Pricing and availability

Average Price: $200

Budget/Beginner

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

The ESP LTD MH53 is a dynamic electric guitar tailored for the modern musician seeking a versatile instrument that excels across genres. Its solid body construction provides a robust foundation for its powerful sound, making it a reliable choice for both budding guitarists and seasoned performers. This guitar is equipped with a Floyd Rose Special bridge, offering exceptional tuning stability and enabling expressive dive-bombs and vibrato effects. The sleek, double-cutaway body allows for effortless access to higher frets, encouraging complex solos and intricate play styles.

The MH53's tonal versatility is further enhanced by its HSH pickup configuration, featuring two ESP-designed humbuckers and a single-coil pickup. This setup delivers a wide range of tones, from warm, full-bodied sounds to crisp, cutting leads. Coupled with a fast maple neck and a smooth rosewood fingerboard, the MH53 ensures a comfortable playing experience, facilitating quick transitions and fluid finger movements.

Key Features:

  • Solid body construction for durability and resonance
  • Floyd Rose Special bridge for advanced tuning stability
  • HSH (humbucker-single-humbucker) pickup configuration for tonal versatility
  • ESP-designed pickups for rich, dynamic sound
  • Double-cutaway design for easy access to upper frets
  • Maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard for fast, smooth playability

Product specs

Brand ESP LTD
Model MH-53
Finish Black
Year 2008 - 2016
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape S-Style
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Locking Tremolo Bridge
Color Family Black
Finish Style Gloss
Fretboard Material Maple
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 24
Number of Strings 6-String
Pickup Configuration HSS
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 25.5"

FAQs

What kind of music genres is the ESP LTD MH53 suitable for?

The ESP LTD MH53, with its HSS pickup configuration and locking tremolo bridge, is versatile and well-suited for rock, metal, and blues genres, offering a range of tones from warm humbucker sounds to bright single-coil tones.

How does the locking tremolo bridge on the ESP LTD MH53 affect playability?

The locking tremolo bridge provides increased tuning stability and allows for expressive pitch modulation, making it ideal for players who frequently use vibrato and dive-bomb techniques.

Is the ESP LTD MH53 a good choice for beginners?

With its comfortable S-style body shape, 24 frets, and versatile pickup configuration, the ESP LTD MH53 is suitable for beginners who want a guitar that can grow with them as they explore different styles and techniques.

What is the neck profile like on the ESP LTD MH53?

The ESP LTD MH53 features a thin U-shaped neck profile, which offers fast playability and comfort, making it ideal for players who prefer rapid fretboard navigation and technical playing styles.

How does the maple fretboard affect the sound of the ESP LTD MH53?

The maple fretboard on the ESP LTD MH53 provides a bright, snappy tone with clear articulation, enhancing the overall sound clarity especially in high-gain settings.

AllenMusicShop

AllenMusicShop

LTD MH-53 Review - Featuring Eruption Cover

Video thumbnail for LTD MH-53 Review - Featuring Eruption Cover by AllenMusicShop

LTD MH-53 Review - Featuring Eruption Cover

AllenMusicShop

AllenMusicShop

Video thumbnail for Test ESP LTD MH-53 Black w/ Maple Fretboard by Artur Meireles

Test ESP LTD MH-53 Black w/ Maple Fretboard

Artur Meireles

Artur Meireles

Video thumbnail for ESP LTD MH-53 BLK by TVGuitarCenter

ESP LTD MH-53 BLK

TVGuitarCenter

TVGuitarCenter

Video thumbnail for LTD MH-53 by Rick Heafner

LTD MH-53

Rick Heafner

Rick Heafner

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about LTD MH53.

Setup and maintenance

  • Locking bridges on lower-end guitars like the ESP LTD MH53 are often finicky, complicating tuning and string changes for beginners.

    Source
  • Ground buzz issues may arise from an unconnected ground wire at the output jack; soldering a ground wire from the cable's shield to the jack can resolve this.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The HSS pickup configuration is praised for versatility but paired with the problematic Floyd Rose-style tremolo system can be challenging.

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Comparisons

  • The ESP LTD MH53 is often compared to Ibanez's Gio series and Schecter Demon for beginner-friendly metal guitars, with the latter offering hard-tail bridges and active pickups.

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  • The MH-53's clean sound is praised, contrasting with the Jackson JS3 Dinky's superior overdrive performance.

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  • The thin neck profile on the Jackson Dinky is preferred by some players for comfort and playability, highlighting the importance of neck feel in choosing between these models.

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Mods and upgrades

  • Owners often replace weak bridge pickups with models like the Seymour Duncan SH-6 Distortion to enhance the guitar's tone for metal.

    Source
  • Potential for modding a Jackson Dinky with coil split options is noted, offering more tonal versatility compared to the fixed single coils on the ESP.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The ESP LTD MH53 is designed for metal enthusiasts but may not be ideal for beginners due to the complex tremolo system.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners who master the Floyd Rose tremolo on ESP LTD models find it easier than Ibanez's Edge tremolo system.

    Source
  • Owners of multiple ESP LTD models report frequent need to resolder the output jack, indicating a potential recurring maintenance requirement with these guitars.

    Source

Critic Reviews

LTD MH-53 Review: If you are like me you don't have all the money... | ESP | Electric Guitars | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

ultimate-guitar.com

The ESP LTD MH-53 delivers impressive value for metal enthusiasts on a budget, with notable versatility and a robust build for just $250. Its pickup configuration offers a range of tones, though some players might consider upgrading them for enhanced sound quality. The guitar's reliability and durability are exceptional, maintaining performance across various settings from studio to stage. While the ESP locking tremolo impresses, the stock pickups are a potential downside, especially with lower-end amps. Ultimately, the MH-53 stands out as a reliable, affordable option, making it a strong contender against pricier rivals, despite its minor shortcomings.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

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P

incredibly efficient sounds from the neck Guilmour Satriani Van Halen , excellent mappele neck

Very easy to play, neck is a little bit larger but sounds on this 24 frets mapple neck are very similar to a Stratocaster with Some good surprising details, my Fender Strat is from 59's and too heavy when I play it about 2 hours, (my neck hurts me), good sustain, very surprised, very light body, you don't get tired after one playing hour

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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