Pricing and availability
Average Price: $325
Budget/Beginner
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
The LTD ESP EC-400 is a versatile solid body electric guitar that has been designed to cater to the needs of both amateur and professional musicians alike. This guitar combines the classic single-cutaway style with modern performance features, making it a reliable choice for various musical genres. The EC-400 is engineered for players seeking a guitar that offers both style and substance, with a focus on delivering expressive sound and comfortable playability.
Equipped with Seymour Duncan humbuckers, the EC-400 provides a wide tonal range, from crisp cleans to growling overdrive, ensuring your sound can adapt to any genre. The set-neck construction enhances sustain and stability, while the thin U-shaped neck profile allows for smooth and fast playability, perfect for intricate solos or power chords. The mahogany body and neck, coupled with a rosewood fingerboard, offer a comfortable feel and contribute to the guitar’s rich and resonant tone.
The EC-400 also features high-quality hardware, including Grover tuners and a TOM bridge, offering precise tuning stability and easy string changes. Whether you’re on stage or in the studio, this guitar is built to perform and inspire.
Key Features:
- Mahogany body with set-neck construction
- Seymour Duncan humbuckers for versatile sound
- Thin U-shaped neck profile for fast playability
- Rosewood fingerboard
- Grover tuners for reliable tuning stability
- TOM bridge for enhanced sustain and easy adjustments
- 24 XJ frets for extended range and playability
Product specs
| Brand | ESP LTD |
| Model | EC-400 |
| Finish | Black Pearl Fade Metallic |
| Year | 2015 - 2020 |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Body Shape | Single Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Stop-Bar |
| Color Family | Black |
| Finish Features | Matching Headstock |
| Finish Style | Metallic |
| Fretboard Material | Pau Ferro |
| Neck Construction | Set-Neck |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Pickup Configuration | HH |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
FAQs
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What type of music is the ESP LTD EC-400 best suited for?
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The ESP LTD EC-400, with its mahogany body and HH pickup configuration, is ideal for rock and metal genres. Its powerful tone and sustain make it perfect for heavier styles of music.
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How does the neck profile of the ESP LTD EC-400 affect playability?
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The EC-400 features a set-neck construction with a comfortable, fast neck profile, making it suitable for both rhythm and lead playing. This design enhances playability, especially for players who enjoy fast, technical styles.
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Can the ESP LTD EC-400 handle alternate tunings well?
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Yes, the EC-400's solid construction and stop-bar bridge make it stable for alternate tunings. Its 24.75" scale length also supports a variety of tunings without sacrificing playability.
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What is the tonal characteristic of the ESP LTD EC-400's pickups?
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The HH pickup configuration on the EC-400 delivers a high-output, aggressive tone with excellent clarity and sustain. This setup is well-suited for distortion and overdrive, making it a favorite among metal and hard rock players.
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Is the ESP LTD EC-400 suitable for beginners?
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While the EC-400 is designed with features appealing to intermediate and advanced players, beginners who are serious about rock and metal may find it a worthwhile investment due to its quality construction and versatile sound.
Videos
Гитарная мастерская Андрея Смолина
ESP LTD EC 400
ESP LTD EC 400
Гитарная мастерская Андрея Смолина
ESP LTD EC 400AT & Mule High Gain Amp
Rocks Monster Riffs
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about LTD ESP EC-400.
Build quality
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The EC-400 features a three-piece mahogany set neck and rosewood fingerboard, known for its durability and smooth playability.
Source
Features and functionality
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Equipped with EMG 81/60 pickups, praised for their clarity and high output, ideal for metal and hard rock genres.
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Some models come with Grover tuners and a compensated Earvana nut, which are valued for improving tuning stability and intonation.
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Fishman Fluences are noted as a viable alternative for those seeking active pickups with a different tonal character than EMGs.
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Comparisons
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The EC-400 lacks the flamed maple tops and body bindings of the EC-1000, offering a simpler aesthetic but maintaining excellent playability.
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Owners compare the playability and quality of the EC-400 to Gibson Les Paul Classics, noting minimal differences.
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The EC-401 with Invaders is praised for huge tone in drop-B tuning, while the EC-1000 with SD Loomis Blackouts offers high output and excellent lead tones.
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User experience
Value and pricing
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Found in pawn shops for around $250, the EC-400 offers high value, especially compared to newer EC-401 models.
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Mods and upgrades
Setup and maintenance
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Ensure the 9v battery for active EMG pickups is functional to avoid a 'dead' sound during play.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings
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275
My original ESP
Growing up idolizing Wayne Static in the mid-2000s, I needed to get an ESP. Thankfully where I was taking guitar lessons I came across an ESP Ltd Eclipse 400 in Sunburst. It was April 2009, and because I was a student at the store, I was able to get a discount down from $699 to $629. It was the very first thing I ever bought that cost over $100. The first time I ever played it, it was just like magic. Something took over me. Needless to say, I've put this guitar through the ringer. At various points I've had it tuned all the way and all the way down. It sort of became my baritone guitar without actually being a baritone guitar just because it handled it well enough to stay in tune for a while.
Artist usage
Add artist
Thomas Erak was seen using the LTD ESP EC-400 See-Thru Black Cherry guitar during The Fall of Troy’s performances in early 2005, particularly throughout the Doppelgänger era. This is evidenced by a video from the Capitol Hill Block Party on July 30, 2005, uploaded by doppelgangervids on YouTube. The guitar was reportedly lost during a European tour in 2006.
In this picture, Justin Sane can be seen playing an ESP LTD EC-400. It's an earlier model from the early 2000's, (due to the sharper edge on the body of the guitar compared to newer 400/401 models), and has had its tone switch moved to the lower part of the body. The neck EMG stock pickup has been swapped for a custom pickup along with the stock tone nobs being traded out for custome ones. (The hole from the original tone switch has been covered by duct tape which was used to create the graffiti "no gods, no masters" on the guitar.)
Mihalopoulos talks about this guitar on this Gear Masters video, recorded while he was on tour with Otep.
Album Usage
The LTD ESP EC-400 has been featured on the following albums:
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 LTD ESP EC-400, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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