Horizon BOSS

The Edwards camp released a Horizon 7-string with a BOSS GK synth pickup. Not quite obvious here as it sits between the bridge humbucker & the FR bridge. The pickups on board are ESP's in-house Custom Lab models. Currently only offered in black. 

Pic: ESP Japan

 

Horizon FR

Still in ESP mood 😎

This is not my first ESP but my first featuring a Floyd Rose bridge. I bought this to put the bridge head-to-head against Ibanez's Edge model. If this is your first reference when it comes to Floyd Rose-Edge bridges, know that the latter is not a Floyd Rose but a derivative which is heavily drawn from the former. In fact, Ibanez had to license its Edge models for use in the guitars & the licensing note was imprinted on the bridge itself. 

I had a tiff with someone not too long ago when I told him that the Edge is not a Floyd Rose model. He insisted that it is because it says LICENSED UNDER FLOYD ROSE PATENT. It took quite an effort to educate some people what a license is. If you insist the Edge is a Floyd Rose, think about this - why does Floyd Rose require a license to use its own product? Moral of the story - don't expend too much effort educating those who chose to live in their own world. This is a byproduct of cultured technicalities; the Floyd Rose name is so synonymous with this bridge type, it is used as a noun instead of a name. The same goes for Pampers (disposable diapers) & Dettol (antiseptic washing agent) among others. 

I believe Ibanez has the upper edge (forgive the pun) in this technology (slight but significant) but I dislike both for the cumbersome implements. Beginner guitarists should steer clear of this bridge type. Those with limited patience should do likewise. Enough said.

Seymour Duncan's JB (b) & Phat Cat (n) - what a combo! I had initial reservations about putting a single coil in the neck of this instrument since it's utilized for high octane rock & beyond but the PC is under-rated when it comes to such applications. I wish it comes in black cover as an option.

This model would today become the E-II Standard series & the 'ESP' label there would disappear. A proud proclamation would be, "Hey man, I finally saved enough $$$ to buy as ESP." Because if you tell your bros you're buying an E-II, it would need further explanation, the authority reference is lost. If one buys a Rolex or Porshe, no further explanation is necessary. This guitar will be a decade old this year & it's still shiny & dependable as heck! 

ESP/LTD: 2020 (3)

I'm putting two more models in the spotlight for LTD's 2020 releases. There will be others along the way, the manufacturer assured us this is only its Phase 1 of their new model announcements. The model you see above is still part of their top tier Deluxe range, the Horizon H-1001. That see-through quilt top is simply the highlight of this guitar.

It's also good to see a Viper making the numbers. Over the years, this model had been sidelined somewhat, dwelling in the shadows of other more popular outlines like the Eclipse & Mirage. It seems that the Seymour Duncan Pegasus/ Sentient pairing are the feature pickups in many of the Deluxe models, these two included. I must say that the Sentient is indeed one of the formidable passive neck pickups in the SD lineup but a little under-rated in the mean time. The Deluxe models are doing this humbucker a big favour by having it there to carry the tone through. The Jazz & '59 are the tried & trusted go-to models but these represent the old guard of Duncan pickups not that they are out-dated but the Sentient is the future that should be embraced. 

Snap the horizon

Some interesting LTD releases in Japan. This is the SN-1000...

... and the H-1000.

Just look at that generous belly cut. OK so these two are part of LTD's summer release in Japan. No idea if they will be offered to the international market but LTDs had been around the world with no issues. Even the discontinued limited edition LTD Elite (made in Japan) appeared in the international market with no issues. From the looks of it, the LTD range had been kept in check in terms of quality. That could only be a good thing.

New horizon @ Grassroots

It's been quiet at the Edwards front. A major revision is in progress. In the mean time, the Grassroots division had announced these good looking Horizon models but we know how the Grassroots brand won't be readily available in the international market. Oh, well...

New Edwards (June 2017)

New releases for the Summer by Edwards- this Snapper HSS featuring Seymour Duncans SSLs & 59/Custom humbucker.

Also a Horizon III featuring maple fretboard. Pickups: Seymour Duncan Sentient/ Pegasus. ✌🏽

Plain hard to ignore

ESP just launched their Horizon Plain Hard Top under their Original series- that finish there is essentially excessive but unforgettable.

ESP goodness

Celebrating their 40th Anniversary in 2015, ESP will be releasing these 2 limited edition 7 & 8-string Horizons. Wish they were standard production models with less (or no) flash then I'd be really thrilled. Bummer.

LTD: ZH-7

This is another wonderful LTD 7-string currently available at Davis GMC. It's a signature series- Zack Householder (Whitechapel) ZH-7. Absolutely shredable maple neck, with lots of strong bottom end on offer. The signature series are LTD's top of the line offering without being excessive in price, of course. Personally, I find this guitar an absolute value-for-money, it's a Horizon with someone's name at the headstock- a Horizon by some other variation is still a Horizon :-)

ESP: Horizon bolt-on (Part 4)

This is a familiar sight by now, a push-pull coil split switch. There wasn't any in this guitar unlike the current generation of Horizons where a push-push switch is quite the norm. Note the binding there, it's a faux-type, meaning- this part of the ash wasn't stained blue to make it look like there's binding there. The black stains are the ash's inherent stripes.

The default 5-way switch is a Schaller unit which I've done away with. I prefer a 3-way option for a twin humbucker guitar with a push-pull coil split option.

The humbuckers in there now are the Distortion model for both bridge & neck. The pickup selector position is also not at the usual slot, it's nearer to the bridge, just behind the volume knob.

ESP: Horizon bolt-on (Part 3)

The current ESP guitars- those equipped with passive pickups- are equipped with Orange Drop caps. This picture is proof that it's a 'recent' consideration by the manufacturer because my Horizon blot-on model was still equipped with those budget caps.

The default pickups- unmarked models. At best, they could be ESP's in-house units, nothing awful but they didn't click with me. As you can see here, they were removed to make way for Seymour Duncans.

.To be continued... :-)

ESP: Horizon bolt-on (Part 2)

This is the headstock of my latest ESP Horizon, we know it's a discontinued model because that script/ font isn't used in current production.

The current font/ script looks like the above (Horizon III).

The other indicator of its discontinued status- ESP doesn't mark the current series of instruments as 'Custom Guitars' any more. It's now 'Standard Series'. Also, the current models sport their serial numbers at the headstock's rear but it's missing here; it's over at the guitar's bolt-plate instead.

The current Horizons are notably neck-through instruments unlike this discontinued model featuring a bolt-on construction. That's an ash body you see there, as such, the guitar is heavier than the other Horizons I own.

ESP: Horizon (discontinued)

This is the guitar hibernating in that ESP hard case I've featured recently. It's a discontinued Horizon model. FYI- LTD guitars do not come with a hard case, let alone an ESP hard case. These cases are not sold separately either. He, he...

More updates to come...

Your pick...? (LTD content)

What have I been up to lately? I've been bothering Janet & company at Davis GMC by returning to the store premises to try LTD guitars. The model you see above is the manufacturer's top of the line Horizon offering, the Deluxe H1001.

I've been pitting the Deluxe against its little brother, the H-351. As you would have observed, the instruments, at a single glance, are identical but let me just highlight to you the differences because there is a $250 gap between them:

• the H-1001 features a more defined flamed maple top
• the Deluxe's neck binding spills over to the fretboard
• locking tuners (ESP brand) in the Deluxe
• locking TOM-type bridge in the Deluxe
• Deluxe- made in Korea, H-351- made in Indonesia

The remaining features are identical. Feel wise, there are hardly any marked differences to highlight. You'd thought the Deluxe would be a little heftier due to the locking tuners over at the headstock but those tuners were careful selections so as not to make the situation a little too complicated in this category. They are also equally responsive, hence likeable. Both models are incredibly light, in fact, my Schecter Omen 6 would be considered heavy after handling these babies. 

Tone? These guitars are equipped with a pair of EMG (active) pickups; the 81 in the bridge, 85 in the neck. You know how it is when you have actives in an instrument; you'd hear the pickups' performance more than what the guitar itself has to offer; akin to spreading very sweet honey on 2 different slices of bread brands only to taste the honey more than anything else. So my friends, the H-1001 & H-351 performed on like terms in this category.

What would your pick be in view of the perspectives presented above?

Will you come my way?

The good people of Davis GMC are checking if this Edwards Horizon III, 7-string can make it here (for me). It's not a confirmed order & no deposits had been made, just a preliminary inquiry.

Brett's other Horizon

Brett's Garsed's other ESP guitar is the partial-hollow Horizon-esque, Southern Cross model you see here. Unlike his primary guitar, this one's equipped with a pair of covered DiMarzio humbuckers. Looks rather captivating less that headstock- acquired taste, this one. I always make it a point to check out the gear of my guitar idols, in this case, Brett Garsett, who is primarily a no-whammy, fusion, shred baron, has simplicity in mind when it comes to guitar. During his Quid Pro Quo days with TJ Helmerich, Mr. Garsed played a whammy equipped Steinberger but subsequently, we can hear the non-whammy guitars in his solo involvements as well as in the fusion super group, Uncle Moe's cabin.

Cable talk: Horizon

I bought this cable more than 5 years ago & it's still very functional today. It's a Horizon Neon Brites series, very much the preference of a certain Mr. Vai back then (wonder if he's still using them) but I bought it out of a genuine willingness to try. The cable is of a sturdy built to withstand tramplings hence its longevity. The plugs were shrink wrapped with a rugged layer of polymer so there's no real access to the innards unless the owner is willing to dissect the overcoat.

I'm very happy with this cable in terms of durability but it manifests a certain brightness in the upper frequencies which is to my liking because it makes my Les Pauls sound less muffled. You'd say the cable, being a secondary tone implement, wouldn't be of much significance but if you take time to compare what the market has to offer, you'd know the ones that kill your tone & the rest which would make you smile.