Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $4,599

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

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Standard

High-end

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Description

Unleash your inner shred master with the ESP USA M-I, a guitar that embodies the essence of fiery performance and precision craftsmanship. Handcrafted in ESP's North Hollywood workshop, this solid-body electric guitar is a testament to the brand's legacy of excellence. The neck-through-body construction integrates a maple core with mahogany wings, offering a blend of shimmering warmth and rich harmonics. This combination ensures that every note played resonates with impeccable clarity and sustain, thanks to the ebony fretboard's superior tonal qualities.

At the heart of the M-I is an EMG 81X pickup, renowned for its electrifying output and versatility. This active humbucker delivers a punchy, high-gain sound with a broad dynamic range, making it perfect for everything from searing leads to crushing rhythms. The 24-fret design and extra-thin U-shaped neck profile offer unparalleled speed and precision, catering to the most demanding of playstyles.

This guitar's robust hardware, including Gotoh locking tuners and a Tone Pros locking bridge, ensures rock-solid tuning stability and eliminates unwanted buzz, making it a reliable companion for both studio sessions and live gigs. Whether you're a seasoned performer or an aspiring rockstar, the ESP USA M-I is engineered to elevate your playing to new heights with its seamless blend of power, precision, and playability.

Key Features:

  • Handcrafted in ESP USA's North Hollywood workshop
  • Neck-through-body construction with maple core and mahogany wings
  • Ebony fretboard for superior sustain and clarity
  • EMG 81X pickup for high-gain versatility
  • Extra-thin U-shaped neck profile for speed and precision
  • 24-fret design with a 12-inch radius
  • Gotoh locking tuners and Tone Pros locking bridge for stability
  • 25.5-inch scale length

Product specs

Brand ESP
Model USA M-I
Made In United States
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape S-Style
Body Type Solid Body
Number of Frets 24
Number of Strings 6-String
Right / Left Handed Right Handed

FAQs

What kind of neck profile does the ESP USA M-I have?

The ESP USA M-I typically features a thin U-shaped neck profile, providing fast playability and comfort, especially suited for shredding and technical playing styles.

Are the pickups on the ESP USA M-I suitable for metal music?

Yes, the ESP USA M-I is equipped with high-output pickups designed to deliver aggressive tones ideal for metal and hard rock genres.

Is the ESP USA M-I suitable for beginners?

The ESP USA M-I is primarily designed for experienced players seeking high performance, although dedicated beginners might appreciate its quality if they are committed to learning.

What type of wood is used for the body of the ESP USA M-I?

The ESP USA M-I features an alder body, which provides a balanced tone with a strong midrange presence, suitable for various music styles.

Does the ESP USA M-I come with a tremolo system?

The ESP USA M-I is often equipped with a Floyd Rose tremolo system, allowing for dynamic pitch bending and vibrato effects.

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about ESP USA M-I.

Build quality

  • Owners note that the matte black paint on the neck shows wear quickly, becoming shinier over time.

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  • The E-II models often arrive with leveled but uncrowned frets, a detail missed during QC due to workload, contrasting with Korean-made LTDs which are consistently well-finished.

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Features and functionality

  • Some users prefer the newer ebony fretboards over the older rosewood ones for aesthetic and feel.

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Use cases and applications

  • The guitar is praised as a "metal machine" ideal for drop C tuning and numetal genres.

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  • The guitar is praised for its shredding capability, suitable for metal genres without any need for additional features like multi-scale necks or more pickups.

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User experience

  • It's reported that the neck is thin, which may not suit all players accustomed to thicker necks.

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  • Despite damage, users report the guitar plays excellently post-truss rod adjustment, highlighting resilience in playability even with cosmetic flaws.

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  • Owners often find themselves favoring this model over others in their collection, with some noting they haven't played their other guitars since acquiring it.

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Value and pricing

  • Buyers from regions where these guitars are expensive find it a good deal even at high local prices.

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Setup and maintenance

  • Adjusting the truss rod by half a turn significantly reduced buzzing and improved pinch harmonics, suggesting sensitive neck adjustments for optimal playability.

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  • A cracked fretboard gap visibly closed after a minor truss rod adjustment, indicating potential repair solutions for similar issues.

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  • Factory setup quality is highlighted as "extremely good," contributing to excellent playability right out of the box.

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Comparisons

  • E-II models use genuine tops rather than veneers and feature German-made Floyd Rose Originals, unlike the LTD 1000 series which uses Floyd Rose 1000.

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  • Former ESP QC employee notes E-II guitars are superior to LTD 1000 series, though not always worth double the cost unless it's a Floyd model.

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  • It's noted that simple superstrat designs, like the ESP E-II M-I NT, are well-suited for metal and shredding, providing everything needed in a streamlined package.

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Mods and upgrades

  • The Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature bridge pickup is a popular upgrade for improved tone and clarity.

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