ESP Eclipse and Navigator?

[ozone_00]

I've been reading MIJ related threads lately and don't think I've seen any mention of ESP Eclipses, I suppose because it's not really a LP copy and falls more into the LP-ish category. Has anyone owned or played one? If so, what is your take?
Also, I believe I've seen Navigator mentioned in passing but never read about anyone who has actually owned or played one. What's the story on these? Are they as readily available as Tokai, Greco, Burny, Edwards, etc?
I've read rave reviews about Edwards on the forums and about ESP, you know, everywhere, so I'm sure ESP Eclipses and Navigator LPs are top notch. I just want to know how they compare to other MIJ LP copies and to Gibsons.

 

[Knarbens]

Welcome to the forum ozone!
Have you checked the 'Similar Threads' section at the end of each (this) thread?
They might be helpful sometimes!

 

[atj]

I have a Navigator, no serial number, but the guy that sold it to me in Germany told me he got it at the esp booth at muskimesse 1984 or something like that. It is a blue burst, which I don't like, but it's the best guitar I have ever had. Only problem with it is that the controls suck, I will replace them at some time. It has some strange dimarzios which I have never seen before.

 

[RyanC]

I have an '80-ish Navigator LPS250. No serial number. One piece Honduran mahogany body, one piece long tenon neck (literally - no wings), solid flame maple top, fret binding, nitro, etc. Buildwise and specwise, vintage MIJ simply doesn't get any better IMHO. Came with lackluster, non-original pickups and mismatched pots/caps. Just installed Lollar Imperial low winds and a Jimmy Page harness w/ Vitamin Q caps...

FWIW, this thing eats Historics for lunch.

 

[ozone_00]

Welcome to the forum ozone!
Have you checked the 'Similar Threads' section at the end of each (this) thread?
They might be helpful sometimes!

Yeah, I got better hits there than using the search function. I guess nobody has an Eclipse? Of particular interest to me is the Eclipse Custom as the idea of a neck through LP(ish) gives me a hard on!

 

[Pushead]

I have an Eclipse FT, and a Truckster (James Hetfield signature Eclipse).

They're designed for heavier rock music (both come with EMGs stock), but when I had passives in the FT (full Les Paul thickness), it has Les Paul characteristics. Weight wise, it's similar to my other Les Pauls (figure 9-10lb range) with a neck close to the 59 rounded neck profile found on 80's era LPs or the Studio.

The Truckster has a similar neck profile, but weighs in around 7-8lbs. I've never had the EMGs out of the guitar, but I'd imagine it sounds pretty similar, though I believe it's an all mahogany guitar.

The LTD Eclipse models only have a maple veneer, so figure they'll sound like an all mahogany guitar. The ESP versions have a maple cap, though I don't know how big it is.

Anything else you'd like to know?

 

[ozone_00]

Anything else you'd like to know?

How's the fit, finish, overall quality? How's the MOJO? Any idea when they switched from four knobs to three, or is it a geographic difference?

 

[Pushead]

How's the fit, finish, overall quality? How's the MOJO? Any idea when they switched from four knobs to three, or is it a geographic difference?

Fit and finish (of the ESP versions) rival the quality of the Gibson models.

The 3 knob versions are for the US and North American versions. 4 knob versions, and versions that are full LP thickness aren't available here. The previous owner had it imported from Australia.

I've been told that the Navigator models are superior to even the Historic Reissue Gibson Les Pauls, though I have no hands-on experience to confirm or deny that.

 

[JonMan94]

i wonder if they still make fulll body ECs for other countries....

 

[ozone_00]

Just how thin are US market Eclipses? I was just looking at UK and Australian Ebays and it looks like about $2500 for a full thickness Eclipse, not a deal killer but I would probably go for a used Gibson first while I wait for the dollar to revalue.

 

[Pushead]

i wonder if they still make fulll body ECs for other countries....

Yes, but I believe they're only available in gloss white, and vintage black satin. Mine and one other were a limited run for a shop in Australia.

Just how thin are US market Eclipses? I was just looking at UK and Australian Ebays and it looks like about $2500 for a full thickness Eclipse, not a deal killer but I would probably go for a used Gibson first while I wait for the dollar to revalue.

I would agree, in the $2500 range I'd buy a used LPC and stick EMGs in it. (In fact, I have.) I got mine for just under $1700.

A "regular" Eclipse vs a Les Paul:

 

[ozone_00]

Yes, but I believe they're only available in gloss white, and vintage black satin.

Yeah, that's all I could find on ebay and online shops, which kinda sucks because some of the thin models look awesome and it would be nice to be able to get one full thickness.

A "regular" Eclipse vs a Les Paul

Looks about as thick as my Studio Gothic, maybe a hair thinner.

 

[Pushead]

I have another Eclipse I coming in soon (hopefully before Thanksgiving). I'll try to take a better size comparison picture then. Here is the shape of the back carve.

 

[hardangerfjol]

have to say i like what ESP is offering in the way of LP-style guitars, very cool indeed !
seems to gibson what squire is to fender.
epis to me are a whole another thing. unoriginal, too close to gibsons and yet will never be the real thing. (thats not to say they are bad guitars, just a matter of taste...)

i own a bakers dozen of guitars, some built by big name companies and others budget models...
my most obscure one is a FAIRYTALE BRAND les paul, possibly made in japan or korea way back when and not even vintaxe.com knew anything about the brand.

if anybody out there has any information get in touch ! hardangerfjol

 

[Pushead]

Here's a better picture of the thickness difference between a Gibson LP, and an ESP Eclipse.

 

[Annoying Twit]

The best guitar I've ever played was an expensive ESP, I believe an Eclipse Ii standard. It was priced at about £1500 in a UK shop. I particularly liked the smooth, glossy, fingerboard and the feel of the frets. And while I've seen people say that EMG pickups are a one-trick-pony, I thought the clean sound was very nice.

It could be said that my impressions of the guitar are of limited reliability due to an overall lack of experience of playing many and varied guitars.

 

[Pushead]

Just how thin are US market Eclipses? I was just looking at UK and Australian Ebays and it looks like about $2500 for a full thickness Eclipse, not a deal killer but I would probably go for a used Gibson first while I wait for the dollar to revalue.

This is the same seller as I bought my FT version (and the new purple regular Eclipse) from. He has a vintage black FT up for grabs. I have no stake in this guitar, but I thought of you when he asked if I wanted it.

ESP EXPORT SERIES FULL THICKNESS ECLIPSE +EXTRAS OHSC - eBay (item 330382454773 end time Dec-07-09 19:30:17 PST)

 

[tonyg73]

I've been reading MIJ related threads lately and don't think I've seen any mention of ESP Eclipses, I suppose because it's not really a LP copy and falls more into the LP-ish category. Has anyone owned or played one? If so, what is your take?
Also, I believe I've seen Navigator mentioned in passing but never read about anyone who has actually owned or played one. What's the story on these? Are they as readily available as Tokai, Greco, Burny, Edwards, etc?
I've read rave reviews about Edwards on the forums and about ESP, you know, everywhere, so I'm sure ESP Eclipses and Navigator LPs are top notch. I just want to know how they compare to other MIJ LP copies and to Gibsons.

In short I love Les Pauls but I wanted something more comfortable on stage. I've played tons of ESP (not LTD) Eclipses over the years...some with ebony fingerboards, some with rosewood, some with Seymour Duncan's some with EMGs. They each were unique but the quality on ALL of them were top TOP notch.

I currently have a ESP Eclipse II STBC (See through black cherry) with a rosewood fingerboard and I love the damn thing. My fiance bought it for me when she saw me eyeing the vintage black one (she liked the red on this one better lol). No complaints there as I'm partial to rosewood fingerboards anyway.

The mods I've made to it (very small mods):

1. Sperzel drop D tuner (it came with Sperzels unlike the newer models that cme with Gotoh magnum locks)

2. Lowered the EMG pickups...the neck pickup is almost down to the rings. Got great cleans with it, so I then matched the output to what the bridge was. EMGs DO NOT need to be super-close to the strings!

3. Got the guitar professionally setup with D'Addario 11's in standard tuning.

4. Configured the EMG's for the 18volt in series mod

4. Added tone pros with graph tech saddles bridge...a direct drop in replacement for the stock Gotoh.

In short, this things sounds KILLER clean, dirty and everything in between. I was initially very skeptical of EMG's but the 81/60 combo wired for 18volts sound outstanding...and this is coming from a die-hard passive pickup guy. Very warm and rich sounding believe it or not...although I suppose some of this comes from 11 guage strings and running the guitar through tube amps.

Playability is second to none. The acoustic resonance is outstanding.

I'm definitely sold on MIJ ESP's...this is probably one of (if not my favorite) guitar I've ever owned.

 

[SkyNet3D]

I don't have an ESP but i have an LTD EC-1000. Unless the ESP models are completely different, i don't think ESP was trying to make a LP clone with this model. It doesn't feel or sound anything like a Gibson LP.
The Navigators will probably be much more in the direction of the vintage LP's.

 

[ozone_00]

Also, I'm kinda curious about body construction (one-piece, pancake, side-by-side, etc.) and the neck joint (deep tenon, transitional, or modern). Anyone got the scoop on this?