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
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What kind of music genres is the ESP LTD MH53 suitable for?
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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.
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How does the locking tremolo bridge on the ESP LTD MH53 affect playability?
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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.
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Is the ESP LTD MH53 a good choice for beginners?
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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.
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What is the neck profile like on the ESP LTD MH53?
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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.
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How does the maple fretboard affect the sound of the ESP LTD MH53?
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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.
Videos
AllenMusicShop
LTD MH-53 Review - Featuring Eruption Cover
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
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Locking bridges on lower-end guitars like the ESP LTD MH53 are often finicky, complicating tuning and string changes for beginners.
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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.
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Features and functionality
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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
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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
Use cases and applications
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The ESP LTD MH53 is designed for metal enthusiasts but may not be ideal for beginners due to the complex tremolo system.
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User experience
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating
751
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.