I recently purchased the ESP KH2 along with a charvel DS1FR, both have active Pups, ESP has EMGs B & N and the Charvel has Blackouts in Bridge and EMG in neck. I also have a Gibson SG special, Fender Strat USA, Hagstrom Viking Deluxe II and a few other LPs and strats. All my guitars have had upgraded Pups, Bridges, nuts etc and they have all been set up and tweeked to very high standards and i honestly thought i was happy with them. I purchased the ESP as an impulse buy as ive always wanted one and am a massive Kirk Hammett fan and had thought if i didnt like it id just sell it off. I played the KH2 first and it was unlike any guitar ive ever played. Perfect neck, feel, tone. I was blown away. In comparison to my nicest guitars it was hands down the best of the bunch. I then plugged in the charvel and it was also great but just not in the same league as the ESP. To explain the Charvel was on par with all my other guitars. Very great feel, tone and very usable in my band.. Its just the ESP seemed clearer and seemed to improve everything i played. It was inspiring, everything i played brought on better riffs and further experimentation with scales, riffs and leads runs. I asked my partner to listen and i showed her the 2 new guitars, she liked the Charvel, which i expected.. it is a lovely guitar but when i plugged in the ESP she asked if i changed the amp settings.. Ha ha. she knew straight away. She is not a muso but years of listening she has a keen ear for tone and straight… read more out told me the ESP was better. So from a players point of view the ESP is the ultimate guitar , i would put it up against any guitar for tone and playability , let alone the look of the skull inlays on the neck and sleek look of the 'super strat' body. Im not sure if its the way its wired in Japan, the alder body, freak EMG pups or a combo of all these things, all i know is its a keeper.

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