Pricing and availability

Average Price: $1,163

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

The ESP LTD FRX-401 is a powerhouse designed to captivate both eyes and ears. Built for those who live and breathe rock and metal, its striking FRX silhouette is as fierce as the sounds it produces. With a pair of active EMG humbuckers, this guitar is ready to unleash a spectrum of tones, from crisp cleans to a roaring metal assault. The EMG 81 at the bridge is renowned for its cutting lead tones, while the EMG 60 at the neck offers a well-rounded complement, ensuring you can dial in the perfect sound for any riff or solo.

Crafted with a comfortable mahogany body, the FRX-401 is not just about looks; it’s about delivering performance that matches its aggressive aesthetic. The thin U-shaped maple neck and smooth rosewood fingerboard offer exceptional playability, making it easy to navigate even the most complex of solos at lightning speed. Its fixed, string-through-body bridge ensures rock-solid tuning stability, allowing you to focus on what's important—your music.

Whether you're shredding on stage or jamming in the studio, the ESP LTD FRX-401 is built to support your sonic ambitions with style and precision. This guitar doesn’t just make a statement; it dominates the conversation.

Key Features:

  • Radical-looking mahogany FRX body
  • Maple thin U-shaped neck with rosewood fingerboard
  • EMG 81 (bridge) and EMG 60 (neck) active humbuckers
  • Fixed, string-through-body bridge/tailpiece for tuning stability

Product specs

Brand ESP LTD
Model FRX-401
Finish Black, Snow White
Year 2015 - 2017
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Material Mahogany
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type String-Through
Color Family Black, White
Finish Style Gloss
Fretboard Material Rosewood
Neck Construction Neck-Through
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 24
Number of Strings 6-String
Offset Body Offset Body
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 25.5"

FAQs

What kind of music genres is the ESP LTD FRX-401 best suited for?

The ESP LTD FRX-401, with its HH pickup configuration and mahogany body, is well-suited for heavy genres like metal and hard rock, offering powerful tones and sustain.

What is the neck profile of the ESP LTD FRX-401, and how does it affect playability?

The ESP LTD FRX-401 features a thin U-shaped neck profile, providing fast playability and comfort, especially for shredding and intricate lead work.

Does the ESP LTD FRX-401 have a neck-through construction, and what are its benefits?

Yes, the ESP LTD FRX-401 features neck-through construction, enhancing sustain and providing easier access to higher frets for solos and complex chord shapes.

How does the ESP LTD FRX-401's pickup configuration affect its sound?

The HH (humbucker-humbucker) pickup configuration on the ESP LTD FRX-401 delivers a full, rich sound with reduced noise, ideal for high-gain settings and thick, powerful tones.

Is the ESP LTD FRX-401 suitable for beginner guitarists?

While the ESP LTD FRX-401 is a high-quality instrument, its features and price point are more suited for intermediate to advanced players looking for a reliable performance guitar.

Travis Royer

Travis Royer

Guitar Cover - Modded LTD FRX 401

Video thumbnail for Guitar Cover - Modded LTD FRX 401 by Travis Royer

Guitar Cover - Modded LTD FRX 401

Travis Royer

Travis Royer

Video thumbnail for ESP FRX-401 Demo by Jake Lanni by MusicAuthorityGA

ESP FRX-401 Demo by Jake Lanni

MusicAuthorityGA

MusicAuthorityGA

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about LTD FRX-401.

Mods and upgrades

  • Owners have upgraded to EMG 81 pickups, which are praised for producing a killer sound that enhances the guitar's overall tone.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The guitar's unique shape is highly valued for its aesthetics, with some users considering it one of the most beautiful guitar shapes available.

    Source
  • The Pegasus pickup delivers clear high-gain tones, while the Sentient pickup excels for solos; the middle position coil split offers an impressive clean sound.

    Source
  • The gloss neck is noted as a minor downside, with a preference for satin or unfinished necks, though not a dealbreaker for ownership.

    Source
  • The guitar's black logos and Schecter-esque headstock with matching truss rod cover are praised for their aesthetic appeal.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The LTD F-400 is considered a visually similar alternative, though some find it doesn't have the same appeal as the FRX-401.

    Source
  • It's likened to a Majesty guitar in terms of playability comfort, highlighting its user-friendly design.

    Source

User experience

  • The FRX-401 is described as a rare find, often requiring patience or extensive searching, like setting up alerts on platforms like Reverb.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The guitar's design and sound are linked to the Japanese visual kei metal scene, making it appealing to fans of this genre.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • The guitar handles Drop B tuning exceptionally well, maintaining the feel and sound quality of a standard E-tuned guitar.

    Source

Build quality

  • The finish is described as tactile and comfortable, with the spikes in the cutaway not causing discomfort during play.

    Source

Critic Reviews

ESP FRX-401 Review | Chorder.com

chorder.com

4.5 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

Artist usage

Add artist
See how James Hetfield uses LTD FRX-401

James Hetfield

Singer, Guitarist

Metallica

...
Verified via Gettyimages

This guitar wasn't used much by James but he did use it. He used it during the St. Anger tours a few times. He had a couple custom made ones with different inlays. He can be seen plaing the guitar in the above source which is at the 2003 MTV Music Awards rehearsals.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use LTD FRX-401, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

B.C. Rich Warlock Electric Guitar
B.C. Rich Warlock Electric Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars
1
Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars
1

Community setups

Show yours
B

brian_oblivion

Gear IQ 70

More LTD Solid Body Electric Guitars

Accessories & Related Items

Similar

Gear Guides