than 2000 bucks ha ha!Build away BRO!!!!Let's not offend the pros on RP or nobody will be left!!

[The Shadow]

Lonewolf,you are a dick. Real ESP guitars are not in the sub- $1,200.00
range and never have been. You need to get off your high horse and go
stick your pencil dick in your "snakeskin mojo cab" and let the other
idiots who pollute this site alone. I own, and have owned in the past, a
fortune in vintage and top of the line modern equipment that would make
anyone envious and I don't talk down on someone because their guitar
din't cost as much as mine. The guy even said he isn't going to sell it as
the real thing anyway. Lighten up everyone.

[Team Transylvania]

WOW
Is something burning?

http://www.espguitars.com/
LTD is right on the ESP site.

[metalchurch]

No, that was my electric sander you smelled.

[whitedevilone]

Now we can all sleep better knowing that Joe ain't gonna hose some unsuspecting youngster with his $2500 ESP ripoff1Justice is won.Lonewolf has saved the day!!!

[bassist_25]

Question: What if you have an ESP neck on an LTD guitar? A lot of guys like to swap out necks. Ever catch Norm Nardini? His Teles have Strat necks and his Strats have Tele necks. Obviously he's not selling any of his guitars, but what if he did? I'm not a lawyer here, but I'm just posing a rhetorical question.

I've only ever known ESPs to be pro-level guitars. To think that they are anything less just because they're production line models is insane. Many luthiers say that once you reach the $3k mark, you're paying more for the prestige that comes with the name on the headstock. Are the top-line Les Pauls really work $4k? Well, I guess that's a question of taste. IME, once your reach a certain price-point with gear, you're just really moving sideways between brands and models.

[Killjingle]

Its not obvious and most people don't know ESP guitars. For instance, I don't mess with low-cost guitars and don't know a thing about ESP or LTD nor do I care to.

That sucks. I own 4 of them and I think the Embalmed owns prob 10 collectively. Maybe you should try something before you put the quality of it down. I do mess with low cost and mid cost guitars and Im tired of taking my mid cost out and worrying about getting it destroyed.

I would be extremely fucked off Joe if the guy u sell the guitar to did try to pass it as an authenic. Thats the real danger. I know u wouldnt do that; but lots of other ppl will.

[BDR]

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."--Gandhi

I know it's off topic, but this is an awesome quote ...

r:>)

[Geetarzz]

If you don't know what the hell your talking about, chances are you probably shouldn't be throwing $2500 at a guitar anyways.

[Killjingle]

btw Lonewolf;


after rereading what u wrote u did not put the product down that I can see;

just the quote "nor do I care to" hit a soft spot.