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! 

Low Horizon

This is a crude measurement of my ESP Horizon FR-II's action; showing only the bass side E-string at the 12th fret. 

As you can see, it's just slightly above 0.1cm there which is a super low action but this guitar has no problems adapting to the situation- no dead notes along the fretboard register. If you play fast (& faster when nobody's looking), this action setting is very rewarding. This is the new low for me, one of my Ibanez guitars sports a 0.15cm action at the same fret but this guitar proves that lower action is possible; it's all about construction & provision.

Phat Horizon

Was at BEEZ's today to have the neck pickup of my new ESP Horizon FR-II installed. This is how things are in the pickups cavities- very neat & tidy, even the shielding paint had been applied evenly.

Ditto the controls cavity; everything prim & proper in there. I'm very happy that ESP made a point to have Orange Drop caps in the Horizons- it's a statement of quality. I don't see the point of naming my guitars after girls, I just have stickers pasted on them, strategically, of course.

The Horizon FR-II features a push-push coil split pickup switch.

The current pickups in there:

• Neck: Duncan Phat Cat
• Bridge: Duncan JB trembucker

 I have the JB-'59 combo in my ESP Phoenix II so the neck '59 here made way for the Phat Cat. It's now a single coil + humbucker pickup guitar, would it be any lesser than it's previous H-H feature? Definitely not, it's what I want to hear from this guitar & I got want I wanted; a brighter, less boomy tone in the neck pickup position.

Thanks BEEZ, for the splendid job, as always.

PS: Vanessa, if you are reading this, nice meeting you today.

ESP: Horizon FR-II

My latest ESP is the Horizon FR-II. Yes, it's another black guitar but I've chosen this particular one because it clicks very well with me. The tone & playbility is outstanding. That's an ebony fretboard there.

The brand name & series are clearly stated at the headstock. This is my first ESP sporting this pointy version.

The dual cutaway is well-beveled as clearly seen here. Pickups:

• Neck: Seymour Duncan '59
• Bridge: JB Trembucker

 The top's curve with a levelled centre neck-through piece.

The upper fret access is a breeze with this block-free neck-body joint. Also, the rib-cage chamfer is one of the most generous I've come across; it's almost touching the rear cavity area.

I'm very happy with this guitar, it's worth every cent of the asking price namely because it has all the features I want from an ESP. If you intend to own an ESP this is the time to grab one as there will be a price revision come April, latest.