Is this a genuine custom?

[Ravens Creed]

Firstly, hello learned gents. I've been lurking a while.

I was wondering if you could help me with something.
I picked up this guitar a few months back and wanted to know if its genuine or not. By all accounts its an old custom shop but I'd like to make sure.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1613/espcustomxn6.jpg


The specs are as follows:

-Swamp Ash body/Maple quilt top (really nice job, far better than photo's do it justice. At least as good as my PRS Custom 22)
-DiMarzio pups.
-Wilkinson Bridge.
-Sperzel locking tuners.
-Ebony fretboard with Abalone inlays (I have an MII UC and its very similar)
-Birdseye Maple neck.
-No serial numbers
-Headstock logo appears to be a decal rather than painted on.
-Neck plate has no stamp.

Its a beautful guitar. Its set up to perfection and it feels as good as anything I've ever played. But is it genuine do you think?

[smashandgrab1forme]

I would be doubtful if the logo looks like a decal

[Ravens Creed]

So ESP never used decals then? Even in the old days?

[Aeroscopic]

wouldn't it be a little too easy then to just paste some decal on an old worn out crappy guitar and call it a "vintage esp" or something :) at least now you can suspect a
difference

[Ravens Creed]

Yes, I suppose so. Then again for all I know thats what ESP may have done in the early days. I would have dimissed it completely with no serial numbers except that many ESP Customs dont or rather didnt have them so who knows?

This isnt that obvious though anyway. Its hard to describe without actually seeing it in your hands but it looks....proper?

[darkalone]

Call it a hunch, but that thing is fake.

[deftoneskidd]

take the neck off and check for stamps...

[KH Guitar Freak]

I don't think it's real judging by the headstock...

[Ravens Creed]

ESP did headstocks like that. Especially in the 80's.

[smashandgrab1forme]

I got the hunch its built from warmoth parts

[Dick Tater]

ESP originally was a replacement parts dealer so you would have to ask Luna on this one.

[ESPNAZI]

i dont know if its a fake but looks like a esp lynch use to play but his had a floyd

[ZephMan13]

Whatever it is, it looks cool.

[smashandgrab1forme]

I agree i think it is a cool looking guitar

[Ravens Creed]

Well its for sale potentially as I want another Jackson so..... ;)

[Sixstringhotshot]

Does it feel like an ESP?

[ESPlaya]

Ravens, incredibly hot guitar dude! :eek: Regardless of whether it is or isn't a real ESP.

Just curious, how much you asking for it? (other UK members might want to pick it up, ya' never know!)

[Ravens Creed]

It does feel like an ESP. It has that lovely C shape neck feel and its perfectly balanced and solid. Its not all out metal assault but its very versatile. Its more beefy than a Fender with more of a Mahogany feel but not too bassy. I'd liken it to a Charvel San Dimas strat. Same kind of build quality.

I'm open to offers.

[nwright]

As someone already said, take off the neck and look for stamps.

Also, any chance of back shots?

[mushman]

It looks fake to me the decal looks like a water slide you'd get off the bay.Take a pic of the back and post it.You can take off the neck and see if there is a stamp there,and what's up with that bridge? it looks weird.
I think removing the neck and checking for a stamp would be your best bet,or posting a shot of the back.

[Ravens Creed]

The bridge is a Wilkinson. Its top quality. I'll take a pic of the back soon.

I cant see how you can tell its a decal from that photo. Its hard to tell with it in your hands.

[WARLOCK]

Very Nice axe. ;)

[ZephMan13]

$10?

[Ravens Creed]

erm... keep going. :lol

[AsherTKK]

looks alittle like that orange esp lynch model in the 80s could very well be real

if it feels and plays good... fuck the brand, i have a 100 dollar 15 year old samick that blows away most strats i've played...

bridge looks like a flicker btw

enjoy!

[mushman]

The only reason I say it's a water slide is I don't see the little r under the P.My esp's from the 80's on up have this and so should all products that have a legit esp logo(cases,shirts,picks...).

I did find a guitar that looks kind of similar to the one you have there,I just did a yahoo search for"esp cutom neck" and this guitar came up.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fs earch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Desp%2Bcustom%2Bneck%26fr%3Dyf p-t-307%26toggle%3D1%26cop%3Dmss%26ei%3DUTF-8&w=640&h=480&imgurl=mypeoplepc.com%2Fmembers%2Fthardawg%2Fsiteb uildercontent%2Fsitebuilderpictures%2Fesp.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmypeoplepc.com%2Fmembers%2Fthard awg%2Frobonline%2Fid18.html&size=74.6kB&name=esp.jpg&p=esp+custom+neck&type=jpeg&no=2&tt=60&oid=2784aed4c134b948&ei=UTF-8

The neck is different,but the body looks similar p/u configuration is different also.
I think it may be a lynch body with a replacement neck,but I am no expert.I still think removing the neck may reveal a stamp of some sort.
Good luck,and if you like it who cares anyway,but if you are trying to sell it you should try your best to make sure it is legit.

[Ravens Creed]

Cheers dude. I appreciate the research.

Well, I got a reply from ESP tech dept in the USA and they say its not an order from USA or Canada but I pretty much knew that. They dont rule out it being a Custom or having an ESP neck on a custom body or something like that and they are going to look into it further.

Even if it was custom ordered from Warmoth it must have cost hundred and hundreds of dollars, right?

I'll check the neck stamps when I get a chance.

[Ravens Creed]

O.K so I took the neck off and its a Mighty Mite. It does feel quality though I must say. The body....I dont know (probably the same or Warmoth) but there's a signature of a Luthier in Manchester, UK that assembled it.

[AsherTKK]

mighty mites ARE awesome... they are head a shoulders above allparts and warmoth...

george lynch had a mighty mite early in his career as well...

still looking to sell it?

[Ravens Creed]

I am. I'm trying to raise funds for another Jackson. I dont know why because this guitar plays beautifully and I was thinking of putting some Bare Knuckles in it but....... I'm a gear whore and I love Jacksons (and ESP's of course).

[AsherTKK]

gee... i'd love to buy that, but i probably wouldn't have enuf to interest you lol

best of luck mate

bare knuckles would be a great idea, if yr not selling it, or maybe suhr pickups they're awesome as well

cheers

[NBshredder]

Your picture isn't working for me, but from what you said about the guitar I might be interested in it...could you send me some pics (pm me for my email) or try to repost them...Thanks!