Pricing and availability
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Reviews
Price
Average Price: $463
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "ESP LTD EC-256". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Embrace the power of rock with the ESP LTD EC-256. This electric guitar is not just a musical instrument but a statement piece, boasting a stunning flamed maple top over a warm mahogany body. The EC-256 is built for performance, featuring a slim U-shaped neck with 22 extra-jumbo frets for fast and effortless shredding.
The EC-256 is equipped with dual ESP humbucking pickups, delivering tight lows, rich mids, and searing highs. Unleash your creativity with the push-pull tone knob, offering coil-splitting function for single-coil tones, expanding your tonal palette.
Constructed with a set-neck, the EC-256 ensures optimal tone transfer and sustain. Its solid mahogany body resonates with a woody warmth, while the maple top adds articulation. The tune-o-matic bridge and die-cast tuners offer rock-solid intonation and tuning stability, making the EC-256 a reliable choice for any musician.
Key Features:
- Dual ESP humbucking pickups for versatile tone
- Set-neck construction for exceptional sustain
- Push-pull tone knob for coil-splitting capabilities
- Slim U-shaped neck with 22 extra-jumbo frets for fast playing
- Mahogany body with flamed maple top for resonant tone and stunning aesthetics
- Tune-o-matic bridge and die-cast tuners for stable tuning
- 24.75" scale length for balanced tension
- Affordable price point without compromising on quality or performance
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Type | Solidbody |
| Body Shape | LTD EC-256 |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Top Material | Flamed Maple |
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Neck Material | 3-Piece Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Thin U |
| Neck Joint | Set Neck |
| Radius | 13.7" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid ESP Flags |
| Number of Frets | 22, Extra Jumbo |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Nut Width | 1.653" |
| Nut Material | Molded |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Tune-O-Matic Bridge with 2-Piece Stopbar Tailpiece |
| Tuners | LTD |
| Neck Pickup | ESP Designed LH-150N Humbucker |
| Bridge Pickup | ESP Designed LH-150B Humbucker |
| Controls | 2 x volume (push/pull voice switching), 1 x tone (push/pull voice switching) |
| Switching | 3-way toggle pickup switch |
| Strings | D'Addario, .010-.046 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Sold Separately |
FAQs
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What type of pickups does the ESP LTD EC-256 have and what tones can I expect?
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The ESP LTD EC-256 features ESP Designed LH-150 humbuckers, which offer a versatile range of tones suitable for rock, metal, and blues. These pickups provide a warm, full sound with the ability to push into higher gain territories.
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Is the ESP LTD EC-256 suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the ESP LTD EC-256 is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable thin U-shaped neck and versatile sound. Its quality construction and playability make it a great choice for players starting out.
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What is the neck profile of the ESP LTD EC-256?
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The ESP LTD EC-256 has a thin U-shaped neck profile, providing a comfortable grip and easy playability, especially for fast playing styles.
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Can I use the ESP LTD EC-256 for playing metal music?
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Absolutely, the ESP LTD EC-256 is well-suited for metal music thanks to its powerful humbucker pickups and solid mahogany body, delivering the heavy and aggressive tones often associated with the genre.
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Does the ESP LTD EC-256 have a push/pull feature?
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Yes, the ESP LTD EC-256 features push/pull voice switching on both volume controls, allowing for coil-splitting and providing additional tonal options.
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What type of wood is used for the body of the ESP LTD EC-256?
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The ESP LTD EC-256 has a mahogany body with a flamed maple top, offering a rich, resonant tone with enhanced sustain and visual appeal.
Videos
Rob Chapman
ESP LTD EC256 - Andertons Price Slash Special
Reviews
PROS
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Neck is comfortable and inviting for diverse finger sizes
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Excellent tuning stability; stays in tune with minimal adjustments
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Coil-splitting feature adds versatility for various music styles
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Attractive finishes, including flamed maple top and vintage options
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Well-balanced weight, lighter than a typical Les Paul
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High-quality construction and finish for the price
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Intonation and action are impressive out of the box
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Stock pickups are satisfactory, with a clear and aggressive sound
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Good sustain and tone, suitable for metal and blues
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Great value for money, offering a platform for upgrades
CONS
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Stock pickups may lack range for some players
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Some reports of minor finish imperfections or blemishes
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Tone knob can be loose, requiring adjustment
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Generic tuners might need upgrading for better performance
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Coil-split feature weakens volume noticeably
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Neck may feel chunky to some players
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about ESP LTD EC-256.
Mods and upgrades
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Swapping stock pickups for Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers can achieve a classic Gibson sound.
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Gotoh SG381-04 MGT Magnum Lock tuners are a direct swap for the EC-256, but require using the original set screws due to thread size differences.
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Locking tuners from Gotoh and Fame are popular upgrades, improving tuning stability and ease of string changes.
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Some owners replaced LH150 pickups with EMG JHB/JHN for enhanced sound quality.
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Some users consider upgrading to the EC-1000 for better hardware and active pickups.
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Features and functionality
Use cases and applications
Build quality
Setup and maintenance
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Adjusting the action as low as possible without buzz involves spending time modifying bridge and pickup heights for personalized playability, especially when using alternate tunings.
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The original neck finish can be sticky; sanding to a satin finish is recommended for smoother playability.
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User experience
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After basic setup and new strings, many find the stock pickups surprisingly good for both clean and crunch tones.
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Users report that the fretboard is smooth, accommodating string bends with ease when using 10-52 gauge strings.
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The EC-256 is often recommended for beginners due to its playability and design.
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Value and pricing
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A used EC-256 is considered a good deal at around $300, with some suggesting negotiating to $250.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 15 Reviews and 38 Ratings
309
Spectacular!
Ever since I saw Mick Thomson of Slipknot playing an Eclipse, I knew I wanted to get one for myself.
It feels great to play, and it never gets tiring. It's also a beautiful guitar in general.
My only complaint about it is that no matter what I do, I can never give it a more crisp, clear tone. If anybody has any suggestions for how I can get a tone like what I'm wanting, please let me know! Cheers.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Mine is set up for Drop A.
87
Impressed!
Fretboard feels great, beautiful clean tones, and will produce the chugs I am looking for. The only issue I had was loosing tuning when dropping down to C. Easy fix, bought locking tuning keys.
996
121
Lovely and versatile guitar
This guitar is brilliant all around, with near professional level quality. I use it a lot for metal, though it also works great for blues too. It reminds me a lot of my dads old Gibson Les Paul, which is why I bought it, and it feels a lot sleeker than a Les Paul, as well as lighter. I would recommend it to intermediate and professional guitarists, it's a solid battle axe and will serve one well!
ESP LTD EC-256FM
Some of the most highly-regarded guitars in history have many similarities to the affordable and popular LTD EC-256FM. Mahogany body and 3 pc. neck? Check. Rosewood fingerboard and flamed maple top? Check and check. Covered passive pickups, set-neck construction, and 22XJ frets? You get it all, without the massive price tag you’d usually expect from such a well-made single-cutaway electric guitar. The EC-256FM is at home on blues, classic rock, hard rock, progressive rock, fusion, and much more, and it’s available in two terrific vintage-looking finishes: Cherry Sunburst and Lemon Drop.
751
ESP and ESP ........ what guitars they can't handmake ?
Good guitar with a so nice neck, it's a pleasure to play but when I am sit down, cose I play for 50 years and this guitar is louder than my 59's Stratocaster, great sustain and 2 volumes but 1 tone, but sounds great even on non tube amps, very affordable with no default, it is rings !
41010
are you going to review your holy grail strat, or what?
68
Nice looking, nice sounding, and a joy to play.
What a bargain, it's very playable from the start at a low price, for those who can't afford a Les Paul. This guitar is a instrument that you can grow with, because of the pricing, if you wanted to upgrade it in the future it as you continue to grow, it would be very possible.
369
Worth every penny
I bought one of these "used" (it was basically brand new). It's a great guitar, which surprised me seeing as how I paid less than $400 for it.
Artist usage
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During the Festivals 2016 tour, Richard Zven Kruspe used the ESP LTD EC-256 Aged Vintage Black guitar, notably incorporating a flamethrower effect during performances, as detailed on Guitar Center's website.
The photograph provides evidence of Miland Petrozza using an ESP LTD EC-256, as it shows him playing an eclipse model with a tune-o-matic bridge.
Luke Pabich uses the ESP LTD EC-256, as evidenced by his performance at Hellfest 2025.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use ESP LTD EC-256, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation1 alternative for ESP LTD EC-256, curated by the Equipboard community.
$2,351.36 - $2,899.00
Honestly, both are Eclipses. Mine is so far the ONLY model I've ever played, so I can't make a clear judgement right now.
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