The ESP EX Standard is the less popular Explorer

DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored video. The guitar was given to me by its owner for a review. This is an honest review and represents my personal opinion.
The 2000 ESP EX Standard is the underdog Explorer. A lot of people underestimate it for one reason or another. I was not a fan of the body shape and the bolt-on neck construction but after spending some time playing this guitar - it grew one me.
0:00 Intro
1:22 The EX Explorer
4:19 The Specs
4:56 The Pickups
5:55 Bridge & Tailpiece
6:16 Body & Neck
8:51 Back & Electronics
10:36 Stringjoy Stings
11:36 The Case
12:11 The Weight
12:19 Tone Demo
15:03 My Thoughts
Facebook: / georgevguitars
Instagram: / georgevarbanov
Gear used to record this video:
Amp: Diezel VH-4 120W Head
Cab: Diezel 2x12 Vintage 30 Rear Loaded
Mic: Shure SM57, Audio-Technica AT2035
Interface: M-Audio 192/4
Camera: Sony A6400 with Sigma 30mm F1.4 and Iphone 13 Pro Max
Stands: Athletic stand for cab microphone
#guitar #espguitars #emgpickups

[@rolandolimon2260]

I honestly love this take in the explorer shape .

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

It is interesting yes

[@J_Braz_]

Can't believe I haven't seen this video yet! Im a big fan of your reviews. They're amongst the most thorough to be found. Any way I asked if you could ever review the Ltd-ex400, or the Ltd ex -360. I have both and love them. ✌️ Ps. Very surprised to see the bolt on neck. Not a deal breaker. Just preference.

[@supermetal990]

The EX is BY FAR the most comfortable guitar I've ever played, in any posture and situation, no other shape came close for me personally. The leg-cutout is so far in the back, behind the bridge pickup, the guitars seems to be always in the right position for me.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

It felt comfy yes

[@martin_uriel]

I agree. I have ESP E-II EX NT and I can say that it's a very comfortable guitar. The funny fact is that I always thought that Eclipse and Horizon shapes are the most comfortable for me, but they are not anymore. Since I got E-II EX, Eclipse seems "too heavy", while when I play on Horizon I feel that my right arm is placed "too high as it should be". I had LTD Snakebyte for one year and I remember I wasn't happy because of its ergonomics. It was not so comfortable for me like Eclipse or Horizon, so I sold it. But now, there is a new king of "comfort playing" and it's the E-II EX NT. 🙂

[@tonyy.8852]

always wanted an EX for in flames stuff, this seems pretty nice! But it is weird to see a ESP standard with Custom shop like logo

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah it was like that back in the day. A couple of years later the logo was no more.

[@retrocny5625]

Was never a fan of this take on the Explorer shape. I think the snakebyte is a much better looking version from ESP. But typically I prefer the more traditional Gibson shape, or something like the Balaguer Typhon. I had a Gibson Gothic Explorer at one point which was a great guitar. Now I have a Typhon and it's my favorite explorer shaped guitar I've ever played. I was a big In Flames fan back in the day and I'm pretty sure Jesper, their former guitarist, played these EX guitars a lot. He had a signature that's pretty rare to find these days, had a single EMG 81, one volume knob and reverse headstock, with the band logo for inlays. I also saw him playing an LTD version, think it was a 400 series, with black diamond plate covering the body. Very "2000s" looking.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Yeah I prefer the Snakebyte too.

[@ghostsofatlantisofficial]

How much smaller is this than the mx or snakebyte?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Feels a lot smaller

[@thehoppo]

Did it neck dive when you played standing up ?

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

No

[@prototype9904]

I just bought a LTD EX 210 and it should be delivered in a few days ~ it's neck through construction, reverse headstock, and no label on the fretboard for $500 new. Has only 1 Seymour Duncan knockoff pickup in the bridge. It seems like they're trying to make a "budget" Black Metal Edition?? I have a 6 string Solar Explorer that I bought a few years ago, but the extreme neck dive is killing me... It should be criminal to put out a guitar with such poor balancing.. I've added weights and moved the strap buttons to not much relief. So hopefully this new test guitar will solve the issue, if I can balance it, I'll upgrade all the hardware, pickup, tuners, bridge etc. I also currently have a LTD 1000 arrow, that has ZERO neck dive and rock solid Floyd Rose, if anyone was thinking of going that route, you'll be happy with it \m/

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Thats a good deal

[@stefandesouza5610]

How was the QC on yours?

[@prototype9904]

It was the usual suspects. Action was a little high, pickup was a little low, and when I took the strings off, the nut just fell out haha. Looks like they didn't use much glue, and there was no damage, just glue it back in. Since some guitars don't come with the nut glued in anyway, no big deal. The LTD tuners were good quality, but ordered some locking tuners just for convenience sake. The neck is true, Frets feel really good for a 500 dollar guitar. Volume and tone split have no issues. No hum of any kind so good grounding inside. And the fretboard and neck shape feel almost as good as my ESP arrow and Solar Ex. it's built for speed. The guitar body has zero blemishes anywhere. I think it's a great guitar for MeTaL. The pickup sounds like a Seymour Duncan JB 95% @@stefandesouza5610

[@andreasruckes5232]

And now it is mine :)

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Enjoy 😳 We want a video demo 👀

[@andreasruckes5232]

@@GeorgeVGuitars coming up this summer. I was planning on doing a comparison video with all my explorers - and this one will be included, of course :)

[@ertus306]

@@andreasruckes5232Come on man I ve been waiting for that video for too long xD

[@SuperKisio]

Honestly I love the vid, but hate the shape :D My friend owned one of the ltd exs, it played fine but never clicked as much as Epiphone/Gibson for me

[@Obssy]

I had an LTD one this shape, but I sold it because the neck dive was too much. Also it only had 22 frets, which is not suitable for my needs.

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Hm, I am surprised that it had neck dive. Maybe the strap buttons placement was the issue?

[@masonpayne358]

That's a shame. I own one and the neck dive issue is easily fixed by moving the strap button to the back of the guitar as opposed to the standard position.

[@colinparks619]

I like it but its to small

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

The body is a bit small yes

[@patriknessboLemoran]

its just ugly. they should make a new version

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

I wouldn't say ugly but definitely weird

[@patriknessboLemoran]

@@GeorgeVGuitars true. But they shpuld still scrap that model and make something more in line woth the schecter e2

[@martin-mz2dv]

wow, i picked one of these up around 2008 and allways thought it was a fake. mines #41924

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Rest assured it is very real 🤟🏻

[@martin-mz2dv]

@@GeorgeVGuitars mines fully stock but its my B standard machine :)

[@ertus306]

@@martin-mz2dv ooo Amon Amarth?

[@kengyang1908]

Allllright gigadeee goo,,,real metal guitar,,,,go play ur PRS n Gibson over priced furniture lovers

[@GeorgeVGuitars]

Uhm what 🤣