laxu
Rock Star
- Messages
- 7,965
My "Search for the V" ended with the ESP/LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett signature.
Specs:
- 25.5" scale
- 24 frets, "Extra Thin U" profile.
- Maple set neck, Macassar Ebony fretboard
- Korina body
- EMG Bone Breaker pickups
- LTD locking tuners
- Tonepros locking Tune-o-matic bridge
- Volume, Tone, 3-way switch.
Good thing too, because Thomann started blowing these out for 899 € only a few weeks later. My plan was to wait until the next week to buy one...but by that time they were all gone! The sale was because this model is discontinued.
I then checked Thomann every now and then in case they find more or a return comes in. Well, they did add one for 999 € and I pounced on it fast!
But unfortunately all was not roses. The guitar arrived with a bunch of issues:
- Volume pot was scratchy.
- Tone pot didn't work at all.
- Jack seemed to cut out the signal randomly.
- Jack plate was slightly bent on one side.
- Clear manufacturing defect where they've filed off too much binding on the last few frets.
- Cracked bridge pickup mounting ring. Small piece missing from the bottom and the pickup ring is loose.
- Tooling marks on fretboard.
- Seems to have some wear on the fretboard.
So I accepted the discount, and decided to fix things myself. Turns out the electronics were easy, just bad contact with the battery at the jack end. Weirdly that fixed the volume pot issue too. Tone still doesn't seem to work so I have to look into it, but the cosmetic defects are small enough that they are not very noticeable. I got the jack plate bent back too.
The case is really huge and heavy, but at least it's a good quality one. It isn't quite form fitted, but close.
But then the good stuff!
- It plays great out of the box. I only lowered the bass side a tiny bit and that's all that was needed. I also turned the 3-way switch a little bit for a better position.
- Fretwork is very good. Smooth edges, no issues.
- The narrow 42mm nut width neck is very much to my liking. People with big paws might feel different.
- Somehow the neck doesn't seem as thin as the first one I tried? Might be just memory.
- It sounds awesome. Neck/middle positions sound good for cleans too.
- It's very comfortable on a strap. Sits at just the right height, well balanced, not heavy.
- It looks like a million bucks. This red glitter is the best of the 3 finishes (gold, red, black) that were available. Saw all three at a store.
- I like a lot of the thoughtful touches of the design. The unique inlays, the way the pickguard and pickup mount ring colors go with the body color and binding , the 3D logo on the headstock etc.
