Pricing and availability

Average Price: $4,199

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

The ESP Vintage Plus is where vintage charm meets modern craftsmanship, offering a delightful blend of old-school tone and contemporary playability. This solid body electric guitar is crafted with an alder body and a bolt-on maple neck, ensuring a balanced, resonant sound that makes each note sing. Whether you're riffing through rock classics or strumming your favorite pop tunes, the Seymour Duncan SSL-1 California '50s single-coil pickups deliver a rich palette of vintage-flavored tones, reminiscent of the golden era of music.

What sets the Vintage Plus apart is its playability. The Thin U neck profile is meticulously designed for speed and comfort, allowing for effortless runs and complex chord shapes. With 22 XJ frets on a rosewood fingerboard, this guitar provides a smooth playing experience that's perfect for both seasoned players and those just starting their musical journey.

Durability is key, and the Vintage Plus doesn't disappoint. Equipped with Gotoh Magnum locking tuners and a Wilkinson vintage-style vibrato bridge, it's built to withstand the rigors of live performances while maintaining impeccable intonation and tuning stability. Made in Japan, this guitar reflects ESP's commitment to quality, making it a reliable choice for musicians who demand excellence from their gear.

Key Features:

  • Alder body with a comfortable double cutaway design
  • Maple neck with Thin U neck profile for enhanced playability
  • Seymour Duncan SSL-1 California '50s single-coil pickups
  • 22 XJ frets on a rosewood fingerboard
  • Gotoh Magnum locking tuners
  • Wilkinson vintage-style vibrato bridge
  • Bolt-on construction with a 25.5" scale length

Product specs

Brand ESP
Model Standard Vintage Plus
Finish 3-Tone Burst, Black, Candy Apple Red, Olympic White
Year 2007 - 2013
Made In Japan
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Material Alder
Body Shape S-Style
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Tremolo Bridge
Color Family Black, Brown, Red, White
Finish Pattern Sunburst
Finish Style Gloss
Fretboard Material Maple, Rosewood
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Pickup Configuration SSS
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 25.5"

FAQs

What is the neck profile of the ESP Vintage Plus?

The ESP Vintage Plus features a comfortable C-shaped neck profile, making it suitable for a wide range of playing styles and providing ease of playability for both rhythm and lead guitarists.

What type of pickups are used in the ESP Vintage Plus?

The ESP Vintage Plus is equipped with a single-coil SSS pickup configuration, delivering classic, bright tones suitable for genres like rock, blues, and pop.

Is the ESP Vintage Plus suitable for beginners?

Yes, the ESP Vintage Plus is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable neck profile and versatile tone options, making it an excellent choice for players starting their guitar journey.

What kind of tremolo bridge does the ESP Vintage Plus have?

The ESP Vintage Plus is equipped with a tremolo bridge, allowing for expressive pitch modulation and vibrato effects while maintaining tuning stability.

Does the ESP Vintage Plus come in different finishes?

Yes, the ESP Vintage Plus is available in several finishes, including 3-Tone Burst, Black, Candy Apple Red, and Olympic White, allowing players to choose according to their aesthetic preference.

Guitar World

Guitar World

ESP Standard Series Vintage Plus electric guitar

Video thumbnail for ESP Standard Series Vintage Plus electric guitar by Guitar World

ESP Standard Series Vintage Plus electric guitar

Guitar World

Guitar World

Video thumbnail for ESP Guitars: Guitar of the Week -- ESP Vintage Plus with Stuart Ziff by ESP Guitars USA

ESP Guitars: Guitar of the Week -- ESP Vintage Plus with Stuart Ziff

ESP Guitars USA

ESP Guitars USA

Video thumbnail for ESP Vintage plus aged, Olympic white by GregsGuitars

ESP Vintage plus aged, Olympic white

GregsGuitars

GregsGuitars

Video thumbnail for ESP Vintage Plus Standard 2 Tone Sunburst Electric Guitar Demonstration Demo by 6-String

ESP Vintage Plus Standard 2 Tone Sunburst Electric Guitar Demonstration Demo

6-String

6-String

Video thumbnail for ESP Vintage Plus Strat - Demo - by Jetpack Samurai

ESP Vintage Plus Strat - Demo -

Jetpack Samurai

Jetpack Samurai

Video thumbnail for ESP Vintage Plus Strat Up Close Guitar Video Review by Essex Recording Studios

ESP Vintage Plus Strat Up Close Guitar Video Review

Essex Recording Studios

Essex Recording Studios

Video thumbnail for Better than a USA Strat ?/ ESP Vintage Plus ESP Vintage Plus Strat by Don Giroux

Better than a USA Strat ?/ ESP Vintage Plus ESP Vintage Plus Strat

Don Giroux

Don Giroux

Video thumbnail for ESP Vintage Plus Strat Roadworn Aged Relic 2007 Guitar - Up Close Video Review by Essex Recording Studios

ESP Vintage Plus Strat Roadworn Aged Relic 2007 Guitar - Up Close Video Review

Essex Recording Studios

Essex Recording Studios

Video thumbnail for Players Planet Product Overview - ESP Vintage Plus Electric Guitar by PlayersPlanetOz

Players Planet Product Overview - ESP Vintage Plus Electric Guitar

PlayersPlanetOz

PlayersPlanetOz

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about ESP Vintage Plus.

Setup and maintenance

  • Older ESP Vintage Plus models show radius variations; some report as low as 8", complicating low action setups.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Radius variations in older ESP models are similar to discrepancies found in vintage Fender guitars.

    Source
  • The guitar's relicing is noted to look as authentic as other high-end reliced models.

    Source

User experience

  • Users express uncertainty about official radius specs, noting their guitars feel different from measured values.

    Source
  • Owners appreciate the fast neck, enhancing playability and making it suitable for quick, intricate playing styles.

    Source
  • The factory and natural relicing process delivers an authentic vintage look, highly appreciated by owners.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The ESP Vintage Plus features giant Sperzel locking tuners, contributing to its stability and ease of string changes.

    Source
  • Seymour Duncan pickups are praised for delivering excellent sound, enhancing the guitar's tonal versatility.

    Source

Build quality

  • The body of the 1998 ESP Vintage Plus is made from Alder, offering a different tonal quality compared to Swamp Ash or heavier Ash.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • It costs approximately $20 to ship a used ESP Vintage Plus from Guitar Center's inventory to a local store, though fees may vary by location.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The guitar delivers a classic strat twang, making it well-suited for styles requiring bright, sharp tones.

    Source
  • Users report pairing the ESP Vintage Plus with a Line 6 DT50 and HD500 pedal for optimal sound performance.

    Source

Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Stephen Carpenter uses ESP Vintage Plus

Stephen Carpenter

Guitarist

Deftones

...
Verified via Photo

In a user-uploaded photo, Stephen Carpenter is shown with an ESP Vintage Plus guitar, identifiable by the ESP logo on the headstock.

See how John Rzeznik uses ESP Vintage Plus

John Rzeznik

Singer, Guitarist

Goo Goo Dolls

...
Verified via Photo

In this picture, John can be seen using a heavily modified and road-worn ESP Vintage Plus. It was retrofitted with a single-pickup pickup, a single EMG pickup, and several stickers and writing.

See how Eric Lambert uses ESP Vintage Plus

Eric Lambert

Guitarist

Blessthefall

...
Verified via Photo

Eric Lambert showcases his ESP Vintage Plus guitar in an Instagram post, expressing excitement about receiving it.

See how Jeff George uses ESP Vintage Plus

Jeff George

Guitarist

We Are Harlot

...
Verified via YouTube

Seen at around the 0:35 mark, Jeff uses Vintage Pluses although his guitar is routed to an HSS config and Dimarzio humbuckers and Sperzel tuners and a cut switch (?) in the middle

See how Mark Plati uses ESP Vintage Plus

Mark Plati

Guitarist, Music Producer

David Bowie (band)

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Plati's gear is visible. One of the guitars visible is the SSS ESP Vintage Plus.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use ESP Vintage Plus, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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LTD EC-1000S EMG Solid Body Electric Guitars
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LTD PC-2V 12-String
LTD PC-2V 12-String Hollowbody Electric Guitars
1

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